of this House; and there probably has been no period in the past history of our country, when the duties of the Chair were more important, or calculated to impose higher responsibilities, than at the present moment, enhanced, as they necessarily must be, by the enlarged number of the House; by the increased mass of its ordinary business; and by those interesting and important subjects which will, no doubt, be presented for consideration, and probably give rise to deep political excitement. For the last six years, my experience in this Chair has taught me not only to know and feel its responsibilities and trials, but to know likewise how difficult, and indeed impossible it is, in an office like this, whose duties must often be discharged amidst the warmth of party feeling, for any man, whoever he may be, to free himself from censure, or give unqualified satisfaction; and especially in times like these, when the acts of public men are not passed Ightly over, nor any very charitable judgment pronounced upon their motives. Under these circumstances, gentlemen, sincerely distrustful of my abilities, both in their character and extent, 1 come again, at your bidding, to this high office. All that I dare hope or promise, will be, to proceed in the path marked out, and in the spirit of the principles which I laid down for my government when I first came to this Chair. It shall be my constant and ardent desire to discharge my duty with all the ability and address in my power; with the temper and moderation due to the station and the House; and at least with a zeal and fidelity of intention, which shall bear me up under every embarrassment and dificulty, and entitle me to the approbation of the just and liberal portion of my country. But all my efforts must prove unavailing, without that liberal and cordial co-operation which the House have heretofore so kindly extended to the Chair. How much will depend upon yourselves, gentlemen, individually and collectively, in preserving the permanent laws and ruks of the House, and giving dignity and character to its proceedings, it is not necessary that I should attempt to impress on you; nor is it needful, I am sure, that I should of the magnitude of your trust, or the manner in which it ought to be dis admonish charged. you But th's I will take occasion to say, that if it be true that this House is justly to be regarded as the great bulwark of liberty and order; if here, here in this exalted refuge, the people are to look for the security and safety of their free institutions, and to repose with unlimited confidence and affection, how important, how deeply important is it, that we prove ourselves worthy of the trust, and act as become the Representatives of a free and enlightened nation. Yes, gentlemen, animated by a virtuous and patriotic zeal, let all our proceedings, I pray you, be marked with forbearance, moderation, and dignity; let us diligently and steadfastly pursue those measures, and those only, which are best calculated to advance the happiness and glory of our beloved country, and render that UNION, which our fathers established for the protection of our liberties, imperishable and immortal ! The oath to support the constitution of the United States, as prescribed by the act entitled "An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths," was then administered to the Speaker by Mr. Williams, one of the Representatives from North Carolina; and the same oath (or affirmation) was, thereupon, administered by the Speaker to all the other members present, who answered to their names: as, also, to the Delegates from the Territories of Michigan and Arkansas. The House then proceeded, by ballot, to the choice of a Clerk; and, upon an examination of the third ballot, it was found that Walter S. Franklin, of the State of Pennsylvania, was duly elected. Mr. Mason then moved that the House proceed to the election of a Sergeant-at-Arms. This motion was laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Ward, it was Ordered, That the daily hour to which this House shall stand adjourned, be 12 o'clock meridian, until otherwise ordered. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Lowrie, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: I am directed to acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that the Senate is ready to proceed to business. The Senate have passed a resolution for the appointment of a joint committee of the two Houses to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that Congress is assembled, and ready to receive any communication he may be pleased to make; and have appointed Mr. Grundy and Mr. Wilkins of the said committee on their part. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow, 12 o'clock meridian. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1833. Walter S. Franklin, who was, on yesterday, elected Clerk to the House, appeared, when the oath to support the constitution of the United States, together with the oath of office, as prescribed by the act entitled "An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths,” were administered to him by the Speaker, and he thereupon entered upon the duties of his office. On motion of Mr. John Quincy Adams, Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate, to inform that body that a quorum of this House has assembled; that Andrew Stevenson, one of the Representatives from the State of Virginia, has been elected Speaker thereof; and that it is now ready to proceed to business; and that the Clerk do go with said message. The House proceeded to the consideration of the resolution of the Senate, for the appointment of a joint committee to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that quorums of the two Houses have assembled, and that Congress are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make; and the said resolution, being