ten miles square, on both sides of the river Potomac, so as to comprehend Georgetown, in Maryland, and extend to the Eastern Branch. and House of Representatives: [SENATE. The Senate on Executive business. Mr. MORRIS, from the committee appointed to take into consideration the message of the President of I have not, by this first act, given to the said terri- the United States of the 19th inst., made a retory the whole extent of which it is susceptible in the port, which was ordered to lie for consideration. direction of the river; because I thought it important The following message was received from the that Congress should have an opportunity of consid- President of the United States: ering whether by an amendatory law they would au-Gentlemen of the Senate, thorize the location of the residue, at the lower end of the present, so as to comprehend the Eastern Branch itself, and some of the country on its lower In order that you may be fully informed of the sitside, in the State of Maryland, and the town of Alex-uation of the frontiers, and the prospects of hostility andria, in Virginia. If, however, they are of opinion in that quarter, I lay before you the intelligence of that the Federal Territory should be bounded by the some recent depredations, received since my message water edge of the Eastern Branch, the location of the to you upon this subject of the 24th instant. GEO. WASHINGTON. residue will be to be made at the upper end of what is UNITED STATES, January 27, 1791. now directed. The message and papers therein referred to were read; and, I have thought best to await a survey of the territory, before it is decided on what particular spot on the northeastern side of the river, the public buildings shall be erected. GEO. WASHINGTON. TUESDAY, January 25. Ordered, That the Secretary communicate them to the House of Representatives. FRIDAY, January 28. The petition of a number of the inhabitants of the county of Lancaster was read, praying that the bill laying an excise on spirituous liquors, Mr. STRONG reported, from the joint commit-pending before Congress, may not pass, for reasons therein expressed. tee appointed on the 21st inst.,"to consider and report what time will be proper for the commencement of the next Congress." Ordered, That the petition lie on the table. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed a Ordered, That the report lie for considera-bill repealing, after the last day of June next, tion. WEDNESDAY, January 26. the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and also upon spirits distilled within the The following message was received from the United States, and for appropriating the same; President of the United States: Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives: I lay before you the copy of a letter from the President of the National Assembly of France to the President of the United States; and of a decree of that Assembly, which was transmitted with the abovementioned letter.* GEO. WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, January 26, 1791. The message and papers were read. Mr. ELLSWORTH, from the committee to whom was referred the bill concerning Consuls and Vice Consuls," reported amendments; which report was agreed to; whereupon, 66 The Senate proceeded in the second reading of the bill; which was amended conformably to the report, and Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading. THURSDAY, January 27. Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate proceeded to the third reading of the bill "concerning Consuls and Vice Consuls;" and, Resolved, That this bill do pass, and that the Secretary carry it to the House of Representatives, and desire concurrence therein. in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. Ordered, That this bill have the first reading at this time. Ordered, That this bill pass to the second reading. Another message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed the bill declaring the consent of Congress that a new State be formed within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and admitted into this Union, by the name of the State of Kentucky. The Senate, on Executive business, took into consideration the report of Mr. MORRIS, made yesterday; but, after debate, the further consideration thereof was postponed. MONDAY, January 31. A message was received from the House of Representatives, informing the Senate that they had passed a bill declaring the consent of Congress to a certain act of the State of Maryland, in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate; and that they had agreed to the report of the committee appointed on their part to confer with the committee on the part of the Senate, respecting the time for the commencement of . A copy of which is given in the Appendix to this the next session of Congress. volume. The resolution of the House of Representa SENATE.] Proceedings. tives, agreeing to the report of the committee Ordered, That this bill pass to the second reading. The Senate proceeded to the second reading of the bill repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and, also, upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same. Ordered, That the further consideration hereof be postponed until Wednesday next. Ordered, That Messrs. MONROE, SCHUYLER, and READ, be a committee to take into consideration the extract of a letter from Governor Randolph, of Virginia, communicated by message from the President of the United States; together with the resolutions of the Common wealth of Virginia, relative to the bounty lands to the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line on continental establishment; and to report what is proper to be done thereon. [FEB. 4, 1791. forty thousand dollars; and, also, that measures be taken to confirm the treaty now existing between the United States and the Emperor of Morocco. Ordered, That the Secretary communicate this resolution to the President of the United States. Mr. LANGDON, from the committee appointed the 15th of December, 1790, as recorded on the Legislative Journal of that date, reported January the 6th, 1791, on the same subject: "That the trade of the United States to the Med iterranean cannot be protected but by a naval force, and that it will be proper to resort to the same as soon as the state of the public finances will admi." On motion, Ordered, That this report be re-committed, with an instruction to the committee to consider the subject, and report generally thereon. WEDNESDAY, February 2. A message from the House of Representatives was received, informing the Senate that they had passed the bill making appropriations for the support of Government during the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and for other purposes. The bill from the House of Representatives was read the first time. Ordered, That this bill pass to the second Mr. LANGDON, from the committee to whom was referred that part of the message of the Pre-reading. sident of the United States which relates to the commerce of the Mediterranean; together with the message of the President of the United States, of 30th December, made report. Ordered, That this report lie for considera-retary acquaint the House of Representatives with tion. The Senate on Executive business, resumed the consideration of the report of the committee, made the 27th inst.; which, after debate, was further postponed. TUESDAY, February 1. The bill declaring the consent of Congress to a certain act of the State of Maryland, was read the second time; and, Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading. The Senate, on Executive business. Mr. LANGDON, from the committee appointed as per Legislative Journal, Dec. 15, 1790, made a report on that part of the speech of the President of the United States, which relates to the commerce of the Mediterranean, together with his message recorded; also, on the Legislative Journal of the 30th of December, 1790, and on the letter of the 20th of January, from the Secretary of State, respecting the American prisoners in captivity at Algiers, with the papers accompanying the same; and the following resolution was entered into: Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent that the President of the United States take such measures as he may think necessary for the redemption of the citizens of the United States now in captivity at Algiers, provided the expense shall not exceed the bill declaring the consent of Congress to a The Senate proceeded to the third reading of certain act of the State of Maryland; and, Resolved, That this bill do pass, and that the Sec the concurrence of the Senate therein. of the bill repealing, after the last day of June Messrs. MORRIS, ELLSWORTH, LANGDON, SCHUY- The Senate on Executive business. A letter tract of one from William Short, Chargé des from the Secretary of State, enclosing an exAffaires at the Court of France, was read. Both the letter and its enclosure lie for considera tion. of State made to that House, in relation to the Çod and Whale fisheries. The report and papers therein referred to were read; and, Ordered, To be printed. SATURDAY, February 5. Mr. DALTON, from the committee appointed to consider and report on the bill sent from the House of Representatives, making appropriations for the support of Government during the year one thousand seven hundred and ninetyone, and for other purposes, reported sundry amendments. Ordered, That this report lie until Monday next for consideration. MONDAY, February 7. [SENATE. WEDNESDAY, February 9. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they had passed the bill sent from the Senate, to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the committee on the bill repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and, also, upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same; to which report having agreed, and that the bill be amended conformably, Ordered, That the bill pass to the third read The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the committee on the billing. making appropriations for the support of Government during the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and for other purposes; to which amendments the Senate did not agree; whereupon, Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they had ordered that the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, relative to the establishment of a mint, be sent to the Senate for their information. Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Treasury relative to the establishment of a mint be referred to Messrs. MORRIS, IZARD, KING, MONROE, and SCHUYLER, to consider and report what is proper to be done thereon. The following message was received from the and House of Representatives: I have received from the Governor of Vermont, authentic documents expressing the consent of the Legislatures of New York and of the Territory of Vermont, that the said Territory shall be admitted to be a distinct member of our Union; and a memorial of Nathaniel Chipman and Lewis R. Morris, commissioners from the said Territory, praying the consent of the State of Vermont; copies of which I now lay beCongress to that admission, by the name and style of fore Congress, with whom the Constitution has vested the object of these proceedings. GEO. WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, February 9, 1791. Mr. MORRIS, from the committee appointed to consider and report on the bill repealing, af- Ordered, That the message from the Presiter the last day of June next, the duties hereto-dent of the United States of this date, with the fore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and, also, upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same, reported the bill amended. The amendments were read; and, Ordered, That they be printed for the use of the Senate. TUESDAY, February 8. The Senate proceeded to the third reading of the bill making appropriations for the support of Government during the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and for other purposes. Resolved, That this bill do pass. The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the committee on the bill repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and, also, upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same. papers accompanying it, be referred to Messrs. KING, MONROE, ELLSWORTH, LANGDON, and HAWKINS, to consider and report what is proper to be done thereon. THURSDAY, February 10. Mr. KING, from the committee to whom was referred the message from the President of the United States of the 9th instant, relative to the State of Vermont, with the papers therein contained, reported a bill for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union. This bill was read the first time. Ordered, That this bill pass to the second reading. The Senate proceeded to the third reading of the bill repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and, also, upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same; but, after some debate, and attempt at amendment, the Senate adjourned without getting through the bill. SENATE.] FRIDAY, February 11. Proceedings. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they had passed a bill authorizing the President of the United States to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid and discharged. Also, the bill to continue in force, for a limited time, an act passed at the first session of Congress, entitled An act to regulate processes in the Courts of the United States;' in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The Senate proceeded to the first reading of the bill sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, to continue in force, for a limited time, an act passed at the first session of Congress, entitled "An act to regulate processes in the Courts of the United States;' and the bill authorizing the President of the United States to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid and discharged. The Senate proceeded to give the first bill its first reading, and to order it to be read a second time. The bill authorizing the President to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be discharged, was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed the bill to alter the time of the next meeting of Congress; in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. This bill was read a first time and ordered to be read a second time. The bill for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union was read the second time; and, [FEB. 14, 1791. SATURDAY, February 12. The Senate proceeded to the third reading of the bill for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union. Resolved, That this bill do pass, and that the Secretary carry it to the House of Representatives, and desire their concurrence therein. The Senate proceeded to the third reading of the bill regulating the number of representatives to be chosen by the States of Kentucky and Vermont. Resolved, That this bill do pass. The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the report of the joint committee appointed to confer on and report what time will be proper for the commencement of the next session of Congress; and, Ordered, That the further consideration hereof be postponed to this day se'nnight. The resolution of the House of Representatives of the 28th January, on the report of the joint committee on this subject, was read. Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed to the same time. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they had passed a bill for raising and adding another regiment to the military establishment of the United States, and for making further provision for the protection of the frontiers. The bill was read the first time. Ordered, That this bill pass to the second reading. MONDAY, February 14. A message from the House of Representatives On motion, it was agreed that the second sec-informed the Senate that they have passed the tion should be expunged. Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading. bill sent from the Senate, for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union. The Senate, on motion, ordered, that the reOn motion, it was agreed by unanimous con- solutions of the Assembly of Virginia, upon the sent, to dispense with the rule, so far as to per- claims of sundry individuals, with the papers mit Mr. KING at this time to bring in a bill re-accompanying them, be referred to the commitgulating the number of representatives to be chosen by the States of Kentucky and Vermont; which bill was read the first time. It was agreed, by unanimous consent, that the rule be so far dispensed with, as that this bill be now read the second time. Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading. Mr. MORRIS reported, from the committee instructed to consider the fourth section of the bill repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and, also, upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same, a further amendment; and the report was adopted. Ordered, That the report and the bill be recommitted, and that the committee be instruct tee appointed the 31st of January, to take into consideration the extract of a letter from Gov-. ernor Randolph, relative to the bounty lands to the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line, on Continental establishment. The Senate proceeded to the third reading of for concurrence, to continue in force for a limthe bill sent from the House of Representatives ited time, an act passed at the first session of Congress, entitled 'An act to regulate processes in the Courts of the United States.' Resolved, That this bill pass. The Senate proceeded to the second reading of the bill sent from the House of Representatives, for raising and adding another regiment to the military establishment of the United States, and for making further provision for the protection of the frontiers. The Senate on Executive business. The foled to conform the bill to the several. amend-lowing message from the President of the Uniments agreed on. ted States was under consideration: UNITED STATES, February 14th, 1791. Gentlemen of the Senate: Conceiving that in the possible event of a refusal of justice on the part of Great Britain, we should stand less committed should it be made to a private rather than a public person, I employed Mr. Gouverneur Morris, who was on the spot, and without giving him any definite character, to enter informally into the conferences before mentioned. For your more particular information, I lay before you the instructions I gave him, and those parts of his communications wherein the British ministers appear either in conversation or by letter. These are two letters from the Duke of Leeds to Mr. Morris, and three letters of Mr. Morris, giving an account of two conferences with the Duke of Leeds, and one with him and Mr. Pitt. The sum of these is, that they declare, without scruple, they do not mean to fulfil what remains of the Treaty of Peace to be fulfilled on their part, (by which we are to understand the delivery of the posts and payment for property carried off) till performance on our part, and compensation where the delay has rendered the performance now impracticable; that on the subject of a treaty of commerce they avoided direct answers, so as to satisfy Mr. Morris they did not mean to enter into one unless it could be extended to a treaty of alliance offensive and defensive, or unless in the event of a rupture with Spain. As to the sending a Minister here, they made excuses at the first conference, seem disposed to it in the second, and in the last express an intention of so doing. Their views being thus sufficiently ascertained, I have directed Mr. Morris to discontinue his communications with them. GEO. WASHINGTON. [SENATE. Ordered, That the further consideration hereof be postponed. Agreeably to notice given yesterday, leave was requested to bring in a bill to amend an act, entitled "An act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States." And, on the question, Shall leave be given to bring in the bill moved for? the yeas and nays were required by one-fifth of the Senators present: Few, Gunn, Hawkins, Henry, Johnston, Izard, YEAS.--Messrs. Butler, Carroll, Dickinson, Elmer, Langdon, Lee, Monroe, Morris, Read, Stanton, Strong.--17. NAYS.--Messrs. Dalton, Ellsworth, Foster, Johnson, King, Maclay, Wingate.-7. So it passed in the affirmative. And the bill was accordingly brought in and read the first time. Mr. SCHUYLER, from the committee appoint Ordered, That this message lie for considered to take into consideration the bill sent from ation. the House of Representatives for concurrence, for raising and adding another regiment to the military establishment of the United States, and for making further provision for the protection of the frontiers, reported the bill amended. UNITED STATES, February 18, 1791. Ordered, That the message and papers therein referred to lie for consideration. Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate proceeded in the second reading of the bill esves-tablishing offices for the purpose of granting lands within the territories of the United States. The petition of the masters of American sels, in the port of Charleston, South Carolina, praying some further regulations for the encour agement of the carrying trade to Europe, was read. Ordered, That this petition lie on the table. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have pass Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.. The Senate proceeded to the second reading of the "bill to amend an act, entitled an act for establishing the temporary and permanent |