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interest of the United States in relation to their commerce. That country is so remote as to render it inpracticable for the Consul to ask and receive instructions in sudden emergencies. He may sometimes find it necessary to make instant engagements for money, or its equivalent, to prevent greater expenses or more serious evils. We can hardly hope to escape occasions of discontent proceeding from the Regency, or arising from the misconduct, or even the misfortunes, of our commercial vessels navigating in the Mediterranean sea; and unless the causes of discontent are speedily removed, the resentment of the Regency may be exerted with precipitation on our defenceless citizens, and their property, and thus occasion a tenfold expense to the United States. For these reasons it appears to me to be expedient to vest the Consul at Algiers with a degree of discretionary power, which can be requisite in no other situation. And to encourage a person deserving the public confidence to accept so expensive and responsible a situation, it appears indispensable to allow him a handsome salary. I should confer on such a Consul a superintending power over the Consulates for the States of Tunis and Tripoli, especially in respect to pecuniary engagements, which should not be made without his approbation

While the present salary of two thousand dollars a year appears adequate to the Consulates of Tunis and Tripoli, twice that sum probably will be requisite for Algiers.

JOHN ADAMS.

UNITED STATES, June 23, 1797. Ordered, That it lie for consideration. Agreeably to notice given yesterday, Mr. READ obtained permission to introduce a bill to authorize the President of the United States to lay, regulate, and revoke embargoes; which was read, and ordered to the second reading.

The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the committee to the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act directing the appointment of agents, in relation to the sixth article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between the United States and Great Britain;" which were in part adopted.

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

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House ask a conference on the act passed the last session of Congress, entitled "An act to alter the time of the next meeting of Congress ;" and have appointed a committee for the purpose on their part.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House concur in the bill, sent from the Senate, entitled "An act providing for the protection of the trade of the United States," with amendments; in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

Agreeably to notice given yesterday, Mr. TRACY obtained permission to introduce a bill ascertaining the time for the next meeting of Congress.

The amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill, entitled "An act providing for the protection of the trade of the United States," were read.

[JUNE, 1797.

Ordered, That they be printed for the use of the Senate.

Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was referred the bill to prevent the arming of private ships, except in certain cases, and under certain regulations, reported sundry amendments; which were read.

Ordered, That they be printed for the use of the Senate.

MONDAY, June 26.

The bill to authorize the President of the United States to lay, regulate, and revoke embargoes, was read the second time.

On motion to expunge the first section of the bill, as follows:

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, authorized and empowered, whenever in his opinion the public safety shall so require, to lay an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports of the United States; or upon the ships and vessels of the United States, or the ships and vessels of any foreign nation; or upon ships and vessels of the United States, or of any foreign nation, destined to any particular foreign ports or places, under such regulations as the circumstances of the case may require, and to continue or revoke the same whenever he shall think proper. And the President is hereby fully authorized to give all such orders to the officers of the United States as may be necessary to carry the same into full effect: Provided, The authority aforesaid shall not be exercised while the Congress of the United States shall be in session; and any embargo which may be laid by the President as aforesaid shall cease and determine in fifteen days from the actual meeting of Congress next after laying the same.”

It was determined in the negative-yeas 12, nays 15, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Bloodworth, Blount, Bradford, Brown, Cocke, Henry, Langdon, Livermore, Martin, Mason, Tattnall and Tazewell.

NAYS-Messrs. Bingham, Foster, Goodhue, Hillhouse, Howard, Hunter, Latimer, Marshall, Paine, Read, Ross, Rutherfurd, Sedgwick, Stockton, and Tracy.

Ordered, That this bill pass to a third reading. Agreeably to notice given on the 24th instant, Mr. TRACY had leave to introduce a bill to ascertain the time for the next meeting of Congress; which was read, and ordered to a second reading.

The resolution of the House of Representatives of the 24th instant, asking a conference on the act, entitled "An act to alter the time for the next meeting of Congress," was considered.

