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& CONGRESS.
house vr representatives.
Turf :Jay, December 3.
The president, after delivering his
add refs f for which Jee our laf\, with
drew ; the members of the house of
representatives then returned to their
chambers, where the president’s ad
dress was read by the clerk.
It was then referred to a committee
to report the draft of an answer.
A meflage from the president, by
. his fecrctary, communicating sundry
papers and documents mentioned in
his address.
A mefl'Age from the senate, that they
had chosen, on their part, the right
reverend dottor White, as chaplain.
The house those, on their part, the
reverend doctor Green, as chaplain.
Mr. Bondinot moved for the ap
pointment of a committee to report
on the unfinilhed bufincls ot the lail
house, .which being agreed to, a com
mittee was appointed accordingly.
IP'ecinejday, December 4.
The following motion, laid on the
table yelterday, was called up, i hat
a committee be appointed to report a
bill empowering the president to con
vene the legifluture at any other place
than that to which they may have ad
journed.
Mr. Smith (S. Carolina), (fated the
dilemma the legislature would have
been placed in, if the late malignant
fever had continued its ravages beyond
the period fixed for the meeting ci the
legislature. The prelent he considered
the molt proper time to take up this
motion, as the houle enjoyed compe
tent leisure, and the minds of mem
bers were fully imprefled by the re
collection of the late calamity, with
the necelTity of fotqe such provision.
Mr. Giles laid, he doubted the
propriety of entering into the conside
ration of the motion at present. The
gentleman who had introduced it had
remarked, that the fonllitutian autho
riled the preli lent to convene congress
npori extraordinary occasions, at any
oilier time than that to which they
flood adjourned ; but that he was not
authorilfd to alter the place of ad
journment, and the object of the mo
tion was to fuppty this luppofed defect
in the conftitufion- Mr. Gi’es doubted
the propriety of (applying the defects
ot the conditution by means of law.
If the authority proposed to be given
to the-president, by the motion, be
ncHf in the conllitution, the legislature
polled’pot the authority of placing it
there : tSiere is a mode pouted out
by the comdirution for remedying any
defects in tXm inftrurnent, which expe
rience minlnt fugged ; he therefore
conceived, fin this instance, the con
flitutcd mod® ought not to be departed
from. He remarked, that probably in
the courle f the session, the subject
of propoleJf amendments would be
brought iptto the house. He inferred
this frorti the conduct of fome of the
Bate governments during the recels of
cocvgrefs ; particularly the decilion of
determination upon the queflion of
the fuability of dates ; he therefore
1 thought it bed to defer the confidera
[ tionof the present motion until the
1 iubject of amendments should be taken
‘up generally. He observed, that the
leisure of the house at this time, had
ibeen urged as an argument in favour
t.oc entering into the conllJeration of
The motion without farther delay ; he
ypdinitted the argument had its force,
1-nd if there exiiteJ no found objection
hgaind it, that it ought to prevail ;
* |ut the reason urged by him for poft
*>onement, appeared to he an import
ant oife, and to his mind, more than
to counterbalance that only
Vnalning argument. The reasons
-• ponement were further en
(, ■ from the recollection that no
\ -at present exited for the ob
r V
’ed proposed to be embraced by the
motion ; nor was it probable that any
such necelfity would arile until the ob
jedcould be effected (if it Ihould here
after be deemed advifeable) in the
mode pointed out by the constitu
tion.
Mr. Sedgwick, in answer, was de
cidedly of opinion, that the power of
appointing a place ot meeting for the
legislature should be veiled in the
prelideut. He meant nodilrefped by
the allulion, but he was fatisfied that
congress had a right to grant such an
authority to their door-keeper. In
case of an invafiort from a foreign
enemy, or of another yellow fever,
which hetrufted never would happen,
were the members of the legislature
tamely to fit (till in Philadelphia, as if
they had been bound hand and foot,
without adopting any mealure eflential
for their personal lafery ? The idea
of granting such a power was in itfelf
highly proper, and lure every prin
ciple pointed out the president as the
mod eligible perlbn for the ponellion
of this authority.
The quellion, on taking up the re
solution, was 1011.
