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AUGUSTA, "June 24.
Congress of the United States.
HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES.
Saturday, June 3.
Mr. Venable, 0:1 the part of the com
luittee appointed, reported that the Pre
sent would receive the address of the
house this day, at 12 o’clock, at his own
boufe.
Mr. Lyon defrred to be excused irom
attending on the prefider.t, obfervir.g
that he had as much antipathy to it as a
cuaker has to making obeisance to a
inagifttate. He had no objection to gen
tlemen of high blood carrying this ad
dress—he had no pretentions to high
blood though he thought his blood as
good as any one’s for he was born of a
fine healthy woman. He could not fay
indeed that he was defeended irom the
bastards of Oliver Cornwell or his cour
iers or from tho/u who hanged the
witches but this was his country, for he
fiad no other.
Mr. Lyon was unanitnoufly excuied.
A member moved that the house then
adjourn, thereby to allow members to go
up with the address or otherwise, as they
thought fit.
This was negatived, and the fpenkcr
and house went to the P/efiJcnt’s house
and presented the following address:
To the President of the United
States.
S I R,
The interesting detail of those events,
which have rendered the convention of
congress at this time indispensable (com
municated in your speech to both hrafes)
has excited in us the tirongeft emotions.
Whilst wc regret theoccafion, we cannot
omit to teftify our approbation oi the
ineafure, and to pledge curfclvcs that no
ccnfiJcrations of private inconvenience,
lhall prevent on our part, a faithful dif
chargc of the duties to which we are cal
led.
We have constantly hoped, that the na
tions of Europe, whilst rfcfolated by fo
reign wars, or convulfcd by intestine di-
w has entitled us, and it is now
foment nascu _ „, Ivl mta .
•>Uh» of ? tTff r riTnch republic tending to
endanger a situation so desirable and" in
teresting to our country.
Upon thisoccafion we feci it our duty
to express, in the rood explicit manner,
the sensations which the present crifishas
excited, and to allure you of our zealous
co-operation in those meaf«»es which may
appear neceflary for our security or peace.
Although it is the earned v/iih of our
hearts,that p -ace may be maintained with
theFren :h republic and with all the world,
yet we never will surrender those rights
which belong to us as a nation ; and whilst
we view with fatisfadion the wisdom,
dignity, and moderation, which have
marked the measures of the supreme exe
cotive of our country, in its attempts to I
remove, by candid explanations, the com
plaints and jealousies of France, we feel
the full force of that indignity which has
beeh offered our country in the rejedion
of its minifler.
No attempts to wcund cur rights as a
sovereign date will escape the notice of
our conflitoents j they will be felt with
indignation, and repelled with that deci
fton which (hall convince the world that
we are not a degraded people, that we
can never fnbmit to the demands of a fo
teign power without examination, and
without difeufiion.
Knowing as we do, the confidence re
>ofed by the people of the United States
! n their government, we cannot hesitate
« expressing our indignation at any fen
tmer.t tending to derogate from that con
idence. Such sentiments, wherever en
ertained, serve to eeir.ee an imperfed
knowledge of the opinions of our confti
urnts. An attempt to feparare the people j
if the United States from their gorern
,en t» >» an attempt to separate them from
lemfclves; and although foreigners, who j
row not tbe genius oi our country, may
a? -!l C ? nce * ve< * fbe ptoj"ci, and foreign
Kjflaries roav attempt the execution, yet
*n e^”orts of our fellow citizens {
ul convince the world of its impradabi-
Sensibly as we fee! the wound which
been infixed by ffc-e tranfadions dif
,n onr for ttn»onicatt3n, yrt we
f 0 * V th that neither the' honor
* of the United States for-
bid the repetition of advances for pre
serving peace. x
We therefore receive, with the utmost
fatisfadion, your information that a freih
attempt at negociation will be inilituted ;
and we cherilh a hope that a mutual spi
rit of conciliation, and a difpofitten on
the part of France to compensate for any
injuries which may have been committed
upon our neutral rights, and on the part
of the United States to place France on
grounds similar to those of other coun
tries in their relation and conr.ediion with
us, it any inequality shall be found to
exist, will produce an accommodation,
compatible with the engagements, rights,
duties, and honor cf the United States.
Fullv, however, iinprefitd with the un
certainty of the result, we shall prepare
to meet with fortitude any unfavorable
events which may occur, and to extricate
curfelves from their consequences with
all the fkiil vve poiTefs, and all the efforts
in our power. Believing with you that
the conduct of the government has been
in ft and impartial to foreign nations:
That the lav/s for the prdcrvation of
peace have been proper, and that they
have been (airly executed ; the repre
fentslives of the ;>eop!e do not hesitate to
declare, that they vvi'l give their mcit
cordial support to the execution of prin
ciples so deliberately and uprightly esta
blished.
