CONGRESS
' " Monday, November 13.
This bting the d..y appointed by law ,
for the reassembling of tne present ou-
gress,at their secorfd Session, tne louow
ng proceedings took place in the two
Houses respectively c
IN -SENATE. , ,
The aident; of the Senate pro tem
pore, Mr. Gaillard having taken the chair,
and the roll being called' it appearedthere
were 33 members present. , I
The new members having qualified
and taken their seats, they were classed,
by lot, as usual. It so fell out, that the
terra of service of Mr. Holmes will ex-
rur on tVip 5?d tfl Marrh npt. anrl (that
of Mr. Chandler on the 3d of March two
years thereafter, -IV . , - .
Mr..Kin of Alabama, moved the ap
pointment of a committee to acquaint the
President of the United States of the,
organization of the Senate, and-of its
readiness to receive any communication
from him ; whereupon, .r t
Messrs. King of, Alabama and Macon
Were appointed, i ' , " - ' J rc
Mr. Wilson was appointed on the
committee of enrolled bills, on the part of
the Senate ; and,;;
The orders usual at. the commence
ment of the Session having been made ;
The Senate adjourned, i
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
. Ati 12 o'clock precisely the Clerk in
vited the House to come to order, and
on calling over the Roll it appeared that
there were 134 members presaut. ; -fThe
Clerk' having announced ; that' a
quorum of the house was present,': said,
that he had received a letter from the
Hon. Henry Clay, late speaker of the
House, whkh, ;with the leave of the
House, he read-as follows : '
; Lexington, (Ky ) Oct. 28, 1820.
Sir I will thank you to communi
Cite to the House of 'Representatives,
that, owing to imperious circumstances,
1
shall not be able to attend upon WidjiUl
atter the unnstmas tioiiuays, anu toire
ipectfullyaijk it to allow me to resign
the office of its Speaker, which I have
the honor toe hold and. t consider this as
the act of my resi2tiatioiT: 1 beg the
House also to permit hie to reiterate the
expression of my sincere acknowledg
ments and " unaffected gratitude for the
distinguished consideration which it has
unilormly manifested for me. -
1 have the honor to ;be, with great es
teem, your faithful and obedient servant,
HENRY CLAY.
Thomas Dougherty, Esq.
Qlerk of the House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr. Newton, the letter
.was ordered, to lie on the table, and to
be inserted in the Journal of the House.
On motion of Mr. Newton, the House
then proceeded to the election of a Spea
ker. .. , '
The Clerk declared, that, as this was
n Election to bei made from amongst
m- mbers of the lluse no previous nom
Liafion was necessary. ! No nomination,
r v I ... ' . 4 "
Mess rs, N ewtpn an d i M 6sel ey being
appointed a com.mittee' to count the bal
lots, reported that the votes . were
tor John I ay lor
V Fcr. WUliaui. Lowndes ;
..' For Samuel Smith
FoFJobn Sergeant ,
For Hugh Nelson
Scattering w -r
40
31
27
18
10
3
A
Sixiy seven votes being necessary
to
a choice and no member having the.
re-
qmsite raajority,a seconu panoi toon
.... ii. .
place ; and the votes wei
ported : : : V
For Mr. Taylor .
, Fbr Mr. Lowndes
o:r';:For.51r;:Smith;;;.:;:i.
For Mr. Sergeant
Scattering , '.
N Mioiee being yet made,
49 ?
, 44
25
13
l;j.
the House
proc ded to a further ballot, iWhen the
votes iven in were as follows :
.-' For Mr. Lowndes : - 56
For Mr. Taylor 50
For Mr. Smith lG
k For Mr. Sergeant I " , .' 11
Scattering I ' 1
, Nu choice having been yet made, the
House proceeded to ballot a fourth time
wnen me loiiowmc1 result was re
ported : ; ' ,
1 For Mr. Lowndes
61
60
11
For Mr. Taylor
For Mr. Smith
Scattering
'3
No one having yet a majority Vbf all
the votes, a fifth ballot took place which
resulted as follows :
For Mr. Taylor j
65
63
For Mr. Lowndes
For Mr. Smith
7
Scattering
A motion was then
House do now adjourn ;
made that the
and the ques-
tion thereon being put by
tne Clerk, it
was decided in the negative.
The House then proceeded to ballot
sixth time, ana tjie votes- being counted
-Stood thus
f cr Mr; Tayloi 67
For Mr. Lowndes , , 5l
For r. Smith 7
Scatt hrig ' - 1
No ele iiou having yet taken place i
Anoth ir motion was then made to au
journ, "tt Vd; the vote thereon was
t or adjourning
fa
a fift - ,
So the House refused to ad jounv ; and
another ballot was held. - which resulted
as follows: ; "
For Mr. Taylor ( 62
For Mr Lowndes ; ' 57
For Mr. Smith : 15
Scattering ' L ' 1
No choice having yet been made
t A motion was made to' adjourn, and
decided in the affirmative, ayes 71.
. ' And the clerk adjourned the House to
12 o'clock to-morrow. ' . ; ;)
. Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Tlie House met, pursuant to adjournment-
and proceeded to ballot again for
a Speaker 75 votes necessary to a
ehoice. The votes were :
For Mr. Taylor 64
For Mr. Lowndes 54
For Mr. Smith 33
Scattering 1
No one havine a maiority of all the
votes, the House proceeded to ballot for
the ninth time ; when it appeared that
the votes were
For Mr. Taylor 66 -
For Mr. Lowndes . 47
For Mr. Smith i 33
Scattering 1
No election having yet taken place,
the House proceeded to ballot for the
tenth time : 3nd the result was declared
as follows :
For Mr. Taylor 64
For Mr. Smith 50
For Mr. Lowndes 32
Scattering ' 3
No election having yet taken place,
the Hogse proceeded to ballot for the
eleventh time ; when the following re
suit was pronounced :
For Mr. Taylor 61
For Mr. Smith 50
For Mr. Lowndes 31
tfi For Mr. Sergeant 5
"Scattering . 1
f No election having yet taken place,
iheHouse proceeded, to ballot for the
twelfth time ; and the result was as fol
lows r :
For Mr. Smith 53 j
For Mr. Taylor 47
. For Mr. Lownde3. 23
For Mr. Sergeant ' 19
For Mr. Tomlinson 3
Scattering 3 h
The thirteenth ballot resulted as follows!;
For Mr. Smith 48 if
For Mr. Taylor 32 If
For Mr. Sergeant 32
For Mr. Lowndes 30 "
Scattering 3 II
The fourteenth ballot resulted as follows :
For Mr. Smith . 42
For Mr. Lowndes 37 jl
For Mr. Sergeant 35
For Mr. -Taylor 27
Scattering ' ' 3 1
The fifteenth ballot resulted as follows :
For Mr. Lowndes
55! -.
For Mr. Sergeant 3Z!;
For Mr. Smith 2;
For Mr. Taylor 26
Scattering 6
The sixteenth ballot resulted as follows
For Mr. Lowndes
f or Mr. Taylor
For Mr. Sergeant 24
" For Mr. Smith 23
The House then proceeded to tile
seventeentn oauot, wnicu .resulted as
follows 73 necessary to a choice :
For-Mr. Lowndes
For Mr. Taylor "
ft : '
-Jf44
For Mr. Smith 1 17
For Mr. Sergeant 11
No election being made,' tile House
went into the eighteenth ballot iVhen the
following result was announced 73 neces
sary u a choice,
Fnr 1X1 r. I ,nwnilf Ii
t or IWr. lay lor .
or Mr. Smith I
For Mr. Semeant Il
The nineteenth ballot resulteQ as follows,
For Mr. Taylor. , If 66
For Mr. Lowndes .; . j 65
For Mr. Smith ' : -14
This ballot being also ineffectual :
The House adjourned at 5 o'clockj
Wednesday, Nov. 15.
-The House having been .called to or
der at 12. clock, proceeded to ballot,
tH? twentieth time, lor a Speaker ne
cessary to a choice 71 j ofl which tliere
were ' I .
For Mr. Taylor 67'
For Mr. Lowndes 65 ;
For Mr. Smith . 8
Scattering " f 1
No choice having been "made, the
House proceeded to ballot the twenty
fkst time : Whole number of votes 147,
necessary to a choice 74 of which there
were '' . ")
For Mr. Taylor 73 V
For Mr. Lowndes 42
For Mr. Smith If 32
No choice having yf t been made, the
al House proceeded to ballot the twentv
I second time. The I whole number of
votes was 148-75 necessarv to a choice,
I The Totes were,
55
2
For Mr. Taylor , 76 '
t r :Vi r . iji 'v i ides 44
For Mr. Smith : . 27. v
Scattering : '.
S So John W. Taylor, Esq. a Repre
sentative from the state of New-York.
was elected Sneaker : and Having oeeu
- conducted to tne chain aaaresseu uic
House in; a concise , and appropriate
speech.
The new Members having been sworn in,
j On motion of Ir. Nebon, a committee
Was appointed, jointly with such commit-
m should be appoimea Dyu
proceeding
n the part of this House.
1 1 The committee appointed to wait on
tlie President of the United States repor
ted, that they had performed that ser
vice, and received for answer, that a
Message would be transmitted by the
atelv and it was ac-
cbrdingly received and read, at 3 o'clock.
THE MESSAGE
OPTHEr
President of theU. States,
o both Houses, at the opening of the
Second Session of the Sixteenth Con
gresstransmitted by Air. James Mon
roe, Junr. ' :i -
iFeltow citizens of the Senate;
j ; . and of the House of Representatives
f : In communicating to you a just view
Ibf public affairs, at the" commencement i
fof your present labors, I do it with great
; satisfaction, because, taking all circum
stances into consideration, "which claim
attention, I see much cause to rejoice in'
the felicity of our situation. In making
this remark, I do not wish to be under
stood to imply, that an unvaried prosper
ity is to be seen in every interest of this
great community. la the progress of a
nation, inhabiting a territory of such Vast
extent, and great variety of climute, eve
ri portion of which is engaged in foreign
commerce, and liable to be affected, in
some degree, by. the changes which oc
cur in the condition and regulations of fo
reign countries, it would be strange if
the produce of our soil, and the industry
and enterprize of our fellow-citizens, re
ceived, at all limes, and in every quarter,
an uniform and eoual encouragement.
This would be more than we have a
right to expect, under circumstances the
most favorable. . Pressures on i certair!
interests, it is admitted, Jiave been felt,
but, allowing to these their greatest ex
tent, they detract but little from the force
of the remark already made. In form
ing a just estimate of our present situa
tion, it is proper to look at the whole ;
in the outline, as well as in the detail.
free, virtuous, and enlightened people
know well the great principles and cau
ses on which their happiness depends;
ana even those who sutler most, occa
sionally, in their transitory concerns, find
great relief under their sufferings from
the blessings which they otherwise enjoy,
and in the consoling and animating hope
which they administer. From whence
do these pressures come ? Not from a
government which is founded by, admin
istered for, and supported by, the peo
ple. We trace them to the peculiar
character of the epoch in which we livej
and to the extraordinary occurrences
which have signalized it. The convul
sions with'which several of the powers
of Europe have been shaken, and the
long and destructive wars, in w hich all
were engaged, with their sudden transi
tion to a state of peace, presenting,
in
the first instance, unusual encouragement
to our commerce, and withdrawing it, Jin
the second, even within its j wonted lip
it, could not fail to be sensibly felt here.
T he station too which we had to sup
port, through this long , conflict, compel
led, as we were, finally, to become a rjar
ty to it, with a principal power, and to
make great exertions, suffer heavy losses,
and to contract considerable debts, 'dis
turbing the ordinary, course of affairs, by
augmenting, to a jast amount the circu
lating medium, ancHherby elevating, at
one time, the price of every article above
a jusi sianaara, auu uepressmg u at ano- ; the Emperor of Russia, who has accept
ther below it, had likewise, its due efiect. 1 ed the umpirage. "
It is manifest, that the pressures, of
which we complain, halve proceeded, in
a great measure, from these causes.
When, then, we take into view, the pros-
perous and happy condition of our coun-
try, in all the great circumstances which
constitute tne leucny oi a nation ; everv
individual in the lu 1 employment of all
.... . m m m . mJ
hisnghttrtte Umon blessed with ple.
Tr gnn ramn v ricirtir tt n-aan.
i promoting tne puouc happiness, it is im-
possible to behold so, gratifying, so dort-
r-r--y e - UU' ZC T . wuurrea, ot the civil, military, and naval estaDir
der a national government, which oper. j he ench ' government had resolved to I mentS 5 the publicedifices, in this
ates w, Ircpmplete effect in every part, : transfer ,t to the UnUed States, for which have been rebuilt, wSb cons Arable ad
without being felt in any,' except by the ; purpose theJVI,n.ster Plenipotentiary of, tions 5 extensive VorUfications have been
ample protection which it affords : and un- France bad been ordered to renair to thi. I : - .M;n of exe-
der sute governments whtch perform city, and whose arrival might soon be ex- ; cution ; permanent arsenals and mtT
Uieir equal share, according to a wise pcted. It 1S hoped that this important I zines have been erected in various
distnbution of power between! them, in interest may be arranged on iM; r k- tt; ... i... in roosid-
. r :
; ou3 a spectacle, without
being' penetra-
ted with" tin
e most profound and "grateful
Toients to the Supreme Au-
n - tr n tt 01 1 or t
thor of all good, for such manifold and
inestimable" blessings. Deeply impres-
sed with these sentiments, I cannot re-
eard the pressures to which I have ad;
verted, otherwise, than in the light of
admonitions, warn
ing us of dancers to be shunned in fu-
ture - teaching us lessons of economy,
corresponding with tne simpuciiy
purity of our institutions, anu uc waHi
con-
anfi nd which the
ITU lt Wtli . OHKK"" J - , a
vari-
n at home and abroad : and more es
pecially by the multiplied proofs which
it has accumulated, of j the great perfec
tion of our most excellent system of gov
ernment, the powerful instrument in the
hands of an all:merciful Creator, in se
curing to us these blessings. C.
Happy as our situation, is, it does not
exempt jus from solicitude and care for
the future. On the j contrary, as the
blessings which we enjoy are great, pro
portionably great should be our vigi
lance, zeal, and activity, to preserve
them. ) Foreign wars may again; expose;
us to new wrongs, which would impose,
on us new duties, for which we ought to
be prepared. The state of Europe is
unsettled,' and how long peace may be
preserved- is altogether uncertain In
addition to which wej have interests of
oar own to adjust, which will require
particular attention A correct view of
our relations with each power, will ena
ble y ou) to form- a just idea of existing dif
ficulties, and of the measures, of precau
tion be'st adapted to them.
Respecting . our relations with Spain,
nothing explicit can now be communica
ted. On the adjournment of Congress in
May list, the Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States at Madrid was instruct
ed to jinform the government of Spain,
that, if his Catholic Msjesty should then
ratify the treaty, this government wduld
accept the ratificationso far, as to submit
to the 'decision of the Senate, the question,
whether sch ratification should be re
ceived in exchange, for thai of the United
States heretofore given. By letters from,
the Minister of the United States to the
Secretary of State, it appears, that a com
munication, in conformity with his instruc
tions!, had been made to the government
of Spain, and that the Cortes had the sub
ject (under consideration. The result of
the deliberations of that body, which is
daily expected, will be made known to
Congress as soon as it is received. The
friendly sentiment which was expressed
onlthe part of the United States, in the
message of the 9th of May last, is still
eniertained for Spain. Among the causes
of regret, however, which are inseparable
from the delay attending this transaction,
it is proper to state that satisfactory infor
mation has been received, that measures
nave been recently adopted, by designing
persons, to convert certain parts of the
province of East Florida, into depots for
the reception of foreign goods, from
whence to smuggle them into the United
States. . By opening a port within the
limits of Florida, immediately on our
! boundary, where there was no settlement,
the object could not be misunderstood.
vi in, n io iiujjcuj iiccih. an such i rauu Li
lem and pernicious practices and place
the' relations of the two countries oo a
very amicable and permanent basis.
The-commercial relations between the
United States and the" British colonies in
the West Indies, and on this continent,
have undergone no change ; the British
government still preferring to leave that
commerce underthe restriction heretofore
imposed on it, on each side. It is satis
factory to recollect, that the restraints,
resorted to by the United States, were
defensive only, intended to prevent a mo
nopoly, under British regulations, in fa
vor of Great-Britain ; as it likewise is to
know that the experiment is advancing in
a spirit of amity between the parties.
I he question depending between the
United States and Great-Britain, respect
ing the construction of the first article of
the treatv of Ghent.1 has been rfrrrH
by both governments, to the decision of
1 An attempt 1
government of France, to regulate, by
; treaty, the commerce between the two
I countries, on the principles of reciprocity
an( equality. By the last communication
frm the Minister Plenipotentiary of the
i unnea states, at fans, to whom full !
a - -
; power bad been given, we learn that the
: negot.at.on tad beeivxommenced there;
' rtur onni iitTiii .
lions, ana in a mannpr nMali M;0fo:
1 ' to - both parties. It is submitted to
OjngTeSsto deddevuntil tach arran '
inent Is made, how far it may be p'ropi"
on the principle qf the act of the last L'
t'sioh, whicVaugmented thejonnae dot
t onFrencb yesselsrto adopi othe m
! sures for. carrying more completely into
efiect the poTicofat act. - j
veiWJtowhieb iriposed
j new tonnage - on Irench vessels. Ka;"
j beenjn force from and after the first da?
