Gentlemen were inconsistent with themselves. They say the amendment will not have the effect, because moneyed men will come forward and prevent the Bank shares from being sold. How did gentlemen reconcile these opinions? At one moment, they wish the Bank stock to be sold; in the next, they say, it will not be sold. But, would this be the effect? On the contrary, he believed moneyed men would be glad of the low price, for the purpose of speculation, for they would be the purchasers. If the Bank were to urge payment, there were moneyed men in the country, who would buy up the stock, and make fortunes by it. But, says the gentleman from Pennsylvania, [Mr. SWANWICK,] the United States might hereafter buy them in again-so, that gentleman would have the Government turn speculators. Another curious argument. It was said the operation of this amendment would be, there would be no provision for the Bank at all. Then, what had they been doing? If the amendment was to prevent the sale of the Bank stock, it would leave the six per cent. in the same situation in which it went from that House to the Senate. and that was thought, by those gentlemen, a very ample provision. They appeared, by this assertion, to defeat their own arguments. He had already said that, if the six per cent. stock sold for nineteen shillings, there would be a loss of only five per cent; but if the Bank stock sold at par, there would be a loss of 33. Gentlemen say, the present price was only 27; he had no objection to the price being left blank, or to say the market price; but, to authorize the Commissioners to bring the whole to market, without limitation, was giving an authority which they ought not to give. Gentlemen said, they had confidence in the Commissioners; but, if they will not confide in them in one case, why in the other? He hoped the amendment would be agreed to, that the bill might not pass with so glaring an inconsistency on the face of it. The question was then put and negatived, 47 to 33. Mr. W. SMITH then moved to insert, "not under the market price." Mr. WILLIAMS said it appeared to him that, without the amendment, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund might bring the whole into the market at once, and by that means sink the price so much as not only to occasion considerable loss to the United States, but to individuals who might be obliged to sell their shares. But gentlemen said, if the amendment took place, it would defeat the bill, though it did not alter the ground upon which it originally went from the House to the Senate. With respect to the objections which gentlemen had to the bill, he believed this was not the foundation of them. The gentleman from Virginia [Mr. GILES] had said, he was always an enemy to the connexion between the Bank and Government as unconstitutional, but he believed the Legislature had determined otherwise. Mr. W. said, he would for a moment take a view of our affairs. A year or two ago, they were under [H. or R. every obligation to the Bank for money; and, while the war continued in Europe, they did not know how soon they might have occasion again to apply to the Bank for assistance. If any unforeseen circumstances should take place, which would have the effect to stop the source of our revenue, ought we, said he, to do anything which would arrest the whole power of Government in such a case? He hoped the amendment would be agreed to. Mr. SWANWICK said, the object of this bill was to pay the Bank-to give them fresh elasticity; But gentlemen say, shall the United States bring 5,000 shares of Bank stock into the market at once, though in the other case they should bring, instead of two millions, five millions of dollars six per cent. stock for sale? And was Bank stock only to be regarded? It was astonishing to see some gentlemen extremely anxious about the credit of the Bank stock, and perfectly easy about the credit of the United States. They were in difficulty. They must pay two millions. Their own stock will not sell at par, and it would surely be better to sacrifice a little on the advanced price of the Bank stock, than to do the most alarming and awful thing imaginable, viz: injure the credit of the United States, by holding up an idea of coining new stock, and selling it under the par price. The gentleman from South Carolina said that he had no objection to the insertion of "present market price," instead of "33 per cent." This would not be proper, because the price might possibly vary, even while the bill was passing, and it would be difficult to say what the present price was. Mr. MACON moved to strike out the word "present." It appeared to him that they had better sell the Bank stock which they held, than create new stock and sell it; for he believed, as stocks were now low, that if five millions of six per cents. were now brought into the market, they would not sell for more than from 15s. to 178. 