V
V
' errmA ffrrtvfVni'riTT'ftTfln. I fimbria'
fance cnstt I will exlrt my Bert endeavors
To admimfter faitW'iiilf the Kxecafive
iDeparrmenr, and will zealouiJy ta-ope-.Tare
vith ycu in any meafure tvr.kh may
tend to tecure the liberty, property, and
,rct(bnal faf efy of ourfellow-cUteens, and
' to coniolidaterhc republican forms and
principles of our Government.
h- In tfre cotrrfe of ytfur feflion you (hall
receive all ' flic aid 5vhich I cangive for
(tH? difpatch of the public hufinel's, and
U th ifitormafion neccffary for your
'dcttbcratioTis of which the interells of
'our own count? y, and the confidence re
;p6fed in us by Others will admit a com
munication. 1 "December 3d, 1 oj. ; ;..,.r
1 CONGRESS.
iliairrctyiTi confiderce on the liberal and can
did fupport of the Houfe." j ,
" . - December 3.
Mr. Thfmit "offered the io'Scwing refolatiou
Refa'ved. That a committee be appointed to
Mfiiiiu ii.h.thfranv and What amendments are
titwfiaVr-tw-'bc-ntade-i- ht-aaeuWfoing a
! p !t Rc2 anc ofcl readr, and to'iepori by
bi.l ri uf wlte. -
Agreed to, arid referred to the committee on
port offices, and I poll mad a.
On" motion of 'Mr. J. Clay, .
Refilled That the committee on poft offices
and pott roads be inftrufled to enquire whet Her
any and what abufe cilis rf the privilege of
fracking letters,-and to report fuch provifion
as in their opinion: will tend to remedy the fame.
Committees appointed by the Honfe of RepHfeta :
atives.
M ON DAY, DECEM B E R 2, 1805.
This being the conftitutional day for the
meeting of ccnjcfs the two Houfes convened
at the Capitol.
. SENATE ;. . .
Twenty memo rs tk their feat hemrpdn
'the Vice Prtfident of the United States not b
inp prefent, the Seuate proceeded, by ballot to
thc choice of a Prejident pro tempore The bal
lots having been take'-, it appeared that SAM
, UEL SMITH of Maryland, having 15 vote,
-via cu'C-efedcd. ,
HOUSE or REPRESENTS IV BS.
A t 1 2 o'clock an enumeration having been
rvade, it appeared - that cnc . hundred aud'faur
membcrs were on the floor.
V.' The former Clerk (Mr. Becfeley) having
-communicated this circumftance to' the mem
'hers'and tha, the liumher of ciembets prefent
fftrtred acVjtt'tonat Quorum, fu'imitted the
v qacilion whether they were Teady to proceed
tu bofjnefs, whLh icing decided in the afSrma
trve, tb Clak oSferved that t hi bufinef-i, ufu
jlly fuft atttnJed; to, w9 the cltftion of a
jSpeaker, and fubmitted whether they would
i4h" proceed to fuch cleAion, which being dc
'"Jdd -io.,th'ffir(it'ivc. the Clerk. Ramed MefTrs
J&icaolf Ctnvifhitrid and Thomae a coin.
ittiuce to.couni the bnllots ; which, bcin given
Vjd counted, Mr. Nicho'fon reported that the
Vtlttfe bailpts given wue icGt which were gi
. en 29-folK-wft : - x
For Nithaniel Mccn
Jnfepti B. Varnum
Jolxt Daw. on
Of which b-.il!o:8 Btfgintlcmen having a oiajoii-
,ty, tWeie wfjpo choice.
Wheri n'a feeoud ballot took piece which
'6
1 r
2
. V
Kole ntirrber of billots 10$ ...
for NrMican
j'By ytrr;un
. J C. Smith
j. Dovvfon - ,
A. Gregg
5i
7
A nrjirity not concurring 'in ai.y 6nc gen
j-llcirrtan thrj was oo'clccu'i.
.--'A third baii t was thri; tikfn as follows ;
Who!e,nmber ef baliot4"--jo6
" For N Mcon ' . .,. 5H
; J- J3. Vrnom. .L .
' - :,' j C. Smith j8
a-.Gregg . 4 ' . ...... '
Thomas Moote ! i
D Holo.cs ' ' t : Y
.Tfe'ia tefnh - having peen report fd by f.
