Andrew Gregg, From Pennsylvania, From Maryland, From Virginia, From Kentucky, From North Carolina, From South Carolina, Thomas Hartley, William Irvine, John Wilkes Kittera, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg. Thomas Scott, and George Dent, and Samuel Smith. William B. Giles, Richard Bland Lee, Francis Preston, Robert Rutherford, Abraham Venable, and Francis Walker. Christopher Greenup. Thomas Blount, William Johnson Dawson. Matthew Locke, Nathaniel Macon, and Alexander Mebane. William Smith, And a quorum, consisting of a majority of the whole number, being present, The House proceeded, by ballot, to the choice of a Speaker, and, upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes of the whole House was found in favor of FREDERICK AVEUSTUS MUHLENBERG, one of the Representatives for the State of Pennsylvania : Whereupon, The said Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg was conducted to the chair, from whence he made his acknowledgments to the House, as followeth : Gentlemen: I feel, as I ought, the highest sense of the honor you have done me, in placing me in the chair. Relying on that aid and support which I have heretofore experienced, I cheerfully undertake the task; and permit me to assure you, that I shall exert myself to the utmost of my abilities, to perform the duties of the station with impartiality, integrity, and assiduity. The House proceeded, in the same manner, to the appointment of a Clerk, and upon examining the ballots, an unanimous vote was found in favor of John Beckley. The oath to support the Constitution of the United States, as prescribed by the act, entitled "An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths," was then admin stered by Theodore Sedgwick, one of the Representatives for the State of Massachusetts, to the Speaker, and then by Mr. Speaker to all the members present, to wit; Nicholas Gilman, John S. Sherburne, Jeremiah Smith, Paine Wingate, Shearjashub Bourne, David Cobb, Henry Dearborn, Benjamin Goodhue, Samuel Holten, William Lyman, Theodore Sedgwick, George Thatcher, Artemas Ward, Amasa Learned, Uriah Tracey, Jonathan Trumbull, Jeremiah Wadsworth, Israel Smith, Theodorus Bailey, Ezekiel Gilbert, Henry Glenn, James Gordon, Silas Talbot, John E. Van Allen, Philip Van Cortlandt, Peter Van Gaasbeck, John Watts, John Beatty, Elias Boudinot, Lambert Cadwalader, Abraham Clark, Jonathan Dayton, James Armstrong, William Findley, Thomas Fitzsimons, Andrew Gregg, Thomas Hartley, William Irvine, John Wilkes Kittera, Peter Muhlenberg, Thomas Scott, John Smilie, George Dent, Samuel Smith, William B. Giles, Carter B. Harrison, John Heath, Richard Bland Lee, James Madison, Andrew Moore, Anthony New, John Nicholas, Francis Preston, Robert Rutherford, Abraham Venable, Francis Walker, Christopher Greenup, Thomas Blount, William Johnson Dawson, Matthew Locke, Nathaniel Macon, Alexander Mebane, William Smith, Abraham Baldwin, and Thomas P. Carnes. The same oath, together with the oath of office prescribed by the said recited act, were also administered by Mr. Speaker to the Clerk. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform this House that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and ready to proceed to business. And then he withdrew. Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate, to inform them that a quorum of this House is assembled, and have elected Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg their Speaker; and that the Clerk of this House do go with the said message. The House proceeded, by ballot, to the choice of a Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper, and Assistant Doorkeeper; and, upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes of the whole House was found in favor of Joseph Wheaton, as Sergeant-at-Arms, Gifford Dally, as Doorkeeper, and Thomas Claxton, as Assistant Doorkeeper. Ordered, That the said Joseph Wheaton, Gifford Dally, and Thomas Claxton, do severally give their attendance accordingly. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have appointed a committee, jointly, with such committee as may be appointed on the part of this House, to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communications he may think proper to make to them. And then he withdrew. Ordered, That Mr. Madison, Mr. Sedgwick, and Mr. Boudinot, be appointed a committee on the part of this House, for the purpose expressed in the message from the Senate. On motion, Resolved, That two Chaplains, of different "denominations, be appointed to Congress for the present session, one by each House, to interchange weekly. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. Mr. Madison, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communications he may think proper to make to them, reported that the committee had, according to order, performed that service; and that the President sig nified to them, that he would make a communication to both Houses of Congress, tomorrow, at twelve o'clock, in the Senate Chamber. On motion, Resolved, That a standing committee of elections be appointed, whose duty it shall be to examine and report upon the certificates of election, or other credentials of the members returned to serve in this House; and to take into their consideration all such matters as shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House, touching returns and elections, and to report their proceedings, with their opinion, thereupon, to the House. And a committee was appointed, of Mr. William Smith, Mr. Shearjashub Bourne, Mr. Irvine, Mr. Macon, Mr. Lee, Mr. Dayton, and Mr. Gordon, Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report such standing rules and orders of proceeding, as may be proper to be observed in this House; and a committee was appointed, of Mr. Trumbull, Mr. Jeremiah Smith, and Mr. Baldwin. On motion, Resolved, That the rules and orders of proceedings established by the late House of Representatives, shall be deemed and taken to be the rules and orders of proceeding to be observed in this House, until a revision or alteration of the same shall take place. On motion, Ordered, That the Clerk of this House cause the members to be furnished, during the present session, with three newspapers, such as the members, respectively, shall choose, to be delivered at their lodgings. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3. Two other members, to wit: Joseph M'Dowell and Benjamin Williams, from North Carolina, appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats in the House; the oath to support the Constitution of the United States being first administered to them by Mr. Speaker, according to law. On motion, Ordered, That William Constable and Company, and Rawleigh P. Downman, who severally presented a petition to the House, at the last session, have leave to withdraw the same. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate are now ready, in the Senate Chamber, to attend this House in receiving the communication from the President of the United States, agreeably to his notification to both Houses yesterday. And then he withdrew. The Speaker, attended by the members of this House, then withdrew to the Senate Chamber, for the purpose expressed in the message from the Senate, and being returned, Mr. Speaker laid before the House a copy of the speech delivered by the President of the United States to both Houses of Congress, in the Senate Chamber, as fol loweth : Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: Since the commencement of the term for which I have been again called into office, no fit occasion has arisen for expressing to my fellow citizens, at large, the deep and respectful sense which I feel, of the renewed testimony of public approbation- While, on the one hand, it awakened my gratitude for all those instances of affectionate partiality, with which I have been honored by my country; on the other, it could not prevent an earnest wish for that retirement, from which no private consideration should ever have torn me. But, influenced by the belief that my conduct would be estimated according to its real motives; and that the People, and the authorities derived from them, would support exertions, having nothing personal for their object, I have obeyed the suffrage which commanded me to resume the Executive Power; and I humbly implore that Being, on whose will the fate of nations depends, to crown with success our mutual endeavors for the general happiness. As soon as the war in Europe had embraced those Powers with whom the United States have the most extensive relations, there was reason to apprehend that our intercourse with them might be interrupted, and our disposition for peace drawn into question, by the suspicions too often entertained by belligerent nations. It seemed, therefore, to be my duty, to admonish our citizens of the consequences of a contraband trade, and of hostile acts to any of the parties; and to obtain, by a declaration of the existing legal state of things, an easier admission of our right to the immunities belonging to our situation. Under these impressions, the proclamation, which will be laid before you, was issued. In this posture of affairs, both new and delicate, I resolved to adopt general rules, which should conform to the treaties, and assert the privileges, of the United States. These were reduced into a system, which will be communicated to you. Although I have not thought myself at liberty to forbid the sale of the prizes, permitted by our treaty of commerce with France to be brought into our ports, I have not refused to cause them to be restored, when they were taken within the protection of our territory, or by vessels commissioned or equipped in a warlike form, within the limits of the United States. It rests with the wisdom of Congress to correct, improve, or enforce this plan of procedure; and it will probably be found expedient to extend the legal code, and the jurisdiction of the Courts of the United States, to many cases which, though dependent on principles, already recognised, demand some further provisions Where individuals shall, within the United States, array themselves in hostility against any of the Powers at war; or enter upon military expeditions or enterprises within the jurisdiction of the United States; or usurp and exercise judicial authority within the United States; or where the penalties on violations of the law of nations may have been indistinctly marked, or are inadequate; these offences cannot receive too early and close an attention, and require prompt and decisive remedies. Whatsoever those remedies may be, they will be well administered by the Judiciary, who possess a long established course of investigation, effectual process, and officers in the habit of executing it. In like manner, as several of the courts have doubted, under particular circumstances, their power to liberate the vessels of a nation at peace, and even of a citizen of the United States, although seized under a false color of being hostile property, and have denied their power to liberate certain captures within the protection of our territory; it would seem proper to regulate their jurisdiction in these points. But if the Execu tive is to be the resort, in either of the two last mentioned cases, it is hoped that he will be authorized by law to have facts ascertained by the courts, when, for his own infor mation, he shall request it. I cannot recommend to your notice measures for the fulfilment of our duties to the rest of the world, without again pressing upon you the necessity of placing ourselves in a condition of complete defence, and of exacting from them the fulfilment of their duty towards us. The United States ought not to indulge a persuasion, that, contrary to the order of human events, they will, forever, keep at a distance those painful appeals to arms, with which the history of every other nation abounds. There is a rank due to the United States among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war. The documents, which will be presented to you, will shew the amount, and kinds of arms and military stores now in our magazines and arsenals; and yet an addition, even to these supplies, cannot, with prudence, be neglected, as it would leave nothing to the uncertainty of procuring a warlike apparatus, in the moment of public danger. Nor can such arrangements, with such objects, be exposed to the censure or jealousy of the warmest friends of Republican Government. They are incapable of abuse in the hands of the Militia, who ought to possess a pride in being the depositary of the force of the Republic, and may be trained to a degree of energy equal to every military exigency of the United States. But it is an inquiry, which cannot be too solemnly pursued, whether the act "more effectually to provide for the national defence by establishing an uniform militia throughout the United States," has organized them so as to produce their full effect; whether your own experience, in the several States, has not detected some imperfections in the scheme; and whether a material feature in an improvement of it ought not to be, to