NOVEMBER, 1800.] Address to the President. [H. OF R. House for the State of Virginia, in the room of ticle so indispensable for defence; and gives us asJohn Marshall, who has resigned his seat, ap-surances that, under the encouragement which govpeared, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat in the House. TO JOHN ADAMS, President of the United States: SIR: The House of Representatives have received with great respect the communication which you have been pleased to make to the two Houses of Congress, at the commencement of the present session. The final establishment of the seat of National Government which has now taken place within the District of Columbia, is an event of no small importance in the political transactions of our country: and we cordially unite our wishes with yours, that this territory may be the residence of happiness and vir tue. Nor can we, on this occasion, omit to express a hope, that the spirit which animated the great founder of this city, may descend to future generations, and that the wisdom, magnanimity, and steadiness, which marked the events of his public life, may be imitated in all succeeding ages. A consideration of those powers which have been vested in Congress over the District of Columbia will not escape our attention; nor shall we forget that, in exercising these powers, a regard must be had to those events which will necessarily attend the Capital of America. The cheerfulness and regularity with which the officers and soldiers of the temporary army have returned to the condition of private citizens, is a testimony clear and conclusive of the purity of those motives which induced them to engage in the public service; and will remain a proof, on all future occasions, that an army of soldiers drawn from the citizens of our country, deserve our confidence and respect. No subject can be more important than that of the Judiciary, which you have again recommended to our consideration, and it shall receive our early and deliberate attention. The Constitution of the United States having confided the management of our foreign negotiations to the control of the Executive power, we cheerfully submit to its decisions on this important subject. And in respect to the negotiations now pending with France, we sincerely hope that the final result may prove as fortunate to our country, as the most ardent mind can wish. So long as a predatory war is carried on against our commerce, we should sacrifice the interests and disappoint the expectations of our constituents, should we, for a moment, relax that system of maritime defence, which has resulted in such beneficial effects At this period, it is confidently believed that few persons can be found within the United States, who do not admit that a Navy, well organized, must constitute the natural and efficient defence of this country against all foreign hostility. The progress which has been made in the manufacture of arms, leaves no doubt that the public patronage has already placed this country beyond all necessary dependence on foreign markets for an ar ernment will continue to extend to this important object, we shall soon rival foreign countries, not only in the number, but in the quality of arms completed from our own manufactories. Few events could have been more pleasing to our constituents, than that great and rapid increase of revenue which has arisen from permanent taxes. Whilst this event explains the great and increasing resources of our country, it carries along with it a proof which cannot be resisted, that those measures of maritime defence which were calculated to meet our enemy upon the ocean, and which have produced such extensive protection to our commerce, were founded in wisdom and policy. The mind must, in our opinion, be insensible to the plainest truths, which cannot discern the elevated ground on which this policy has placed our country. That national spirit, which alone could vindicate our common rights, has been roused, and those latent energies, which had not been fully known, were unfolded and brought into view, and our fellow-citizens were prepared to meet every event which national honor or national security could render necessary. Nor have its effects been much less important in other respects. Whilst many of the nations of the earth have been impoverished and depopulated by internal commotions and national contests, our internal peace has not been materially impaired; our commerce has extended, under the protection of our infant Navy, to every part of the globe; wealth has flowed without intermission into our seaports, and the labors of the husbandman have been rewarded by a ready market for the productions of the soil. Be assured, sir, that the various, and important subjects recommended to our consideration, shall receive our early and deliberate attention; and, confident of your co-operation in every measure which may be calculated to promote the general interests, we shall endeavor, on our part, to testify, by our industry and despatch, the zeal and sincerity with which we regard the public good. The report of the committee was immediately taken up, and, on the question to agree to the Address, Mr. NICHOLAS rose and observed that he regretted the introduction of political matter, calculated to produce discord and division. He was averse to the House spending time in propounding political theories, as no good, but much mischief, might flow from such a procedure. Had no other topics or sentiments been alluded to than those contained in the President's Speech, there would have been much less division in the House than was to be expected from the insertion of extraneous ideas. He had no intention, however, to enter into a detail of the objections he entertained and others which he felt, he thought the style to the Address. For the reasons he had assigned, of the Address not only unnecessary, but worse than useless. He concluded by desiring the yeas and nays to be taken. The question, being taken, was carried in the affirmative yeas 36, nays 32, as follows: YEAS.