; of July,,if has happened that seyeralve -
sels of that nation, which had been des,
patched from France before its txistenc.
was known,xirave entered the ports of th
United States, and been subject to
operation without ..that previoas notice
which the general spirit of our laws giVe.
to individuals in simifajr cases. Th 0
ject 'of that , law having been merely to
countervail the inequalities which exi&i
to the disadvantage of the United State
in their commercial intercourse .
France, it is submitted, also, to the coij.
siderationof Congressy whether, in tj',
spirit of amity and coriciliatiotr, whic
is no less the inclination than the policy '
of the United States to preserve,' m thej
intercourse with other powers, itinay not I.
be proper to extend relief to the individ
uals interested in those cases, by exempt"
ing from the operation ol tle law ajj
those vessels which have entered our
ports, without having had the means of
previously knowing the existence of 'the
auuiiiouai uuiy.
fl'j The contest between Spain and the
colonies, according to the most authentic
information, is maintained by the latter
with improved success. The unfortunatt
divisions; which were known to exist
some time since, at Buenos Avres, it j
understood still jarevail. In no part cf
South America, has Spain made any jaj.
pression on the'Colomes, while, in many
parts particularly in Venezuela, and
Newrenada, the colonies have gained
strength, and acquired reputation both
for, the management ofthcLwar, in which
they have been successful, and , for the
order of the interinaj administration, the
late change m the government of Spain
by the re-estabKshmeht of the constitu
tion of 1812, is an event which promises
to be favor able to the revolution. Un
der the authority of the Cortes the Con
gress of Angostura was invited to open a
negotiation forifre settlement of differ,
ences between the parties, to which k
was replied, that they would willingly
open- the negotiation, provided the a
knowledgment of their independence
was made hs basis, but not otherwise..
Of further proceedings between them w
are uninformed. No facts are known to
b is govern m ent to warrant the belief,
that any of the powers of Europe; will
take part in the contest ; whence, it may
.rie inferred, considering all circumstan.
ces- which must have weight in producing
the result, that an adjustment will final
ly take, place, on the basis proposed by
the colonies, To promote that result, by
friendly counsels with other powers, in
cluding Spain herself, has been the unj.
form policy of this government.
In looking to the internal concerns of
our country, you will, I am persuaded,
derive much satisfaction, from a view of
the several objects, to which, in the dis
charge of your official duties, your atten
tion will be drawn. Among these, none
holds a mote important place than the
public revenue,-from theWect operation
of the power, by which it is raised on the
j people, and, by its influence in giving ef
fect to every other power of the govern
ment. The fevenuerdepends on the rt
sources of the country, and the facility by
wffeh the amount required is raised, is i
StronP" nronf nf tht ovtont of tVirt .ocnnrpin.
and of the efficiency of the government
A few prominent facts will place this
great interest in a just light before yoe.
On the 30th of Sentpmhr. 1815. the
funded and floating debt" of the United
States was estimated at one hundred and
nineteen millions, six hundred and thirty
five thousand, five hundred and fifty-eight
dollars, v If : to "this sum be added, the
amount of five per cent.' stock, subscribed
to the bank of the United States, the a
mouiit of Mississippi stock, and of the
stock which was issued subsequently to
that date ; the balances ascertained to be
due to certain states for 'military serrices,
& to individuals for sujiplies furnishedicd
services rendered, during the late war;
the public debt may be estimated as
mounting at that date, and as afterward
liquidated, to onef hundred and fifty1
millions seven hundred and thirteen thou
sand and forty-nine dollars. On the 3Ctb
or September, 1820, it amounted
tfl
ninetv-three thousand eight hundred aw
in that interval, ' by payments, sixtyi
millions eight hundred and seventy-nin
thousand one hundred and sixty-fife d
4 ' WW . f m - 'm M
lflll IIIU mm BM . Ill Wm WT M. 1 U
the m..mn. t ,tL irnitd StaW
lan i innnn tk;. ... - hn a-mfnsn vi
; were likewise drfrivVd. in everv brao
J
. ' ..j . ' j .u- rnantf
; munhioni of . war. and tcr. of the