VERMONT. A message from the President of the United State, informing the House that he had received documents expressing the consent of the Legislatures of New York and of the Territory of Vermont, that the said Territory be admitted as a distinct member of the Union. Ordered, That this message, and the documents accompanying it, be referred to Messrs. LAWRENCE, BOUDINOT, and CArroll. PROCESS IN COURTS. Mr. SEDGWICK, from the committee appointed for that purpose, reported a bill to continue in force, for a limited time, the act regulating processes in the Federal Courts; which was twice read and committed. BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. On motion of Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, a committee of three was appointed to prepare and bring in a bill supplementary to an act for incorporating the subscribers to the Bank of the United States. Messrs. SMITH, of South Carolina, WILLIAMSON, and STONE, are the said committee. TREASURY DEPARTMENT. Mr. BOUDINOT gave notice, that to-morrow he should move, that a committee be appointed to bring in a bill supplementary to an act for establishing the Treasury Department. THURSDAY, February 10. NEXT MEETING OF CONGRESS. The bill to fix the time of meeting for the next Congress was read the third time, and, on motion, laid on the table. ENCOURAGEMENT OF LEARNING. The bill to increase the penalties contained in an act, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning," was read a second time, and referred to a Committee of the whole House on Monday next. PROCESS IN COURTS. The bill to continue the act, regulating processes in the Courts of the United States, was read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. Mr. BOUDINOT's motion of yesterday was taken up, and a committee consisting of Messrs. BOUDINOT, FITZSIMONS, and AMES, was appointed to prepare and bring in a bill, supplementary to the act, establishing the Treasury Department. Ön motion, a committee, consisting of Messrs. BOURNE, SHERMAN, and THATCHER, was appointed to consider and report what alteration may be proper in the act, imposing duties on imports and tonnage, in respect to the Rix-dollar of Denmark, rated therein at one hundred cents. DEBT DUE TO FOREIGN OFFICERS. The House then resolved itself into Committee of the whole, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair, [H. OF R. and took into consideration the bill authorizing the President of the United States to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid and discharged. The bill being gone through with, the committee rose, and reported the same without any amendment. The bill was agreed to by the House, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. LAND OFFICES. The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the whole, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair, and took into consideration the bill establishing offices for granting lands within the territory of the United States. The committee agreed to sundry amendments-then rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again. Mr. SMITH, from the committee appointed for that purpose, reported a bill supplementary to an act for incorporating the subscribers to the Bank of the United States; which was read twice and committed. FRIDAY, February 11. SUNDRY BILLS PASSED. The engrossed bill, to continue in force, for a limited time, an act to regulate process in the Courts of the United States; The bill authorizing the President of the United States to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid and discharged: And The bill to alter the time of the meeting of the next session of Congress (to meet on the first day of November next) were severally read the third time, and passed. COMPENSATION TO CLERKS, &c. Mr. SEDGWICK, from the committee appointed for that purpose, presented a bill providing compensation for Clerks, Marshals, and Jurors; which was twice read and committed. WAR DEPARTMENT. On motion, Messrs. FITZSIMONS, PARKER, and GILMAN, were appointed a committee to report whether any, and what, further provision is necessary to secure the due accounting of the moneys expended in the Department of War. LAND OFFICES. The House again resolved itself into Committee of the whole on the bill to establish offices for the purpose of granting lands within the Territories of the United States, Mr. BouDINOT in the chair. After some time, the mittee rose, and reported several amendments to the House, which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. com Business of a private nature occurring, the galleries were cleared and closed. SATURDAY, February 12. Sundry petitions were presented, and referred. Mr. SHERMAN, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of the public creditors holding loan office certificates for money lent to the United