A communication was received from
the secretary at war, containing a
Hate of the non-commiflioned officers
andfoldiers in thefcrvice oftheUnitcd
States ; also a copy of the indructions
for the three commilfioners appointed
to treat with the hollile Indians on the
north of the Ohio. A report by these
cominiffioners, of their proceedings,
in the form of a journal, and a letter
from genera! Wayne, concerning foine
of his late operations.
The indructions to the connniiTion
ers were then read, and the clerk was
proceeding to read their journal, as
transmitted to the secretary at war.
Upon this one of the members object
ed ; that the contents might be of a
nature extremely improper for publi
cation. He laid that he was unac
quainted with the journal, hut he had
heard several particulars in the in
dructions themselves, which, in his
opinion, had better have been fup
prelfed. It was a measure that he
believed to be without example in
the hillory of negociations, to read
before a mixed alfembly like the pre
sent, the confidential dispatches of a
miriifter in a dillant and refponlible
(itnation, without its having been pre
viously alcertained that their contents
were perfect y calculated for publicity.
He hoped that the government of A
meriea would dever degrade its adnii
niliration into a mystery ; a mode of
proceeding which lie for cue detefled.
But Hill there was a middle path, nor
could he consent that the journal
Ihould be read without lbme previous
ideas that it might be done with pro
priety. He said that it might, among
other materials of an exceptionable
nature, contain reflections upon l'ome
of the powers of Europe. He con
ceived that the house of representatives
might remit the journal to beexamined
by the president, and if it was found
to contain nothing improper for pub
lication, then it might be read before
the house.
Several other members spoke, and
It was strongly urged, that the whole
contents ought to be read. It was
laid the Indian war had been unpo
pular, that the perulal of the diL
patches, if the cominiffioners had aided
agreeable to their inftructioi'is, would
vindicate the federal government -
that the tongue of clamour would be
mod effectually {fenced ; and the
public be completely fatisfied, that the
United States had only been driven
into this war by neceflity, and were
ready to dole it upon equitable terms.
One member hinted, that it nfight be
requisite to clear the gallery before
reading the journal referred to, as
had upon former occasions been the
of the houle. ‘ This.was ob
jected to, and at a quarter pad one
o’clock the house, on a motion to that
effect, adjourned.
Thursday, December 5.
The clerk, by order of the house,
proceeded to read the journal of the
commissioners appointed to treat with
the hoflile Indians on the north of the
Ohio. At a quarter before one o’clock
a message was delivered from the pie
fident, with certain communications
concerning the powers ol Europe [ for
which fee our and lundiy docu
ments! from the commissioners ap
pointed to fettle the debts of the U
nited States.
The papers communicated from die
secretary at war, were referred to a
committee of the whole house on the
Hate of the union.
Adjourned at three oclock.
Friday , December 6.
Mr. Smith (S. C.), of the commit
tee of eledions, reported that all the
members whole credentials had been
referred to them, were duly returned,
with one exception only, that of a
member from Delaware, against the
legality of whole ele&ion a protefl
had been entered by a candidate for
the farrlc feat.
The house resolved into a commit
tee of the whole, mr. Trumbull in the
chair, on the draft of an answer to
the prefldent’s address. This draft
was reported by the committee with
out amendment, the report adopted
by the houle, and mellfs. Madifori,
Sedgwick, and Hartley, were ap
pointed to wait on the prelident to
learn when it will be convenient to
him to receive this answer. They
before adjournment reported that he
would receive the address to-morrow
at 12 o’clock.
This address is as follows .*
Sir,
The representatives of the people
of the United States, in.meeting you
for the fir A time lince you have been
again called by an unanimous luffrage
to your present flation, find an occa
sion which they embrace with no less
lincerity than promptitude, for expref
ling to you their congratulations on
lb diflinguifhed a tellimony of public
approbation, and their entire conn
deuce in the purity and patriotism of
the motives which have produced this
obedience to the voice of your country.
It is to virtues which have commanded
lone and universal reverence, and ser
vices from which have flowed great
and Lifting benefits, that the tribute of
praise may be paid without the re
proach of flattery ; and it is from the
lame iources that the faireft anticipa
tions may be derived in favour of the
public happiness.
