FEBRUARY, 1793.] Promotion of the Useful Arts. State Governments given a fair occasion for the display of the ingenuity which he believed existed in the country. As to this great object, which requires national citizenship, the State laws were impotent. He thought that it was of consequence that no invention, however small or irrelative it might at first appear, should be lost; and, where he saw the idea of a patent law ridiculed by some, and unattended to by others, he believed they were accustomed to take things in their appearances, and had not exerted their reflection. A little reflection would teach us that whatever is great and astonishing in the works of art was humble in its origin, had been opposed by ignorance or cramped by poverty, and had become important but by gradual accumulation and a very slow progression; and that the wisdom of Government should be exerted in forming a repository, where nothing that might eventually be of service should be suffered to perish. He therefore wished to see such a law as would not only secure what might be offered near the Seat of Government, but invite and draw forth the useful invention of those who lived at a distance. That it should present an easy method of granting its protection, he therefore moved, that the Judge of the District wherein the applicant may reside, should be substituted for Director of the Mint. Mr. WILLIAMSON offered a few objections to this motion, the question on which was taken, and decided in the negative. On motion of Mr. SEDGWICK, "Director of the Mint" was stricken out, and "Secretary of State" inserted. Mr. WHITE moved an amendment by way of proviso, the purport of which is, to preclude the inventor of an improvement to a machine from using the original invention, or the author of the original machine from using the improvement. This motion, after some opposition, was agreed to. Mr. WILLIAMSON moved an amendment to the second section, which provides that the requisite oath or affirmation may be taken before any Judge of the United States, or of any particular State, or any person authorized to administer an oath in the place where the applicant resides. Agreed to. Mr. WILLIAMSON proposed another amendment, which should vest a discretionary power in the officer to dispense with the production of a model when he should think proper. Agreed to. The Committee proceeded in the discussion of the bill as far as the seventh section; they then rose and reported progress, and the House adjourned. THURSDAY, January 31. [H. of R. missioner at the Tribunal of the District of Coutances, in France, addressed to the Congress of the United States, stating the delay of payment of a debt due to the heirs of Jerom Michael Le Brun, late an officer in Armand's Legion, for services in the United States during the late war. A petition of Brown & Francis, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, merchants, was presented to the House and read, praying to be allowed the amount of the drawback on a quantity of gin and codfish, exported from the port of Providence, and duly landed at Calcutta, in the East Indies, and St. Eustatia, in the years 1791 and 1792, of which they are possessed of sufficient evidence, although not in the form prescribed by law. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Mr. GROVE, from the committee appointed, presented a bill to reimburse Henry Emanuel Lutterloh for expenses incurred in coming to America to join the Army of the United States; which was received, read twice, and committed. Mr. PARKER, from the committee appointed, presented a bill to authorize the Comptroller of the Treasury to settle the account of Thomas Wishart, late a Lieutenant in the Army of the United States; which was received, and read twice and committed. PROMOTION OF THE USEFUL ARTS. The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to amend an act entitled "An act to promote the progress of Useful Arts." The seventh section was read; some amendments were proposed, but disagreed to. A motion was made to strike out the 8th section, for the purpose substituting another, which should provide, that all interfering claims for patents, should be determined at the option of the parties, either by the Secretary of State, or by arbitrators, &c. This motion gave rise to debate. It was at length moved to amend the motion, by striking out all the words after "Secretary of State;" this motion was not agreed to. Various other amendments to the motion were moved, and last, it was finally agreed to the following modification: That interfering applications for patents shall be determined by the Secretary of State; or, if all parties require it, by arbitrators, &c. The motion for striking out the 8th section, and inserting the amendment, was put, and agreed to. The Committee finished the discussion of the bill; they then rose and reported the same with amendments, which were laid on the table. FRIDAY, February 1. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have agreed to to the amendments proposed by this House to the bill entitled "An act regulating Foreign Coins, and for other pur- The Letter from Monsier Le Brun, communiposes," with an amendment to the last amend-cated in a message from the Senate yesterday, ment; to which they desire the concurrence of was read, and ordered to be referred to the Secrethis House. The Secretary also brought to the tary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine House a Letter, received and read in the Senate, the matter thereof, and make report thereupon to from Monsieur Le Brun, heretofore Royal Com- the House. The House proceeded to the consideration of the amendment proposed by the Senate to the last amendment of this House to the bill entitled "An act regulating Foreign Coins, and for other purposes:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said amendment to the amendment. [FEBRUARY, 1793. ments being made to these amendments, the whole were agreed to; additional amendments were proposed; among others, Mr. MURRAY moved to add the words "being citizen or citizens of the United States," after the words person or persons; the object of which is, to prevent foreigners from obtaining patents in this country for inventions which they have already obtained patents for in Europe; by which means the citizens of the United States might be prevented from obtaining patents for the same, or similar inventions. This motion was agreed to. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill entitled "An act to regulate the claims to Invalid Pensions ;" and, after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said amendments under consideration, and directed him to report to Mr. KITTERA moved to reduce the period for the House their agreement to some and disagree-which patents should be granted, from fourteen to ment to others of the said amendments. The ten years; this motion was negatived. The bill House proceeded to consider the said report and was then ordered to be engrossed for a third readamendments: Whereupon, ing to-morrow. Resolved, That this House doth agree to the amendments to the first and second sections; and doth disagree to the amendments to the fourth and fifth sections of the said bill. MONDAY, February 4. The House proceeded to consider the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of Alexander Contee Hanson, which was made on the 30th of April last: Whereupon, An engrossed bill to amend an act entitled "An The House proceeded to the consideration of act to promote the progress of Useful Arts," was the amendments reported yesterday by the Com-read the third time and passed. mittee of the Whole House to the bill to amend an act entitled "An act to promote the progress of Useful Arts;" and, the same being read, were agreed to. And then, the said bill being further amended at the Clerk's table, was, together with the amendments, ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on Monday next. A petition of James Montgomery, master and commander of the revenue cutter called the General Greene, in behalf of himself and the officers of the said cutter, was presented to the House and read, praying that the compensation allowed by law to the officers and crews of revenue cutters may be augmented, and rendered more adequate to their services. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A memorial and petition of the manufacturers of cordage, lines, twine, and packthread, in Philadelphia, was presented to the House and read, praying that so much of the existing revenue laws of the United States as allows a drawback on foreign cordage, lines, twine, and packthread, may be repealed, and the duties imposed on said articles increased; and that the duty on hemp, when manufactured within the United States, and exported therefrom, may be refunded to the exporter. Ordered, That the said memorial and petition be referred to the committee to whom was referred, on the 22d ultimo, the memorial of the manufacturers of cordage, lines, and packthread, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. PROMOTION OF THE USEFUL ARTS. Resolved, That the Accounting Officers of the Treasury be authorized to liquidate and pay the account of Alexander Contee Hanson, for traveling expenses and attendance at New York as one of the Judges appointed by the General Government to determine a controversy between the States of South Carolina and Georgia, which was, without his knowledge, compromised; and that the allowance be the same as that provided by law for the traveling expenses and attendance of the present members of Congress. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolution; and that Mr. MERCER, Mr. PAGE, and Mr. STURGES, do prepare and bring in the same. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanying a report, and sundry statements marked A, B, C, D, E, and F, made in pursuance of the resolutions of this House of the 23d ultimo; which were read and ordered to lie on the table. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill sent from the Senate entitled "An act respecting fugitives from justice and persons escaping from the service of their masters;" and, after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made an amendment thereto; which was twice read, and agreed to by the House. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendment, do lie on the table. TUESDAY, February 5. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to authorize the Comptroller of the Treasury to settle the account of Thomas Wishart, late a Lieutenant in the Army of the United States; and, after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. Resolved, That a committee be appointed, to join such committee as may be appointed by the Senate, to ascertain and report the mode of examining the votes for PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT, and of notifying the persons who shall be elected of their election, and to regulate the time, place, and manner of administering the oath of office to the PRESIDENT. Ordered, That Mr. WILLIAM SMITH, Mr. MADISON, and Mr. LAURANCE, be of the said committee on the part of this House. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to repeal part of a resolution of Congress of the 29th of August, 1788, respecting the inhabitants of Post St. Vincents; and, after some spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto. And then, the said bill being amended at the Clerk's table, was, together with the amendment, ordered to be engrossed and read the third time to-morrow. Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills for allowing a compensation to the PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, to commence from the 4th day of March next; and that Mr. SEDGWICK, Mr. DAYTON, and Mr. BARNWELL, be the said committee. The House proceeded to consider the bill sent from the Senate entitled "An act respecting fugitives from justice and persons escaping from the service of their masters," which lay on the table: Whereupon, the said bill, together with the amendment agreed to yesterday, was read the third time; and, on the question that the same do pass, it was resolved in the affirmative-yeas 48, nays 7, as follows: [H. of R. the Whole House on the report of the committee to whom was referred the petition of Woodrop and Joseph Sims; and, after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said report under consideration, and come to a resolution thereupon; which was twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the remission of duties on a quantity of salt and wines entered at the port of New York, which, together with the ship, was lost on the passage from thence to Philadelphia, in March last, ought to be granted, agreeable to the prayer of the petitioners. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolution; and that Mr. KEY, Mr. GROVE, and Mr. TUCKER, do prepare and bring in the same. Mr. MERCER, from the committee appointed, presented a bill to make compensation to Alexander Contee Hanson; which was received, and read twice and committed. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the motion of the 18th ultimo, for making provision of half-pay for seven years, to the widows and orphans of certain officers of the Army of the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. SPEAKER resumed the Chair, and Mr. KEY reported that the Committee had, according to order, had the said motion under consideration, and come to a resolution thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was twice read, and agreed to by House, as follows: Resolved, That provision of half-pay for years to the widows and orphans of such officers of the Army of the United States, as have been killed in the service, since the fourth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine, or who may hereafter be killed in the service of the United States, ought to be made by law. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolution; and that Mr. HARTLEY, Mr. WADSWORTH, and Mr. GREENUP, do prepare and bring in the same. A message from the Senate, informed the House, that the Senate disagree to the bill, entitled " An NAYS.-Fisher Ames, John Baptist Ashe, Abraham act to authorize a Loan in the certificates or notes Baldwin, Robert Barnwell, Egbert Benson, Elias Bou- of such States, as shall have balances due to them dinot, Shearjashub Bourne, Benjamin Bourne, Abraham upon a final settlement of accounts with the United Clark, Jonathan Dayton, William Findley, Thomas States." The Senate also insist on their amendFitzsimons, Elbridge Gerry, Nicholas Gilman, Benjamin Goodhue, James Gordon, Christopher Greenup, Andrew ments, disagreed to by this House, to the fourth Gregg, Samuel Griffin, William Barry Grove, Thomas and fifth sections of the bill, entitled "An act to Hartley, James Hillhouse, William Hindman, Daniel regulate the claims to Invalid Pensions," and deHuger, Israel Jacobs, Philip Key, Aaron Kitchell, Amasa sire a conference with this House on the subjectLearned, Richard Bland Lee, George Leonard, Na-matter of the said amendments; to which conferthaniel Macon, Andrew Moore, Frederick Augustus ence, the Senate have appointed managers on their Muhlenberg, William Vans Murray, Alexander D. Orr, part: The Senate have also agreed to the amendJohn Page, Cornelius C. Schoonmaker, Theodore Sedgment, proposed by this House, to the bill, entitled wick, Peter Sylvester, Israel Smith, William Smith, John Steele, Thomas Sumpter, Thomas Tudor Tucker, Jeremiah Wadsworth, Alexander White, Hugh Williamson, and Francis Willis. YEAS. Samuel Livermore, John Francis Mercer, Nathaniel Niles, Josiah Parker, Jonathan Sturges, George Thatcher, and Thomas Tredwell. The House resolved itself into a Committee of "An act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters:" The Senate have also passed the bill, entitled "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, and to to amend the act, entitled 'An act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations." The House proceeded to consider so much of the H. or R.] HISTORY OF CONGRESS. Pensions to Disabled Officers, &c. 864 [FEBRUARY, 1793. said message, as desires a conference on the subject-Wishart, late a Lieutenant in the Army of the Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said conference, and that Mr. SEDGWICK, Mr. GILES. and Mr. BOUDINOT, be appointed managers at the same on the part of this House. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to reimburse Henry Emanuel Lutterloh, for expenses incurred in coming to America, to join the Army of the United States during late war; and after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time to morrow. Mr. HARTLEY, from the Committee appointed presented a bill to make provision of half-pay to the widows and orphans of certain officers; which was received, read twice and committed. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to authorize the adjustment of a claim of Joseph Henderson, against the United States; and, after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, February 6. A memorial of the officers of the Rhode Island line of the late American Army, in behalf themselves and the soldiers of said line, was presented to the House and read, praying that the depreciation which accrued on the certificates of debt granted them for military services during the late war, may be made good, or such other relief afforded them, as the present circumstances of the United States will admit. Ordered, That the said memorial do lie on the table. A petition of John Rogers was presented to the House and read praying compensation for certain lands on the Mississippi river, granted him by the State of Virginia, for his services as an officer in the line of the said State, prior to the cession made to the United States, of the Territory Northwest of the river Ohio; the title to which lands has since been ceded to the Chickasaw Indians, by the treaty of Hopewell, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. PAGE, Mr. LIVERMORE, and Mr. CLARK; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. An engrossed bill to repeal part of a resolution of Congress of the twenty-ninth of August, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, repecting the inhabitants of Post Saint Vincents, was read the third time and passed. An engrossed bill to authorize the Comptroller of the Treasury to settle the accounts of Thomas United States, was read the third time and passed. An engrossed bill to reimburse Henry Emanuel America, to joint the Army of the United States, Lutterloh for expenses incurred in coming to during the late war, was read the third time and passed. of a claim of Joseph Henderson against the United An engrossed bill to authorize the adjustment States, was read the third time and passed. presented, according to order, a bill providing com- the Whole House on the report of the Secretary the Army of the United States, who was disabled interest thereon. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in, pur- the committee on the petition of Elijah Bostwick: said Elijah Bostwick, the sum of fifty-eight pounds, the said resolution, and that Mr. SYLVESTER, Mr. the Whole House on the engrossed bill to compen- be engrossed, and read the third time, immediately. was read the third time; and, on the question that PENSIONS TO DISABLED OFFICERS, &c. pension list all such officers and privates of the militia as are or may be wounded in the service, and who are not provided for by law, was taken up in Committee of the Whole. The resolution was read by the Chairman. [H. OF R. Mr. BARNWELL moved an additional resolution, which was agreed to; the purport of which was to regulate the mode of ascertaining the nature and degree of the disabilities, and the annual allowance to be granted for the same. The Committee then rose and reported the two Mr. GREENUP Supported this resolution by observing that, as the militia was now called into service by the General Government, it was rea-resolutions to the House, as follows: sonable to make provision for such as may be wounded or disabled. Except this was done, he conceived that the United States would find it extremely difficult to procure an effective militia force on any occasion. Indeed, it was to be imputed to this cause that the militia had hitherto discovered so great a backwardness in turning out; and that those who had been in service were so indifferent, being principally substitutes. He added some remarks on the justice and good policy of making the provision; nor did he conceive that the increase of the pension list was a sufficient reason to prevent making that provision, when it is considered how important a subject is a competent defence to our frontiers. "Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law for placing such officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, of the militia, as have been disabled in the service of the United States, since the day ofor shall hereafter be disabled in such service, on the pension list. "Resoved, That provision ought to be made by law for establishing such regulations as may be necessary to ascertain the nature and degree of such disabilities, and the annual allowance to be made for the same." The House adopted the resolutions, and referred them to a select committee, with instructions to report a bill. THURSDAY, February 7. that the Senate have agreed to the resolution of A message from the Senate informed the House this House, of the fifth instant, for the appointment of a joint committee to ascertain and report a mode of examining the votes for PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT, and of notifying the persons who shall be elected, of their election, and for regulat Several gentlemen objected to the resolution as involving a very great and increasing expense. The increase of the pension list, it was said, ought not to be thought lightly of in a republican Government. It was said that, in the Militia law, the object of the resolution was in a great measure provided for; it does not, indeed, look back; but provision for particular persons may be made without going to an unlimited retrospective viewing the time, place, and manner of administering of the case. The resolution was modified to refer to such officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the militia as have been wounded or disabled since the day of, or who shall hereafter be wounded or disabled in the service of the United States. The debate was continued to a considerable length, in which the difference between the militia and the regular troops was stated. The latter, it was said, abandon every other pursuit and occupation when they engage in the service; and, in cases of wounds and disabilities incurred in the public service, are left absolutely without any other resource than the provision made for them by the public as pensioners. With respect to the militia, they are commonly persons of property, who leave their respective occupations for a time, and when the service is performed they have their farms and their various occupations to return to. It was said that it would be unspeakably better to pay the militia at an enhanced rate-such a rate as may be sufficient to induce them to turn out. That extending the system of pensions in the manner contemplated, would render the matter complex, extensive, and enormously expensive while at the same time it would subject the public to innumerable impositions. A motion was made that the Committee should rise, and that the resolution should be referred to the committee which reported the bill providing half-pay to the widows and orphans of the officers of the regular troops. After further debate, this motion was put and negatived. The question on agreeing to the resolution, as modified, was then put and agreed to. the oath of office to the PRESIDENT; and have appointed a committee for that purpose on their part. Mr. BENJAMIN BOURNE, from the committee to whom were referred the memorials of the manufacturers of cordage, lines, twine, and packthread, of Philadelphia and Providence, made a report ; which was read, and ordered to be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill providing compensation to the PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; and, after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made several amendments thereto; which were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House. And then a motion being made and seconded further to amend the said bill at the Clerk's table, by adding to the end thereof the following section, to wit: "And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue in force for, and during the term of, four years, from the third day of March next, and no longer:" It passed in the negative-yeas 27, nays 33, as follows: ham Clark, William Findley, William B. Giles, James |