wisé specially provided for; and that an act for that purpose ought to be passed the present session.

Resolved, That out of the moneys reserved during the present session for the support of Government from the duties on imports and tonnage, a sum not exceeding thirty-eight thousand eight hundred and ninety-two dollars, seventy-five cents, be appropriated for the payment of the debts contracted by Abraham Skinner, late Commissary of prisoners, for the subsistence of the officers of the late army while in

captivity.

[AUGUST 10, 1790.

The bill from the Senate to alter the time of holding the Circuit Courts in South Carolina and Georgia, were twice read, and ordered to be committed.

The House immediately went into a committee on the said bill, Mr. LIVERMORE in the chair. The committee made several amendments in the bill, which being reported, was agreed to by the House. The said bill was then engrossed, read the third time, and passed.

Resolved, That provision by law should be immeThe House agreed to the amendments of the diately made for the application of the surplus sum Senate to the bill for the relief of disabled solwhich shall remain in the Treasury after all the ap-diers and seamen; and, also, to those in the bill propriations made during the present session shall for discharging the claim of the widow of the be satisfied, in conformity to the tenor of the report late Lord Stirling. of the Secretary of the Treasury.

Messrs. FITZSIMONS, VINING, MADISON, AMES, and BENSON, formed the committee for preparing a bill on this subject.

Another message was received from the Senate, that they had passed the bill respecting the Virginia cession, with some amendments; also, that the Senate agreed to the resolution for an adjournment on Tuesday next.

The House then proceeded to the consideration of the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill respecting the Virginia cession, and agreed to the same.

MONDAY, August 9.

PUBLIC DEBTS.

mittee of the whole on the bill making proviThe House then resolved itself into a Comsion for the reduction of the public debt. Mr. LIVERMORE in the chair. The committee made several amendments in the bill, which were reported to the House and agreed to. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed.

SURVEYS OF LAND.

The House resolved that all surveys of lands in the United States made under the direction of the late Geographer General, agreeable to contracts for such parts of said lands made with the late Board of Treasury, be returned to, and presented by, the Secretary of the Treasury, so as to complete the said contracts. And that the said Secretary is hereby authorized to diMr. FITZSIMONS, from the committee appoint-rect the making and completing any other sured for the purpose, presented a bill making certain appropriations therein mentioned; also, a bill making provision for the reduction of the public debt, both which were twice read and committed.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.

veys that remain to be made, so as to comply, on the part of the United States, with the several contracts aforesaid, in conformity to the terms thereof.

PUBLIC Debt.

The engrossed bill making provision for the reduction of the public debt, was read the third

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.

Mr. SMITH, of S. C., from the committee appointed to examine the accounts of the Treasurer of the United States, for the two last quar-time, and passed. ters, reported that the committee had found them to agree with the several certified statements thereon by the Auditor, admitted by the Comptroller, and registered by the Register.

The Senate informed the House, by message, that they had passed a bill to alter the times of holding the Circuit Courts of South Carolina and Georgia, and the bill declaring the assent of Congress to certain acts of the States of Maryland, Georgia, and Rhode Island, with an amendment, to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the whole on the bill making certain appropriations therein mentioned, Mr. LIVERMORE in the chair. The committee made an amendment to the bill, which being reported to the House, was agreed to, and the bill ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. The bill was afterwards read the third time, and passed.

Ordered, That the representations from the General Court of Massachusetts on the subject of whale and cod fisheries, which lie on the taThe House proceeded to consider the amend-ble, be referred to the Secretary of State, with ment of the Senate, and agreed to it. instructions to report thereon at the next session of Congress,

A committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. GILMAN, WHITE, and SMITH, (of S. C.) to join with such committee as the Senate shall appoint, to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him of the proposed recess of Congress.

TUESDAY, August 10.
ADJOURNMENT.

The Senate, by message, informed the House that they had resolved that the resolution of the sixth instant, proposing to adjourn the two Houses on this day be repealed, and that the Speakers of the two Houses be authorized to ne-adjourn the two Houses on the twelfth instant, which resolution was agreed to by this House.

Ordered, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to prepare and report to this House, on the second Monday of December next, such further provision as may, in his opinion, be cessary for establishing the public credit.

6

HISTORY

OF

THE PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES

OF

THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,

AT THE THIRD SESSION OF THE FIRST CONGRESS, HELD AT PHILADELPHIA,

DECEMBER 6, 1790.

[That no debate appears in the proceedings of the Senate is already accounted for in a note at the commencement of the Journal of the First Session. It is for this good reason, that, until its Session in 1794, the Senate sat with closed doors.]

SENATE.]

President's Speech.

