gers, who, being introduced, Mr. SITGREAVES, their Chairman, addressed the Senate as follows: Mr. VICE PRESIDENT: The House of Representatives having agreed upon articles, in maintenance of their impeachment against William Blount, for high crimes and misdemeanors, and having appointed on their part managers of the said impeachment, the managers have now the honor to attend the Senate, for the purpose of exhibiting the said articles.

The VICE PRESIDENT then ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to proclaim silence, after which he notified the managers that the Senate was ready to hear the articles of impeachment. Whereupon, The Chairman of the Managers read the articles of impeachment, and they were received from him at the bar by the Sergeant-at-Arms, and laid on the table.

The VICE PRESIDENT then informed the managers that the Senate would take proper order on the subject of the impeachment, of which due notice should be given to the House of Repre

sentatives.

The Secretary then read the articles of impeachment, in the following words:

Articles exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States, in the name of themselves and of all the people of the United States, against William Blount, in maintenance of their impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors.

ARTICLE 1. That, whereas the United States, in the months of February, March, April, May, and June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven, and for many years then past, were at peace with His Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain; and whereas, during the months aforesaid, His said Catholic Majesty and the King of Great Britain were at war with each other; yet the said William Blount, on or about the months aforesaid, then being a Senator of the United States, and well knowing the premises, but disregarding the duties and obligations of his high station, and designing and intending to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the United States, and to violate and infringe the neutrality thereof, did conspire, and contrive to create, promote, and set on foot, within the jurisdiction and territory of the United States, and to conduct and carry on from thence, a military hostile expedition against the territories and dominions of His said Catholic Majesty in the Floridas and Louisiana, or a part thereof, for the purpose of wresting the same from His Catholic Majesty, and of conquering the same for the King of Great Britain, with whom His said Catholic Majesty was then at war as aforesaid, contrary to the duty of his trust and station as a Senator of the United States, in violation of the obligations of neutrality, and against the laws of the United States, and the peace and interests thereof.

ARTICLE 2. That, whereas, on the twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, a Treaty of Friendship, Limits, and Navigation, had been made and concluded between the United States and His Catholic Majesty, by the fifth article whereof it is stipulated and agreed, "that the two high contracting parties shall, by all the means in their power, maintain peace and harmony among the several Indian nations who inhabit the country adjacent to the lines and rivers, which, by the preceding articles, form the boundaries of the two Flori

[FEBRUARY, 1798.

das: And the better to obtain this effect, both parties oblige themselves expressly to restrain by force all hostilities on the part of the Indian nations living within their boundary; so that Spain will not suffer her Indians to attack the citizens of the United States, nor the Indians inhabiting their territory; nor will the United States permit these last mentioned Indians to lic Majesty or his Indians, in any manner whatever :" commence hostilities against the subjects of His CathoYet, the said William Blount, on or about the months of February, March, April, May, and June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninetyseven, then being a Senator of the United States, and well knowing the premises, and that the United States were then at peace with His said Catholic Majesty, and that His Catholic Majesty was at war with the King of Great Britain, but disregarding the duties of his high station, and the stipulations of the said treaty, and the obligations of neutrality, did conspire and contrive to excite the Creek and Cherokee nations of In

dians, then inhabiting within the territorial boundary of subjects and possessions of His Catholic Majesty, in the United States, to commence hostilities against the the same to the dominion of the King of Great Britain, the Floridas and Louisiana, for the purpose of reducing with whom His Catholic Majesty was then at war as aforesaid: contrary to the duty of his trust and station as a Senator of the United States, in violation of the said Treaty of Friendship, Limits, and Navigation, and of the obligations of neutrality, and against the laws of the United States, and the peace and interests thereof.