afford an opportunity for the study of those branches of the military art which can scarcely ever be attained by practice alone? The connexion of the United States with Europe has become extremely interesting. The occurrences which relate to it, and have passed under the knowledge of the Executive, will be exhibited to Congress in a subsequent communication. When we contemplate the war on our frontiers, it may be truly affirmed that every reasonable effort has been made to adjust the causes of dissension with the Indians North of the Ohio. The instructions given to the Commissioners evince a moderation and equity, proceeding from a sincere love of peace, and a liberality, having no restriction but the essential interests and dignity of the United States. The attempt, however, of an amicable negotiation having been frustrated, the troops have marched to act offensively. Although the proposed treaty did not arrest the progress of military preparation, it is doubtful how far the advance of the season, before good faith justified active movements, may retard them during the remainder of the year. From the papers and intelligence which relate to this important subject, you will determine whether the deficiency in the number of the troops granted by law thall be compensated by succours of militia, or additional encouragements shall be proposed to recruits. An anxiety has been also demonstrated by the Executive for peace with the Creeks and the Cherokees. The former have been relieved with corn and with clothing, and offensive measures against them prohibited during the recess of Congress. To satisfy the complaints of the latter, prosecutions have been instituted for the violences committed upon them. But the papers which will be delivered to you disclose the critical footing on which we stand, in regard to both those tribes; and it is with Congress to pronounce what shall be done. After they shall have provided for the present emergency, it will merit their most serious labors to render tranquillity with the savages permanent, by creating ties of interest. Next to a rigorous execution of justice on the violators of peace, the esta blishment of commerce with the Indian nations, on behalf of the United States, is most Fkely to conciliate their attachment. But it ought to be conducted without fraudwithout extortion; with constant and plentiful supplies; with a ready market for the commodities of the Indians, and a stated price for what they give in payment, and receive in exchange. Individuals will not pursue such a traffic, unless they be allured by the hope of profit; but it will be enough for the United States to be reimbursed only. Should this recommendation accord with the opinion of Congress, they will recollect that it cannot be accomplished by any means yet in the hands of the Executive. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : The Commissioners, charged with the settlement of accounts between the United and individual States, concluded their important functions within the time limited by law; and the balances struck in their report, which will be laid before Congress, have been placed on the books of the Treasury. On the first day of June last, an instalment of one million of florins became payable on the loans of the United States in Holland. This was adjusted by a prolongation of the period of reimbursement, in nature of a new loan, at an interest of five per cent. for the term of ten years; and the expenses of this operation were a commission of three per cent. The first instalment of the loan of two millions of dollars from the Bank of the United States has been paid, as was directed by law. For the second, it is necessary that provision should be made. No pecuniary consideration is more urgent than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable. The productiveness of the public revenues, hitherto, has continued to equal the anticipations which were formed of it; but it is not expected to prove commensurate with all the objects which have been suggested. Some auxiliary provisions will, therefore, it is presumed, be requisite; and it is hoped that these may be made consistently with a due regard to the convenience of our citizens, who cannot but be sensible of the true wisdom of encountering a small present addition to their contributions, to obviate a future accumulation of burthens. But here, I cannot forbear to recommend a repeal of the tax on the transportation of public prints. There is no resource so firm for the Government of the United States as the affections of the People, guided by an enlightened policy; and to this primary good nothing can conduce more, than a faithful representation of public proceedings, diffused, without restraint, throughout the United States. An estimate of the appropriations necessary for the current service of the ensuing year, and a statement of a purchase of arms and military stores made during the recess, will be presented to Congress. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: The several subjects to which I have now referred, open a wide range to your deliberations, and involve some of the choicest interests of our common country. Permit me to bring to your remembrance the magnitude of your task. Without an unprejudiced coolness, the welfare of the Government may be hazarded; without harmony, as far as consists with freedom of sentiment, its dignity may be lost. But as the legis lative proceedings of the United States will never, I trust, be reproached for the want of temper or candor, so shall not the public happiness languish from the want of my strenuous and warmest co-operation. Philadelphia, December 3d, 1793. GEO. WASHINGTON. Ordered, That the said speech be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, who delivered in a copy of the proclamation, together with a copy of the rules prescribed by the President for the government of the Executive Officers, in executing the treaties between the United States and foreign Powers, referred to in the President's speech to both Houses. And then he withdrew. The said papers were read, and ordered to be committed to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the President's Speech to both Houses of Congress. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have agreed to the resolution of this House, for the appointment of two Chaplains to Congress, for the present session, and have elected the Right Reverend Bishop White, on their part. And then he withdrew. The House then proceeded by ballot to the appointment of a Chaplain to Congress, |