[DEC. 8, 1790.

revenues, allotted for this and other national pur-powers the President to call out the militia for the poses, have been productive beyond the calculations protection of the frontiers; and I have, accordingly, by which they were regulated. This latter circum- authorized an expedition, in which the regular troops stance is the more pleasing, as it is not only a proof in that quarter are combined with such draughts of of the fertility of our resources, but as it assures us militia as were deemed sufficient: the event of the of a further increase of the national respectability measure is yet unknown to me. The Secretary of and credit; and, let me add, as it bears an honorable War is directed to lay before you a statement of the testimony to the patriotism and integrity of the mer- information on which it is founded, as well as an escantile and marine part of our citizens. The punc-timate of the expense with which it will be attended. tuality of the former in discharging their engagements has been exemplary.

In conforming to the powers vested in me by acts of the last session, a loan of three millions of florins, towards which some provisional measures had previously taken place, has been completed in Holland. As well the celerity with which it has been filled, as the nature of the terms, (considering the more than ordinary demand for borrowing, created by the situation of Europe,) give a reasonable hope that the further execution of those powers may proceed with advantage and success. The Secretary of the Treasury has my directions to communicate such further particulars as may be requisite for more precise information.

The disturbed situation of Europe, and particularly the critical posture of the great maritime powers, whilst it ought to make us the more thankful for the general peace and security enjoyed by the United States, reminds us, at the same time, of the circumspection with which it becomes us to preserve these blessings. It requires, also, that we should not overlook the tendency of a war, and even of preparations for a war, among the nations most concerned in active commerce with this country, to abridge the means, and thereby at least to enhance the price of transporting its valuable productions to their proper markets. I recommend it to your serious reflection how far, and in what mode, it may be expedient to guard against embarrassments from these contingencies, by such encouragements to our own navigation as will render our commerce and agriculture less dependent on foreign bottoms, which may fail us in the very moments most interesting to both of these great objects. Our fisheries, and the transportation of our own produce, offer us abundant means for guarding ourselves against this evil.

Since your last sessions I have received communications by which it appears that the district of Kentucky, at present a part of Virginia, has concurred in certain propositions contained in a law of that State; in consequence of which the district is to become a distinct member of the Union, in case the requisite sanction of Congress be added. For this sanction application is now made. I shall cause the papers on this very important transaction to be laid before you. The liberality and harmony with which it has been conducted will be found to do great honor to both the parties; and, the sentiments of warm attachment to the Union and its present Government, expressed by our fellow-citizens of Kentucky, cannot fail to add an affectionate concern for their par-blishment of a judiciary system have opened the ticular welfare to the great national impressions under which you will decide on the case submitted to

you.

It has been heretofore known to Congress, that frequent incursions have been made on our frontier settlements by certain banditti of Indians from the northwest side of the Ohio. These, with some of the tribes dwelling on and near the Wabash, have of late been particularly active in their depredations; and, being emboldened by the impunity of their crimes, and aided by such parts of the neighboring tribes as could be seduced to join in their hostilities, or afford them a retreat for their prisoners and plunder, they have, instead of listening to the humane invitations and overtures made on the part of the United States, renewed their violences with fresh alacrity, and greater effect. The lives of a number of valuable citizens have thus been sacrificed, and some of them under circumstances peculiarly shocking, whilst others have been carried into a deplorable captivity.

Your attention seems to be not less due to that particular branch of our trade which belongs to the Mediterranean. So many circumstances unite in rendering the present state of it distressful to us, that you will not think any deliberations misemployed which may lead to its relief and protection.

The laws you have already passed for the esta

doors of justice to all description of persons. You will consider, in your wisdom, whether improvements in that system may yet be made; and, particularly, whether an uniform process of execution, on sentences issuing from the federal courts, be not desirable through all the States.

The patronage of our commerce, of our merchants, and seamen, has called for the appointment of consuls in foreign countries. It seems expedient, to regulate by law, the exercise of that jurisdiction, and those functions which are permitted them, either by express convention, or by a friendly indulgence, in the places of their residence. The consular convention, too, with His Most Christian Majesty, has stipulated, in certain cases, the aid of the national authority to his consuls established here. Some legislative provision is requisite to carry these stipu lations into full effect.

The establishment of the militia, of a mint, of standards of weights and measures, of the Post-office and post roads, are subjects which (I presume) you will resume of course, and which are abundantly urged by their own importance.

These aggravated provocations rendered it essential to the safety of the Western settlements, that the aggressors should be made sensible that the Government of the Union is not less capable of punishGentlemen of the House of Representatives: ing their crimes, than it is disposed to respect their The sufficiency of the revenues you have establishrights and reward their attachments. As this objected for the objects to which they are appropriated, could not be effected by defensive measures, it be- leaves no doubt that the residuary provisions will be came necessary to put in force the act which em- commensurate to the other objects for which the