Adjournment.

Being to whom I feel myself responsible for all my | OF THE UNITED STATES of the proposed recess of
conduct. May the Almighty keep you in his holy
protection. Farewell.

Proceedings.

SEVENTH CONGRESS.-FIRST SESSION.

BEGUN AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 7, 1801.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,-THOMAS JEFFERSON.

LIST OF MEMBERS

PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.

of Rhode Island, for the remainder of the term for which their late Senator, Ray Greene, was appointed; JAMES JACKSON, appointed a Senator by the State of Georgia; GEORGE LOGAN, appointed a Senator by the Executive of the State of Pennsylvania, in the place of their late Senator, Peter Muhlenberg, resigned; SIMEON OLCOTT, appointed a Senator by the State of New Hampshire, for the remainder of the term for which their late Senator, Samuel Livermore, was appointed; URIAH TRACY, appointed a Senator by the State of Connecticut; and ROBERT WRIGHT, appointed a Senator by the State of Maryland, severally produced their credentials, and took their seats in the Senate.

The VICE PRESIDENT being absent, the Senate proceeded to the election of a President, pro tempore, as the constitution provides; and ABRAHAM BALDWIN was chosen.

The PRESIDENT administered the oath, as the law prescribes, to Mr. BRADLEY, Mr. BRECKENRIDGE, Mr. ELLERY, Mr. JACKSON, Mr. OLCOTT, Mr. TRACY, and Mr. WRIGHT, and the affirination to Mr. LOGAN.

Ordered, That the Secretary wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and acquaint him that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that, in the absence of the VICE PRESIDENT, they have elected ABRAHAM BALDWIN, President of the Senate, pro tempore.

TUESDAY, December 8.

[SENATE.

JONATHAN DAYTON and AARON OGDEN, from the State of New Jersey, and JESSE FRANKLIN, from the State of North Carolina, severally attended.

Resolved, That two Chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress for the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly.

President's Message.

The following letter and Message were received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, by Mr. Lewis, his Secretary:

DECEMBER 8, 1801.

SIR: The circumstances under which we find our

selves at this place rendering inconvenient the mode heretofore practised, of making by personal address the first communications between the Legislative and Executive branches, I have adopted that by Message, as used on all subsequent occasions through the session. In doing this I have had principal regard to the convenience of the Legislature, to the economy of their time, to their relief from the embarrassment of immediate answers, on subjects not yet fully before them, and to the benefits thence resulting to the these motives will meet their approbation, I beg public affairs. Trusting that a procedure founded in leave, through you, sir, to communicate the enclosed Message, with the documents accompanying it, to the honorable the Senate, and pray you to accept, for yourself and them, the homage of my high respect and consideration.*

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

The Hon. the PRESIDENT of the Senate.

Ordered, That the Secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled and ready to proceed to business, and that, in the absence of the VICE PRESIDENT, they have elected ABRAHAM BaldWIN, President of the Senate, pro tempore. A message from the House of Representa-Fellow-citizens of the Senate, tives informed the Senate that a quorum of the House is assembled, and have elected NATHANIEL MACON their Speaker, and are ready to proceed to business.

and House of Representatives:

It is a circumstance of sincere gratification to me that, on meeting the great council of our nation, I am able to announce to them, on grounds of reasonaOrdered, That Messrs. ANDERSON and JACK-ble certainty, that the wars and troubles which for SON be a committee on the part of the Senate, together with such committee as the House of Representatives may appoint on their part, to wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communications that he may be pleased to make

to them.

so many years afflicted our sister nations, have at length come to an end; and that the communications of peace and commerce are once more opening among them. Whilst we devoutly return thanks to the beneficent Being who has been pleased to breathe into them the spirit of conciliation and forgiveness, we are bound with peculiar gratitude, to be thankful to him that our own peace has been preserved through so perilous a season, and ourselves permitted quietly to cultivate the earth, and to practise and

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House agree to the resolution of the Senate for the appointment of a joint committee to wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and have ap-veiled and commended by temporary reasons, founded in pointed a committee on their part.

Mr. ANDERSON reported, from the joint committee, that they had waited on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and acquainted him that a quorum of both Houses is assembled, and that the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES informed the committee that he would make a communication to them by message to-morrow.

This is the first instance of a Message being sent to the two Houses at the commencement of a session. Though

the convenience of the members and placed in the fore part of the letter, yet the concluding reasons (which are of a

general and permanent nature) disclose the true reasons for the change which was, to make it permanent; and permanent it has been. It was one of Mr. Jefferson's reforms-the former way of assembling the two Houses to hear an address in person from the President, returning an answer to it, the two Houses going in form to present their answer, and the intervention of repeated committees to arrange the details of these ceremonious meetings, being considered too close an imitation of the royal mode of opening a British Parlia

improve those arts which tend to increase our comforts. The assurances, indeed, of friendly disposition, received from all the powers with whom we have principal relations, had inspired a confidence that our peace with them would not have been disturbed. But a cessation of irregularities which had affected the commerce of neutral nations, and of the irritations and injuries produced by them, cannot but add to this confidence, and strengthens, at the same time, the hope that wrongs committed on unoffending friends, under a pressure of circumstances, will now be reviewed with candor, and will be considered as founding just claims of restitution for the past, and new assurances for the future.

