The motion for the committee's rlffiigwas ne
gatived.
The motion for striking out of the proposed
amendment the words " by and with the advjct
and conlent of the senate," was put and c:i -^ j d
in the affirmative.
The question then v.-as, on the propose.l unend
irienf wjriioac the vvoi Js ,'byand wirh rfte advice
s»iui of the fenate/' the vote - l jrtng taken
the amendment was not adopred.
Mr. Lavvrance propoled an additional claufefor
limitting the duration of the bill to the term of
three years, and from thence to the end of the
next fellion of Congress thereafter.
It was moved that the clause which enjoins that
the accounts of expenditures be rendered un
der oath, should be struck out.
Mr. Sedgwick was in favor of retaining the
•words ;—there could no injury arise from their
being retained in the bill ; they may conduce to
the public fatisfaiftion.—ln the disposition of pub
lic monies, cases will frequently occur in which
a confidence in the integrity of public of
ficers, may be all the fatisfad:ion the people may
receive in the disposal of their money. It is not
to be expetfted that the formality of an oath is
to be attended to, the idea meant to be convey
ed is that the accounts are rendered under the
imprelfion of such a solemnity.
Mr. Huntington, Mr. Wadfworth and Mr.
Ames were severally in favor of the motion for
striking out the words.—lt was observed that
they involved an absurdity, except gentlemen
supposed it neceflary that the President should
take his oath of office de novo.
The words refpedling the oath were struck out.
A motion of Mr. Madison's, that the President
cause a regular statement of the account of ex
penditures to be laid before Congress, occasioned
some further conversation—This motion was a
dopted.
The whole paragraph as thus amended, was
then agreed to.
The motion' for the limitation of the bill was
next difcufled—lt was moved that three be struck
out before " years" and two inserted—This mo
tion obtained.
The clause thus amended was adopted
The committee then rose reported the bill with
amendments—to which the House acceded—and
ordered that the bill be engrofled for a third read
ing to-morrow.
Mr. Lee called the attention of the House to
the petition of Mr.Dobbyn—and after fomeobfer
vations on the policy of encouraging the emigra
tion of foreigners, and the population of the un
appropriated territory of the United States,mov
ed that the petition of Mr. Dobbyn be referred
to the Secretary of the Treasury—that he may
make provision in the plan which he is directed
to report to the House, for cases similar to that
of the petitioner—Mr. Madison and Mr. Page
supported this motion.
Mr. Sherman moved that the latter part of the
motion should be (truck out, and that if the pe
tition is referred to the Secretary of the Treasu
ry, it fliould be by way of information.
It was said that there is an impropriety in re
straining the Secretary to any particular obje<ft,
in forming the plan in contemplation, as it must
be calculated on general principles, the House
having special referrence to the fubjedl of reve
nue in committing the business to him—lt was
further said that the propriety of the Legislature
of the United States holding out encouragement
to individuals of foreign States, to emigrate to
this country may be doubted.
Mr. Sherman's motion was adopted, and the
petition referred to the Secretary of tlieTreafu
ry for his information.
Mr. Sherman presented a petition from the
President and Fellows of Yale College, ltating
that they had imported a pliilofophical apparatus
for that College, the impost duties of which they
had paid ; and suggested to Congress whether, as
books and I'cientific instruments for the ufeof se
minaries of learning could not come under the
denomination of negociable articles of merchan
dize, it would not tend to encourage science,
were such articles exempted from duties, and
praying that the amount of the duties paid on
i'aid apparatus, may be remitted for the use of
said college.
Mr. Ames presented the petition of John Wait,
praying relief under lofles sustained by taking
certificates for supplies from soldiers who after
wards deserted—Read and laid on the table.
The House took up the resolution laid on the
table yesterday by Mr. Smith (S. C.) refpefting
the unfinifhed business at the end of afeffion.
Some debate ensued, but the House adjourned
without coining to any decision on the motion.
our last, Mr Hartley's obfcrvation on Adjourn
ments and Prorogations, was miftated : His ideas are exprefred in
the following, viz. " After fpeakingV>f a former motion he
had ottered upon this fubjeft—He made a aiftinftion between
« Prorogation and Adjournment in England : The firft was the
<{ ast of the fir ft Magistrate, the King, and all unfinifhed business
" wai difinilTed by it. But on the last, which was fomc times the
" concurrent aftof the several branches of the Legiflatuie, at other
" times the ast of one or both Houses of Parliament, the business
<c is preserved in the fume Rate it was left, and need not be taken
t: up d-*novo."