Ncb65fofl, and it appeaiifit? th-U NATH ANl
KL MACON had a majority of ihe baUou
ivefihe was condoled to the chilr by Meifr
.Nichoifco and J Randolph ; fiom whivh he
tnade his acknowledgments to the Houfc.
V The II'n-:fe procteded to elect a !crk by
Hllot, the Speaker having njmed the fame c;en
tleniei tellers aa were appointed on the choice
. of a Speaker; .
l 6n counting "'the ballots, it appeared that of
: h'u!'cd ai.d three ballots given John 0etk)t
,ey 1-ai 8j, and William Liinbrt i ST. an:! that
icotitVqjeiitly John Bcck'ty was di;iy;tlcdd
iEkftjgpcikfT. laid before the Honfe a lettr
. from tkVCle'rk reoiefetuio the xneahire.-tate'ir
fcy Jiimin cVcotion of the mder of the Houle
' Ptjjng.' hnd "' Stationary .tar the Hfuut'e ; by
; wJiictf t appeat's that propoWi for 'Print ipg'
;bVd HVo received, from A and Q Way, Solo
TlSoif M f trjr Binmore y front onto,K an d J? ah.
ton fq paper; afrd from Edar Pdtieif j loi
the StailaWy X an that cytrai6 hid beear
and vith Jldgar Patttrfon for the Stationary
1. , VJtl jjJOlIQ.U III U1T. IIWIIKS n Hill
Vfig c'Jeveotcen jnA
'ctuc and ' Mport. w hclhjcr any and what iltera-
1 ainwJie. it qiifi ift 1 bclak leiativeio poll
ctuccs aaj pott roaas;
Committee of Ways and Means MeiTis. John
Randolph, Nichollon, J. Clay, Qincy, Mr.
riwether, Dickfon andofciy.
Committee of Commerce and ManuftBures,
Mtffrs. Crowninthield, MaeCreery, Leib, Eatly,
Uana, Newton, and Mumroro.
Clmmt Meffrs. T. C tmith,
Holmes, Btr'tJinger, Stanfoid, Slant on, P. N.
Anrsr n,t I'hnmm Mrtfirc.
Cmmittee o iSwwr MeflVi.Tiodf"'El
mer, Eppts, CIUtecdn, bcfiuneman, Dtawcu,
and F.I i.r. ' ;
Committee of Rsmlfat and Unfinifhed Bujinfft i
. trl I M 1
Mtllrd I fny Alitor, no viti .prnc. c
Committee to prepare Jlanding Rules and Orders
Meflfa Varuuni, Diwfni 1 almade, Gicgg,
and Holland.
Committee on Ptfi Offices nd Joi y Roads
Mt flVs Thomas, R. Wrutehiil, Betton, Conk.
"ifr BUtfeU remarUo that this refolution
farther : and fhoull it not
fheromminec. he would afterwards mov r h
h3,c b,e inrorm,d by the Prefident thatne
nuoles have been interpolated .by- fore.gr.
powe.i into the law of nations. What tne.e
DrinCipies are is not re.icu, -vk- - -.
Itanci To what extelit they have been carried
we are not informed. We have, it i true, out
door information oo the fubjed ; but not of
fuch a nature as to juftify our ading in our le
ginitive eApacity. Thefe principles as we'l
Tu received were to his oprni
on, a proper fulj.a for the invcfltgation of a
committee. . ';
what the two refolutions difTered except in lan
cuatre. Thsy both embraced the fame objtcl
In oncrcfpeaooly they differed. : While the
refolution of the gentleman from Maffaohufetts
referred the futjed to a felea committee, his
wn rcf :Juiion rtfcrrcdjLl?jth2n,mitlce of'
Ways and Means, the. inveftigauon contem
plated by the gentleman could be as well made
by the committee of Ways and Means, as by a
(etea comn.ittec. Nor was it neceffiry for thia
purpofc to give them any inftruaions- If the
fufjea rrquiied inveftij;ation, it would.be their
dnty to make it, nd to lay the refult of the in
vettigation before the houfe. It would be al
lowed that it was a fabjea in which the revenue
was moft deeply ir.tei cited, and ae fuch proper
W the province of the committee of Ways and
Mcais. tcr Lis own part, xwtr iicnonoii iiu,
iii .t,:.A!n. tkn i'filiirian rti
-. 1 1 11 8 i nomas, n.. wmicni, utuvu. v''' ne couiu nave nw uLj;-ii"tv"'
Elliot, Kn-'ght, Sturgea, Covirgton, eropton, j the gentleman from MaUacnuUtts J oui as nn
ki.jr .A m U7:ii.. Rli nf 1"ei D( R. ? ..ri.itlnn rmhtAceii the fame obil& and
Sandfmd. M. William. Rhea of Ten) D R
Williams, Mead, Jen Morrow, Souilura aud
Lewi. : " ' -'
Committee of AicsuntsUt&t. Conrad, Da
venport, and Cutis.
