public faith stands now pledged. Allow me, more. over, to hope that it will be a favorite policy with you not merely to secure a payment of the debt funded, but as far and as fast as the growing resources of the country will permit, to exonerate it of the principle itself. The appropriation you have made of the Western lands explains your disposi. tions on this subject, and I am persuaded the sooner that valuable fund can be made to contribute, along with other means, to the actual reduction of the pubfic debt, the more salutary will the measure be to every public interest, as well as the more satisfactory

to our constituents.

Gentlemen of the Senate

and House of Representatives:

In pursuing the various and weighty business of the present session, I indulge the fullest persuasion that your consultations will be equally marked with wisdom, and animated by the love of your country. In whatever belongs to my duty, you shall have all the co-operation which an undiminished zeal for its welfare can inspire. It will be happy for us both, and our best reward, if, by a successful administration of our respective trusts, we can make the established Government more and more instrumental in promoting the good of our fellow-citizens, and more and more the object of their attachment and confidence. GEO. WASHINGTON.

UNITED STATES, December 8, 1790.

The President of the United States having retired, and the two Houses being separated, Messrs. ELLSWORTH, KING, and IZARD, were appointed a committee to prepare and report the draft of an address to the President, in answer to his speech to both Houses.

THURSDAY, December 9.

[SENATE.

DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, to wit:

In Convention, July 28th, 1790.

Resolved, That it is expedient for, and the will of, the good people of the District of Kentucky, that the same be erected into an independent State, on the terms and conditions specified in an act of the Virginia Assembly, passed the 18th day of December, 1789, entitled "An act concerning the erection of the District of Kentucky into an independent State."

Resolved, That we, the Representatives of the people of Kentucky, duly elected in pursuance of an act of the Legislature of Virginia, passed the 18th day of December, 1789, entitled "An act concerning the erection of the District of Kentucky into an independent State," and now met in Convention; having, with full powers, maturely investigated the expediency of the proposed separation on the terms and conditions specified in the above recited act; do, by these presents, and in behalf of the people of Kentucky, accept the terms and conditions, and do declare that, on the 1st day of June, 1792, the said District of Kentucky shall become a State separate from, and independent of, the Government of Virginia, and that the said articles become a solemn compact, binding on the said people.

To the President, and the Honorable the Congress

of the United States of America.

The memorial of the Representatives of the people of Kentucky, in Convention assembled, pursuant to an act of the Legislature of Virginia, passed the 18th December, 1789, entitled "An act concerning the erection of the District of Kentucky into an independent State," humbly showeth:

That the inhabitants of this country are warmly devoted to the American Union, and as firmly attached to the present happy establishment of the Federal Government, as any of the citizens of the United

The inconveniences resulting from its local situation, as a part of Virginia, at first but little felt, have for some time been objects of their most serious attention; which occasioned application to the Legislature of Virginia for redress.

Resolved, That they do concur therein, and that the Right Rev. Dr. William White be appointed on the part of the Senate.

Ordered, That the Secretary communicate the concurrence of the Senate in this resolution

to the House of Representatives, together with their proceedings thereon.

A message from the President of the United States communicated sundry papers referred to in his speech to both Houses:

This they have thought expedient to do, on the terms and conditions stipulated in the above recited act; and fixed on the first day of June, 1792, as the period when the said independence shall com

mence.

It now remains with the President and the Con

gress of the United States to sanction these proceedings, by an act of their honorable Legislature, prior to the first day of November, 1791, for the purpose of receiving into the Federal Union the people of Kentucky, by the name of the State of Kentucky.

SENATE]

Should this determination of your memorialists meet the approbation of the General Government, they have to call a Convention, to form a Constitution, subsequent to the act of Congress, and prior to the day fixed for the independence of this country. When your memorialists reflect on the present comprehensive system of Federal Government, and when they also recollect the determination of a former Congress on this subject, they are left without a doubt that the object of their wishes will be accomplished.

And your memorialists, as in duty bound, shall for ever pray.

[DEc. 13, 1790.

tressed our Northwestern frontiers, should have rendered offensive measures necessary, we feel an entire confidence in the sufficiency of the motives which have produced them, and in the wisdom of the dispositions which have been concerted, in pursuance of the powers vested in you; and, whatever may have been the event, we shall cheerfully concur in the provisions which the expedition, that has been undertaken, may require on the part of the Legislature, and in any other which the future peace and safety of our frontier settlements may call for.

FRIDAY, December 10.