read, was agreed to by the House; and Mr. Ward and Mr. Speight were appointed of the said committee on the part of this House. The House then proceeded, by ballot, to the choice of a Sergeant-atArms; and, upon an examination of the first ballot, it was found that Thomas B. Randolph was duly elected. And thereupon, Thomas B. Randolph appeared, and the oath of office was administered to him by the Speaker. On motion of Mr. Clement C. Clay, Resolved, That Overton Carr be appointed Principal Doorkeeper, and that John W. Hunter be appointed Assistant Doorkeeper of this House Ordered, That the said Overton Carr and John W. Hunter do, seve rally, give their attendance accordingly. Mr. Ward, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the Presi dent of the United States, and to inform him that quorums of the tw Houses have assembled, and that Congress are ready to receive any com munication he may be pleased to make, reported that the committee ha waited on the President of the United States accordingly, and that th President answered that he would make a communication, in writing, to the two Houses of Congress to-day. And thereupon, A communication, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Donelson, his private Secretary; which was read, and is as follows: Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives : On your assembling to perform the high trusts which the people of the United States have confided to you, of legislating for their common welfare, it gives me pleasure to congratulate you upon the happy condition of our beloved country. By the favor of Divine Providence, health is again restored to us peace reigns within our borders: abundance crowns the labors of our fields: commerce and domestic industry flourish and increase and individual happiness rewards the private virtue and enterprise of our citizens. Our condition abroad is no less honorable than it is prosperous at home. Seeking nothing that is not right, and determined to submit to nothing that is wrong, but desiring honest friendships and liberal intercourse with all nations, the United States have gained throughout the world the confidence and respect which are due to a policy so just, and so congenial to the character of the American people, and to the spirit of their institutions. In bringing to your notice the particular state of our foreign affairs, it affords me high gratification to inform you that they are in a condition which promises the continuance of friendship with all nations. With Great Britain the interesting question of our Northeastern boundary remains still undecided. A negotiation, however, upon that subject, has been renewed since the close of the last Congress, and a proposition has been submitted to the British Government, with the view of establishing, in conformity with the resolution of the Senate, the line designated by the treaty of 1783. Though no definitive answer has been received, it may be daily looked for, and I entertain a hope that the overture may ultimately lead to a satisfactory adjustment of this import ant matter. I have the satisfaction to inform you that a negotiation which, by desire of the House of Representatives, was opened, some years ago, with the British Government for the erection of light-houses on the Bahamas, has been successful. Those works, when completed, together with those which the United States have constructed on the western side of the Gulf of Florida, will contribute essentially to the safety of navigation in that sea. This joint participation in establishments interesting to humanity and beneficial to commerce, is worthy of two enlightened nations, and indicates feelings which cannot fail to have a happy influence upon their political relations. It is gratifying to the friends of both to perceive that the intercourse between the two people is becoming daily more extensive, and that sentiments of mutual good will have grown up, befitting their common origin, justifying the hope that, by wise counsels on each side, not only unsettled questions may be satisfactorily terminated, but new causes of misunderstanding prevented. Notwithstanding that I continue to receive the most amicable assurances from the Government of France, and that in all other respects the JOURNAL OF THR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: BEGUN and held at the Capitol, in the City of Washington, in the Territory of Columbia, on Monday, the second day of December, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty-three, being the First Session of the TWENTY-THIRD CONGRESS, held under the Constitution of Government of the United States. On which day, being that fixed by the Constitution for the meeting of Congress, Matthew St. Clair Clarke, Clerk to the late House of Representatives, commenced the call of the roll by States, beginning with the State of Maine; and having called as far as the State of Kentucky, and being about to call the members from that State, Mr. Chilton Allan rose, and objected to the calling of Thomas P. Moore, returned to serve as the Member for the fifth congressional district of said State, on the ground that the said Thomas P. Moore had not been duly elected, and that the return of the said Thomas P. Moore was not in the form prescribed by the laws of the State of Kentucky. And, after debate, the objection was waived; and, by general consent, agreed that Mr. Moore should not be called until the House should have become organized, by the election of a Speaker, and other officers; and, thereupon, The call of the roll was completed, and the following named members of the House of Representatives appeared, and took their seats: MAINE. From the State of George Evans. Leonard Jarvis. Edward Kavanagh. Rufus McIntire. Gorham Parks. Francis O. J. Smith. Benning M. Bean. Robert Burns. NEW HAMPSHIRE. Joseph M. Harper. Henry Hubbard. Franklin Pierce. |