ARTICLE 3. That, whereas, by the ordinances and acts of Congress for regulating trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, and for preserving peace on the frontiers, it has been made lawful for the President of the United States, in order to secure the continuance of the friendship of the said Indian tribes, to appoint such persons, from time to time, as temporary agents, to reside among the Indians, as he shall think fit; and whereas, in pursuance of the said authority, the President of the United States, on or about the eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, did appoint Benjamin Hawkins, to be principal temporary agent for Indian affairs, within the Indian nations south of the river Ohio, and north of the territorial line of the United States; and whereas the said Benjamin Hawkins accepted the said appointment, and on the 21st day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, and for a long time before and afterwards, did exercise the functions, powers and duties attached to the same; yet, the said Wm. Blount, on or about the said twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninetyseven, then being a Senator of the United States, and well knowing the premises, did, in the prosecution of his criminal designs and of his conspiracies aforesaid, and the more effectually to accomplish his intention of exciting the Creek and Cherokee nations of Indians to commence hostilities against the subjects of His Catholic Majesty, further conspire and contrive to alienate and divert the confidence of the said Indian tribes or nations from the said Benjamin Hawkins, the principal temporary agent aforesaid, and to diminish, impair, and destroy the influence of the said Benjamin Hawkins with the said Indian tribes, and their friendly intercourse and understanding with him, contrary to the duty of his trust and station as a Senator of the United States,

and against the ordinances and laws of the United States, and the peace and interests thereof.

ARTICLE 4. That, whereas, by the ordinances and acts of Congress aforesaid, it is made lawful for the President of the United States to establish trading houses at such places and posts on the western and southern frontiers, or in the Indian country, as he shall judge most convenient, for the purpose of carrying on a liberal trade with the several Indian nations within the limits of the United States, and to appoint an agent at each trading house established as aforesaid, with such clerks and assistants as may be necessary for the execution of the said acts: And, whereas, by a treaty, made and concluded on the second day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, between the United States and the Cherokee nation of Indians, inhabiting within the limits of the United States, it is stipulated and agreed, that "the United States will send such, and so many persons to reside in said nation, as they may judge proper, not exceeding four, who shall qualify themselves to act as interpreters." And whereas the President of the United States, as well in pursuance of the authorities in this article mentioned, as of the acts of Congress referred to in the third article, did appoint James Carey to be interpreter for the United States to the said Cherokee nation of Indians, and assistant at the public trading house established at the Tellico blockhouse, in the State of Tennesssee: And whereas the said James Carey did accept the said appointments, and on the twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, and for a long time before and afterwards, did exercise the functions, and duties attached to the same; yet, the said William Blount, on or about the said twenty-first day of April, in the year last aforesaid, then being a Senator of the United States, and well knowing the premises, did, in prosecution of his criminal designs, and in furtherance of his conspiracies aforesaid, conspire and contrive to seduce the said James Carey from the duty and trust of his said appointments, and to engage the said James Carey to assist in the promotion and execution of his said criminal intentions and conspiracies aforesaid, contrary to the duty of his trust and station as a Senator of the United States, and against the laws and treaties of the United States, and the peace

and interests thereof.

ARTICLE 5. That whereas certain tribes or nations

of Indians inhabit within the territorial limits of the United States, between whom, or many of them, and the settlements of the United States, certain boundary lines have, by successive treaties, been stipulated and agreed upon, to separate the lands and possessions of the said Indians from the lands and possessions of the United States, and the citizens thereof: And whereas, particularly, by the treaty in the last article mentioned to have been made with the Cherokee nation, on the second day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, the

boundary line between the United States and the said Cherokee nation was agreed and defined; and it was further stipulated, that the same should be ascertained and marked plainly by three persons appointed on the part of the United States, and three Cherokees on the part of their nation : And whereas, by another treaty made with the said Cherokee nation, on the twentysixth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, the said hereinbefore recited treaty, of the second day of July, in the

[SENATE.

rests thereof.

And the House of Representatives, by protestation, saving to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter, any further articles, or other accusation, or impeachment, against the said William Blount, and also of replying to his answers, which he shall make unto the said articles, or any of them, and of offering proof to all and every the aforesaid articles, and to all and every other articles of impeachment, or accusation, which shall be exhibited by them, as the case shall require, do demand that the said William Blount may be put to answer the said crimes and misdemeanors, and that such proceedings, examinations, trials, and judgments, may be thereupon had and given, as are agreeable to law and justice.