Committee to ivuit on the Preftdent at the opening
cfStfitn-Metisa. J. Rindo ph, Davenport
CtHU. - .-..-' '
Deckmber 4. y, . y
A memorial wa9 prefcnteJ, praying t&at, p"
vjfion may le nude fyr a fitiall light bpjsfe on
Sandy Pc int X-
Rcferrtdo thcCommtttce of Commerce and
Mannlaaures
own refolution embraced the fame objeffc and
. . . i .
went to the tame extent, Qs perceivcu no rca
fen againlt adopting it. . .
Mr $uincy could not agree that the refolu
tied offered by the gentle oan from Maryhnd
either embraced the fame objea, or went to the
fame length with that propofed by his colleague.
He thought that offered by his colleague far
preferable, s it was more exten6v in its views.
tit was of rrirnon, that whatever committee
was appointed fltould inveftigate the nature of
the princjiples alluded to in the M; foge, as well
as the meaiVts referred to. The committee of
Ways aBd teana. were not bound to make a
VfannlaaureflX , . . . . f , report 0n ,he fuVjed they might con
An eed bill m.kinn approprratrur, of e, with . g,ncral one andit might
SSocpb dohi.rs towa.d8 defraying iheexpcncrt .forwards to appoiot a new com
irit'ee, to make the requisite i iveftigation. M',
Q. was the more anxious, as ne. mougni u ne
ojthe. Navy .during the year 1805, f.o w! itfe
the previous fcp.pi opriat ions nau prnvta iihhihcj
ent, wa rad a third time ano patieu wunpui 1
divifi m.
On motion of Mr J Randolph the Houfe u.
fjved itftlf into a comniuec of the whole ou
the Uate of the union.
General Varnum in the Chair. ,
Mr. J. Randolph, offcied the following Wq
. 1 . Rtfot'ved. That fo much of the Meffaee of
.LijiAdentattdieiata relates
to ttie.tiibjeci 01 q'iar;Btit)e. aa ricaiin iawi, -up
referred to the cwmroittee cf ComrarWaud Ma.
'n'ufv.aees. ' ..." - T" . ,
2 Refol-veJ- Tha f much of the Meffrgjrof
the Piciulent of the Un'ted States as nlarcs to
t;!C tgrt ffion? coii.mitted on our coalh by fo
reiLrn armed vefltb", to ihs drfeoce of out ports
arid hr,rr;burs, to the handing of feireuty four
UU fliipe, and to the providing of arms and
Mir.iinniifin. he refifred to a felea committee.
3 Rrfohcd., That fo much of the MefTige of j
.1. - U- i". 1. ... ! .1,. Tl. l.oj Cm ,!..!,. n ;
lilt nuinen . wi iut umv " "V
the orgar.lza'iori andcJafliGcation of the militja.,
ad to the anjjrtientatio-n of cur land forcca, be
referred L!.n & ; cpnimittct;. j: -L
4 liefalved, that fo livui h of the M'fligc of
tit Ptelideot of the United States, as rthtes to
our naval peace eilablifomeut, be referred to a
fcka committee. ': v - .