The many interesting fubjedb which
you have recommended to cur confide
lation, and which are so strongly en
forced by this momentous- occasion,
will receive every attention which their
importance demands, and we trust, that
by the decided and explicit conduct
which will govern our deliberations,
every iufinuation will be repelled, which
is derogatory to the honor and indepen
dence of our country, •
Permit us, in off -ring this address, to
express our fatisfadion at your promotion
to the full office in the government, and
our entire confidence that the preemi
nent talents and patriotifin which have
placed you in this distinguished situation,
will enable you to diichaige its various
duties with fatisfadion to yourfelf and
advantage to our common country,
Mr. Speaker. andGeZSZty* hl
the houjc of reprefentuiivef .
I receive with great fatisfadion your
candid approbation of the convention of
congress, and thank you for your affur
anccs that the interesting fubjeds recom
mended to your consideration, shall re
ceive the attention which their import
ance demands, and that your co-opera-
I tion may be expeded in those measures
which may appear neceflary for our se
curity or peace.
The declarations of the representatives
of this nation, of their fatisfadion at my
I promotion to the firft office in the go
vernment, and of their confidence in my
sincere endeavours to difi harge the va
rious duties of it with advantage to our
common country', have excited my ineft
grateful sensibility.
I pray you, gentlemen, to believe, and
to communicate fucli affuiance to our
conftituenfs, that no event which I can
forefee, to be attainable by any exertions
in the difeharge of my duties, can af
ford me so much coidial fatisfadion, as
to condud a negociation with the French
republic to a removal of prejudges, a
corredion of errors, a dissipation of um
brages, an accommodation of 2JI differ- j
ences, and a restoration of harmony and
affedion, to the mutual fatisfadion of
both nations. And whenever the legiti
mate organs of intercourse shall be re-
I stored, and the real fentimer.ts of the
two governments can be candidly com
municated to each other, although strong
ly imnreffed with the necessity of col
leding ourselves into a manly poflure of
defence, I nevertheless entertain an en
couraging confidence, that a mutual fpi
rii of conciliation, a disposition to com
prnfate injuries, and accommodate each
other in all cur relations and connedions,
will produce an agreement to a treaty
confident with the engagement 1 ?, rights, i
duties, and honor of both nation*. " |
JOHN ADAMS.
United Sia'rr, June 3, 1797. <
When the house returned, Dr. W. ,
Smith moved that she house be cleared of f
(hangers, r.s he had feme confidential <
communications to n rce.
r l he ho’'fe was accordingly cleared. c
The hoefe continued fitting with doled
doms the a< jorrr.ment, which took a
place a iirtlc before three o’clock.
By Yeflerday's Northern Mail .
PETERSBURG, June 16.
Congress.
On the 3d instant, Mr. Smith (S. C.)
having informed the house ot representa
tives, that he had business to communi
cate which would require secrecy—the
galleries were accordingly cleared;—but
before the house adjourned, they deter
mined that the business brought forward
with closed doors, did not require secre
cy. The following are the resolutions,
which were introduced by Mr. Smith.
1. Revived, That iurther provision
ought to be made by law, for fortifying
the ports and harbours of the United
States.
2. Rcfoivtd , That further provision be
made by law, for completing and manning
the frigates United States, Conjiitution,
and Conjldlalion.
3. Rtjclved, That provision be made
by law, tor procuring by purchase, a
further naval force, to consist of
frigates, of guns, and (loops
ot war, of guns.
4. Rejolved , That provision be made
by law, tor empowering the president to
employ the naval force ot the United
States as convoy s, to protect the trade
thereof.
5. Rejolved, That provision be made
by law, for regulating (he arming of the
merchant velTels of the United States.
6. Rejolved, That the txifting military
efiablithiru-nt ought to be augmented by
an addition of one regiment or corps of
artilleries and engineers, and
companies of dragoons.
7. Rejolved, T hat provision be made
by law, for empowering the president to
raise a provxfional army, to confilt of
regiments ot infantry, one re
giment of artillery, and one regiment of
dragroons, by commissioning the officers,
and by volunteers or enlistments, when
ever the circumstances of the country (hall,
in his opinion, render the laid army ne
ccfiary for the protection ar.d defence of
the United States; Provided, 'I hat nei
ther the officers or soldiers tball receive
any pay or emoluments until called into
actual fcrvice.
8. Rejolved, That provision be made
by law, to authorize the president to bor
a the credit &f the Umt£tL.Styte£j
defray the rxpcnce which may a rife in
providing for the defence and fecuriiy of
the United States.
9. Rejolved, T hat provision be made
by jaw, to raise a revenue adequate to
the rcimburfement, within years,
of such sum as may be borrowed, as afore
faid.
ro. Rejolved, That provision be made
by law, to prohibit, for a limirted time,
the exportation of arms, ammunition,
and military and naval (lores.
On the sth inti, the two firft resolutions
were agreed to, and committees were
appointed to report the bills. The other
resolutions were warmly opposed, as tend
ing to plunge us into a war with the French
republic. The supporters of the resolu
tions were of opinion that the adoption
of them was the only means to prevent it.
It being dated that a vote on the 3d and
4‘h resolutions would be regulated by the
decifiononthe sth, Mr. Smith withdrew
these two, and the house proceeded on to
rhe sth, on which no question had been
taken on the 7th instant.
A bill was received from the senate,
for providing an additional corps of ar
tiilerirts and engineers, to consist of 990
non-commifiioned officers, privates, &c.
(to be enlisted for 5 years) witli a propor
tionate number of officers, to form four
battalions, and one regiment.
The senate ha' r e concurred in the ap
pointment ofMeftrs. PINCKNEY, DA
NA, and MARSH ALL, as envoys to the
French republic-—the two latter are pre
paring to take their departure.
Received by a late Arrival at Norjclk. .
PARI S, 22 Germinal, April n.
Some give out that aa immediate sus
pension of hostilities isabout ro take place
with the emperor. Others affirm that he
is obfiinately determined to refufe all
overtures cf peace, unlcfs Belgium is to
be rest ired. If this be true he is frantic.
Conspiracies begin to appear at Rome.
One was lately di (concerted. The nephew
of the pop- to Tcrracina, and his
holiness has (hut himfelf up in the castle
of Sr. Angelo.
Letters from Pr-ft represent the date
or the seamen asdiftreffing in the extreme.
1 f e men and officers are in want of pay,
and defiitute even ot nccefilirtes.— Perlet.
A monitor, a priest, ci-dcvant curate
of Dragutgnian* entered this morning
the house of Si eyes, member of the Coun
cil of five under pretence of
aiking some relief} and (hot him with *
pistol. Sieyes, while he was endeavour
ing to pu(h aside the pilloi from his bread
with his left hand} received two balls in
his arm, a third grazed his haunch. The
wound, tho* deep, fortunately does not
appear to be mortal. Poul is the name
of the afla&n, a relation of the famous
preacher of that name. He is arretted.
A number of papers were found upon him*
of which we do not yet know the contents*
— Pcrlet •
INSPRUCK, March *B.,
The proclamation concerning the levy
en majjc was published yesterday; it is
extremely prefhng, and this proves that
the danger is eminent.
The Freneh are at firixen and in the •
environs. It is expefted that all the in
habitants levied and armed by virtue of
the proclamation will join the army of
the 30th at latest, and that then the ene
my will be attacked instantly on all fades*
LONDON, April 17.
Rumours have been in circulation for
several days past, that minittefs Were
prompted to fend a commifiioner to Vi
enna, because they had received accounts
that the emperor was actually on the eve
of signing a separate peace, and it is evea
said that fmee the departure of Mr.
Hammond, a diftinft treaty has aftaally
been concluded.
It is singular that hitherto no account
has reached the public eye of the impor
tant fact of the failing of the Dutch fleet*
We underttand upon good authority*
that so long ago as yeltetday fe'nnight
minitterß received certain advices of their
having puffed the Orkneys, fixty-threo
fail in number. How many of these
were line of battle (hips we have not
been able to afeertain.
WILMINGTON, June 8.
Captain Burr of the schooner Friend
(hip, from the Havannah bound to New-
York, touched at this port on Friday
la it, in 7 days paflage. The captain in
forms, that on the 2ad of May, a brig*
being one of a fleet of Spaniih merchant
men from Carthagena bound to the Hft»,
vannah, arrived there ; the caprain faid*
that on the 15th they fell in with a Bri
wliofr7f‘etpexcept himfefr,"an3“ carried
them into New- Providence—-This fleet
was richly laden, and had on board one
million of dollars.
PHILADELPHIA, June g.
The current news of Saturday, relative
to. the offer of forty frigates from the
Britilh, if not wholly unfounded, is at
lead premature.
NEW-YORK, June g.
Ex trad, of a Utterfrom a refpedable gend
tleman at Montreal, dated nji May,
“ We have lately taken up a spy from
your country in the pay of Mr. Adet .•
He is called general M‘Lean* was born
in Rhode Island, and has been ieveral
times in this province iaft fumraer to feel
the pulfc of the difaflfcfled Canadians.
This Jail visit, he was so daring as to
aim at surprising the garrison of Quebec
whilst the change of quarters of the dif
ferent regiments was taking place j but
he reconned without his host—the firft
man he opened his plan to at Quebec
informed against him, and he is now in
irons, and will (hortly be tried.”
The followirtg is the translation of ft
letter from the bulletin of Havre, ar
rived in a Nantz paper by the Love, ar
rived yesterday.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORY,
Pans, Pentofr, March g, 1797.
The minilter of rhe marine and the
colonies to the principal commiflary of
the marine at Havre.
“ You have done well, citizen, ia
disavowing, in the maritime journals*
the report which had prevailed, that the
trench government bad given an order
to f - ize the vessels of the United States
of America—This falfe news, like many
other reports, is the fruit of the manoeu
vres of malevolence or of combanatiooi
of cupidity.”
True copy,
(Signed) LEROY./';
Thomas Paine was to have taken pafc
sage to America in the Dublin Packet*
from Havre de Grace; but the captain
refufed to take hint.
Peace, peace, lays a Paris paper»*thit
b the wish of every one in France* who
retains a particle of humanity,
DIED.] On Saturday last, M*. Gio*
Hunt, Merchant of this place.