wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, to inform him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communication he may think proper to make to them. [DECEMBER, 1795. the United States being first administered to them by Mr. SPEAKER, according to law. Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform them that this House is now ready to Ordered, That Mr. MADISON, Mr. SEDGWICK, attend them in receiving the communication from and Mr. SITGREAVES, be appointed a committee the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, agreeaon the part of this House, for the purpose express-bly to his notification to both Houses yesterday; ed in the message of the Senate. and that the Clerk of this House do go with the said message. Petitions from sundry persons, praying to be appointed to the offices of Sergeant-at-Arms and Doorkeeper, were presented to the House and read: Whereupon, The Clerk accordingly went with the said message; and, being returned, The Senate attended and took seats in the The House proceeded, by ballot, to the choice House; when, both Houses being assembled, the of a Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper, and Assist-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES came into the ant Doorkeeper; and, upon examining the ballots, Representatives' Chamber, and delivered his a majority of the votes of the whole House was Speech to the two Houses. [For a copy of this found in favor of JOSEPH WHEATON, as Sergeant- Speech, see the Proceedings of the Senate, ante at-Arms, THOMAS CLAXTON, as Doorkeeper, and page 10.] THOMAS DUNN, as Assistant Doorkeeper. Ordered, That the said JOSEPH WHEATON, THOMAS CLAXTON, and THOMAS DUNN, do severally give their attendance accordingly. The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES then withdrew, and the two Houses separated. Ordered, That the Speech of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to both Houses be comap-mitted to a Committee of the Whole House toMorrow. Mr. MADISON, from the joint committee pointed 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 communication he may think proper to make to them, reported that the committee had, according to order, performed that service, and that the PRESIDENT signified to them that he would make a communication to both Houses of Congress tomorrow, at 12 o'clock, in the Representatives' Chamber. Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report such Standing Rules and Orders of proceeding as are proper to be observed in this House; and that Mr. MUHLENBERG. Mr. MURRAY, and Mr. BALDWIN, be the said committee. Resolved, That the Rules and Orders of proceeding, 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. A petition of Matthew Lyon, of the State of Vermont, was presented to the House and read, complaining of an undue election and return of ISRAEL SMITH, to serve as a member of this House for the said State. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on Elections; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House cause the members to be furnished, during the present session, with three newspapers, printed in this city, such as the members, respectively, shall choose, to be delivered at their lodgings: Provided. They do not exceed the price at which subscribers, citizens of Philadelphia, are furnished with them. his seat. WEDNESDAY, December 9. JAMES HILLHOUSE, from Connecticut, appeared, Resolved, That a Standing Committee of Elec-produced his credentials, was qualified, and took tions 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 touching returns and elections, and to report their proceedings, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. And a committee was appointed, of Mr. VENABLE, Mr. DENT, Mr. KITTERA, Mr. SwIFT, Mr. DEARBORN, Mr. HARPER, and Mr. BLOUNT. TUESDAY, December 8. Several other members, to wit: from Maryland, SAMUEL SMITH; from Virginia, RICHARD BRENT; and from Georgia, JOHN MILLEDGE, appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats in the House; the oath to support the Constitution of ADDRESS TO THE PRESIDENT. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the Speech of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to both Houses of Congress, Mr. MUнLENBERG in the Chair; when, the Speech being read, Mr. VANS MURRAY moved the following resolution : "Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that a respectful Address ought to be presented by the House of Representatives to the President of the United States, in answer to his Speech to both Houses of Congress, at the commencement of this session, containing assurances that this House will take into consideration the various and important matters recommended to their attention:" Mr. SEDGWICK seconded the motion. DECEMBER, 1795.] Committee of Claims. [H. of R. Mr. PARKER offered an amendment, which was special leave of the House, until the former is disposed seconded by Mr. MACON. The substance of this amendment was, to strike out all that part of the resolution which goes before the word assurances; in place of which, Mr. PARKER proposed to appoint a committee, who should personally wait on the PRESIDENT, and assure him of the attention of the House, &c., and concluding as above. Mr. P. had the highest respect for the PRESIDENT, but