States, between September, 1777, and March 1778, made a Report, which was laid on the table. VERMONT. LAND OFFICES. [FEB. 15, 1791. The House resumed the consideration of the amendments proposed by the Committee of the whole, in the bill to establish land offices in the A message from the Senate informed the Territories of the United States, which they House that they had passed a bill for the ad-got through, and made some additional amendmission of the State of Vermont into the Union; ments; but adjourned before the bill was completed. also, a bill regulating the number of Representatives to be chosen by the States of Kentucky and Vermont. Both these bills were read twice and committed. LAND OFFICES. The House took up for consideration the Report of the Committee of the whole on the bill for establishing land offices; but the House adjourned before it got through them. MONDAY, February 14. COURT OF LONDON. The following message was received from the President of the United States: UNITED STATES, February 14, 1791. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: Soon after I was called to the administration of the Government, I found it important to come to an understanding with the Court of London, on several points interesting to the United States; and particularly to know whether they were disposed to enter into arrangements, by mutual consent, which might fix the commerce between the two nations on principles of reciprocal advantage. For this purpose, I authorized informal conferences with their Ministers; and from these, I do not infer any disposition, on their part, to enter into any arrangements merely commercial. I have thought it proper to give you this information, as it might, at some time, have influence on matters under your consideration. GEO. WASHINGTON. TUESDAY, February 15. THOMAS SUMTER, from South Carolina, appeared and took his seat. Sundry Reports from the Secretary of War, on petitions referred to him, were read, and laid on the table. The Report in favor of Joshua Barney, was agreed to; and Messrs. FITZSIMONS, SMITH, of Maryland, TRUMBULL, GOODHUE, and CADWALADER, were appointed to bring in a bill to carry the Report into effect. A Report was received from the Secretary of the Treasury recommending a temporary allowance to the Commissioners of Loan-offices for extra services, which was ordered to lie on the table. NEW REVENUE BILL. The House resumed the consideration of the bill to establish land offices for the purpose of granting lands within the Territories of the United States. The bill being gone through, Ordered, That the said message do lie on the a motion was made to add to the end of the setable, but afterwards referred to Messrs. GooD-cond section the following proviso: HUE, MADISON, FITZSIMONS, BOURNE, LAWRENCE, VINING, and SMITH, of South Carolina. On motion, Messrs. MADISON, WADSWORTH, and LEONARD, were appointed a committee to bring in a bill to explain so much of the act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States as imposes a duty on imported lead and calicoes. Also, Messrs. SEDGWICK, BENSON, and STURGES, were named a committee to bring in a bill to give effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Vermont. NEW REVENUE BILL. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate had passed the new revenue bill, with several amendments, to which they request the concurrence of this House; and that they have also passed the bill to continue in force, for a limited time, the act to regulate processes in the Courts of the United States. Provided always, That any purchaser of lands, when the payment thereof shall be due, may proffer in payment any of the certificates of the funded debt of the United States, at the same rate as the Treasurer shall have allowed for such certificates, respectively, in the last purchase which he shall have made thereof, prior to such payment. Which was carried 34 votes to 21. YEAS.---Messrs. Ames, Ashe, Baldwin, Bloodworth, Boudinot, Bourne, Burke, Cadwalader, Carroll, Fitzsimons, Gale, Gerry, Gilman, Goodhue, Griffin, Giles, Hathorn, Heister, Jackson, Lee, Livermore, Madison, Matthews, Moore, Sevier, Sherman, Sinnickson, Smith, of Maryland, Sumter, Thatcher, Tucker, White, Williamson, and Wynkoop.—34. NAYS.--Messrs. Benson, Brown, Clymer, Contee, Floyd, Foster, Hartley, Huntington, Lawrence, Leonard, P. Muhlenberg, Partridge, Rensselaer, Scott, Sedgwick, Seney, Sylvester, Smith, of South Carolina, Stone, Trumbull, and Vining-21. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amend FEB. 19, 1791.] Proceedings. ments, be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. The SPEAKER having informed the House, that he had some private communications to make, the galleries were cleared. WEDNESDAY, February 16. Mr. MADISON, from the committee appointed to inquire into the administration of the late superintendence of finance, made a Report, which was ordered to lie on the table. Mr. FITZSIMONS, from the committee appointed for that purpose, presented a bill to compensate Joshua Barney for expenses incurred in effecting his escape from captivity; which was twice read and committed. LAND OFFICES. [H. OF R. A motion was made, and the question being put, to amend the said amendment, by striking out the whole of the sixty-first section, in the words following, to wit: And be it further enacted, That the prosecution for all fines, penalties, and forfeitures, incurred by force of this act, and for all duties payable in virtue thereof, and which shall not be duly paid, shall and may be had before any Justice of the Peace, or Court of any State, of competent jurisdiction, or Court of the United States, of the District in which the cause of action shall arise, with an appeal as in other cases: Provided, That where the cause of action shall exceed in value fifty dollars, the same shall not be cognizable before a Justice of the Peace only: It was resolved in the affirmative. And then the main question being put, "That the House do agree to the said amendment of the Senate, as now amended?" It was resolved in the affirmative, 35 votes to 21. The engrossed bill for establishing offices for the purpose of granting lands within the Territories of the United States, was read the third time, and passed. The principal blank, the price of the land, was filled with twenty-lows: five cents hard money, per acre. THURSDAY, February 17. Mr. SEDGWICK, from the committee appointed for that purpose, presented a bill giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Vermont; which was twice read and committed. NEW REVENUE BILL. On motion, the Committee of the whole to whom had been committed the proposed amendments of the Senate to the new revenue bill, were discharged from the consideration of them. The House proceeded to consider the said amendments, some of which were agreed to, others amended and agreed to, and others disagreed to. The further consideration of the subject was postponed till to-morrow. FRIDAY, February 18. A message was received from the President of the United States informing the House, that he had received from the Secretary of State an account of the Proceedings of the Governor of the Western Territory, respecting certain settlements on the lands in that country. The papers accompanying this message were read, and laid on the table. Sundry petitions were read and referred. NEW REVENUE BILL. The House resumed the consideration of the amendments proposed by the Senate to the new revenue bill. The yeas and nays being taken, were as fol AYES.-Messrs. Ames, Baldwin, Benson, Bourne, Cadwalader, Carroll, Clymer, Contee, Fitzsimons, Foster, Gale, Gerry, Gilman, Goodhue, Griffin, Giles, Schureman, Sedgwick, Seney, Sevier, Sherman, Huntington, Lawrence, Lee, Leonard, Madison, Sylvester, Sinnickson, Smith, of Maryland, Smith, of South Carolina, Sturges, Sumter, Trumbull, Wads worth, and Wynkoop.-35. NAYS.-Messrs. Ashe, Bloodworth, Boudinot, Burke, Floyd, Hartley, Hathorn, Heister, Livermore, Matthews, Moore, Muhlenberg, Parker, Par tridge, Rensselaer, Scott, Steele, Thatcher, Tucker, White, and Williamson.--21. And then the House having proceeded further in the consideration of the Senate's amendments, an adjournment was called for and carried. SATURDAY, February 19. VERMONT. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole on the bill for giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Vermont, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair. The committee, after some time, rose and reported the bill to the House with an amendment, which being agreed to, the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. KENTUCKY AND VERMONT. The House then went into a Committee of the whole on the bill regulating the number of Representatives to be chosen by the States of Kentucky and Vermont, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair. The committee reporting the bill to the House without amendment, on motion, it passed its third reading. NEW REVENUE BILL. The amendment to the sixty-first section, for striking out the words "any Justice of the Peace, or Court of any State, of competent juThe House resumed the consideration of the risdiction;" and also the proviso, and to substi-proposed amendments of the Senate to the new tute the word "the," in lieu of the words first revenue bill. A motion was made, and the stricken out, being read, question being put, to amend the section pro H. OF R.] Proceedings. [FEB. 22, 1791. A motion to fill up the blank with $896 was negatived; and the motion to engross the bill for a third reading was negatived. So the bill was rejected. posed by the Senate to be inserted, by way of reported the bill with an amendment to the amendment, after the sixty-first section, by | House. striking out the following words: "five per cent. of the said product computed throughout the United States; and such allowance shall continue to be paid until altered by law;" and inserting in lieu thereof the words, "seven per cent. of the whole product of the duties arising from the spirits distilled within the United States; and such allowances shall continue to be paid for the space of two years, unless sooner altered by law:" It was resolved in the affirmative-34 votes to 20. The yeas and nays being taken, were as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Ashe, Baldwin, Bloodworth, Boudinot, Bourne, Brown, Burke, Carroll, Contee, Floyd, Gilman, Griffin, Grout, Giles, Hartley, Hathorn, Heister, Jackson, Lee, Livermore, Matthews, Moore, P. Muhlenberg, Parker, Rensselaer, Scott, Seney, Sevier, Sylvester, Smith, of Maryland, Sumter, Tucker, Vining, and White.--34. NAYS.-Messrs. Ames, Benson, Cadwalader, Clymer, Fitzsimons, Foster, Gerry, Goodhue, Huntington, Lawrence, Leonard, Partridge, Schureman, Sherman, Sinnickson, Smith, of South Carolina, Stur. ges, Thatcher, Trumbull, and Wynkoop.--20. And the main question being put on the amendment as amended, it was agreed to. And the House agreeing to all the other amendments proposed, the Clerk was directed to inform the Senate therewith. MONDAY, February 21. The engrossed bill giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Vermont was read the third time, and passed. Mr. GOODHUE, from the committee to whom was referred the message from the President of the United States of the 14th instant, made a Report, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. COMPENSATION TO JUDICIAL OFFICERS. The House went into a Committee of the whole on the bill providing compensation for Clerks, Marshals, and Jurors, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair. The committee having made an amendment to the bill, reported it to the House; when, on motion, the bill, with the proposed amendment, was recommitted to Messrs. SHERMAN, BENSON, SENEY, WHITE, and LIVER MORE. PUBLIC DEBT. Mr. MADISON, from the committee appointed for that purpose, presented a bill making fur ther provision for the payment of the debts of the United States; which was twice read, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. JOSHUA BARNEY. The House went into a Committee of the whole on the bill to compensate Joshua Barney, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair. The committee Some business occurring which required secrecy, the galleries were cleared. TUESDAY, February 22. The engrossed bill to explain and amend the the debts of the United States, was read the act making further provision for the payment of third time, and passed. DUTY ON TEAS. Mr. SEDGWICK, from the committee appointed for that purpose, presented a bill making further provision for the collection of the duties imposed on teas, which was twice read and committed. TREASURY DEPARTMENT. Mr. BOUDINOT, from the committee appointed for that purpose, presented a bill supplementary to the act establishing the Treasury Department, which was twice read and committed. Mr. FITZSIMONS, from the committee appointed to report whether any further provision be necessary to secure the due accounting for the moneys expended in the Department of War, made a Report, in which he recommended the appointment of a Paymaster. Ordered, 'To lie on the table. BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole on the bill supplementary to the act to incorporate the Bank of the United States, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair. The committee made several amendments to the bill, which were reported and agreed to by the House. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. The amendments were as follows: the first section of the bill should be expunged; Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, moved that and proposed the following in substance, as a substitute, viz: that subscriptions for the Bank should not be opened till the first Monday in July next, and that the first payment in the six per cents of the United States may be deferred till the first Monday in January next. This was agreed to. A clause to prohibit any person or body politic, except on behalf of the United States, from subscribing within three months from the said first day of July, more than one day, was agreed to. shares in A clause proposed by Mr. FITZSIMONS, enjoining the payment of the specie proportion of the subscription at the time of subscribing, and subjecting the subscribers to a forfeiture of the said first payment, in case the subsequent payments are not made, was also agreed to. Mr. MADISON proposed a clause, in sub stance making it optional with the subscribers to pay their subscription either in the