The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fourth Congress, Second Session Page: 1,591
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1591 HISTORY OF CONGRESS. 1592
H. of R.J President's Speech. [December, 1796.
Mr. Macon moved that a Committee of Revi-
sal and Unfinished Business of last session be ap-
pointed, pursuant to the Standing Rules and Or-
ders of the House, observing that, as the session
would be but short, it would be necessary to be
early in the appointment of committees.
Whereon Mr. Gilman, Mr. R. Sprigg, Jun.,
and Mr. Macon were appointed.
Notice was received that a quorum of the
Senate was formed.
On motion, it was, therefore, resolved, that a
committee of three members be appointed to wait
on the President of the United States, in con-
junction with a committee from the Senate, to
inform him that a quorum of both Houses was
assembled, and ready to receive any communica-
tions that he may please to make. Mr. Ames,
Mr. Madison, and Mr. Sitgheaves, were accord-
ingly appointed.
A message was received from the Senate in-
forming the" House that they had formed a quo-
rum : whereupon the Clerk went to the Senate
with the resolution of this House. The Secre-
tary soon after returned, informing the House
that the Senate had concurred in the resolution,
and formed a committee for that purpose.
PROMULGATION OF THE LAWS.
Mr. W. Smith said, that agreeably to an act
passed the last session, the laws of the United
States were publishing ; but he observed that it
would be of much mere utility if the laws of the
present session could be included; thus the whole
of the present Congress would be inserted, toge-
ther with the completion of the administration
of the present President. He observed, that
such a motion passed at the last session in the
Senate, but was negatived by this House, on ac-
count of its affecting the contract made for print-
ing ; but he believed, from the knowledge he had
gathered on the subject, no great difficulty could
be in the way of its accomplishment. He there-
fore moved that a committee be appointed to pre-
pare and bring in a bill to amend an act for the
more general promulgation of the laws of the
United States.
A committee was appointed of Mr. Griswold,
Mr. Williams, and Mr. Coles.
FURNISHING NEWSPAPERS.
On motion of Mr. Bradbury, it was
Resolved, That the Clerk of this House cause
the members to be furnished, during the present
session, with three newspapers printed in this
city, such as the members, respectively, shall
choose, to be delivered at their lodgings, provi-
ded, they do not exceed the price at which sub-
scribers in Philadelphia are served.
Mr. Ames, from the committee appointed for
that purpose, reported that the committee had
waited on the President, who was pleased to
signify to them that he would make a communi-
cation to both Houses of Congress to-morrow, at
12 o'clock, in the Representatives' Chamber.
Wednesday. December 7.
Another member, to wit : Samuel Sewall,
from Massachusetts, in place of Benjamin Good-
hue, appointed a Senator of the United States,
appeared, produced his credentials, was qualified,
and took his seat.
A message was sent to the Senate, informing
them that this House was ready, agreeably to ap-
pointment, to receive communications from the
President ; whereon the Senate attended and
took their seats. At 12 o'clock the President
attended, and. after taking his seat, rose and de-
livered the following Address:
Gentlemen of the Senate, and
of the House of Representatives :
In recurring to the internal situation of our country,
since I had last the pleasure to address you, I find am-
ple reason for a renewed expression of that gratitude
to the Ruler of the Universe, which a continued series
of prosperity has so often and so justly called forth.
The acts of the last session, which required special
arrangements, have been, as far as circumstances would
admit, carried into operation.
Measures calculated to insure a continuance of the
friendship of the Indians, and to preserve peace along
the extent of our interior frontier, have been digested
and adopted. In the framing of these, care has been
taken to guard on the one hand our advanced settle-
ments from the predatory incursions of those unruly-
individuals who cannot be restrained by their tribes;
and on the other hand, to protect the rights secured to
the Indians by Treaty; to draw them nearer to the
civilized state; and inspire them with correct concep-
tions of the power, as well as justice of the Govern-
ment.
The meeting of the deputies from the Creek, nation „
at Colraine, in the State of Georgia, which had for a
principal object the purchase of a parcel of their land
by that State, broke up without its being accomplished;
the nation having, previous to their departure, instruct-
ed them against making any sale; the occasion, how-
ever, has been improved, to confirm by a new Treaty
with the Creeks, their pre-existing engagements with
the United States; and to obtain their consent to the
establishment of trading houses and military posts
within their boundary; by means of which their friend-
ship and the general peace may be more effectually se-
cured.
The period during the late session, at which the appro-
priation was passed, for carrying in effect to the Treaty
of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between the
United States and his Britannic Majesty, necessarily
procrastinated the reception of the posts stipulated to
be delivered, beyond the date assigned for that event.
As soon, however as the Governor General of Canada
could be addressed with propriety on the subject, ar-
rangements were cordially and promptly concluded for
their evacuation; and the United States took possession
of the principal of them, comprehending Oswego, Ni-
agara, Detroit, Michilimakinac and Fort Miami, where
such repairs and additions have been ordered to be
made as appeared indispensable.
The Commissioners appointed on the part of the Uni-
ted States and of Great Britain, to determine which is
the river St. Croix, mentioned in the Treaty of Peace "
of 1783, agreed in the choice of Egbert Benson, Esq.,
of New York for the third Commissioner. The whole
met at St. Andrew's, in Passamaquoddy bay, in the be-
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fourth Congress, Second Session, book, 1849; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29470/m1/39/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.