he had always disapproved of this practice of making out Addresses in answer to these Speeches, and of the House leaving their business to go in a body to present them. Last session, the framing of this Address had cost very long debates, and produced very great irritation. Some of the most disagreeable things that happened during the session occurred in these debates. He wished unanimity and the despatch of business, and so, could not consent that any Address should be drawn up, as he preferred ending the affair at once by sending a committee with a verbal answer. Mr. MURRAY replied, that the practice of drawing up such an Address was coeval with the Constitution. It was consistent with good sense; and he did not see that any arguments had been employed by the gentleman who spoke last against it. It was true that the House might send a verbal answer, and it was likewise true that the PRESIDENT might have sent them his Speech by his Secretary, without coming near them at all. He had come to Congress, and Mr. M. could perceive no impropriety in Congress returning the compliment by waiting on him. The Committee divided on the amendment proposed by Mr. PARKER. Eighteen members rose in support of it: so it was lost. The Committee then agreed to the resolution as offered by Mr. MURRAY. They rose, and the Chairman reported progress. The resolution was agreed to by the House. The next question was, of how many members the select committee should consist that were to be employed in framing a draft of the Address. The different numbers of five and three were proposed. A division took place on the former motion, when only thirty-one gentlemen rose in its favor. The motion for a committee of three members to report an Address was of course carried. Mr. MADISON, Mr. SEDGWICK, and Mr. SITGREAVES, were appointed. It was then moved that two Chaplains should be named, as usual; which was agreed to. A motion was next made for referring the PRESIDENT's Speech to a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Unjon. An explanation as to a point of order here took place between Mr. MUHLENBERG and Mr. SEDGWICK. The result was, that the Speech was referred to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. On account of some casual conversation, the SPEAKER then read a rule of the House, which is: “That the unfinished business in which the House was engaged at the time of the last adjournment shall have the preference in the orders of the day; and no motion on any other business shall be received, without of." A committee of three members was appointed to report the unfinished business of last session; and the House adjourned. THURSDAY, December 10. FRANCIS PRESTON, from Virginia, appeared was qualified, and took his seat. COMMITTEE OF CLAIMS. It was proposed and agreed to appoint a Committee of Claims. Seven members were named. Mr. TRACY, Chairman of the same committee in last Congress, was also first named this day. He rose, and observed, that he had been extremely hard employed last year, and had undergone much trouble about this business of claims. He would therefore, if agreeable to the House, be very glad of being left out of the nomination; and for that reason he objected to the motion. Mr. SEDGWICK wished the member to continue his services. These claims were now drawing to a conclusion. The task would not probably be so arduous as it had been. He thought that the House could not excuse Mr. TRACY, from his known abilities. Mr. GILES said, that Mr. TRACY was, perhaps, better qualified than any other member in the House for expediting that business. He had been at much trouble about it, for which the House were obliged to him. It was something of a systematic nature, and new members would not be able to go on it with the same degree of information and experience. The SPEAKER (Mr. DAYTON) remarked, that he had under the latter idea named the same gentlemen at this time as those who were in the last committee-only two members were not here, viz: Mr. MONTGOMERY and Mr. MEBANE, in the room of whom he had named Mr. HEISTER and Mr. MACON. Mr. HEATH, a member both of the old and new Committees of Claims, observed that he would very willingly be excused, if the sense of the House were in that way. At the same time, he came to Congress to do his duty and the business of his constituents, and if the House entertained an opinion that he ought to undertake the same office a second time, he had nothing to urge against it. The House divided on the question, whether Mr. TRACY should be a member of the Committee of Claims. It passed in the affirmative. Mr. CHRISTIE, another member of the old and new committees, then rose, and observed that, notwithstanding the negative passed on the proposal of Mr. TRACY, he should trouble the House with an application of the same nature upon his own account. The state of his health required that he should ride every morning, and the time necessary for despatching the business of the Committee of Claims put it out of his power to take the requisite exercise. On that account alone he begged the indulgence of the House. H. OF R.] Contested Election-President's Speech-Rules of the House. [DECEMBER, 1795. some of the resolutions required evidence before. the House proceeded on them. Mr. W. SMITH said, that the resolution