OF THE DEBATES OF CONGRESS, FROM 1789 TO 1856. FROM GALES AND SEATON'S ANNALS OF CONGRESS; FROM THEIR REPORTED DEBATES, BY JOHN C. RIVES. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE THIRTY YEARS' VIEW. VOL. V. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 346 & 348 BROADWAY. 1857. THIRTEENTH CONGRESS.-FIRST SESSION. BEGUN AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, MAY 24, 1813. PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.* MONDAY, May 24, 1813. place of Chauncey Goodrich, resigned; JEREConformably to the act passed the 27th of Feb-MIAH MORROW, appointed a Senator by the Leruary last, entitled "An act to alter the time | gislature of the State of Ohio, for the term of for the next meeting of Congress," the Senate six years, commencing on the fourth day of assembled in their Chamber at the Capitol. PRESENT. NICHOLAS GILMAN, from New Hampshire. JONATHAN ROBINSON, from Vermont. THOMAS WORTHINGTON, from Ohio. March last; DAVID STONE, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of North Carolina, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last; and CHARLES TAIT, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Georgia, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last, respectively, produced their credentials; which were read; and the oath prescribed by law was administered to them, and they took their seats in the Senate. The oath was also administered to JOHN GAILLARD and ABNER LACOCK, their credentials having been read and filed during the last session. Address of the Vice President. The VICE PRESIDENT exhibited a certificate of his having taken the oath of office prescribed by law; which was read; and he addressed the Senate as follows: Gentlemen of the Senate: JESSE BLEDSOE, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Kentucky, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last; WILLIAM B. BULLOCK, appointOur fellow-citizens, in the free exercise of their ed a Senator by the Executive of the State of constitutional authority, having been pleased to Georgia, in place of William H. Crawford, re- honor the person addressing you, with this distinsigned; DUDLEY CHACE, appointed a Senator by guished station, have inferred from him an indispenthe Legislature of the State of Vermont, for the sable obligation to meet their just expectations. To term of six years, commencing on the fourth day attain this desirable object, and to preside over this of March last; CHARLES CUTTS, appointed a Sen- honorable body in conformity to their magnanimity ator by the Executive of the State of New and dignity, which at all times have been conspicuHampshire, to fill the vacancy in the represent-ous, will be his primary pursuit. Whilst the constiation in the Senate from that State, during the present recess of the Legislature of the said State; DAVID DAGGETT, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Connecticut, in LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE SENATE. tution has invested him with Legislative and Executive powers, in cases only that are casual, to the decisions of these it has attached a great responsibility; in anticipating which, and his other duties, he Delaware.-Outerbridge Horsey, William H. Wells. Tennessee.-Joseph Anderson, George W. Campbell. Ohio.-Thomas Worthington, Jeremiah Morrow. Louisiana.-James Brown, Elegius Fromentin. has the pleasing prospect of reposing on your liberali- | the hope of divisions or conquest? [MAY, 1813. Does the enemy expect, by burning defenceless towns and villages, to promote his views? Such conduct may entail on the nation which sanctions it eternal infamy, but can never subdue the elevated souls of our brave fellowcitizens, or even depress the sublime minds of our innocent fair, the ornaments of our country, who, amidst the unmerited distresses inflicted on them and their tender offspring by a merciless foe, will soar above sympathy, and claim the just tribute of universal admiration and applause. It is a subject of cordial congratulation, that the liberties of the people, in so great a degree, rest on that wisdom and fortitude which mark the characters of the exalted personage who fills the Supreme Executive, of the dignified members who constitute the National Legislature, and of the eminent officers who Whilst the Executive in the full exercise of its audirect the Ministerial departments-public virtues, thority, is left to test the sincerity of pacific overemulated by few Governments, need no encomiums. tures, it is a happy circumstance that the United Fidelity and integrity, unsubdued by the severest States, at all times desirous of an honorable peace, ordeals, and presaging to public calamities a favor- and superintended by an officer whose capacious able issue, will be ever held in high estimation; | mind embraces, and whose patriotic fortitude will whilst a Government, scrupulously faithful to its pursue, every interest of his country, thus meet with trust, and measures which merit the highest applause, ardor an indispensable war. Is not their power a have a just claim to the public support. pledge