Signed by order and in behalf of the House. JONATHAN DAYTON, Speaker. Attest, JONATHAN W. CONDY, Clerk.

Ordered, That the report of the committee, made on the 5th instant, respecting the mode of administering the oaths in cases of impeachment, be the order of the day for to-morrow.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act for the relief of the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia ;" and having agreed to sundry amendments, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of Executive business.

THURSDAY, February 8.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the

report of the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act for the relief of the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, and, having adopted the report,

Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading as amended.

Mr. Ross, from the committee to whom was referred the consideration of a deed of cession of

FRIDAY, February 9.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the committee, made on the 5th instant, respecting the mode of administering the oaths in cases of impeachment,

On motion to postpone the consideration thereof, it was determined in the negative-yeas 10, nays 18, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Bloodworth, Brown, Foster, Jackson, Langdon, Marshall, Martin, Mason, and Tazewell.

NAYS Messrs. Bingham, Chipman, Goodhue, Greene, Hillhouse, Hobart, Howard, Hunter, Latimer, Livermore, Lloyd, Paine, Read, Ross, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tattnall, and Tracy.

On motion that the report be amended, by adding thereto these words: "and that a bill be brought in conformable thereto," it was determined in the negative-yeas 8, nays 20, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Bloodworth, Brown, Foster, Jackson, Langdon, Marshall, and Mason.

NAYS Messrs. Bingham, Chipman, Goodhue, Greene, Hillhouse, Hobart, Howard, Hunter, Latimer, Livermore, Lloyd, Martin, Paine, Read, Ross, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tattnall, Tazewell, and Tracy.

On motion to agree to the report of the committee, it was determined in the affirmative-yeas 22, nays 6, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Bingham, Brown, Chipman, Foster, Goodhue, Greene, Hillhouse, Hobart, Howard, Hunter, Latimer, Livermore, Lloyd, Martin, Paine, Read, Ross, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tattnall, Tazewell, and Tracy. NAYS-Messrs. Anderson, Bloodworth, Jackson, Langdon, Marshall, and Mason.

[FEBRUARY, 1798.

Island, in the State of New York, reported a bill on the subject; which was read, and ordered to the second reading.

A letter from Governor Wood, of the State of Virginia, to the Secretary of the Senate, with a resolution of the Legislature of that State, ratifying an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, respecting the suability of States, were laid before the Senate, and read.

Ordered, That they lie on file.

The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act for the relief of the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia," was read the third time.

Resolved, That this bill pass with amendments. The consideration of the bill to authorize the sale of certain lands between the Great and Little Miami rivers, in the territory of the United States southwest of the Ohio, and for giving a pre-emption to certain purchasers and settlers, was resumed.

Resolved, That this bill pass, that it be engrossed, and the title thereof be "An act to authorize the sale of certain lands between the Great and Little Miami rivers, in the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio, and for giving a pre-emption to certain purchasers and settlers." The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Gentlemen of the Senate, and

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

In obedience to the law, I now present to both Houses of Congress my annual account of expenditures from the contingent fund during the year 1797, by which it appears that, on the first day of January last, there remained in the Treasury a balance of fifteen thousand four hundred and ninety-four dollars and twenty-four cents, subject to future dispositions of Government. JOHN ADAMS.

UNITED STATES, February 12, 1798. The Message and documents therein referred to were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

expense of holding a treaty with the Indians claiming lands in the State of Tennessee or No th Caro-. lina," reported amendments; which were read. Ordered, That they lie for consideration. Mr. BINGHAM presented the petition of Philip Wilson, praying compensation for the loss of a the peace was concluded between the United ship and cargo destroyed by Admiral Digby, after States and His Britannic Majesty; which, with a statement therein referred to, were read.

Ordered, That they lie on the table.