The United States having taken no
part in the war which has embraced,
in Europe, the powers with whom
they have the moft extensive relations,
the maintenance of peace was justly to
be regarded as one of the moft impor
tant duties of the magistrate charged
with the faithful execution of the laws.
We accordingly witness with appro
bation and plealure the vigilance with
which you have guarded against an
interruption of that blessing, by your
proclamation, admonishing our citizens
of the consequences of illicit or hoflile
acls towards the belligerent parties ;
and promoting, by a declaration of the
existing legal state of things, an easier
admillion of our rights to the immu
nities belonging to our situation.
The connexion of the United States
with Europe, has evidently become
extremely interesting. The commu
nications which remain to he exhi
bited to us will, no doubt, aflift in
giving us a fuller view of the fubjcdl,
and in guiding our deliberations to‘
such reiults as may comport with the
rights and true interells of our coun
try.
We learn with deep regret, that the
mealures dictated by a jove of peace,
for obtaining an amicable termination
ol the afflicting war on our frontier,
Ihould have been fruftrated, and that
a resort to oftenlive measures Ihould
have again become necelfary. As the
latter, however, mud be rendered
more fatisfadory in proportion to tire
solicitude for peace manifefted by the
former, it is to be hoped they will be
pursued under the better auspices on
that account, and be finally crowned
with more happy success.
In relation to the particular tribes
of Indians against whom effenfive mea
fureshave been prohibited, as well as
on the other important subjects which
you have prclented to cur view, we
shall bellow the attention which they
claim. We cannot however refrain
tit this time, from particularly expref.
sing our concurrence in your anxiety
for the regular difeharge of the pub’ic
debts, as far as circumflances and
events will permit ; and in the policy
of removing any impediments that
may be found in the way of a faithful
representation of public proceedings,
throughout the United States ; being
peHiiaded with you, that on no fub
jecl more than the former, can delav
be more injurious, or an economy of
time more valuable ; and that with
respect to the latter, no resource is so
firm for the government of the United
States as the affections of the people,
guided by an enlightened policy.
Throughout our deliberations we
shall endeavour to cherifii every sen
timent which may contribute to ren.
der them conducive to the dignity as
well as to the welfare ot the United
States, and we join with you in im
ploring that Being, on whole will the
fate of nations depends, to crown with
luccefs our mutual endeavours.
Saturday, December 7.
Among the communications from
the war department, read on the sth
instant, were two letters from general
Wayne. These letters are dated, the
firfl, in the beginning, and the other
on the 23d of October. The general
dates that lotne fitknefs has p-evaded
among his troops, wfto were however
then fad recovering. He dates their
whole amount at 3861. Part of these,
those debt Jila t edjhy lit 1c riels i jic, . ~
he will leave to protect the frontier
forts. His legion will then confilt of
2600 fighting men ; these added to
1029 mounted volunteers from Ken
tucky, will make a grand total of 5629
men for active operations. The gene.,
ral conceives the season too far ad
vanced to permit him to aid much 01.1
the olfenfive ; he willies, betides, for
additional aid by the completion of the
legion. His intention, he intimates,
is to take a drong polition about fix
miles in front of Fort Jeflferfon, in
which, if the Indians attack him, and
lie thinks they may have the ralhnefs
to do it, he hopes to make them repent
their temerity.
He gives an account in his lad of
the convoy intercepted by the Indians,
in which the officers commanding the
escort, and thirteen men, bravely fell.
By the report of the commiilioners
for fettling the accounts of the United
States with the individual dates, read
also in the fame fitting, the following
dates have the reJpective amounts an
nexed :
Debtor flutes. Dollars .
. New-York, 274,846
. Pennsylvania, 76,709
Delaware, 612,428 \
Maryland, 151,640
. Virginia, 100,899
North C arolina, 51,802
Creditor Jlates.
New-Hamplhire, 75,055
Malfachufetts, 1,2+8,801
Ilhode Illand, 299, bii
Connecticut, 619,121
• New Jersey, 49,030
South Carolina, 1,205,978
Georgia, 19,998
PHILADELPHIA, December 5.
Captain Allen informs, that lie left
the Downs the; nth of October, in
company with the British fleet, com
manded by admiral M‘Bride, confid
ing of 150 fail, under convoy of a 50
gun fliip and two frigates, bound for
the Weft Indies.