-Bailey Bartlett, William Cooper, Wm. Craik, John Davenport, Franklin Davenport, George Dent, Joseph Dickson, William Edmond, Thomas Evans, Abiel Foster, Jonathan Freeman, Elizur Good rich, Roger Griswold, Archibald Henderson, Benja- | min Huger, Jas. H. Imlay, Henry Lee, Silas Lee, James Linn, Lewis R. Morris, Harrison G. Otis, Robert Page, Josiah Parker, Jonas Platt, Leven Powell, John Read, Nathan Read, Wm. Shepard, John C. Smith, Richard Dobbs Spaight, George Thatcher, Richard Thomas, Peleg Wadsworth, Rob'ert Waln, Lemuel Williams, and Henry Woods. NAYS.-Phanuel Bishop, Robert Brown, Gabriel Christie, Matthew Clay, William C. C. Claiborne, John Condit, John Dawson, Lucas Elmendorph, Edwin Gray, Andrew Gregg, John A. Hanna, Joseph Heister, David Holmes, George Jackson, Aaron Kitchell, Michael Leib, Nathaniel Macon, Peter Muhlenberg, Anthony New, John Nicholas, John Randolph, John Smilie, John Smith, Richard Stanford, David Stone, Thomas Sumter, Benjamin Taliaferro, John Thompson, Abram Trigg, John Trigg, Philip Van Cortlandt, and Jos. B. Varnum. Resolved, That Mr. SPEAKER, attended by the House, do present the said Address; and that Mr. GRISWOLD, Mr. MACON, and Mr. CRAIK, be a committee to wait on the PRESIDENT to know when and where it will be convenient for him to receive the same. Credentials of Members. Mr. DENT, from the Committee of Elections, to whom were referred the certificates and other credentials of the members returned to serve in this House, made a report, in part, which was read as follows: "That they have examined the credentials of several members, claiming seats in the House, in consequence of resignations which have taken place, and find that, by the certificate of the Governor of Massachusetts, dated the eleventh day of November, eighteen hundred, under the seal of the State, Nathan Read (of Danvers) is duly elected, in the place of Samuel Sewall; that by the certificate of the Governor of Connecticut, bearing date twentieth day of October, eighteen hundred, with the seal of the State annexed, John Cotton Smith is duly elected, in the place of Jonathan Brace; and that, by the certificate of the Deputy Sheriff of Henrico, the Sheriff of Hanover, the Sheriff of New Kent, the Deputy Sheriff of Charles City, and the Sheriff of James City Counties, composing one entire district in the Commonwealth of Virginia, under their respective seals, Lyttleton Waller Tazewell is duly elected, in the place of John Marshall.* "The committee also find, by an authenticated certificate signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Legislative Council of the Territory north-west of the river Ohio, dated the seventh day of November, eighteen hundred, that Wm. McMillan is duly elected to represent the said Territory, in the place of William Henry Harrison. Whereupon, the committee are of opinion that Nathan Read, (of Danvers,) John Cotton Smith, and Lyttleton Waller Tazewell, are entitled to take their seats in the House in the place of Samuel Sewall, Jonathan Brace, and John Marshall, who have re *Nominated Secretary at War, May 7th, 1800. Nomination postponed on the 9th of May. Appointed May 13th Secretary of State, appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Jan. 27th, 1801. Died 1835. [NOVEMBER, 1800. signed; and that William McMillan is entitled to take his seat therein, with the right of debating, but not of voting, in the place of William Henry Harrison, who has resigned." Ordered, That the said report do lie on the table. THURSDAY, November 27. Another member, to wit, JOHN BIRD, from New York, appeared, and took his seat in the House. Answer to the Address. The SPEAKER, attended by the House, then withdrew to the house of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and there presented to him the Address of this House in answer to his Speech to both Houses of Congress; to which the PRESIDENT made the following reply: Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: Compelled by the habits of a long life, as well as by all the principles of society and government which I could ever understand and believe, to consider the great body of the people as the source of all legitimate authority, no less than all efficient power, it is impossible for me to receive this Address from the immediate Representatives of the American people, at this time, and in this place, without emotions which it would be improper to express, if any language could convey them. May the spirit which animated the great founder of this city descend to future generations; and may the wisdom, magnanimity, and steadiness, which marked the events of his public life, be imitated in all succeeding ages. I thank you, gentlemen, for your assurance that the Judiciary System shall receive your deliberate attention. With you, gentlemen, I sincerely hope that the final result of the negotiations now pending with France, may prove as fortunate to our country, as they have been commenced with sincerity, and prosecuted with deliberation and caution. With you, I cordially