that they can, and their sacred honor that they will, with intrepidity, maintain the conflict? They demand justice; and can they relinquish it without a surrender of their sovereignty? The present epoch is momentous, and leads to observations which would not occur on ordinary occasions. Our country is again involved in a sanguinary conflict, the issue of which, in the estimation of the enemy, is to determine whether the republican system, adopted by the people, is imbecile and transient, or whether it has force and duration worthy of the enterprise. That it can never fail whilst they are true to their interest, is beyond doubt. And is it not equally so, that they will never desert the Government of their choice, or attach themselves to a foreign domination, from which, under the benign smiles of Divine Providence, they have lately, by their own valor, emancipated themselves? Can they need arguments to convince them, that, in proportion to the purity of Republican Governments, have ever been the reproaches and efforts for overthrowing them, by imperious Sovereigns who once ruled them? "To divide and to conquer" have long been the objects of the enemy. He has presumed on his own arts, and on impotency in our system of Government; but, in both instances, he will be convinced of his error. The people and constituted authorities of the several States, those great pillars of our confederate system, numerous as they are, and inevitably discordant in some of their interests, have evinced, in various ways, a firm determination to support it. The interior frontier States, where the territorial war commenced and continues, assailed by innumerable difficulties, have surmounted them; and, by their unanimity and Spartan valor, are establishing for themselves immortal honor. Through the extensive wilds of our military operations, some of these, as in all wars, have been successful, and others unfortunate. But to whatever causes the latter may be traced, they never can be imputed to those heroic officers or privates of the army or of the militia, who have bravely combated the enemy; and of whom, some have been crowned with laurels, others have submitted to irresistible misfortunes, and many have nobly fallen, enshrined with glory. The Atlantic States have repelled, with magnanimity, maritime invasions; and have also given proofs of their patriotic ardor, by conquests on the ocean. Their enterprises and victories have been sources of national triumph and renown. Are not our officers and mariners, in naval combats, unrivalled by fame? Have they not presented infallible sureties for signalizing themselves on great occasions? How vain then is Great Britain is in collision with her best customers, and once her commercial friends, who had viewed peace as a mutual blessing; and who, by their moderation, had preserved it, until necessity has pointed to a different line of conduct. They had annually sent to her their productions and specie to a vast amount; had thus employed her mechanics, purchased her manufactures, extended her commerce, and become a great source of her national wealth. Hence, her zealous and persevering opposition to their commercial restraints, representing, in high strains, their great injury to this country; but preserving silence on a most important point, their destructive effects on her own manufactures and commerce. The United States are now her enemy; and is it not easy to foresee, that, if the war should continue, the Canadas will be rendered independent of her; and, as friends or allies to the United States, will no longer be instrumental in exciting an unrelenting and savage warfare against our extensive and defenceless borders? To such inhuman acts, in former times, were the Canadians urged by France in her Albion wars; and by our colonial aid Great Britain obtained jurisdiction over them. She in turn has abused this power, and has justified the United States in their efforts to divest her of it. And is not their energy adequate to the object? Will not this be evident by a view of their effective National and State Governments? of the unconquered minds and formidable numbers of their citizens? of their martial spirit? of their innate attachment to their rights and liberties? and of their inflexible determination to preserve them? But, if any one still doubts, will he not recollect, that, at the commencement of our Revolutionary war, which terminated against her, the united colonies had not a third of their present population; nor arms or military stores for a single campaign; nor an efficient arrangement for warfare; nor specie in their treasuries; nor funds for emitting a paper currency; nor a national Government; nor (excepting two instances) State Governments; nor the knowledge either of military or of naval tactics? Will he not also remember that Great Britain was then in the zenith of her power; that neighboring nations trembled at her nod; that the colonies were under her control; that her crown officers opposed MAY, 1813.] President's Message. [SENATE. Doorkeeper of the Senate; which expense shall Resolved, That two