I'rtvit us to a decifion on thefe tffolu(ioB
Mr. Dia'toell lofeand "faid l.hat it was hii wifli
to offer, an additional tefolutwo rejatiye to a jtub ;
jeft not embraced in thxm. - :
Tlu- rbairman cbfei ved that the refoluibna
firft offtted. mult in point of order be fitil dcci-,
dedupon, after which the icfokuion allud.cd 10
cpold be received, or it mighl be" read iu argu.
mnl Jl hi? tk were under Confidfratiori-' r:
Thrforeoing refolu.tiont were theri ieytral-.
la.. rplA ailf! aurr-c d (O without 1 dlFlfijIl. , .
ade would offiv another rct
folntion J the fubflancc- of which was hot, cm-j
' brrfced ia the te'olutiouB fubmittcd by his fcicBd 4
irom v Miiun vi i
Revived, That lo much of theM
i hf.Pitfii'itiitJif j he. United SultsSt
i !ircondiiaoF'the belligeieat'powcrs towatda
.the. United Slates, and .tbr the utijufljfi-ble
ecu II rud ion lately given by fotne of thnj to the '
la w of oat it.-wnrarda the Yights'of'iieg'--
r. was i uiuk " r.
rTr-rv that a comDLte inveltieation lhould be
made in the Houft of the natme and extent of
the principles referred to in the irefliJge,
Mr. JEliot faid hcid not perftaiy under.
Hand the gentlemao from!JMrrylahd when -lie
told them that the fubjea contemplated to be
referred naturally and exciulively fell within the
p.oper J-irifdiaion of the committee of WayS
It u-oold be atfrnitted on all hands
Ijll'.tjic fuj ja wan' not only important, hot
IIKcWIltf lll'VM. " will ri umi'ii .w.v.w.
in the mcff4;re to this as aTubj of the firlt
importance : - . ."-"'' V . - ; 'f
' " Ne principles too have bten interpolated
' into fhc law wf nations, founded neither in
julijce uor the ufage or acknowledgment of
" natiousi According to thefe, a belligerent
" takes to iifelf a commerce with its own enemy,
-.-..... . . . . . .i . i
" whicli it denies to a neutral, od xnc grormtj
" of its aiding that enemy in the war. But
t:afon revolts at foch aft iocoufilteky, andj
" the ptutral KavinjVual right with the belli- :
gtrent to decide the queftion. the intereflsof
" our conltitucnts, and the duty if mainutnfng
- the aBtrioiity of i cat ia the ,ouly umpir e be.
tw'een juft nations, impofc on us tforobliga-
tlon' of providing an elfcaual and (Ivtermined
oppofition to a doarine fo injurious :, to the
lights of pescesble Viatioos, '
1: 0ur attention is.calld ti the important point,
of new interpoUtiona into the law of natione, or
in other words, l the adoption by the .govern
frireiwn Doweri bf what is
confjdere'd ai .a:..modifieati.dn of the ancient laws
of nations, as accomfodatiBg them to their
yifhee, and as introducing new principles which
.i,.- m I'mnnft udoo othci nations. How
a fi-bi A fo important naturally, and neceffarily
bilongs. to the committee or way uug wcaiib
:'. ;,nnfliJnle for him to fav. But, fava the,
cntkwa", it 8 a queltionof tevcivue. , How fo I
V1J mav eWeA the rcveiue incident ally,: but the
Tutjiioh of revenue from iiicojuparat
ameodmect to tic refolniie.n before hc joilr
Tl.e refolution ef the gentlrman embraced tr
dillira parts j the firH regarded the objea' to
beerqaiied into,-"stid the lalt inftiuaed the cmi
rnittee how to,,aa. T-lie foluti(,D of ihr j,rf)- '
iletlian from Marylftr d trobtactr the fan?e olj?
The end thertfore,of the gentleman ffcui-ifcf'
farhufetis would, ic ffally Kairnd ty adding tlii
hi Mi naive part of hs own tcfoltitfctfn
.ntiorr oi der dilciiffion. As to the eJifTcfV tied
bervvctna flai.diwg and feltft comjnitrce Jew'
n()t fo important as it appeared to br to thegen w
thmaVfiom' Vermoat. 'The futjefi fron Tg- "
cl.ar&aer natorilly came before the coratmtui
ofWaysaad Means; and it was tJcderHon
that (landing committees went tbrongh rlitt
finefs referred to them with mote regularity if-jtf
felt a committees.