agree, that so long as a predatory war is carried on against our commerce, we should sacrifice the interests and disappoint the expectations of our constituents, should we for a moment relax that system of maritime defence, which has resulted in such beneficial effects. that few persons can be found within the United With you, I confidently believe States, who do not admit that a Navy, well organized, must constitute the natural and efficient defence of this country, against all foreign hostility. Those who recollect the distress and danger to this country, in former periods, from the want of arms, must exult in the assurance, from their Representatives, that we shall soon rival foreign countries, not only in the number, but in the quality of arms, completed from our own manufactories. With you, gentlemen, I fully agree, that the great increase of revenue is a proof that the measures of mar itime defence were founded in wisdom. This policy has raised us in the esteem of foreign nations. That national spirit and those latent energies which had not been and are not yet fully known to any, were not entirely forgotten by those who had lived long enough to see, in former times, their operation, and DECEMBER, 1800.] some of their effects. Reporting the Debates. doubtedly prepared to meet every event which national honor or national security could render necessary. These, it is to be hoped, are secured at the cheapest and easiest rate: if not, they will be secured at more expense. [H. OF R. Our fellow-citizens were un- | with the Indian nations. That committee had reported unfavorably to the trade. But desirous of maturing with deliberation a new plan before the old one was supplanted, they had reported a bill for continuing the existing system for one I thank you, gentlemen, for your assurance that year. The bill had passed the House of Reprethe various subjects recommended to your considera-sentatives unanimously, but had been postponed tion, shall receive your deliberate attention. No fur- by the Senate to this session. ther evidence is wanting to convince me of the zeal and sincerity with which the House of Representatives regard the public good. I pray you, gentlemen, to accept of my best wishes for your health and happiness. WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 1800. JOHN ADAMS. For his own part, he was altogether unfavorable to the trade; for he believed that it answered no good purpose in relation to the Indians, while it was a loss to the United States.* It was, however, proper that some Legislative provision should be made immediately. The old law regulating the officers who had the suthey were of consequence under no legal conperintendence of the trade, had expired, and trol. committee, to inquire into the expediency of He, therefore, moved the appointment of a carrying on any further trade on a capital furnished by the United States, to report by bill or otherwise; which motion being read a second time, was agreed to, and a committee of three appointed. THURSDAY, December 4. Another member, to wit, SAMUEL GOODE, from Virginia, appeared, and took his seat in the House. The SPEAKER informed the House that the Chaplains had proposed, if agreeable to the House, to hold Divine service every Sunday in their Chamber. Reporting the Debates. Mr. HILL presented a memorial from Samuel Harrison Smith and Thomas Carpenter, repreEG-senting that they had undertaken to report the debates of the House; that, contrary to their expectation on the suggestion of inconvenience to the members-they had not received permission to occupy a situation within the bar, without which they were unable to state with ing the permission of the House to be admitted fidelity the proceedings and debates; and praywithin the bar. The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, accompanying a report of the Commissioners of the fund for navy pensions and half-pay, pursuant to the act for the better government of the Navy of the United States; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. As soon as the memorial was read, the SPEAKEr rose and observed, that feeling himself responsible to the House for the faithful discharge of the duties attached to his situation, he had pursued in this business. He stated that he thought it proper to state the line of conduct he was applied to by letter on the first day of the session, by Mr. Stewart, requesting permission to occupy a place within the bar; that he tion; that, in the mean time, similar requests immediately took the request into considerawere made by other individuals; that, on obScc-serving the structure of the room and the arrangement of the furniture, it at once appeared Mr. LEE, from the committee appointed for that purpose, reported a bill for erecting a Mausoleum to GEORGE WASHINGTON, which was read twice and referred to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow. The bill directs that the mausoleum shall be of marble, to be erected in the City of Washington, under the superintendence of the four retaries. Trade with the Indians. Mr. CLAIBORNE stated that during the last session a committee was appointed to inquire into the state of the trade, authorized by law, *Twenty-two years afterwards this opinion was verified, and the system abolished, after thirty years of injurious existence-so hard is it to get rid of an evil establishment when it has once got foothold. H. OF R.] Proceedings. [DECEMBER, 1800. This business, in one shape or other, had of ten been before the House, and all conversation respecting it