6d. Mr. S. SMITH moved to strike out the whole of the present amendment, and insert "25 per cent." Mr. W. SMITH said, he had no great objection. He believed the present market price was about 27. The gentleman from Pennsylvania had said he had conversed with some of the Bank Directors, and that they had no objection to the Bank stock being sold. He did not know how that was, but he believed many gentlemen would be pleased if the whole of that stock should be brought into the market, that the price falling, they might have an opportunity of speculating; but, as guardians of the public interest, he trusted they should consider what was the best for the United States. Mr. HARPER hoped this amendment would not be agreed to. As they had rejected the only true criterion of the value of Bank stock, viz: 33, he would leave the sale unrestrained, as they had agreed that, if the six per cent. stock could not be sold at par, this should be sold. He though: both the determinations wrong, but he believed the present amendment would not make the matter better, but worse. H. OF. R.] Compensation to Marshals, &c. [MAY, 1796. Mr. H. said he had before lamented that it should After a little debate on the subject-in which have been thought necessary to make philippics Mr. THATCHER said it was in vain to pay any Atagainst the Bank. The gentleman from Virginia torney to recover duties in that State, since there [Mr. GILES] had told them that he hated the Bank. was not an honest man amongst them, in respect They all knew that five years ago. He called that to their duties, and Mr. GREENUP, from that State, institution "An union of moneyed interest to keep had replied to him, defending the conduct of the down the public opinion." He did not know what Governor and people of that State, and blaming he meant by this. He did not believe that the the revenue officers, the additional section was Bank could prevent that House or the Govern- agreed to, 37 to 27. ment from doing what they thought it proper to do. The question was taken by yeas and nays on the amendment, and negatived, 49 to 33. The Senate's amendment was then carried, 45 to 35. NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY. The Committee rose and reported. A message was received from the Senate informing the House that they had disagreed to the resolution to adjourn the two Houses on the 25th instant. The amendments of the Senate to the bill alter The following Message was received from the ing the time of holding the District Courts of VerPRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives : The measures now in operation for taking possession of the posts of Detroit and Michilimackinac, render it proper that provision should be made for extending to these places, and any others alike circumstanced, the civil authority of the Northwestern Territory. To do this will require an expense, to defray which the ordinary salaries of the Governor and Secretary of that Territory appear to be incompetent. The forming of a new county or new counties, and the appointment of the various officers, which the just exercise of Government must require, will oblige the Governor and Secretary to visit those places, and to spend considerable time in making the arrangements necessary for introducing and establishing the Government of the United States. Congress will consider what provision will in this case be proper. G. WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, May 25, 1796. The Message was read, and ordered to be referred to Mr. SITGREAVES, Mr. GREENUP, and Mr. REED. COMPENSATION TO MARSHALS, &c. The House went into a Committee of the Whole on the bill making additional compensation to Marshals, Jurors, Witnesses, &c., in the trials of persons concerned in the late insurrection. After Some observations on the subject-in which it was allowed the pay now given to such persons was far too low, but that there could be no good reason given for extending the provision to the late trials on account of the insurrection more than othersthe principle was at length agreed to, and a sum of $30,000 (according to the estimate of the Secretary of the Treasury) appropriated. Mr. W. SMITH read a letter which he had received from the Secretary of the Treasury, stating, that for want of a District Attorney in Kentucky, no duties could be collected; that the Governor himself refused to pay, and that the people sheltered themselves under his example. He proposed, therefore, that a clause should be added to this bill-as he doubted whether the report which had just been read respecting the District Attorneys would be got through this session-allowing the Attorney for that district a compensation which should induce him to prosecute the business. mont and Rhode Island were agreed to. The committee to whom was referred the Message of the PRESIDENT respecting an allowance to District Attorneys, reported, and recommended sums from $150 to $350 a year to be allowed to them, in addition to their fees. The report-after some objections on the ground of putting the cozsideratior. off till next session-was read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow. THURSDAY, May 26. Mr. TRACY reported a bill for the relief of John Sears; which was twice read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole to-day. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate insisted upon their disagreement to the bill altering the compensation of Clerks. A Committee of Conference was appointed on the subject of disagreement. On motion of Mr. S. SMITH, the House formed itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill providing passports for the ships and vessels of the United States; which was agreed to without amendment, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow. The House went into a Committee of the Whole on the bill to continue in force the acts therein mentioned, which they made one amendment in, and then rose. The House agreed to it, and ordered the bill to be engrossed for a third reading to-day; which it afterwards received, and passed. The House also considered, in Committee, the bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to lease certain salt springs in the Northwestern Territory. The blank which was to contain the term of the lease was filled with three years. The