Mr. EidweU laid that if genilerpen attenti- 11
ly cpnfiderej the two refolutions, they woolj
find that the lofolution jlffe
from Maryland did not go ihe fame ejekeat
with the refolution which hehad had tfie honof
of propofing. The former referred to birt tfii
principle, and limited the fubjefl to cotifiifrai
tiohs ctarneaed with revt nut.ytt appeared $
nhim thar from cafdooi ioformatiM, it wotll
br found that varMua principles had bea affu
med relative to the taws of nations t w'sicb
we wfgbt not a a iiotra rinachocfc trjJfib"
mit. It was true that the futj(& m'twul
with the revenue i fcfcJiowcTer, was , every fab
j6t. .Every fubjta, whether conntaed witHi
ttale of peace or war, would ntccffaTily tnnte
or lefs sffea the revenue. Though this ait
the cafe with this fufcje&, it ought cot to he
cocfidered as primerily conneacd with tt.te.
Ucdcr prtfent citcumftances we do ast
nue.
V '''the- Chair.
.v..- ' ax l-ij-
XfCNTL'BMtar 1 ".
-jjiiScctffpkf fincere thanks for the hoaor
y cu have co'nfen cd on me. Permit me to af
liiie ynulhat my utmoftiindeavouTS will be e
:.e?tfd to ;aifcha"rgevih!e ';difws -of the Chair th
'fidilijr iwpauiality ajad' iuduftry ; aodjihat I
trals, be rtferred to the gonjmittec of Ways
and McaB. - ,i , y . ...
J-. Didtveil faid this efojatton ' embrace!
in ftme rnealunfTrna ob y hSailt dtdTnot
txaaiy" comport with it, -;he' would takeihe li
"t..ri ,r .oaAmtT hv'wav of . araufnebtl thfc fe-
fo!utiou which he had prepared, Mr. B. thca
read the follow ingle &Jutioo : . r
J? iW. That ra much'of the Meffaffe of the
prt fident. of th e IJoit ed S t alesTaV rjelatclrTa .
jnies. done to us,' as a neatral uatioo," by the
intrrnalattan of new; uniuft & 'unacknowledged
' prwiciplta into the law of nations, be. referred to
( Knit :WIUI(:llVlf J.IIIV . ..M.
What urit'cQst and to what rxUrfr; our oeu.
tral tights hav thusheen violated, 'aod what le.
piflitive tceafuras the tiue intrreft of tl Uni--ted
States rerjuirca to couaieud Tuch iielati-
oua. j i"
f the-Meffe od.pohavcis u ence murged and loi.i tliynorc
) . .-' l . ii i ;kn,:i a K( - mi roduAiO n iF new Druiei Dies to
.be impofed upon nutrls, by any government
whatever, However powetriu or eaicruve..ue in-.
n...ft; Yin ' Vhia fiea: Mr. Elliot faid he
;:Jhoghti's it.a.pp?areajbfthe Mtffge the'i
eCllllVC JHOUJJllli .. IU . J'M .yj". "'"'.
tance in itfelf. Nor did he conceive it poffible
to prefent any view mpfe imporiant- than that
taken by'.lhe re'folution of Jlhe gentleman fiom
Mfcffachufetts," VHc acknawledgerl-thaethc
mnmiitre of Wavs and Mean wc.e fullv conV
i ce'cot io'air'nveHigattioii' ' of stbe: lufcjecYY" in
mtir Diuy im, iiis,.,Kaiv vw""
"depcerBof he delight they had fufficient bu-
finefs io their proper, fpbere to occupy their, at
tention. For thefe teafonS. he hoped the icfo
lutton offered by the gentleman. from Maryland
Would be rijtacd, and that fubroitted by tbe
geotkmau from MaffachuftttB lubliituted in te
room. . .
. Mr". Gregg thought the gentleman from Maf
fachufctU.wouldfuUjr -.attain hia objea by offer
io aijpart oT- th icfolution he bad -read at
confider it principally aa cctoaefted with ft"
nance, bnt with other futjfas.' Mr. Bidwrlt
faid be had no, particular wifhes with rcard
to the committee to be spiofed fu this in.
ftance;,but he did wiih the fof ja amur
ed in mere exterfive views than was ebctem.
plsctd in the reffflltion. .