Among our Indian neighbors, also, a spirit of peace and friendship generally prevails; and I am happy to inform you that the continued efforts to introduce among them the implements and the practice of husbandry, and of the household arts, have not been without success; that they are becoming more and more sensible of the superiority of this dependence for clothing and subsistence, over the precarious resources of hunting and fishing; and already we are able to announce that, instead of that constant diminution of their numbers, produced by their wars and their wants, some of them begin to experience an increase of population.

To this state of general peace with which we have been blessed, one only exception exists. Tripoli, the least considerable of the Barbary States, had come forward with demands unfounded either in right or in compact, and had permitted itself to denounce war, on our failure to comply before a given day. The style of the demands admitted but one answer. I sent a small squadron of frigates into the Mediterranean, with assurances to that power of our sincere desire to remain in peace; but with orders to protect our commerce against the threatened attack. The measure was seasonable and salutary. The Bey had already declared war. His cruisers were out. Two had arrived at Gibraltar. Our commerce in the Mediterranean was blockaded, and that of the Atlantic in peril. The arrival of our squadron dispelled the danger. One of the Tripolitan cruisers, having fallen in with and engaged the small schooner Enterprise, commanded by Lieutenant Sterret, which had gone as a tender to our larger vessels, was captured, after a heavy slaughter of her men, without the loss of a single one on our part. The bravery exhibited by our citizens on that element will, I trust, be a testimony to the world that it is not the want of that virtue which makes us seek their peace, but a conscientious desire to direct the energies of our nation to the multiplication of the human race, and not to its destruction. Unauthorized by the constitution,

ment. Some of the democratic friends of Mr. Jefferson

doubted whether this change was a reform, in that part of it which dispensed with the answers to the President. Their view of it was, that the answer to the Speech, or Message, afforded a regular occasion for speaking to the state of the Union, and to all the topics presented; which speaking, losing its regular vent, would afterwards break out irregularly on the discussion of particular measures, and to the inter

ruption of the business on hand. Experience has developed that irregularity, and another-that of speaking to the Message on the motions to refer particular clauses of it to appropriate committees, thereby delaying the reference; and, in one instance during Mr. Fillmore's administration, preventing the reference during the entire session.

[DECEMBER, 1801,

without the sanction of Congress, to go beyond the line of defence, the vessel, being disabled from committing further hostilities, was liberated with its crew. The Legislature will doubtless consider whether, by authorizing measures of offence also, they will place our irce on an equal footing with that of its adversaries. communicate all material information on this subject, that, in the exercise of this importart function confided by the constitution to the Legislature exclusively, their judgment may form itself on a knowledge and consideration of every circumstance of weight.

I wish I could say that our situation with all the other Barbary States was entirely satisfactory. Dis covering that some delays had taken place in the performance of certain articles stipulated by us, I thought it my duty, by immediate measures for infilling them, to vindicate to ourselves the right of considering the effect of departure from stipulation on their side. From the papers which will be laid before you, you will be enabled to judge whether our treaties are regarded by them as fixing at all the measure of their demands, or, as guarding from the exercise of force our vessels within their pow er; and to consider how far it will be safe and expedient to leave our affairs with them in their pres ent posture.

I lay before you the result of the census lately taken of our inhabitants, to a conformity with which we are now to reduce the ensuing ratio of represen tation and taxation. You will perceive that the ir crease of numbers, during the last ten years, proceed ing in geometrical ratio, promises a duplication in little more than twenty-two years. We contemplate this rapid growth, and the prospect it holds up to us, not with a view to the injuries it may enable us to do to others in some future day, but to the settlement of the extensive country still remaining vacant withia our limits, to the multiplication of men susceptible of happiness, educated in the love of order, habituated to self-government, and valuing its blessings above all price.

Other circumstances, combined with the increase of numbers, have produced an augmentation of revenue arising from consumption, in a ratio far beyond that of population alone; and, though the changes in foreign relations now taking place, so desirably for the whole world, may for a season affect this branch of revenue, yet, weighing all probabilities of expense, as well as of income, there is reasonable ground of confidence that we may now safely dispense with all the internal taxes-comprehending excise, stamps, auctions, licenses, carriages, and refined sugars; to which the postage on newspapers may be added, to facilitate the progress of information; and that the remaining sources of revenue will be sufficient to provide for the support of Government, to pay the interwithin shorter periods than the laws or the general exest of the public debts, and to discharge the principals pectation had contemplated. War, indeed, and untoward events, may change this prospect of things, and call for expenses which the imposts could not meet. But sound principles will not justify our taxing the industry of our fellow-citizens to accumulate treasure for wars to happen we know not when, and which might not, perhaps, happen, but from the temptations offered by that treasure.

These views, however, of reducing our burdens, are formed on the expectation that a sensible, and at the same time a salutary, reduction may take place in our habitual expenditures. For this purpose those

DECEMBER, 1801.]

President's Message.

[SENATE.