House agreed to it. It was ordered to have its third reading to-day; which it had, and passed. A message was received from the Senate informing the House that they disagreed to their amendment in the bill providing for the payment of certain Debts of the United States, and desired a conference thereon. A Committee of Conference was accordingly appointed. The House took up the amendments yesterday made in Committee of the Whole on the bill for satisfying certain demands occasioned by the trials during the late insurrection, for providing addi MAY, 1796.] Extra allowances to Clerks, &c. tional pay to Marshals, Jurors, and Witnesses, and to allow a further compensation to the District Attorney of Kentucky. They were agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read the third time to-day. It was afterwards read the third time and passed. [By this bill, an additional allowance of a dollar a day is made to Marshals, who had before five dollars; of one-and-a-half dollar to Grand and Petit Jurors, who had before only fifty cents; fifty cents to witnesses, who were before paid agreeably to the practice of each State; and two hundred dollars were allowed, in addition to his fees, to the District Attorney of Kentucky.] EXTRA ALLOWANCE TO CLERKS. After some debate upon the propriety of postponing the subject till next session, the House went into a Committee of the Whole on the bill making an extra allowance to certain clerks of public offices, and the widows of such as are deceased, who remained in Philadelphia during the yellow fever, together with the report of the Committee of Claims thereon, to whom the bill had been referred. The report stated that the objects of the present bill divided themselves into three classes, viz: the widows of such clerks as died in the calamity; such as remained to transact business which was necessary to be done, and could not be transacted at any other time; and such as remained to do business which, though of some importance, might have been done afterwards. With respect to the first, the committee had no doubt as to the justice of their claim with respect to the latter two classes, they were at a loss how to discriminate between them, and therefore had reported in favor of the whole. And yet they were aware it would be introducing a principle that would extend itself to New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, and New Haven, which had been visited by a similar calamity, and consequently bring forward a considerable number of claimants. The persons included in this bill were betwixt 60 and 70; and though $100 dollars each was only proposed to be allowed, it would make a considerable sum in the whole. [H. of R. Mr. SWANWICK denied the analogy of the two cases. When a soldier enlisted into the Army he knew he had risks to run-his business was to meet with danger; but these clerks entered into the service of Government with no such views, and might have fled, as their superiors did, when the danger appeared. War and pestilence, he said, could not be compared together. The Committee rose, and reported the bill thus amended; when Mr. BOURNE made a motion to postpone the further consideration of the subject till the first Monday in December, on the ground of giving further time for considering the subject, and because he thought some relief should be given to those persons who were at present struck out of the bill. Mr. SWANWICK opposed this, as he said the widows were in want of relief, and because a future bill might be brought in to afford compensation to the clerks who had been happy enough to survive the calamity. The postponement was, however, carried by a large majority.. MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT. Mr. S. SMITH, from the committee appointed to confer with the Senate on the subject of their disagreement with respect to the bill concerning the Military Establishment, made a report. The Senate have receded from their amendment in respect to having the usual complement of dragoons instead of two companies, and the House of Representatives have agreed to their amendment for retaining the Major General, with a provision that this act shall continue in force only till the 4th March next, (the day on which the next session of Congress closes.) JOHN CLEVES SYMMES. The House formed itself into a Committee of the Whole on the letter and report of the AtSymmes and his accociates, with respect to a contorney General on the petition of John Cleves tract made by them with the Government of the United States in 1792. By this contract, a mile square at or near the mouth of the Great Miami river was reserved to the use of the United States for the purpose of erecting thereon Fort Washington, (which is said now to be an improper situation,) provided a law was passed within two years from September 30, 1794, authorizing the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to locate the same. Mr. SWANWICK advocated, with all his force, the cause of these men who had remained, he said, at their stations when their superiors fled from the pestilence which threatened them, and which swept a number of the clerks away, whose widows and orphans were now left to lament their A resolution to that effect was therefore brought temerity. Mr. RUTHERFORD also plead their forward and agreed to. Mr. HENDERSON proposcause. Mr. HEATH and Mr. S. SMITH opposed ed two resolutions, which would have led to an the bill, as establishing too broad a principle, examination of the merits of the contract, which, whilst they had been obliged to turn a deaf ear to being of an intricate nature, was