had always issued in leaving it to the regulation of the Speaker. This appeared to him the best termination it could receive. to him inconsistent with the dignity of the | weight in the ideas of the Speaker. Grant, for House or the convenience of the members to the sake of argument, that four persons may be grant the permission asked; that the area was accommodated at the windows. Might_there too small to afford the necessary accommoda- not be other applications? Was any gentleman tion; that the position considered as the least prepared to say how many would be made? If inconvenient to the House was within the win- the permission were once granted to one, would dow-frames; that, in his opinion, this position it not be necessary to extend it to all? Would would not be agreeable to the stenographers, as the House suffer any individual to have an exthe view of the members on the opposite side clusive benefit whereby a stamp of authenticity of the House from either window would be ob- would be fixed on his statements. structed; that, if a position was assigned in any other part of the House, the stenographers would be between the chair and some of the members, which would render the preservation of order impossible; that he had stated these reasons, and informed the applicants that, if agreeable to them, he would assign a place in the gallery, which should be set apart for their exclusive use; and that he considered that to be the most eligible position. He concluded by repeating, that it was, in his opinion, absolutely impossible to preserve the dignity of the House and to maintain the convenience of the members, if the requested permission were given. Such was his first, his invariable opinion—it | was unaltered-it was still the same. Mr. NICHOLAS said, that the members of the House must feel a common interest in having the debates taken with fidelity. If the debates were taken, they ought to be taken with precision. Those who took them should not be debarred from the best means of hearing with accuracy. For his part he could not discern the inconvenience alleged to exist. The desk, which it was necessary to admit within the bar, would not project beyond the window-frame; and as to the remark of the Speaker respecting the inconvenience of such a position to the stenographers, it was easily obviated by the consideration, that any inaccuracy which might occur in the report of the individual who took them on one side of the chair, would be checked by the reporter situated on the other side. He thought the desire of the memorialists ought not to be passed over lightly. They had a right to the best place the House could assign. He moved the reference of the memorial to a select committee. Mr. HILL observed that as the memorial contained no facts that required the investigation of a committee, and as the House possessed all the information that could guide their decision, he did not discern the propriety of the proposed reference. He had prepared a resolution, which, if the motion for a reference were withdrawn, he would offer. Mr. NICHOLAS immediately withdrew his motion. Mr. HILL then proposed a resolution substantially to this effect: that Mr. SPEAKER be requested to assign places within the bar for the stenographers. From the attention he had paid to the debates reported this session, he believed them to be better and more accurately taken, than they had been on former occasions. This to him was a proof that the present situation of the stenographers was a good one. He acknowledged, at the same time, that the ability with which the debates were taken entitled those who took them to the best accommodation the House could afford. He concluded with renewing the motion for a reference to a select committee. Mr. NICHOLAS replied, that no debate had taken place which could test the accuracy of the stenographers. From his own experience he pronounced the situation at present occupied utterly inconvenient. What he had some days since remarked had been misstated. He well knew that this did not arise from the inability of the reporter to state correctly what occurred. He knew him to be intelligent, and fully capable of conceiving and conveying the meaning of any remarks which could be made in that House. But it arose from his situation, from which it was impossible to hear distinctly. He declared the objections of Mr. Oris, in relation to the number of applicants, perfectly chimerical. Did the gentleman suppose that the number would be so great as to make a demand on their seats? As well might he imagine this, as that they would swell to the ideal compass he had given them. It was known to the House, that at Philadelphia the number was small; seldom more than two, and often not more than one persevered during the session, though a greater number appeared on its earli est days. Fact and experience, therefore, demonstrated the fallacy of the danger apprehended from this source. The question was then taken on the reference to a select committee, and carried-ayes 42, noes 34. And a committee of five, viz: Messrs. OTIS, NICHOLAS, PLATT, MORRIS, and HILL, was appointed. FRIDAY, December 5. Mr. OTIS was sorry the gentleman from Virginia had withdrawn his motion to refer the memorial to a select committee, as he thought Several members, to wit: from North Carothe subject required examination before a deci- lina, WILLIAM BARRY GROVE; from Kentucky, sion was made. There appeared to him much | THOMAS T. DAvis; and from Rhode Island, DECEMBER, 1800.] Mausoleum to Washington. [H. OF R. CHRISTOPHER