A letter from Monsieur Beniere, President of the Commonalty of Paris, addressed to the President and members of Congress of the United States, with twenty-six copies of a Civic Eulogy on Benjamin Franklin, pronounced the 21st day of July, 1790, in the name of the Commonalty of Paris, by Monsieur L'Abbé Fauchet, was delivered to the Senate, by Mr, Lear, Secreta ry to the President of the United States. Read, and

Ordered, That the letter and copies of the Eulogy be sent to the House of Representatives. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate, that they have, on their part, appointed the Rev. Dr. Blair one of the Chaplains to the present Congress.

Mr. ELLSWORTH, from the committee appointed to prepare and report the draught of an Address to the President of the United States, reported accordingly; and, the report being amended, was adopted, as followeth:

To the President of the United States of America. We receive, sir, with particular satisfaction, the communications contained in your speech, which confirm to us the progressive state of the public credit, and afford, at the same time, a new proof of the solidity of the foundation on which it rests; and we cheerfully join in the acknowledgment which is due to the probity and patriotism of the mercantile and marine part of our fellow-citizens, whose enlightened attachment to the principles of good government is not less conspicuous in this than it has been in other important respects.

In confidence that every constitutional preliminary has been observed, we assure you of our disposition to concur, in giving the requisite sanction, to the admission of Kentucky as a distinct member of the Union; in doing which, we shall anticipate the happy effects to be expected from the sentiments of attachment towards the Union, and its present Government, which have been expressed by the patriotic inhabitants of that district.

While we regret that the continuance and increase of the hostilities and depredations which have dis

esting not to inspire a disposition to promote them, with their natural progress and permanent prosby all the means which shall appear to us consistent

perity.

Impressed with the importance of a free intercourse with the Mediterranean, we shall not think any deliberations misemployed, which may conduce to the adoption of proper measures for removing the impediments that obstruct it.

The improvement of the judiciary system, and the other important objects to which you have pointed our attention, will not fail to engage the consideration they respectively merit.

In the course of our deliberations, upon every sub. ject, we shall rely upon that co-operation which an undiminished zeal, and incessant anxiety for the pub. lic welfare, on your part, so thoroughly ensure; and, as it is our anxious desire, so it shall be our constant endeavor, to render the established Government more and more instrumental in promoting the good of our fellow-citizens, and more and more the object

of their attachment and confidence.

Ordered, That the Address to the President of the United States, in answer to his Speech, be presented by the Vice President, attended by the Senate, and that the committee which reported the address wait on the President, and desire to be informed at what time and place he will receive the same.

MONDAY, December 13.

PHILIP SCHUYLER, from New York, attended. WILLIAM S. JOHNSON, from Connecticut; and Mr. ELLSWORTH, from the committee appointed on the 10th, to wait on the President of the United States, reported,

That it would be agreeable to the President to receive the address of the Senate, in answer to his speech to both Houses of Congress, on Monday next, at 12 o'clock: whereupon,

The Senate waited on the President of the United States at his own house, and the Vice President, in their name, communicated to him the address agreed to on the 10th instant; to which, the President of the United States was pleased to make the following reply:

GENTLEMEN: These assurances of favorable attention to the subjects I have recommended, and of entire confidence in my views, make the impression on me which I ought to feel. I thank you for them both, and shall continue to rely much for the success

DEC. 20, 1790.]

your councils.

GEO. WASHINGTON. The Senate returned to the Senate Chamber. On motion,

Ordered, That the Secretary furnish the .members of Senate, from such printers as they may respectively direct, each, three newspapers, to be left, from time to time during the session, at their several places of abode.

THURSDAY, December 16.

Ordered, That Messrs. SCHUYLER, HAWKINS, and ELLSWORTH, be a committee to prepare and bring in a bill supplementary to the act, entitled An act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States."

Mr. SCHUYLER, from the above-mentioned committee, reported a bill, which was read the first time.

Ordered, That this bill pass to the second reading.

Ordered, That Messrs. ELLSWORTH, HAWKINS, and SCHUYLER, be a committee to take into consideration and report on that part of the President's speech which relates to the appointment of Consuls.

FRIDAY, December 17. THEODORE FOSTER, from Rhode Island, attended.

Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate

[SENATE.

proceeded to the second reading of the bill, supplementary to the act, entitled "An act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States."

Agreed, by unanimous consent, so far to dispense with the rule, as that this bill now pass to the third reading.

Resolved, That this bill do pass, that it be entitled "An act supplementary to an act, entitled 'An act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States,"" that it be engrossed and carried to the House of Representatives for concurrence therein.