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23,
The bill for making compensation to persons
employed in the intercourse between the United
States and foreign nations, was brought in, en-
grolled, and read the third time.
Mr. Sherman moved, that the bill Ihould lie on
the table. He thought the sum of forty thousand
dollars too much for the purposes fpecified in the
bill, and that the house had no measure atprefent
whereby they could ascertain the funis necefiary
to be appropriated.
This morion was carried in the affirmative,
This being the day alfigned by the house for
taking up the Report of the Secretary of the Trea
sury relative to a provision for the support of the
public credit—Mr. Ames introduced the buiinefs
by faying, that he apprehended, fufficient time
had not yet been allowed for the members to pre
pare themselves for the difcuflion of a fubjed: of
such intricacy and magnitude—he therefore mo
ved that the order of the day be postponed to next
Monday week.
Mr. Jacnfon —This report, Sir, refers to mat
ters of the highest importance, which ought not
to be hastily taken up.—There appears tote two
great objects in view—One of them is to destroy
all idea of diferiinination between the original
creditors, and the speculators in lecurities—the
other is to make a general provision for the State
debts. I was formerly in the fame opinion with
the Secretary refpe<fiing the firft—but I am now
almost a convert to a contrary opinion ; and this
in consequence of the speculations I have seen
carried on since the report made its appearance,
which are now so extended as would make even
a Hastings blufli.—Since the publication of thi»
report three veflels have failed from this place
for the southward with large sums in specie, to
purchase up the public securities of the States of
North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.—
With refpedt to the consolidation of the State
debts, some of the States may be against it—at
least I think it neccfl'ary that we fliould know the
fen:iments of the State Legislatures, as well as
those of the individual citizens on the fubjedl.
Without this information we ihall be going on in
the dark—and as this information cannot be gain
ed by Monday week, wefhallthen be as much in
the dark as at present. I therefore wish that the
consideration of the business may be put off to
the firft of May, by which time there is a probabi
lity of our obtaining some degree of information.
Mr.. Boudinot acknowledged that a great num
ber of speculators were injurious to the communi
ty. But the objetft of the report is to leflen the
number, by appreciating and fixing the value of
the public debt; therefore the sooner that is ac
complished, the belter. He was not for defering
it to a distant day.
Mr. Stone said the business was entirely new,
and that the success of it would much depend up
on unanimity. He confefledhe wanted to know
the opinion of the continent upon it. If it would
bring money, he said, in to the treasury, helhould
be for adopting it immediately ; but as he did
not expert that, he should be for poltponing it
for some time.
Mr. Sherman made some observations on the
debts of the Stales, and of the United States—as
for colleifling the opinions of the people at large,
there would probably be, he said, as many opini
ons as persons. He wifned to take up the matter
as speedily as polfible.
Mr. Hartley was against poltponing.
Mr. Sedgwick said, that foine delay was necef
faryfor understanding the fubjedt properly. Bui
to prevent speculation and a corruption of mo
rals, he wiflied to enter upon it speedily.
Mr. Gerry said he was in favor of a postpone
ment, tho not for so long a time as the gentleman
from Georgia proposed—but as the fubjedt was of
such magnitude, and all the States now in the
Union were so deeply iiiterefted, he supposed it
bed to wait for the North Carolina delegation.
With refpedt to preventing speculations in the
funds, it cannot be supposed, said he, that taking
up the bufinefsat the present moment will conduce
to that object—and if it would I cannot fee what
advantage would accrue to the public Ido not
conceive that in the funds ought to
be considered in an unfavorable point of
While the country has a debt.it will be speculated
in—l believe there never was a country which had
a debt, in which speculations did not obtain and
indeed they are so far from being injurious, that
they prove a great convenience—by giving a cur
rency to property which would otherwise lay
dormant.—No debts in fliort can be contracted
but upon terms that inuft prove ruinous to the
debtors, except on a principle of negociation— In
this view it may be faid,that the evils which would
have been derived from the great debt of this
country, have been in a great measure alleviated.
