The first session of the Fifth Congress, under the Constitution of Government of the United States, commenced at the city of Philadelphia, agreeably to the Proclamation of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, of the twenty-fifth day of March last, and the Senate accordingly assembled on this day, being

MONDAY, May 15, 1797.

PRESENT:

THOMAS JEFFERSON, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate. JOHN LANGDON and SAMUEL LIVERMORE, from New Hampshire;

BENJAMIN GOODHUE, from Massachusetts; THEODORE FOSTER and WILLIAM BRADFORD, from Rhode Island;

JAMES HILLHOUSE and URIAH TRACY, from Connecticut;

ISAAC TICHENOR, from Vermont;
JOHN LAURANCE, from New York;
WILLIAM BINGHAM, from Pennsylvania;
HENRY LATIMER, from Delaware;
JOHN E. HOWARD, from Maryland;
STEVENS T. MASON, from Virginia;
ALEXANDER MARTIN and TIMOTHY
WORTH, from North Carolina;

BLOOD

JOHN HUNTER, from South Carolina; JOSIAH TATTNALL, from Georgia. The Senators whose names are subjoined produced their credentials on the 4th day of March last, and took their seats in the Senate, viz: Mr. FOSTER, Mr. GOODHUE, Mr. HILLHOUSE, Mr. HOWARD, Mr. LATIMER, Mr. MASON, Mr. Ross, and Mr. TICHENOR.

WILLIAM COCKE, appointed a Senator by the State of Tennessee, produced his credentials, and the oath required by law being administered, he took his seat in the Senate.

Ordered, That the Secretary wait on the President of the United States, and acquaint him that a quorum of the Senate is assembled.

Ordered, That the Secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and ready to proceed to busi

ness.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that a quorum of the House is assembled, and have elected JONATHAN DAYTON their Speaker.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have appointed a joint committee on their part, together with such committee as the Senate may appoint, to wait on the President of the United States, and inform 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.

Resolved, That the Senate do concur in the appointment of a joint committee, and that Messrs. LIVERMORE and LANGDON be the joint committee on the part of the Senate.

Mr. LIVERMORE reported, from the_joint committee, that they had waited on the President of the United States, and had notified him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled ; and that the President of the United States acquainted the committee that he would meet the two Houses in the Representatives' Chamber at 12 o'clock to

morrow.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have resolved that two Chaplains be appointed to Congress, for the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly; in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolution; and,

Resolved, That they do concur therein, and that lain on the part of the Senate. the Right Reverend Bishop WHITE be the Chap

TUESDAY, May 16.

WILLIAM BLOUNT, from the State of Tennessee; THEODORE SEDGWICK, from the State of Massachusetts; and JOHN VINING, from the State of Delaware, severally 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 returned to their own Chamber and a copy of the Speech of the President of the United States, this day addressed to both Houses

of Congress, was read. (For which, see House Proceedings, post.) Ordered, That Messrs. TRACY, LAURANCE, and LIVERMORE, be a committee to report the draught of an Address to the President of the United States, in answer to his Speech this day to both Houses of Congress.

It was further ordered that the Speech be printed for the use of the Senate.

Resolved, That each Senator be supplied, during the present session, with copies of three such newspapers, printed in any of the States, as he may choose; provided that the same are furnished at the rate of the usual annual charge for such

[MAY, 1797.

On motion, that the report, as amended, be printed for the use of the Senate, it passed in the negative.

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed until Monday next.

MONDAY, May 23.

JOHN BROWN, from the State of Kentucky, and JACOB READ, from the State of South Carolina, severally attended.

JOHN RUTHERFURD, appointed a Senator from the State of New Jersey, produced his credentials, which were read, and the oath required by law being administered to him, he took his seat in the Senate.

The Senate took into consideration the draught, reported by the committee, of an Address to the President of the United States, in answer to his Speech at the opening of the session, and having agreed to sundry amendments, adjourned.

TUESDAY, May 23.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the

report of the committee of the draught of an Address, in answer to the Speech of the President of the United States to both Houses of Congress, at the opening of the session.

On motion, to expunge the following paragraph, to wit:

are in perfect unison with yours, in this public manner "We are happy, since our sentiments on the subject to declare, that the conduct of the Government has been just and impartial to foreign nations, and that those internal regulations, which have been established for the preservation of peace, are, in their nature, proper, and have been fairly executed :"

It was determined in the negative-yeas 11, nays 15, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Bloodworth, Blount, Brown, Cocke,

attended.

On motion, by Mr. TRACY,

Ordered, That the report of the committee, appointed to draught an Address, in answer to the Speech of the President of the United States at the opening of the session, be recommitted. And it was agreed that Messrs. HENRY and TAZEWELL be added to the committee.

The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a

letter from the Secretary for the Department of State, communicating, by order of the President of the United States, sundry papers, No. 1 to 18, respecting the situation of affairs of the United States with France, Spain, and Holland; which papers were read.

Ordered, That they lie for consideration.

SATURDAY, May 20.

Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was recommitted the report of an Address in answer to the Speech of the President of the United States, to both Houses of Congress, at the opening of the session, reported sundry amendments; which were read.

and Tattnall.

NAYS-Messrs. Bingham, Bradford, Foster, Goodhue, Hillhouse, Howard, Laurance, Latimer, Livermore, Read, Rutherfurd, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tichenor, and Tracy.

And the report being further amended, was adopted, as follows:

SIR: The Senate of the United States request you to accept their acknowledgments for the comprehensive and interesting detail you have given, in your Speech to both Houses of Congress, on the existing state of the Union.

of the Legislature, we wish to express our entire apWhile we regret the necessity of the present meeting probation of your conduct in convening it on this momentous occasion.

The superintendence of our national faith, honor, and dignity, being, in a great measure, constitutionally deposited with the Executive, we observe, with singular satisfaction, the vigilance, firmness, and promptitude, exhibited by you, in this critical state of our public affairs, and from thence derive an evidence and pledge of the rectitude and integrity of your administration. And we are sensible it is an object of primary importance, that each branch of the Government should adopt