Resolved, That the Senate do not agree to the proposed conference.

The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill entitled "An act providing for the protection of the trade of the United States."

Resolved, That they agree to the amendments to the 2d, 4th, and 5th sections, and disagree to all the other amendments to the said bill.

The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act directing

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the appointment of agents in relation to the sixth article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between the United States and Great Britain," was read the third time; and, being further amended,

Resolved, That this bill pass with amendments.

TUESDAY, June 27.

The bill to ascertain the time for the next meeting of Congress was read the second time.

On motion, to insert "December," in place of "November," in the first enacting clause; it passed in the affirmative-yeas 16, nays 12, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Bingham, Bradford, Brown, Henry, Howard, Hunter, Latimer, Mason, Read, Ross, Rutherfurd, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tattnall, Tazewell, and Vining.

NAYS-Messrs. Bloodworth, Cocke, Foster, Goodhue, Hillhouse, Langdon, Livermore, Marshall, Martin, Paine, Tichenor, and Tracy.

And the bill being further amended,
Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution of the House of Representatives for an adjournment of Congress on the 28th instant, and it was agreed to amend the resolution, by inserting "the 3d of July" for the time of adjournment.

On motion, to agree to the resolution as amended, it passed in the negative.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House disagree to the amendments of the Senate to the bill entitled "An act directing the appointment of agents in relation to the sixth article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between the United States and Great Britain';"

They have passed a bill entitled, "An act laying duties on licenses for selling foreign wines and foreign distilled spirituous liquors by retail," and a bill entitled "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, the act, and sections of acts, therein mentioned;" in which bills they desire the concurrence of the Senate;

They insist on their amendments to the bill, entitled An act providing for the protection of the trade of the United States," ask a conference thereon, and have appointed managers on their part.

The bills last brought from the House of Representatives were read and ordered to a second reading.

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the resolution of the House of Representatives on their amendments to the bill entitled "An act directing the appointment of agents in relation to the sixth article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between the United States and Great Britain." Whereupon,

Resolved, That they do recede from their said amendments.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution of the House of Representatives asking a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill entitled "An act providing for the protection of the trade of the United States."

[SENATE.

Resolved, That they do agree to the proposed conference, and that Messrs. TAZEWELL and GOODHUE be managers at the same on the part of the Senate.

Mr. HUNTER presented the petition of Stephen Drayton, late a deputy quartermaster general in the American Army, praying for liquidation and payment of certain demands against the United States, therein mentioned; which was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Secretary for the Department of War, to consider and report thereon to the Senate at the next session of Congress.

The bill to authorize the President of the United States to lay, regulate, and revoke embargoes, was read the third time.

On the final passage of the bill, it was determined in the negative-yeas 12, nays 15, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Foster, Goodhue, Hillhouse, Howard, Hunter, Latimer, Read, Ross, Rutherfurd, Sedgwick, Stockton, and Tracy.

NAYS-Messrs. Bloodworth, Blount, Bradford, Brown, Cocke, Henry, Langdon, Livermore, Marshall, Martin, Mason, Paine, Tattnall, Tazewell, and Tichenor. So it was Resolved, That this bill do not pass.

WEDNESDAY, June 28.

The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled An act to continue in force, for a limited time, the act, and sections of acts, therein mentioned," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. TRACY, HENRY, and BLOODWORTH, to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

Mr. TAZEWELL reported from the committee appointed on the part of the Senate, to confer on the amendments to the bill, entitled "An act providing for the protection of the trade of the United States," that the committee could not agree to a report. Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Senate adhere to their disagreement to the amendment to the first amend

ment.

On motion, to recede from their disagreement to the amendment for adding three additional sections to the end of the bill, it was determined in the affirmative.

On motion, to amend the said amendment, a question of order was by the VICE PRESIDENT submitted to the Senate, to wit:

Is it in order, in the present case, for the Senate to recede from their disagreement to an amendment of the House of Representatives, and agree to the same with an amendment? And it was determined in the affirmative.