He then adverted to the speculations of foreign
ers—and, referring to the debt of Great Britain,
said that in the last war the Dutch were supposed
to be proprietors in the English funds, to the a
mount of forty millions sterling— this was not
considered as a difad vantage, on the other bandit
wasluppofed tobeagreat fourceof emolument to
the nation and at the moment of peace, the enor
[—334-]
mous debt of the nation, which had encreafedan
hundred million—was one cause of the grearett
influx of specie th*t had ever been known. He
concluded his observations by wilhing the consi
deration of the report might be postponed till the
reprefentationfrom North Carolina Ihould arrive.
Mr. Jackson in support of the motion forpoft
ponement, enlarged fully on the pernicious con
sequences of the speculation in the public secu
rities and traced those consequences through
a variety of channels, he pathetically defcnb
ed the situation of the officers and l'oldiers
of the late army, who had been obliged through
necessity to part with the crtificates fora tri
fling consideration. —He lamented the specu
lations that had taken place in consequence of the
promulgation of the Secretary's plan, & regretted
that Congress was not nowfituated on the Sufque
hanna or Potomack, where the deliberations on
the fubjedl might have been kept secret, as he
thought that the evils of speculation owed their
rife in a great measure from Congress' holding
their feflionsin a populous city—He thought that
Congress should suspend all consideration of an
afl'umptionof the State debts, jfill the fenfeofthe
several Legislatures on the fubjeiA was known—
and at any rate he hoped that Congress would at
present confine their deliberations to that part
of the debt called final fettlementsorthedoineftic
debt of the United States.—He concluded by
moving that the consideration of the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury be postponed to April.
Mr. Boudinot reprobated the idea of a post
ponement to so distant a day. He touched on the
fubjetft of speculation, and said, that it might be
carried too far, and it might be confined to too
narrow limits—but with refpedt to the idea at
large, it was impossible to prevent it—that the on
ly way to restrain, or bring within proper
bounds this spirit, is for Congress to come
to some determination refpedling the debt, by
whichmeans it will acquire a permanency. The
House by their resolution the last session have so
lemnly pledged themselves to pay earlj attention
to the bufineil, and to do foinething for the pub
lic creditors.
Mr. Page was for taking upthe business imme
diately, and reminded the lioufe of that part of
the President's speech which related to public
credit. As for secrecy with regard to the report
he had no idea of it. He was for openness and
decision. He said, that if so distant a day ihould
be fixed on, he Ihould move that the house ad
journ,and the members go home. It is anillafive
idea to think of deferring it—we are bound to
begin the business immediately. Would the gen
man from Georgia consult his constituents upon
every bill that is about to be pafled
Mr. Seney moved that the consideration of the
report should be poftponedto the firft Monday in
March. The fubje<ft, said he, is of great mag
nitude—it requires time to make up a judgment
upon it—The Legislature may derive informa
tion from the difculfion it may receive inconver
verfation, and in the public prints—The gentle
man's idea of an adjournment appears quite uu
neceflary—there is a great variety of business be
fore the house, to employ their attention—mean
time the public expectation will fufFer no disap
pointment, as the business will be in train agree
able to the resolution of the House thelaft feifion,
on which the report of the Secretary of the Trea
sury is founded—Nor do I conceive that any time
will be loft, as the members will be more fully
prepared to meet the business.
Thequeftion was now put on the firft Monday
in March, and loft.
Monday week, was then proposed, which was
carried.
A message from the President of the United
States by his Secretary, communicating the a<ft of
Rhode lfland for calling a convention—also a let
ter from the Governor of that State to the Presi
dent, refpedling a further suspension of the col
lection adt, &c.
These papers were refered to a committee con
sisting of Mr. Benfon, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Cole.
Mr. Burke from the committee appointed,
brought in a bill for securing to authors and pro
prietors, the exclulive right to their writings.
Mr. Burke also presented to the house a motion,
that it be an inftrucftion to the committee appoint
ed to bring in a bill for encouraging manufac«
tures, to add a clause refpediing the securing t«
inventors, the right to their discoveries.
This was agreed to.
Mr. Smith's motion which was under considera
tion yesterday was resumed.
Some observations were made relative to its be
ing a joint business of both Houses.—Mr. Smith,
agreeable to this suggestion proposed that the re
solution should be amended so as to comprize this
idea.
Mr. Livermore objected to tlie resolution in its
present form,he conceived that a ftridl adherence
to any such rule could not be maintained, as a
great variery of matters must neceflarily be con*
tinned from one fefiion to another, he instanced
petitions, and business referred to special com
mittees, which might require a whole recess for
ics consideration.—He adverted to the practice of
Congress, and of other legislative bodies-^wliicli