objected to, at the distressed widows and orphans of soldiers, and this late period of the session. The Committee that, as these persons had ro real claim upon rose, reported the resolution, and a comthem, they ought to be just before they were gen-mittee was appointed to bring in a bill. erous. At length, on motion of Mr. Corr, the A message from the Senate informed the House. first section of the bill was agreed to be struck that the Senate have passed a bill, entitled " An out, 35 to 25, and the other parts of the bill so al-act laying out into one State the territory eeded tered as to include the widows of such persons as died during the fever. Mr. S. SMITH approved of this measure, as being analogous to the relief granted to wounded soldiers or their widows; but therefore by the State of North Carolina to the United States, and providing for an enumeration of the free inhabitants thereof;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. H. OF. R.] Agent for Foreign Expenditures, &c. FRIDAY, May 27. [MAY, 1796. act a business with which he was utterly unacThe bill providing passports for ships and ves-quainted; that it would be the interest of such a sels of the United States was read a third time and passed. On motion of Mr. CHRISTIE, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the relief of John Sears; which was agreed to. It was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-day; which it afterwards received, and was passed. The House also considered, in Committee, the bill to satisfy the claim of Baron Steuben; which, being agreed to, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow. ADMISSION OF TENNESSEE. A bill from the Senate for laying out into one State the whole territory South of the Ohio, ceded by North Carolina to the United States, was read the first time. Mr. MACON moved to reject this bill, as being predicated on directly opposite ground from that on which that House had come to a resolution to admit the South western Territory as a State into the Union. This called forth considerable debate, but several of those who were averse to the bill expressing a wish that the bill might have a second reading, in order to be disposed of, the motion of rejectment was put and lost; when, on motion of Mr. GILES, the bill, together with the Message of the PRESIDENT relative to this subject, and the resolution entered into by that House, were ordered to be referred to a select committee of five members. COMPENSATION OF CLERKS. Power as much as it was to the interest of the Dutch merchants to keep up the foreign debt, (contrary to the wish of the Government, who were desirous of changing their foreign to domestic debt,) because, when it was done away, his office would cease; and that our Minister at the Hague might as well transact the business with the merchants at Amsterdam as any person sent for that express purpose. The motion was negatived; and then Mr. MACON moved that the further consideration of this question should be postponed till the first of December next; which was carried, yeas 40, nays 35, as follows: uel Benton, Nathan Bryan, Samuel J. Cabell, ThoYEAS.-Theodorus Bailey, Abraham Baldwin, Lemmas Claiborne, Isaac Coles, Jeremiah Crabb, Samuel Earle, William Findley, Jesse Franklin, William B. Giles, James Gillespie, Andrew Gregg, William B. Grove, Wade Hampton, Robert Goodloe Harper, John Hathorn, Jonathan N. Havens, John Heath, Daniel Heister, James Holland, Aaron Kitchell, Matthew Locke, Samuel Maclay, Nathaniel Macon, John Milledge, Andrew Moore, Anthony New, John Nicholas, Francis Preston, John Richards, Israel Smith, Richard Sprigg, jr., John Swanwick, Zephaniah Swift, Absalom Tatom, Abraham Venable, John Williams, and Richard Winn. lus Bradbury, Richard Brent, Joshua Coit, Wm. Cooper, NAYS. Thomas Blount, Benjamin Bourne, TheophiGeorge Dent, Abiel Foster, Dwight Foster, Albert Gallatin, Ezekiel Gilbert, Nicholas Gilman, Chauncey Goodrich, Roger Griswold, Carter B. Harrison, Tho's Henderson, William Hindman, John Wilkes Kittera, James Mr. W. SMITH, from the committee appointed William Vans Murray, John Reed, Samuel Sitgreaves, Madison, Francis Malbone, Frederick A. Muhlenberg, to confer with the Senate on the subject of their Nathaniel Smith, Isaac Smith, William Smith, Thodisagreement on the bill regulating the compen-mas Sprigg, George Thatcher, Richard Thomas, Mark sation of clerks, reported that the committee on the part of that House had receded from their amendment, (which was to allow one hundred dollars a year to such of the clerks in the office of the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives as were employed the whole year.) The House agreed to the report. AGENT FOR FOREIGN EXPENDITURES. Mr. W. SMITH said, that the Committee of Ways and Means had directed him to report the following resolution for the consideration of the House: "Resolved, That provision ought to be made for the appointment of an Agent or Commissioner to superintend the foreign expenditures of the United States, if the President of the United States shall find it necessary to employ such Agent or Commissioner." This motion occasioned considerable debate. It was asserted in support of it, that the Secretary of the Treasury had stated that such an agent was necessary to transact our money concerns in Holland, which was at present done by merchants residing there, who had an interest opposite to that of the United States. It was, on the contrary, arged that if such an agent were sent to Holland, he would still have to employ merchants to trans Thompson, Uriah Tracy, John E. Van Allen, Philip