Mr. Nidolfon obfered thal the priccpal ob
jeAion made to the refolution le had effervd wi
that the Ccmrnrtiee of Wayrand Means were
not bound to invelUgate the (trtje-a, and lubtnit
to the Houfe ihsrcfnlt tf-Hs-irrtJigi(tloD.
Some gentlemen think it neccftaiy that'Iilrrjc
tions Aonld be given by tfe ctmmittte toin
fure foch an inteftfjgation. Mr. $icaolfou
faid that he had knovfn inftakces whhiu the
comkof the fix i paft years inlvthith a foljcft
appearently fimple had pfodfjiW a Tolunaijioiu
report without any in fti tStr $f the Ho die
and he had known other loflices in itli a
fubjea of great irrortance bid been lefcrttd,
on which there had been reported a fiwplctc
folution, whivh- afterwards it came thtf fubjta
of argument within thefe wa!s. If in this cafe
an in vettigation is difired there is no doubt fcut
that the committee of waj asd. means etn
make it, aftd give the refult o the Hoofe-, lis
recolfeaed forae years fgoa Usable rtfctu
was referred to a commit'ec of whjch fee hadhe
fccbor to be ehaimian, lliey cocfitred the
fbje& as bf vaft importance, land thought
ProP!r ineir i5jLlH.ktfe&JiJf
T6eTffrjfSlmao7d on if was predicated
the: extenfive purchafe of Louiliana. in
this cafe, there wete "-tip tnt)-riiiliotis 'given.'
The committee notwithtlroding Vliought it thfir
duty to ei qnirc into the iu! ( they aecor
diogly did enquire, and made ibe i report allu
ded to.: - ..'-;'?'' lV -;
In every point of litht in Wa'ch the prefenJ
fubjea could be viewed, it woukl be found to
affeathe revenue. 1 There ar?larioua ways in
which we may attack the belligereUt Jnatigrii.
Wc may attack them by lacf or by, fea.
The preparatibna required fof thl p,rpofe fnay
not only fi;k our prefent teveti, but- ireftdef
it nectfJary to lefcirt. to the raifiog addhmnal
revenue. Should thete be a . 'njii imbetfatioo
aa, 'which had been lately a fubje'a of QiVctiiH.
ontn the public print a, - it would jPCcefturUy
affca cur revcroe, ".a.d before ltcc.u:d be agwe l
to or aaed Onf it would be abfoiufely nectTTi.
ry for the? commiittc of uayaaod mtans to euu
ter into an iuVeHigution how t nectflary 're
venue could be obtaiued, If c reaoit W
expedient of taifing the duties nil mai.ula&urwi
articles, he would afk if that weie nwt.a proper
futjea for the committee of ways an.i
means. The meafure could nst but affeii our
revenue deeply, and would it not become neccf
fary for the committee of wayi aud mcna to
enqiire to' what extent the Sutieaeaight be
lajlowithout producing; the tieceAtiy nf refort
W to new taxes. But as the L'cwt axstjx from
pM?;lfichufciu Was .defirous of lpfttuaog the
om-miiiTriwTiwnirT
bt reloluiion as to ,add to it the latter paV'i of
the rtfolution tffcrcd byhiraip?
So modified the refolution was read frQtn the
Chair as followc : . v , -
5 . Refofatd, That fo much of tbe ffae of
theflidTnr-oHheU7 S-l as relates to the
condua of the bel ierent powers towatdsthe
U. S. and to the u'ljuftifiable conftruaion late-
fy Riv?ft:;by. fome of iheni t.o the law of natioiiB,
a t regards the lights of neutral, be referred ta-
the committee t)f ways and means, with latlruc
. . . ... . .,.-, ,. ,
irons toirquue. to wbat retpects, aul. to ri
extent our uiutral rights have been violated,. &
what legiflattyc mesfures the true inteteft of the
U. S nqnfres tocounteria fuch violations.
Mr, ''eA'er.quired to what committee the
dtfeolWe meafures recommended by the Prefi
dent had been rtfttred. -',
The Chairman replied toa feleft commirtee.
Alr Jiidivcll. fild that fubjea-appeared to
him as much conneded with the revenue . as
principles which reflected the law of nations
If that tubjea had been referred, with propriety
to a fcka committee, furtly this aiighL ulfo