And on the question to agree to the said amendment to the amendment of the House of Representatives, it passed in the negative.

Resolved, That the Senate recede from their disagreement to all the amendments to the said bill, except the first.

The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act laying duties on licenses for selling foreign wines and

SENATE.]

Proceedings.

[JULY, 1797.

foreign distilled spirituous liquors by retail," was The Senate proceeded to consider the amendread the second time, and referred to Messrs. ments of the House of Representatives to the bill PAINE, Ross, and GOODHUE, to consider and re-entitled "An act to ascertain the time for the next port thereon to the Senate. meeting of Congress ;" and,

The bill to ascertain the time for the next meeting of Congress was read the third time, and

amended.

Ordered, That this bill pass; that it be engrossed; and that the title thereof be "An act to ascertain the time for the next meeting of Congress."

The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the committee, to whom was referred the bill to prevent the arming of private ships, except in certain cases, and under certain regulations; and, after debate, the further consideration thereof was postponed until to-morrow.

THURSDAY, June 29.

Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, the act, and sections of acts, therein mentioned," reported that it pass without amendment.

Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they recede from their first amendment disagreed to by the Senate to the bill entitled "An act providing for the protection of the trade of the United States."

The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the committee to whom was referred the bill to prevent the arming of private ships, except in certain cases, and under certain regulations; and, having amended the report,

Ordered, That it be recommitted, together with the amendment thereto, to Messrs. MARSHALL, Ross, and READ, to consider and report thereon

to the Senate.

FRIDAY, June 30.

The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury to the Secretary of the Senate, with the copy of a letter in answer to one from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the law providing compensation to the members of Congress; which was read.

Ordered, That they be referred to Messrs. READ, STOCKTON, and LIVERMORE, to consider and report thereon to the Senate, by bill or otherwise.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House concur in the bill, sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to ascertain the time for the next meeting of Congress," with amendments, in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill, sent from the House of Representa. tives for concurrence, entitled "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, the act and sections of acts therein mentioned," was read the third time; and, being further amended,

Resolved, That this bill pass with amendments.

Resolved, That they do concur therein. Mr. READ, from the committee to whom was referred the letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury to the Secretary of the Senate, reported a bill for allowing full mileage to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States; which was read twice by unanimous consent, and ordered to the third reading. Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was referred the Message of the President of the United States, of the 12th instant, reported a bill for confirming the titles to certain holders of lands in the southwestern part of the United States; which was read and ordered to the second reading.

Mr. TRACY further reported, from the commitwhich recommends the expediency of erecting a tee last mentioned, on that part of the Message government in the district of the Natchez, similar to that established for the territory northwest of the river Ohio, that the committee could come to no resolution.

SATURDAY, July 1.

JAMES GUNN, from the State of Georgia, attended.

The bill for confirming the titles to certain holders of lands in the southwestern part of the United States, was read the second time; and, after debate,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until Monday next.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House disagree to some, and agree to other, amendments of the Senate, with an amendment to, the bill, entitled "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, the act and sections of acts therein mentioned;"

They have passed a bill, entitled "An act for reviving and continuing suits and process in the Circuit Court for the district of North Carolina,” in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

Mr. HILLHOUSE notified the Senate that he should, on Monday, ask leave to introduce a bill further to authorize the transfer of stock standing to the credit of certain States.

Mr. PAINE, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act laying duties on licenses for selling foreign wines and foreign distilled spirituous liquors by retail," reported sundry amendments, which were read.

Ordered, That they be printed for the use of the Senate.

The bill for allowing full mileage to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, was read the third time.

Resolved, That this bill pass; that it be engrossed; and that the title thereof be "An act for allowing full mileage to the members of the Sen

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ate and House of Representatives of the United States."

The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act for reviving and continuing suits and process in the Circuit Court for the district of North Carolina," was read the first time, and, by unanimous consent, the bill was read the second and third times.

Resolved, That this bill pass.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution of the House of Representatives on the amendments of the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, the act and sections of acts therein mentioned." Resolved, That they do recede from their amendments disagreed to by the House of Representatives, and agree to their amendment to the amendment.

Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was referred the confidential Message of the President of the United States, of the 23d of June last, reported a bill, in addition to the law of the United States, concerning Consuls and Vice Consuls; which was read, and ordered to the second reading.

MONDAY, July 3.

Agreeably to notice given on the first instant, Mr. HILLHOUSE obtained leave to introduce a bill further to authorize the transfer of the stock standing to the credit of certain States; which was read, and by unanimous consent the bill was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. HILLHOUSE, LAURANCE, and TRACY, to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

The bill in addition to the law of the United States concerning Consuls and Vice Consuls, was read the second time, and by unanimous consent it was read the third time.

On motion that the compensation provided be three thousand, instead of four thousand dollars, it passed in the negative.

Resolved, That this bill pass; that it be engrossed; and that the title thereof be "An act, in addition to the law of the United States concerning Consuls and Vice Consuls."

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill entitled "An act laying duties on stamped vellum, parchment, and paper," in which they

desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill last brought from the House of Representatives for concurrence, was read, and by unanimous consent the bill was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. Ross, TRACY, and BINGHAM, to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Gentlemen of the Senate,

and House of Representatives: The whole of the intelligence which has for some time past been received from abroad, the correspondence between this Government and the Ministers of the belligerent Powers residing here, and the advices from

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[SENATE.

the officers of the United States, civil and military, upon the frontiers, all conspire to show, in a very strong light, the critical situation of our country. That Congress might be enabled to form a more perfect judgment of it, and of the measures necessary to be taken, I have directed the proper officers to prepare such collections of extracts from the public correspondence as might afford the clearest information. The reports made to me, from the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, with a collection of documents from each of them, are now communicated to both Houses of Congress. I have desired that the Message, reports, and documents, may be considered as confidential, merely that the members of both Houses of Congress may be apprized of their contents before they should be made public. As soon as the two Houses shall have heard them, I shall submit to their discretion the publication of the whole or any such parts of them as they shall judge necessary or expedient for the public good.

UNITED STATES, July 3, 1797.

JOHN ADAMS.

The Message and papers were read.

with the Message was again read, in the hearing On motion, the copy of a letter communicated of Mr. BLOUNT, who was absent when it was read the first time: and who, on being requested to declare whether he was the author of this letter or not, observed, that he wrote a letter to Carey, but was unable to say whether the copy was a correct one or not, without recurrence to his papers; and desired that he might have until to-morrow to reply.

Ordered, That the Message and papers lie for consideration.

The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the committee on the bill entitled "An act laying duties on licenses for selling foreign wines and foreign distilled spirituous liquors by retail;" and, after debate,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed.

TUESDAY, July 4.

The Senate proceeded to consider the Message of the President of the United States, of the third instant, with the papers therein referred to.

Mr. COCKE laid before the Senate a letter address

ed to him, signed WILLIAM BLOUNT, purporting, that it was necessary for him, the said WILLIAM BLOUNT, to have further time for recurrence to his papers and other evidence to remove suspicion.

the President of the United States, of the third Resolved, That so much of the Message from instant, and the papers accompanying the same, as relates to a letter purporting to have been written by WILLIAM BLOUNT, a Senator from the State of Tennessee, be referred to a select committee, to consider and report what, in their opinion, it is proper for the Senate to do thereon; and that the said committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records, relating to the subject committed to them, and that Messrs. Ross, STOCKTON, HENRY, SEDGWICK, and READ, be the committee.

Ordered, That the Senate be, for the present,

SENATE.]

Proceedings.

[JULY, 1797.

under an injunction of secrecy on the papers re- the 3d instant, made report; and the report was ferred to in the above mentioned Message. read.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the amendments reported by the committee on the bill entitled "An act laying duties on licenses for selling foreign wines and foreign distilled spirituous liquors by retail;" which were adopted, and the bill was ordered to the third reading.

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

The bill was read, and, by unanimous consent, read the second time, and referred to Messrs. TRACY, GOODHUE, and LIVERMORE, to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

Mr. HILLHOUSE, from the committee to whom was referred the bill further to authorize the transfer of the stock standing to the credit of certain States, reported an amendment, which was read and adopted; and, by unanimous consent, it was read the third time.

Resolved, That this bill pass; and that it be engrossed; and that the title thereof be "An act to revive and continue in force, for a limited time, an act entitled "An act authorizing the transfer of the stock standing to the credit of certain States." The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the committee to whom was referred the bill to prevent the arming of private ships, except in certain cases, and under certain regulations.

On motion, to strike out the first section, reported by the committee, as an amendment, in the words following:

"SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That no private ship or vessel, belonging to, or registered in the name or names of, a citizen or citizens of the United States, which shall be armed, shall be cleared out, or permitted to depart from the United States: Provided, the foregoing prohibition shall not extend to any ship or vessel really and truly freighted and employed in the Mediterranean or African trade, or for a voyage beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, and armed as has been usual in those trades or voyages, for defence against unlawful violence."

It was determined in the affirmative, yeas 16nays 12, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Bradford, Foster, Goodhue, Hillhouse, Latimer, Laurance, Livermore, Martin, Paine, Ross, Rutherfurd, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tichenor, Tracy, and Vining.

NAYS-Messrs. Bingham, Bloodworth, Brown, Cocke, Gunn, Henry, Howard, Hunter, Marshall, Read, Tattnall, and Tazewell.

Ordered, That the further consideration of this bill be postponed until the next session of Con

gress.

WEDNESDAY, July 5.

Mr. Ross, from the committee on part of the Message of the President of the United States, of

Ordered, That the VICE PRESIDENT notify WILLIAM BLOUNT, Senator from the State of Tenuessee, by letter, to attend the Senate.

The VICE PRESIDENT accordingly addressed to him the following letter, by the Doorkeeper: SENATE CHAMBER, July 5, 1797. SIR: You are hereby required to attend the Senate, in your place, without delay.

By order of the Senate;

TH. JEFFERSON.
President of the Senate.

WILLIAM BLOUNT, Esq.,

Senator from the State of Tennessee.

On motion that it be

"Resolved, That the letter said to have been written by William Blount, together with the several notes that passed between the Secretary of State and the British Minister, relative to the said letter, be printed for the use of the members"—

It was agreed that the consideration of this motion be postponed until to-morrow.

Ordered, That the injunction of secrecy respecting the Message of the President of the United States, of the 3d instant, and the papers accompanying the same, be taken off.

The VICE PRESIDENT acquainted the Senate that the Doorkeeper had returned his letter addressed agreeably to their order to WILLIAM BLOUNT, as on inquiry he could not be found.

Mr. Ross, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act laying duties on stamped vellum, parchment, and paper," reported that the bill pass without amendment; and it was agreed, by unanimous consent, that this bill pass to the third reading at this time.

On the final passage of the bill, the question was determined in the affirmative-yeas 20, nays 7, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Bingham, Bradford, Foster, Goodhue, Gunn, Hillhouse, Howard, Latimer, Laurance, Livermore, Marshall, Paine, Read, Ross, Rutherfurd, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tichenor, Tracy, and Vining.

NAYS-Messrs. Bloodworth, Brown, Cocke, Hunter, Martin, Tattnall, and Tazewell.

So it was resolved that this bill pass.

Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act making additional appropriations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven," reported an amendment, which was read and adopted; and the bill was ordered to the third reading as amended.

The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act laying duties on licenses for selling foreign wines and foreign distilled spirituous liquors by retail," was read the third time, and, being further amended, it was resolved that this bill pass with amendments.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed a bill, entitled "An act authorizing a loan of money,"

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