for or Mr. TRACY attested that Mr. CHRISTIE had exerted himself very considerably to accelerate the business of the claims. He knew that the gentleman had suffered much in his health by that means.ganizing the militia did not require evidence. He should be very sorry to lose him as an assistant, for he had attended almost constantly last winter to the business. Sometimes want of health had indeed compelled him to be absent. The House agreed to the request of Mr. CHRIS TIE. The Committee of Claims, therefore, consists of Mr. TRACY, Mr. MALBONE, Mr. D. FOSTER, Mr. HEATH, Mr. MACON, Mr. HEISTER, and Mr. DUVALL. A message was received from the Senate, announcing the election of the Right Rev. Bishop WHITE as Chaplain on its part. Mr. W. SMITH presented a petition for Edmund Hogan, requesting to be admitted as Stenographer to the House. Mr. SMITH also moved that a committee should be appointed to receive proposals on that subject. Mr. W. SMITH, Mr. GILES, and Mr. SWIFT, were appointed a committee to this effect. CONTESTED ELECTION. | Mr. SWANWICK moved an additional resolution, which was for inquiring into the present situation of the American Navy. It was a point on which he felt himself extremely interested. Mr. BALDWIN made some remarks, wherein he alluded to the awkward outset of the House last session. They had been for three weeks before they could get at the papers laid on the table before them. He did not wish to see the House in the same situation, or to make such a beginning again. Mr. GOODHUE saw no use for hastening the resolutions on the Committee just now. The Committee rose. The CHAIRMAN reported that they had made some progress, but had come to no resolution. Mr. SWANWICK then moved that the resolutions read in the Committee on the state of the Union should be printed. He said that it was difficult for members to form an opinion upon them, without they had an opportunity of reading them. Mr. W. SMITH did not see the necessity for this The SPEAKER observed, that as they were only Mr. SITGREAVES presented a petition for John read in the Committee, and not regularly before Richards, of the county of Montgomery, claiming the House itself, to print them would be against a seat in the House. He had, as he alleged, been | order. legally elected, but James Morris, who is since dead, had obtained the return as member. Mr. S. | rule. moved that the petition be referred to the Committee on Elections. The motion was agreed to. Also a petition of Burwell Bassett, of the State of Virginia, complaining of an undue election and return of John Clopton, to serve as a member of this House, for the said State. Referred to the Committee of Elections. After the reception of several petitions of a private nature, the House went into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. MUHLENBERG in the Chair. PRESIDENT'S SPEECH. Mr. MACON objected to taking up the resolutions at all. He supposed them to be bottomed on the PRESIDENT's Speech, on which there is an order for a Committee of the Whole House. It would thence be improper to proceed with them till the Speech itself had been discussed. Mr. HILLHOUSE was of opinion that there was no occasion for being in such a hurry with printing the resolutions. The SPEAKER repeatedly observed that this whole conversation was irregular and improper, because there was in reality no question before the Mr. W. SMITH presented a set of resolutions, in House. He informed them that there was now a substance as follows: 66 Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, that more effectual provision ought to be made for organizing, disciplining, and arming, the Militia of the United States. "Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, that further provision ought to be made for the security of the frontiers, and for protecting the Indians against cer tain lawless inhabitants of the frontier. "Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, that provision should be made for supplying the necessities of the Indians in times of peace. "Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, that inquiry ought to be made whether further means should be provided to reinforce the provisions heretofore made for the extinction of the Public Debt. “Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, that an inquiry ought to be made into the state of the Mint, and whether any further provisions are necessary in that department. Mr. GILES thought it better to let these resolutions lie on the table for this day. He thought motion to adjourn. This was made by Mr. SMITH. Mr. SEDGWICK wanted him to withdraw it. He refused ; and the House, at half after twelve o'clock, adjourned. DECEMBER, 1795.] Chaplain-The Mint-Address to the President. [H. OF R. deration of members, and referred to a Committee | to be committed to the Committee of the Whole of the Whole House. This was agreed to, and, House on the state of the Union. on another motion, Monday was appointed for taking them up. CHAPLAIN TO THE HOUSE. THE MINT. A letter, enclosing some papers, was received from Mr. TIMOTHY PICKERING, Secretary of State. This communication regarded the Mint. It was moved to be referred to the Committee on the state of the Union. Mr. HILLHOUSE wished to know what it was about. The Clerk read the letter to the PRESIDENT, from Mr. WILLIAM HENRY DE SAUSSURE, late Director of the Mint, which stated it will, if properly supplied with bullion, be able to make a million and an half of dollars, in silver, and an It was next moved and resolved to proceed to the choice of a Chaplain. The SPEAKER directed the House to prepare their ballots. Mr. HILLHOUSE said that it would first be proper to make, as on former occasions, a nomination. The House consented, and Mr. HILLHOUSE named Dr. Ashbel Green. The SPEAKER then reminded the House that any other gentleman was at liberty to make what other nomination he should think fit. Mr. GILES and Mr. W. SMITH were appointed tellers. Sixty-equal value of bullion, in the course of a year, three were in favor of Dr. Green, besides seven scattering votes. He was declared duly elected. After transacting some other ordinary business, the House adjourned to Monday next, at 11 o'clock. MONDAY, December 14. Two other members, to wit: from Pennsylvania, THOMAS HARTLEY, and from Virginia, ANTHONY NEW, appeared, produced their credentials and took their seats. Mr. GILMAN, from the committee appointed to examine the Journal of the last session, and to report therefrom such matters of business as were then depending and undetermined; and also to examine and report such laws of the United States as have expired, or will expire before the next session, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. VENABLE, from the Standing Committee of Elections, reported, that the committee had, in part, examined the certificates and other credentials of the members returned to serve in this House, and had agreed to a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanying an account of the receipts and expenditures of the United States, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied with estimates of the sums necessary to be appropriated for the service of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six; also, statements of the application of certain sums of money granted by law; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. with as much copper as shall be necessary for circulation. The price of copper has risen, and from causes that are expected to be permanent. He therefore hinted that it might perhaps be proper to reduce the weight of the cent, to prevent its being melted down. The second paper read was a memorial from Mr. ELIAS BOUDINOT, present Director of the Mint, dated 3d of December current. Hestated various circumstances, from which the operation of coinage is, at present, in a state of suspense. The papers were referred to the Committee on the state of the Union, and, on motion by Mr. BOURNE, were ordered to be printed. ADDRESS TO THE PRESIDENT. Mr. MADISON, from the select committee appointed to draft an Address in answer to the Speech of the PRESIDENT, made a report, which was read by the Clerk. Mr. GILES moved that the usual number of copies of the Address should be printed for the use of the members. Mr. SEDGWICK objected, but with some degree of hesitation, because he could not distinctly charge his memory as to the accuracy of the circumstance which he was going to relate. It ran in his memory, that, on some former occasion, similar to the present, a printer got hold of one of these Addresses, printed for the use of members. He had published it, and some improper consequences ensued, but of which Mr. SEDGWICK had not a distinct recollection. He was rather averse to printing the draft of the Address, though he was not disposed to give the proposal a direct negative. Mr. GILES Considered the printing of such drafts as having been a common practice. Mr. PARKER said, that if the Address was to be considered as the work of the House, it would be improper to print it, because their only business The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter then was to wait upon the PRESIDENT with it. from the Secretary of War, accompanying sundry But as it was only the production of a select comstatements and reports relative to the present mili-mittee, it should be printed, that the members tary force of the United States; to the measures might read it, before they adopted it as their own. which have been pursued to obtain proper sites for With every proper feeling of respect for the genarsenals; to the measures which have been taken tlemen of that committee, he could not give up to replenish the magazines and military stores; his own opinion. He hoped that the draft would to the measures which have been taken for open-be referred to a Committee of the Whole House, ing a trade with the Indians; and to the progress made in providing materials for the frigates, and in building them; which were read, and ordered and when once corrected, and given in to the PRESIDENT, then let it be published as coming from the House. No member, from only hearing it H. OF R.] Private Claims-Rules of the House. read by the Clerk, would be able to tell whether or not he approved entirely of its contents, so that it was requisite to print it, before the House could be sure that they understood it. Mr. GILES wished to learn, from the Clerk of [DECEMBER, 1795. again, which was done, partly by the Chairman, and partly by the Clerk of the House. The following clause was the first in any ways objected to: the House, what the practice