Chaplains, of different denomi nations, be appointed to Congress during the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly. every means for resisting her; excited amongst the colonial Governments (over which they presided) ununfounded jealousies of each other, and embarrassed every measure for their union; that she was loaded with less than a fifth of her present national debt; that she was then at peace with all the world; and that she is now at war with a greater part of Europe, as well as with the United States? If Great Britain herself reflects on these things, will she not relinquish her vain attempts to awe the citizens of the A message from the House of Representatives United States, by exaggerated statements of her informed the Senate that a quorum of the House military and naval power, or by delusive views of of Representatives is assembled, and have electtheir unprepared state for a war, of the great ex-ed HENRY CLAY, Esquire, one of the Represenpense of it, and of the difficulties they are to en-tatives for the State of Kentucky, their Speaker, counter in defence of all that is valuable to man? and are ready to proceed to business. They If, in lieu of fruitless artifices, she will make rational concur in the resolution of the Senate for the and equitable arrangements, which the Government appointment of a joint committee to wait on of the United States have been always ready to meet, the President of the United States and notify can there be a doubt that the two nations will be him that a quorum of the two Houses is assemspeedily restored to their wonted friendship and combled and ready to receive any communications merce ? that he may be pleased to make to them; and have appointed a committee on their part. TUESDAY, May 25. Your fellow-citizen, with sensations which can more easily be conceived than expressed, perceives that there are in the Government many of his former friends and compatriots, with whom he has often co-operated in the perilous concerns of his country; and, with un- Mr. ANDERSON reported, from the joint comfeigned pleasure, he will meet the other public func-mittee, that they had waited on the President tionaries, whose acknowledged abilities and public of the United States, and that the President inservices in like manner claim his high consideration formed the committee that he would make a and respect. With a sacred regard to the rights of communication to the two Houses this day at every Department and officer of Government, and twelve o'clock. with a respectful deference to their political principles and opinions, he has frankly declared his own; for, to have concealed them at a crisis like this, might have savored too much of a deficiency of candor. And may that Omnipotent Being, who, with infinite wisdom and justice, superintends the destinies of nations, confirm the heroic patriotism which has glowed in the breasts of the national rulers, and convince the enemy that, whilst a disposition to peace, on equitable and honorable terms, will ever prevail in their public councils, one spirit, animated by the love of country, will inspire every Department of the National Government. WASHINGTON, May 24, 1813. E. GERRY. On motion by Mr. ANDERSON, the Secretary was directed to notify the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled and ready to proceed to business. President's Message. The following Message was received from the and of the House of Representatives: A committee was appointed on the part of delays, incident to the distance of the parties, by a definitive provision for the contemplated negotiation. the Senate, jointly with such committee as may Three of our eminent citizens were accordingly combe appointed on the part of the House of Rep-missioned, with the requisite powers to conclude a resentatives, 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 he may be pleased to make to them. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. The PRESIDENT communicated a letter from JAMES LLOYD, notifying the resignation of his seat in the Senate. On motion of Mr. LEIB, Resolved, That Mountjoy Bayly, Doorkeeper and Sergeant-at-Arms to the Senate, be, and he is hereby, authorized to employ one assistant and two horses, for the purpose of performing such services as are usually required by the Treaty of Peace with persons clothed with like powers on the part of Great Britain. They are authorized also to enter into such conventional regulations of the commerce between the two countries, as may be mutually advantageous. The two Envoys who were in the United States at the time of their appointment, have proceeded to join their colleague already at St. Petersburg. The Envoys have received another commission, authorizing them to conclude with Russia a Treaty of Commerce, with a view to strengthen the amicable relations and improve the beneficial intercourse between the two countries. The issue of this friendly interposition of the Russian Emperor, and this pacific manifestation on the part of the United States, time only can decide. That the sentiments of Great Britain towards that Sover |