The Senate entered on Executive business. The following message was read from the President:

UNITED STATES, December 17, 1790.

Gentlemen of the Senate:

Since your last session, I have appointed Robert Morris, Judge of the District of New Jersey, in place of David Brearly, deceased; and John Heth, of Virginia, an Ensign in the troops of the United States, in place of Richard Archer, who has declined his appointment.

As these appointments expire with your present session, I nominate Robert Morris to be Judge of the District of New Jersey, in place of David Brearly, deceased; and John Heth, of Virginia, to be an En

sign in the troops of the United States, in place of

Richard Archer, who has declined his appointment. of the District of North Carolina, in place of John I likewise nominate John Sitgreaves to be Judge Stokes, deceased; William Hill, to be Attorney for the United States in the District of North Carolina, in place of John Sitgreaves, if his nomination as Judge meets your concurrence; Zachariah Rowland, to be Surveyor of the port of Richmond, in the State of Virginia, in place of Corbin Braxton, who has resigned his appointment; and Jeremiah Nicols, to be Collector of the port of Chester, in the State of Maryland, in place of John Scott, deceased.

GEO. WASHINGTON,

Ordered, That the message lie for consideration.

MONDAY, December 20.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, which informed the Senate, that they have passed a bill, entitled "An act to continue an act, entitled 'An act declaring the assent of Congress to certain acts of the States of Maryland, Georgia, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations;"" in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

Ordered, That this bill be read the first time.

Ordered, That this bill pass to the second reading.

The memorial and remonstrance of the public creditors who are citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, praying for a revision of “An act making provision for the debt of the United States," was, by Mr. MORRIS, presented and read.

Ordered, That this memorial lie on the table.

DEC. 28, 1790.]

[SENATE.

the last session of Congress, and that the petition of Thomas M'Kean and others, styling themselves a committee of the public creditors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, cannot be granted. On motion,

WEDNESDAY, December 22. Ordered, That Mr. FOSTER be of the Joint Committee on the part of the Senate, with such as the House of Representatives may appoint on their part, to examine Enrolled Bills.

Ordered, That the Secretary desire the concurrence of the House of Representatives in the appointment of a Joint Committee, for Enrolled Bills, on their part.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate, that they have agreed to the appointment of a Joint Committee on their part, for Enrolled Bills.

Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate proceeded to consider the motion made on the 21st instant, that it be

Resolved, As the opinion of the Senate, that any deviation from the principles of the system contained in the act making provision for the debt of the United States, would be dangerous and inexpedient.

On motion to postpone this resolution, and substitute the following:

Resolved, That it would be inexpedient to alter the system for funding the public debt established during the last session of Congress, and that the petition of Thomas M'Kean and others, styling themselves a committee of the public creditors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, cannot be.granted:

It passed in the affirmative.

And, on the main question, the yeas and nays being required by one-fifth of the Senators present, and were:

The Senate entered on Executive business.

The following message was received from the

President:

UNITED STATES, December 23, 1790. Gentlemen of the Senate:

I nominate Woodbury Langdon, of the State of New Hampshire, to be one of the Commissioners for settling the accounts between the United States and individual States, in place of John Taylor Gilman, who has resigned his appointment; and

William Gardner, to be Commissioner of Loans in the State of New Hampshire, in place of Nathaniel Gilman, who has declined his appointment. GEO. WASHINGTON.

Ordered, That this message lie for consideration.

FRIDAY, December 24.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, informing the Senate, that the President of the United States, which was they had received the following message from read, as follows: Gentlemen of the Senate,

and House of Representatives:

It appearing, by the Report of the Secretary of the Government Northwest of the Ohio, that there are certain cases respecting grants of land within that lature of the United States, I have directed a copy of territory which require the interference of the Legissaid Report, and the papers therein referred to, to be laid before you; together with a copy of the Report of the Secretary of State upon the same sub[ject. GEO. WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, December 23, 1790.

The papers referred to in the above recited message were read; and,

Ordered, That the message, and papers accompanying it, lie for consideration.

The Senate, on Executive business, confirmed the nominations which were yesterday laid before them.

MONDAY, December 27.

No business of importance came before the

So it was

Resolved, That it would be inexpedient to alter the system for funding the public debt established during

TUESDAY, December 28.

Ordered, That Messrs. IZARD, MONROE, MORRIS, LANGDON, and SCHUYLER, be a committee to take into consideration the Report of the Secretary of State, on the uniformity of