of the House hith-had before been read to the House, and the same is ob"When the reading of a paper is called for, which erto had been. It appeared that the usual practice was to print, but that it was sometimes departed from. Mr. W. SMITH said that it was wrong to divulge to the public the particular sentiments of the gentlemen who drew up the sketch of the Address. It was unfinished, and as such, if printed for the use of the members, it might be printed in the newspapers, a natural or probable effect. Mr. SWANWICK recommended the printing. Mr. PARKER, in reply to Mr. W. SMITH, hoped that nothing would ever be done in the House tending to infringe the freedom of the public are entitled to know the sentiments of the press. The Committee individually, as well as of the House collectively. Mr. TRACY said that the draft of the Address had indeed been last year printed for the use of members. But it had been agreed, without one dissenting voice, that to print it in the newspapers would not be right. Nay, when he himself had in the House expressed apprehensions on that head, a printer of one of the papers had taken him up in a reply, and assured him that the printers of Philadelphia had too much value for the time of their readers to publish any paper which they knew to be incomplete, and on the point of being perfected. As to the liberty of the press, which the member last up had spoken about, it might be in greater danger now than last year, but he was not acquainted with its being so. It was then unanimously agreed to print this paper for the use of the members; and, on motion of Mr. PARKER, it was referred to a Committee of the Whole House. To-morrow was agreed upon for taking it up. PRIVATE CLAIMS. On a motion from Mr. TRACY, the House took up a report from the Committee of Claims, which was read, and which stated, that at the rising of last session, many petitions had never been examined, from their having been presented at so late a period, that time was wanting to go through with them. The report closed with recommending the adoption of a resolution, the substance of which was, that these unexamined claims be recommended to a new Committee of Claims. This recommendation was agreed to. RULES OF THE HOUSE. A motion was made that the House should go into Committee of the Whole, on the report from the Select Committee on the Standing Rules and Orders of the House. This was accordingly done, Mr. MUHLENBERG in the Chair. The Chairman inquired if it was the pleasure of the Committee that this report should be read over again, as a printed copy was already in the hands of every gentleman. It was the sense of the House that the report should be read over vote of the House." jected to by any member, it shall be determined by a stand thoroughly the intent of this clause. The SPEAKER, (Mr. DAYTON,) did not under A member explained that formerly the custom had been to read any paper as often as it was desired by a member. The consequence was found to be, that papers of more length than importance had been read over and over again, in the course in question was one of those of last session. of a session, to the great waste of time. The rule The SPEAKER replied that papers had sometimes much better not have been read at all. He referbeen read, which, as it appeared afterwards, had red to a particular instance in the last session. He, therefore, highly approved the idea of the Committee, but objected that it did not go far the words in italicks, by which means, if the paenough. He, on this account, proposed to strike out per was of an improper description, even a first reading would be prevented. The member, if he has any doubts, may communicate its contents to some other gentleman, previous to his laying it before the House, and, if it appears improper, the nature of its contents being thus indirectly conveyed, members can easily form their minds, without the trouble of reading it. DAYTON, which was agreed to by the Committee. Mr. GILES approved the proposition of Mr. The words in italicks were thus to be struck out. Mr. W. SMITH moved to strike out the following clause: No committee shall sit, during the sitting of this House, without special leave." Mr. SMITH had no objection to the rule, if the House seriously intended to adopt and enforce it; but if they did not, it was diminishing the respect due to the House. It was entirely improper to make rules, knowing that they would be broken. He moved to strike out the clause only that he might obtain the sense of the House whether they chose to adhere to the rule or not. We might as well have no rules as not observe them. Mr. MUHLENBERG remarked that the Committee on Enrolled Bills, from the nature of their business, can only sit while the House itself is sitting. Mr. KITCHELL said that if the House were to have no rules made, but such as were never broken, they would have no rules at all, for he believed that they never made a rule, which was not transgressed on some occasion or other. He was for keeping in the clause. Mr. DAYTON was for leaving it in the power of the SPEAKER to send for committees into the House when they might be wanted. Excepting as to the case of Enrolled Bills, already noticed by the Chairman, others very seldom had occasion to sit, while the House was sitting. But when such a |