G. CHAMPLIN, appeared, and took | It was to perpetuate the memory of GEORGE their seats in the House. Mausoleum to Washington. Mr. H. LEE moved that the House do go into a Committee of the Whole on the bill "directing the erection of a mausoleum to GEORGE WASHINGTON." On which motion the House divided-yeas 36, nays 34. Mr. MORRIS took the chair. The Chairman, after reading the bill through, proceeded to read it by paragraphs. The first section is as follows: "SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a mausoleum of American granite and marble, in a pyramidal form, one hundred feet square at the base, and of a proportionate height, shall be erected, in testimony of the love and gratitude of the citizens of the United States, to GEORGE WASHINGTON." WASHINGTON. Was the memory of that great man to be perpetuated by a heap of large inanimate objects? The best way in which his fame could be preserved would be by bringing his ashes from the place where they now lie, by depositing them in the Capitol at the will of the nation, in interring them in such a manner as had never before been done, in placing over them a plain tablet, on which every man could write what his heart dictated. This, and this only was the basis of his fame. It was not to be blazoned by figures or representations of any other sort. It consisted in the undecaying recollection of his virtues. It must live in the national feeling, and this called not for useless expense. Twenty thousand dollars was as competent to its expression as two hundred thousand. He hoped, therefore, the amendment would be adopted, and that the terms which related to military and political achievements would be omitted. He hoped a plain monu Mr. ALSTON moved an amendment to the first section, which was, in substance, "that a monu-ment would be erected. ment of marble be erected in the Capitol, at the city of Washington, commemorative of the great events of the military and political life of GEORGE WASHINGTON." Mr. H. LEE said, that during the last session the House, after a long debate, had declared itself in favor of a mausoleum, and that as no reasons had been assigned for a change of opinion, he hoped they would persevere in the deliberate result of their judgment. His preference of a monument to a mausoleum arose not from any indisposition to celebrate the memory of our American hero. He could say as much in his praise as any man. Neither a committee of Congress nor the four Secretaries, on whom the bill devolved the superintendence, felt more zeal for the character of this great man than he did. Mr. NOTT did not rise to consume the time of the committee by going at large into an examination of the subject, but to explain the reasons for the vote he meant to give. He had, last session, co-operated most cheerfully in all those measures which had been pursued to express the Mr. Oris was ready to acknowledge himself unacquainted with many of the circumstances embraced by the subject. He therefore wished additional information to that which he had received. His present opinion was, that a mauso-national sensibility at the loss of that great and leum was preferable to a monument. He ac- immortal character. In the feelings of gratitude knowledged that, in forming this opinion, he which his services excited, no man could outdo had felt great deference for the judgment of him. Among other measures, he had been the committee which had recommended it. It friendly to the erection of a mausoleum. But, was undoubtedly a subject but little understood. on more reflection, he had changed his opinion. The formation of a proper decision depended He did not believe that a huge mass of stones upon a concurrence of several circumstances would add to the reputation of WASHINGTON, or upon a comparison of the expense with the be more expressive of national affection, than a value of the object to be accomplished. Besides marble monument. This being the case, he this, it had many peculiar features not compre-preferred the latter, because it was the least hended by every gentleman. He thought these considerations sufficient to induce the House to decline voting for the amendment, whereby the plan of the committee, who had maturely considered the subject in all its relations, would be frustrated, unless stronger reasons were assigned than he had yet heard. Mr. NICHOLAS observed, that the bill directed the erection of a mausoleum of certain dimensions, to ascertain the expense of which an estimate had been made. But that estimate was not satisfactory. It was made without information. The sum to be expended was not fixed. It might vastly exceed any sum now contemplated. The mausoleum was to consist of a huge, ugly mass of stones heaped upon one another, to raise which a heavy and useless expense would be incurred. And what was the object? expensive. Mr. GRISWOLD hoped the amendment would not prevail. It was the object of the bill to raise a monument which would last for ages, and which should be a perpetual memorial of the gratitude of America. Such would not be the case if the proposition made by the gentleman from North Carolina should be adopted. The monument proposed by him might be broken and destroyed by a lawless mob or by a set of schoolboys. For his part, he would not consent to raise such a monument to the memory of a man who had deserved so well of his country. The bill proposed the erection of a monument that would stand unimpaired for ages. It is truo that it will not perpetuate the fame of WASHINGTON: his fame required nothing which we |