A statement has been formed by the Secretary of War, on mature consideration, of all the posts and stations where garrisons will be expedient, and of the number of men requisite for each garrison. The whole amount is considerably short of the present Military Establishment. For the surplus no particular use can be pointed out. For defence against invasion their number is as nothing; nor is it conceived needful or safe that a standing army should be kept up in time of peace, for that purpose. Uncertain as we must ever be of the particular point in our circumference where an enemy may choose to invade us, the only force which can be ready at every point, and competent to oppose them, is the body of neighboring citizens, as formed into a militia. On these, collected from the parts most convenient, in numbers proportioned to the invading force, it is best to rely, not only to meet the first attack, but if it threatens to be permanent, to maintain the defence until regulars may be engaged to relieve them. These considerations render it important that we should, at every session, continue to amend the defects which from time to time show themselves in the laws for regulating the militia, until they are sufficiently perfect: nor should we now, or at any time, separate, until we can say that we have done every thing for the militia which we could do were an enemy at our door.

of the civil Government, the army, and navy, will need revisal. When we consider that this Government is charged with the external and mutual relations only of these States; that the States themselves nave principal care of our persons, our property, and our reputation, constituting the great field of human concerns, we may well doubt whether our organization is not too complicated, too expensive; whether offices and officers have not been multiplied unnecessarily, and sometimes injuriously to the service they were meant to promote. I will cause to be laid before you an essay towards a statement of those who, under public employment of various kinds, draw money from the Treasury, or from our citizens. Time has not permitted a perfect enumeration, the ramifications of office being too multiplied and remote to be completely traced in a first trial. Among those who are dependent on Executive discretion, I have begun the reduction of what was deemed unnecessary. The expenses of diplomatic agency have been considerably diminished. The inspectors of internal revenue, who were found to obstruct the accountability of the institution, have been discontinued. Several agencies, created by Executive authority, on salaries fixed by that also, have been suppressed, and should suggest the expediency of regulating that power by law, so as to subject its exercise to Legislative inspection and sanction. Other reformations of the same kind will be pursued with that caution which is requisite, in removing useless things, not to injure what is retained. But the great mass of public offices is established by law, and therefore by law With respect to the extent to which our naval alone can be abolished. Should the Legislature preparations should be carried, some difference of think it expedient to pass this roll in review, and try opinion may be expected to appear; but just attenall its parts by the test of public utility, they may be tion to the circumstances of every part of the Union assured of every aid and light which Executive infor-will doubtless reconcile all. A small force will probmation can yield. Considering the general tendency ably continue to be wanted for actual service in the to multiply offices and dependencies, and to increase Mediterranean. Whatever annual sum beyond that expenses to the ultimate term of burden which the you may think proper to appropriate to naval prepacitizens can bear, it behooves us to avail ourselves rations, would perhaps be better employed in providof every occasion which presents itself for taking offing those articles which may be kept without waste the surcharge; that it never may be seen here that, after leaving to labor the smallest portion of its earnings on which it can subsist, Government shall itself consume the whole residue of what it was instituted to guard.

In our care, too, of the public contributions intrusted to our direction, it would be prudent to multiply barriers against their dissipation, by appropriating specific sums to every specific purpose susceptible of definition; by disallowing all applications of money varying from the appropriation in object, or transcending it in amount; by reducing the undefined field of contingencies, and thereby circumscribing discretionary powers over money; and by bringing back to a single department all accountabilities for money, where the examinations may be prompt, efficacious, and uniform.

The provision of military stores on hand will be laid before you, that you may judge of the additions still requisite.

or consumption, and be in readiness when any exigence calls them into use. Progress has been made, as will appear by papers now communicated, in providing materials for seventy-four gun ships, as directed by law.

How far the authority given by the Legislature for procuring and establishing sites for naval purposes, has been perfectly understood and pursued in the execution, admits of some doubt. A statement of the expenses already incurred on that subject is now laid before you. I have, in certain cases, suspended or slackened these expenditures, that the Legislature might determine whether so many yards are necessary as have been contemplated. The works at this place are among those permitted to go on; and five of the seven frigates directed to be laid up, have been brought and laid up here, where, besides the safety An account of the receipts and expenditures of the of their position, they are under the eye of the Execlast year, as prepared by the Secretary of the Treas-utive Administration, as well as of its agents; and ury, will, as usual, be laid before you. The success where yourselves also will be guided by your own which has attended the late sales of the public lands view in the legislative provisions respecting them, shows that, with attention, they may be made an which may, from time to time, be necessary. They important source of receipt. Among the payments are preserved in such condition, as well the vessels as those made in discharge of the principal and inter- whatever belongs to them, as to be at all times ready est of the national debt, will show that the public for sea at a short warning. Two others are yet to faith has been exactly maintained. To these will be laid up, as soon as they shall receive the repairs be added an estimate of appropriations necessary for requisite to put them also into sound condition. As the ensuing year. This last will, of course, be af- a superintending officer will be necessary at each fected by such modifications of the system of expense yard, his duties and emoluments, hitherto fixed by as you shall think proper to adopt. the Executive, will be a more proper subject for le