Mr. Ross presented the petition of John Edgar and William Morrison, on behalf of the inhabitants of the Illinois, praying permission to lay out certain donation lands on the waters of Kaskaskia creek; which was read, and referred to Messrs. Ross, BROWN, and LIVERMORE, to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

On motion, that the bill regulating certain proceedings in cases of impeachment be the order of the day for Wednesday next;

A motion was made to amend the motion, and that it be the order of the day for the second Monday in June next; which last motion was determined in the negative-yeas 5, nays 22, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Bingham, Livermore, Read, Ross, and Sedgwick.

NAYS-Messrs. Anderson, Bloodworth, Brown, Chipman, Foster, Goodhue, Greene, Hillhouse, Hobart, Howard, Hunter, Jackson, Langdon, Latimer, Llyod, Marshall, Martin, Mason, Paine, Tattnall, Tazewell, and Tracy.

And the original motion was agreed to.

TUESDAY, February 13.

A motion was made by Mr. GOODHUE, that it be

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed to obtain from the collectors of the customs of the principal collection districts of the United States, an account, exhibiting the number and tonnage of the vessels, and the estimated value of their cargoes, that have been captured or detained since the first day of January, 1796, from their respective districts, by or under the authority of foreign nations, distinguishing the vessels captured or detained by each

nation; and that the said Secretary lay the result of the information so obtained, as soon as may be, before

the Senate."

And it was agreed that this motion lie for consideration.

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the report of the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act appropriating a certain sum of money to defray the expense of holding a treaty with the Indians claiming lands in the State of Tennessee or North Carolina;" and, after debate,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed.

The bill to erect a light-house on Eaton's Neck, in the State of New York, and place beacons and buoys in the Sound, between the city of New York, in said State, and Newport, in the State of Rhode Island, and in the harbors of those places, was read the second time.

Ordered, That it be committed to the committee who reported the bill.

WEDNESDAY, February 14.

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion made yesterday by Mr. GOODHUE, which was adopted; and

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed to obtain from the collectors of the customs of the principal collection districts of the United States, an account exhibiting the number and tonnage of the vessels, and the estimated value of their cargoes, that have been captured or detained since the first day of January, 1796, from their respective districts, by

[SENATE.

or under the authority of foreign nations, distinguishing the vessels captured or detained by each nation; and that the said Secretary lay the result of the information so obtained, as soon as may be, before the Senate.

A motion was made by Mr. READ, that it be

Resolved, That the duty or trust imposed by the Constitution of the United States, on a Senator of the United States, is not of such a nature as to render a Senator impeachable, or subject to any examination or trial for crimes or offences alleged to have been committed against the laws and peace of the United States, other than any citizen of the United States not a member of either House of Congress, and not holding any office under the said States:"

And it was agreed that this motion lie for consideration.

Ordered, That the committee appointed the 30th of January last, to report a form of proceeding in cases of impeachment, be discharged.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of Government for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight, and for other purposes:" in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

the committee to whom was referred the bill regThe Senate proceeded to consider the report of ulating certain proceedings in cases of impeachment; and, after progress, it was agreed that the further consideration thereof be postponed.

THURSDAY, February 15.

tives for concurrence, entitled "An act making The bill, sent from the House of Representathe year one thousand seven hundred and ninetyappropriations for the support of Government for eight, and for other purposes," was read, and ordered to the second reading.

A motion was made, by Mr. LIVERMORE, that a what measures ought to be adopted by the Senate, committee be appointed to consider and report by the House of Representatives against WILLIAM relative to the articles of impeachment exhibited BLOUNT; and it was agreed that this motion lie

for consideration.

informed the Senate that the House have passed A message from the House of Representatives a bill, entitled "An act granting the right of sending and receiving letters and packets by post, free of postage, to the Attorney General of the United States, and the officer commanding the troops of the United States;" in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act appropriating a certain sum of money to defray the expense of holding a treaty with the Indians claiming lands in the State of Tennessee or North Carolina," and adopted sundry of the amendments reported.

On motion, to agree to part of the report of the committee, in the words following: