one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, including the usual allowance of three months for returning to America; and that, after deducting the sums received from Doctor Franklin, and by his attorney, Joseph Nourse, the balance ought to be paid by the United States." THURSDAY, December 6. [H. OF R. his services as such, but in part as an indemnification for other services, and for losses he had sustained in consequence of being in public employment; and, therefore, Mr. Young's claim on account of a supposed violation of contract on the part of Mr. Laurens, is not well founded; and, besides, it The facts of the case are these: Mr. Young was remarked, that Mr. Young, in the account he was appointed Secretary to Mr. Laurens on his has settled, has no reference in his note of reservaembassy to Holland. Mr. Laurens, it appears, had tion, to any subsequent claim on account of any recommended to Mr. Young to take but one half contract between him and Mr. Laurens. After a of his salary, in consideration of the embassy's long debate, the question on agreeing to the report having proved inefficient; and, as an inducement, of the committee in favor of the petitioner, as above informed Mr. Young that he (Mr. Laurens) in-stated, was put and negatived, 27 to 25. tended to relinquish the whole of his salary. Mr. Mr. W. SMITH then moved that the petition of Young, from patriotic motives, and influenced by Moses Young, with the additional evidence and the example of Mr. Laurens, accordingly relin- documents accompanying the same, be recommitquished one half of his salary as Secretary afore-ted to a select committee. This motion was said; but finding afterwards that Mr. Laurens had, lost. on his return to America, received his full salary and emoluments from the Government, as Ambassador, Mr. Young, in the petition, prays that he may be paid the full amount of the salary he had, Mr. MADISON, from the committee appointed, on the aforesaid considerations, relinquished. All presented a bill to authorize the settlement of the the vouchers and documents relating to this sub-accounts of Lewis Garanger, for military services ject were read: among others, an account settled during the late war; which was read twice, and between the United States and Mr. Young. The committed. question, therefore, according to the opinion given by the gentlemen who supported the petition was, whether the present Government should avail itself of this settlement made under the circumstances already stated, and thereby preclude the petitioner from the full allowance to which he was, by a resolution of the former Congress entitled, especially as by the account settled it appears that Mr. Young made a reservation of a further claim. It was observed that the allegations in the petition were supported by the most explecit declarations on the part of Mr. Laurens; and that the petitioner was clearly and justly entitled to the sum he had relinquished on a contingency which had not taken place, but directly the reverse; it was said that it would be little short of taking a pettifogging advantage of the petitioner. Mr. KEY, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Woodrop and Joseph Sims, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter and report from the Commissioners for settling the accounts between the United States and the individual States, pursuant to the order of the 26th ultimo; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, do lie on the table. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter from JOSHUA SENEY, one of the members for the State of Maryland, stating his acceptance of an appointment in the Judiciary Department of the said State, which disqualifies him from a seat in this House; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. SPEAKER resumed the chair, and Mr. SEDGWICK In opposition to the report in favor of the peti-reported that the Committee had had the said bill tioner, it was said that the settlement made at the under consideration, and made several amendpublic office appears to have been done delibe- ments thereto. rately, and the allowance of the salary of £250 sterling, was made pursuant to certificates received from Mr. Laurens, as a full salary. It was urged, that if the Legislature should rip up transactions so long settled, and do away accounts finally closed with the proper officers, it would be a most dangerous precedent indeed. It was constantly echoed in the House, that these settlements were not to be disturbed; the consequence, it was easy to perceive, would be of the most perplexing nature; there would be no end to the applications which would take place; applications, accompanied with circumstances whose pretensions, it was said, were much more weighty and important than that now under consideration. It was further observed, that it does not appear that Mr. Laurens had deviated from his agreement with Mr. Young, in settling his account; for, though he had received his full salary as Ambassador, it plainly appears that he did not receive it merely as a compensation for The following Message was received, with closed doors, from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: UNITED STATES, December 6, 1792. Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives: The several measures which have been pursued to induce the hostile Indian tribes, North of the Ohio, to enter into a conference or treaty with the United States, at which all causes of difference might be fully under stood, and justly and amicably arranged, have already been submitted to both Houses of Congress. The papers, herewith sent, will inform you of the result. G. WASHINGTON. The papers accompanying the said Message were read, and ordered to lie on the table. CASE OF WOODROP SIMS. Mr. KEY, of the committee on the petition of Woodrop and Joseph Sims, brought in a report, which was, that the relief prayed for ought to be granted. The reading of the petition was called for, the prayer of which is, that they may be released from the payment of duties on sundry goods lost on a voyage from New York to Philadelphia. A motion was made to accept the report of the committee. Mr. GOODHUE observed, that though he was disposed to grant relief in the case, yet he saw no principle on which it could be done; had the own ers insured a sum sufficient to have covered the duties, they would have avoided the additional loss occasioned by having given bond for them. He thought that the House ought to proceed with great caution, as granting relief in the present case would be establishing a precedent which might be attended with great inconvenience and eventual loss of revenue. Mr. W. SMITH said, that relief had been granted in a former case, which perhaps was similar; though he did not perfectly recollect the circumstances: and said he wished the law he alluded to might be read. He suggested the propriety of receiving the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, as it was of the greatest importance that a full investigation of the subject should take place previous to any decision. Mr. FITZSIMONS observed, that this was an individual case; it stood on its own merits; every member of the House was fully competent to forming an opinion on it; and he hoped the House would determine respecting it for themselves. Mr. FITZSIMONS then stated the particulars to show that this was a case of peculiar hardship and misfortune; and that the loss of the duties to which the petitioners were exposed, arose in part from an excess of official attention on the part of the Collector of New York. After some further remarks by different gentlemen, the petition and report were referred to a Committee of the Whole, for Monday next. FRIDAY, December 7. The Letter from Mr. SENEY, containing his resignation was again read, and a motion made to refer the same to a committee; some debate ensued on this motion, in which the question was started how far it was in the power of a member of the House to vacate his seat; the solution of this, it was said, would involve a lengthy discussion of some constitutional questions; if it was the [DECEMBER, 1792. opinion of the House that the present case naturally included this discussion, the reference ought to be to a Committee of the Whole. Some gentlemen thought that the most simple process was to accept the resignation, and make entry accordingly in the Journal; a notification to be sent to the Executive of the State of Maryland. The motion for commitment of the Letter was negatived; a motion was then made that the SPEAKER of the House notify the Executive of the State of Maryland of a representation of that State, by the resignation of Mr. SENEY. This motion was negatived and the Letter laid on the table. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanying certain statements, together with a Letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury, relative to the disbursements made by the Department of War, in the years one thousand seven hundred and ninety, and one thousand seven hundred and ultimo; which were read, and ordered to lie on ninety-one, pursuant to the order of the thirteenth the table. Mr. SEDGWICK, from the committee appointed, presented a bill to continue in force for a limited time, and to amend the act, entitled "An act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations; which was received, read twice, and committed. The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to ascertain the fees demandable on Admiralty proceedings in the District Courts of the United States, and to amend in part the act, entitled "An act for the government and regulation of seamen in the merchants' service;" and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose and reported progress. closed doors, from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED The following Message was received, with STATES: These, and a Letter of the ninth of October last, which has been already communicated to you, from the same Department to the Governor, will show in what manner the first section of the act of the last session, which provides for calling out the Militia for the repelling of Indian invasions, has been executed. It remains to be considered by Congress whether, in the present situation of the United States, it be advisable or not to pursue any further or other measures than those which have already been adopted. The nature of the subject does, of itself, call for your immediate attention to it; and I must add, that, upon the result of your deliberations, the future conduct of the Executive will on this occasion materially depend. G. WASHINGTON. Ordered, That the said Message, together with the papers herein referred to, be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next. MONDAY, December 10. Mr. WILLIAMSON, from the committee appointed, presented a bill to amend an act, entitled "An act to promote the progress of Useful Arts;" which was received, read twice, and committed. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter from the Secretary of War, enclosing the copy of a letter from the Governor of Georgia, together with certain communications relative to Indian affairs; which were read, and ordered to be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House to-day. Mr. WILLIAM SMITH, from the committee appointed, presented a bill to establish an uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States; which was received, read twice, and committed. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the Message from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, of the 7th instant, together with the papers therein referred to, relative to the execution of the act for calling out the Militia to repel the invasions of the Indians; and, after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had had the said Message and papers under consideration, and made some progress therein. TUESDAY, December 11. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter and Report from the Secretary of the Treasury, on the petition of Abraham Scribner and Thomas Cable; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. [H.of R. Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A memorial was presented of John Nicholson, Cornelius Barnes, John Mitchell, junior, and Norton Pryor, creditors of the United States, who loaned money between September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, and March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, praying that an appropriation may be made for the payment of the arrears of interest due, and the annual interest accruing on the amount of their respective claims. Ordered, That the said memorial do lie on the table. The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury of the estimates of the sums necessary to be appropriated for the service of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three; and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose and reported progress. On a motion made and seconded that the House do come to the following resolutions: "Resolved, That a loan to the amount of the balances which, upon a final settlement of accounts, shall be found due from the United States to the individual States, be opened at the Treasury of the United States, and at the loan offices in the respective States, to commence within months after the said balances shall be reported at the Treasury, and to continue open for -months, from the time of its com the term of mencement. "Resolved, That the sums to be subscribed to such The House again resolved itself into a Commit-loans be payable in the principal or interest of the certee of the Whole House on the Message from the tificates or notes issued by any such of the said States, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, of the 7th as, upon the final settlement of accounts, shall have a instant, together with the papers therein referred balance due to them from the United States, and which to, relative to the execution of the act for calling shall have been liquidated to specie value prior to the out the Militia to repel the invasions of the Inday ofdians; and, after some time spent therein, the Chairman reported that the Committee had again had the said Message and papers under consideration, and made a further progress therein. WEDNESDAY, December 12. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter from the Secretary of War, enclosing a statement of certain materials whereon the estimate of contingencies of the War Department, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, are founded; also, an explanation of certain heads of articles in the general estimate, called "conjectural;" which were read, and ordered to be referred to the consideration of the Committee of the Whole House on the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury of the estimates of the sums necessary to be appropriated for the service of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three. A memorial of Moses Young was presented to the House and read, praying to be compensated for certain services as Secretary to Mr. LAURENS and to Doctor FRANKLIN, on their embassies to Holland and France, for which he has received no satisfaction. last. "Resolved, That every subscriber to the said loan shall be entitled to certificates according to the sum subscribed, of the like tenor and description, in the like proportions, and upon the like terms, as are specified and directed by the fifteenth and sixteenth sections of the act, entitled "An act making provision for the Debt of the United States," except that interest on such of the certificates subscribed to the said loan as bear interest, shall be computed to the last day of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, inclusively, and that interest shall not begin to accrue upon any of the certificates which shall be issued in lieu thereof, till the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four. "Resolved, That in all cases where the sum subscribed in the evidences of the debt of any State shall exceed the balance due to such State, the same shall be reduced (in equal proportions) to the sum actually due to such State." Ordered, That the said motion be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House on the first Monday of January next. The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to ascertain the fees demandable on Admiralty proceedings in the District Courts of the United States, and to THURSDAY, December 13. ANDREW GREGG, from Pennsylvania, appeared and took his seat in the House. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act concerning the registering and recording of ships or vessels," with several amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. Ordered, That the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury of a plan for the redemption of the Public Debt, and for the reimbursement of a certain loan made of the Bank of the United States, which lay on the table, be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House on this day fortnight. The House proceeded to consider the amendments reported on Thursday last, by the Committee of the Whole House, to the bill for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels, to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same; and the said amendments being severally twice read were, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, do lie on the table. Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to lay before this House a Return of all the commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, belonging to the regular establishment of the United States, specifying the regiments or corps to which they belong, and the times of their entering the service. [DECEMBER, 1792. Resolved, That, for defraying the expenses of the War Department for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, there be appropriated the following sums, to wit:" [The items follow.] Resolved, That, for making good the several and respective sums of money aforesaid, there be appropriated 1st. The sum of six hundred thousand dollars, reserved by the act making provision for the Debt of the United States. "2d. The surplus which may remain unappropriated for the use of the War Department, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two. "3d. So much of the existing revenues of the United States as are unappropriated." Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions; and that Mr. LAURANCE, Mr. BALDWIN, Mr. JEREMIAH SMITH, Mr. STEELE, and Mr. GILES do prepare and bring in the same. PUBLIC DEBT. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury, containing a plan for the reduction of the Public Debt, on motion of Mr. SEDGWICK, was referred to a Committee of the Whole. A motion for its being made the order of the day, this day week, was opposed. Mr. MURRAY objected to so early a day. The subject, said he, is important; the State of Maryland has a right to six votes in this House; it so happens, that four seats of the representation from that State are vacant. He wished, therefore, that a more distant day may be appointed, as, in that case, it was highly probable that State would be more fully represented. Other reasons for a more distant day were urged by several gentlemen. This day fortnight was finally agreed to. The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the Report of the The House took into consideration the amendSecretary of the Treasury of the estimates of the ments by the Committee of the Whole to the sums necessary to be appropriated for the service coasting bill. They agreed to some of the amendof the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-ments reported, with amendments; others were three; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. rejected. A clause was proposed to be added, reSPEAKER resumed the chair, and Mr. SEDGWICKquiring from the owners or masters of vessels a reported that the Committee had again had the particular enumeration of all the goods, wares, said report under consideration, and come to seve- and merchandise transported in the several coastral resolutions thereupon; which were severallying vessels from time to time. This occasioned twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follows: some debate; it was objected to as involving a "Resolved, That, for defraying the expenditure great and unnecessary expense, without affording of the Civil List of the United States for the year a corresponding benefit; as tending to obstruct one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, to- the coasting trade, so as almost to destroy the gether with the incidental and contingent ex- same. It was said it would be nugatory, being penses of the several Departments and offices in many cases impracticable. The clause was thereof, there be appropriated the several sums of supported, as conducive to information relative to money following, to wit:" [Here follow the seve- the products and real consumptions of the several ral items.] States-points on which very different opinions were entertained; that the expense would not probably be more than the addition of one clerk to the Treasury Department; that the duty would devolve on the collectors, and be a business, of course, &c. The motion was at length withdrawn. Some verbal corrections were made in several sections; and then, by general consent. the bill was laid on the table for further consideration. "Resolved, That, for making good deficiencies for the support of the Civil List Establishment, for aiding the fund appropriated for the payment of certain officers of the courts, jurors, and witnesses; for the support of light-houses, and for the establishment of ten cutters, and for other purposes, there be appropriated the several sums of money following, to wit:" [Here again follow the items.] DECEMBER, 1792.] Estimates of Appropriations-Registering Vessels. ESTIMATES OF APPROPRIATION. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the estimate of appropriations, Mr. SEDGWICK in the Chair. The Chairman observed that the subject was before the Committee without any specific proposition. Mr. KITCHELL moved that the Committee should rise, and report the resolutions submitted some time since. It being remarked that these resolutions were yet to be determined on, having never been reported to the House, they were again read; and then a motion for the Committee to rise and report was made and agreed to. The Committee accordingly rose and reported the resolutions, which were taken into consideration by the House. The items of the estimate were again recited. The sum in the estimate for the support and expenses of the Loan Offices occasioned considerable conversation. The accounts of the several Loan Offices were again called for; that from the officer at New York being read, it was remarked that the amount of this account exceeded that of Pennsylvania, and, indeed, of all the other accounts. This disparity, it was said, was very extraordinary, and did not appear to be accompanied with any sufficient reasons for so great a difference; and though the accounts had been settled by the proper officers of the Treasury, yet that they were liable to be revised by the House. Some remarks in opposition were made. The question on agreeing to the sum reported in the estimate for the Loan Offices, was carried in the affirmative. The House having proceeded through the items included in the several resolutions, a motion was made and agreed to, that a committee be appointed to prepare and report a bill in conformity thereto; and Messrs. LAURANCE, BALDWIN, SMITH, N. H., STEELE, and GILES, were appointed. A motion that the estimate of contingencies received from the War Department, with the other papers relative to the estimate of appropriations, be referred to the select committee, was, after some debate, superceded by a motion to adjourn. FRIDAY, December 14. [H. of R. read, and ordered to be referred to the consideration of the Committee of the Whole House last appointed. Mr. LIVERMORE, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of a number of the inhabitants of St. Vincennes, on the Wabash; together with a Letter from the Governor of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio, accompanying the same, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House proceeded to the consideration of the amendments proposed by the Senate, to the bill, entitled "An act concerning the registering and recording of ships or vessels." Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the amendments to the fifth section. Resolved, That this House doth disagree to the amendment to the seventeenth section of the said bill. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. A message from the Senate informed the House, that the Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act in addition to, and alteration of the act, entitled 'An act for settling the accounts of the United States with the individual States;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The said bill was read the first time. The amendments of the Senate to the bill providing for the registering and recording of ships or vessels were taken into consideration. The first, second, and third amendments were agreed to. The fourth amendment was to strike out the 17th section of the bill, which was designed to guard effectually against collusion in regard to American vessels-it having been ascertained that impositions in this respect had been practised with success. The amendment of the Senate was objected to; it was said it left the door still open to the owners of foreign vessels to evade payment of foreign tonnage. Mr. GOODHUE, Mr. WILLIAMSON, Mr. SEDGWICK, Mr. PARKER, and Mr. MADISON, opposed the amendment. Mr. FITZSIMONS appeared to be partially in favor of the amendment; he observed that there Mr. WILLIAM SMITH, from the committee to was no clause in the British navigation law, whom were referred the petitions of sundry per- equally rigid with that proposed in the bill, and sons, praying to be placed on the list of pension-which the Senate have objected to. He observed ers of the United States; also, a Letter from the Judges of the Circuit Court for the District of North Carolina, relative to the act passed the last session of Congress, regulating the claims to Invalid Pensions, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House on Monday, the 31st instant. The SPEAKER laid before the House a Report from the Secretary of War, accompanying lists of the names of persons returned to his office for pensions, by the Circuit Courts of the United States, together with the rates of the said pensions, and the causes assigned for disability, pursuant to the order of the 3d instant; which was 2d CON.-25 that the policy of such restrictions as went to discourage the building of vessels in the United States may well be doubted; but though he was not perfectly satisfied with the clause in the bill, yet he should not vote to concur with the Senate. Mr. W. SMITH said he agreed with the gentleman from Pennsylvania in his remarks, but should draw a very different conclusion, and should therefore be in favor of concurring with the Senate; but if the House should not be disposed to concur, he inquired whether the proposal to strike out the clause could not be adopted without agreeing to the substitute? Mr. BARNWELL was in favor of concurring with the Senate. |
