DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES; WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING IMPORTANT STATE PAPERS AND PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, AND ALL THE LAWS OF A PUBLIC NATURE; WITH A COPIOUS INDEX. FOURTH CONGRESS-FIRST SESSION. COMPRISING THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 7, 1795, TO JUNE 1, 1796, INCLUSIVE. COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC MATERIALS. WASHINGTON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GALES AND SEATON. 1849. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FOURTH CONGRESS, HELD IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 7, 1795. MONDAY, December 7, 1795. The following Senators appeared, and took their seats: JOHN LANGDON and SAMUEL LIVERMORE, from New Hampshire; CALEB STRONG and GEORGE CABOT, from Massachusetts; THEODORE FOSTER, from Rhode Island; OLIVER ELLSWORTH and JONATHAN TRUMBULL, from Connecticut; MOSES ROBINSON, from Vermont; is assembled; that they have elected JONATHAN DAYTON their Speaker; and that they have concurred in the appointment of a joint committee to wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and acquaint him that the two Houses of Congress are assembled, and are ready to receive any communications that he may be pleased to lay before them. Mr. READ, from the joint committee appointed for that purpose, reported that they had waited on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and had notified him that a quorum of the two Houses of JAMES ROSS and WILLIAM BINGHAM, from Penn- Congress were assembled ; and the PREsident of sylvania; HENRY LATIMER, from Delaware; THE UNITED STATES acquainted the committee that he would meet the two Houses in the Repre HENRY TAZEWELL and STEPHENS T. MASON, sentatives Chamber at 12 o'clock to-morrow. from Virginia; ALEXANDER MARTIN and TIMOTHY BLOODWORTH, from North Carolina; PIERCE BUTLER and Jacob READ, from South Carolina. The VICE PRESIDENT being absent, the Senate proceeded to the election of a PRESIDENT pro tempore, as the Constitution provides, and HENRY TAZEWELL was duly elected. Ordered, That the Secretary wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and acquaint him that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that, in the absence of the VICE PRESIDENT, they have elected HENRY TAZEWELL President pro tempore. Ordered, That the Secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and ready to proceed to business; and that, in the absence of the VICE PRESIDENT, they have elected HENRY TAZEWELL President pro tempore. Ordered, That Messrs. READ and CABOT be a joint committee on the part of the Senate, together with such committee as the House of Representatives may appoint on their part, to wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communications that he may be pleased to make to them. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that a quorum of the House 4th CoN.-2 TUESDAY, December 8. HUMPHREY MARSHALL, from the State of Kentucky, attended. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House are now ready to meet the Senate in the Chamber of that House, to receive such communications as the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES shall be pleased to make to them. Whereupon, the Senate repaired to the Chamber of the House of Representatives for the purpose above expressed. The Senate then returned to their own Cham ber, and a copy of the Speech of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to both Houses of Congress was read, as follows: Fellow-citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives: I trust I do not deceive myself, while I indulge the when, more than at the present, the situation of our persuasion that I have never met you at any period, public affairs has afforded just cause for mutual congratulation, and for inviting you to join with me in profound gratitude to the Author of all Good for the numerous and extraordinary blessings we enjoy. The termination of the long, expensive, and distressing war in which we have been engaged with certain Indians Northwest of the Ohio, is placed in the option of the United States, by a Treaty which the Commander |