three or six per cents, both of the Continental and assumed debt; the three per cents, at two for one of the six per cents. Agreed to. NEW REVENUE BILL. The amendments to the bill laying a duty on distilled spirits, &c. which had been disagreed to by the Senate, were taken into consideration. The first amendment to which the Senate had disagreed, respected the limitation of the compensation of the officers to two years; they proposed a substitute, by which the provision was to continue till altered by law. After some debate, the question for agreeing to the amendment of the Senate was negatived-yeas 24, nays 36. The House then voted to insist on their amendments. The House concurred in the other amendments. MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.. A message was received from the Senate informing the House, that they have negatived the bill determining the time of the next meeting of Congress; also communicating a vote of the Senate, in which they request the concurrence of this House, for transmitting to the President of the National Assembly of France, a Resolution expressive of the sensibility of the Legislature of the United States at the very respectful attention paid by that free and enlightened Assembly to the memory of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. The Report of the committee on the message of the President of the United States of the 14th instant, was read the second time. A motion to refer this Report to a Committee of the whole was superseded by the call for an adjournment, which took place. WEDNESDAY, February 23. BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. The engrossed bill, supplementary to the act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States, was read the third time, and passed. LATE DR. FRANKLIN. The House proceeded to consider the Resolution sent from the Senate for their concurrence, yesterday, expressing the sensibility of Congress to the tribute paid to the memory of the late Dr. Franklin by the National Assembly of France; and agreed thereto. COMMISSIONERS OF LOANS. [H. OF R. passed the bill giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Vermont, with an amendment, to which they desire their concurrence. NEXT MEETING OF CONGRESS. Ordered, That Messrs. SMITH, of South Carolina, LAWRENCE, and VAN RENSSELAER, be a committee to prepare a bill fixing a time for the next annual meeting of Congress. NEW REVENUE BILL. Another message from the Senate informed the House that they insist on their amendment to the new revenue bill, to which this House have disagreed, and propose a conference. The conference was acceded to. COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE. The House then proceeded to consider the Report of the committee to whom was referred the message of the President of the United States of the 14th instant. Whereupon, it was ordered, that said Report be referred to the Secretary of State, and that he be directed to report to Congress the nature and extent of the privileges and restrictions of the commercial intercourse of the United States with foreign nations, and such measures as he shall think proper to be adopted for the improvement of the commerce and navigation of the United States. Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, reported a bill, to determine the day of the next meeting of Congress, which, after a first and second reading, was ordered to be engrossed. THURSDAY, February 24. COMPENSATION TO JUDICIAL OFFICERS. Mr. SHERMAN, from the committee to whom was recommitted the bill making compensation to Clerks, Marshals, and Jurors, presented an amendatory bill providing compensation for the officers of the several Courts of Law, and for jurors and witnesses; which was twice read and committed. RIX-DOLLAR. for that purpose, presented a bill repealing so Mr. BOURNE, from the committee appointed much of an act as establishes the rate of the Rix-dollar of Denmark, which was twice read and committed. COMMISSIONERS OF LOANS. Mr. WILLIAMSON, from the committee apThe House took up and concurred with the pointed for that purpose, presented a bill makReport of the Secretary of the Treasury pro-ing compensations to the Commissioners of posing to make certain additional allowances to Loans for extraordinary services and expenses, the Commissioners of Loans; and appointed which was read the first time. Messrs. WILLIAMSON, PARTRIDGE, and WHITE to bring in a bill to effect this object. A message from the Senate informed the House that they decline passing the bill to authorize the President to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid; and that they have NEXT MEETING OF CONGRESS. The engrossed bill fixing the time for the next annual meeting of Congress, (the blank being filled with the fourth Monday in October next,) was read the third time, and passed. |