MILITARY AND NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS, "Resolved, That there ought to be appropriated for the sum already appropriated by law, during the prethe year 1796, for the Military Establishment, including sent year, dollars; for the Naval Department, dollars; and for the Military Pensions, dollars." Committee of Ways and Means were directed to The House agreed to the resolution, and the bring in a bill accordingly. CONTESTED ELECTION. port of the Committee of Elections on the petiThe House took up the consideration of the retion of MATTHEW LYON, complaining of an undue election and return of ISRAEL SMITH; and the chairman of the committee offering a resolution to the House declaring the election void, on motion, the decision of the House was postponed till to-morrow. AMY DARDIN'S HORSE. On motion of Mr. CLAIBORNE, the House formed itself into a Committee of the Whole on the report of the Committee of Claims on the petition of Amy Dardin, who prayed for compensation for a very valuable horse which had been impressed during the war. The report was against the petitioner, on the ground of the act of limitation barring the claim. The case appeared a hard one, as a widow and orphans were in want of the money; and several members having suggested that application had been made before the act of limitation took place, proof of which could be substantiated, the Committee rose, and the papers were re-committed to the Committee of Claims. SATURDAY, May 28. The bill for satisfying the claim of the representatives of the late Baron Steuben was read the third time and passed. Mr. SITGREAVES reported a bill to authorize the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to cause to be located one mile square of land at or near the mouth of the Great Miami river, reserved out of the grant of John Cleves Symmes; which was twice read, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-day, which it afterwards received and passed. (H. or R. On the conclusion of Mr. SwIFT's observations, Mr. GILES moved that this subject be postponed till Monday, to take up the matters in dispute betwixt the Senate and that House, which was agreed to. DEBTS OF THE UNITED STATES. to confer with the Senate on their disagreement Mr. GILES said, he should vote against concurring in this report. The provision, he said, for he did not think it would be sold. It had been selling the Bank stock, was merely nominal, for said that two millions would satisfy the Bank for the present; if this was so, (and it had been several times asserted on that floor) the CommissionMr. W. SMITH, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill making provision for ers being empowered to sell one half of the six the Military and Naval Establishments, and for per cent. stock below par, there would be no neother purposes; which was twice read, and order-cessity for having recourse to the Bank stock. ed to be committed to a Committee of the Whole to-day. There was another reason which had been strongly urged by the gentleman from PennsylA Message was received in writing from the ed to be sold under par, it would be the interest of vania, viz that if the six per cent, was not allowPRESIDENT informing the House that a further appropriation was necessary for the support of moneyed men to purchase it, rather than suffer the Bank stock to be sold. He thought the accomforeign correspondence. An estimate accompa-modation an unwise one, and should therefore nied the Message, by which it appeared that up- vote against it. He was of opinion, that, rather wards of $23,000 would be wanted, in addition to than have sold the Bank stock, there would have what had already been appropriated. The Mes- been means found of disposing of the six per cent. sage was read, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. A message was received from the Senate informing the House that the Senate had come to a resolution to authorize the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to close the present session on Wednesday next, the first of June. CONTESTED ELECTION. at par. Mr. GALLATIN said, so far as his own feelings went, it was with great reluctance that he agreed should be understood. They owed to the Bank to this regulation. It was proper their situation of the United States, to the Bank at New York, and to Holland, five millions of dollars, for which no provision was made. It was necessary, therefore, there should be an effective power given to The report of the Committee of Elections, to borrow this money. He had hoped the Bank whom was recommit'ed the petition of MATTHEW would not have required the whole of the money. LYON, complaining of an undue election and re- This he had before said; but, whilst they insisted turn of ISRAEL SMITH, for the State of Vermont, upon their money, it was the duty of Government recommending a resolution to the adoption of the to pay them. It was not only their duty to pay the House, declaring Mr. SMITH not to be entitled to Bank, but that institution would, at all events, be his seat, was taken up for consideration. The sit-paid; for the revenue of 1795, which came in the ting member spoke at considerable length on the subject, giving his reasons why the election should not be set aside, and Mr. SWIFT replied, explaining the motives which had influenced the decision of the Committee of Elections. Treasury during the present year, was already appropriated for that purpose, and the Secretary of the Treasury would be under the necessity of paying them out of that fund, if provision be not made in a different way. It had been said the |
