The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fourth Congress, Second Session Page: 1,597
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1597 HISTORY OF CONGRESS. 1598
December, 1796.] Address to the President. [H. ofR.
ministration of the present form of Government com-
menced ; and I cannot omit the occasion to congratulate
you and my country on the success of the experiment;
nor to repeat my fervent supplications to the Supreme
Euler of the Universe and Sovereign Arbiter of Nations
that His providential care may still be extended to the
United States; that the virtue and happiness of the
people may be preserved; and that the Government
which they have instituted for the protection of their
liberties may be perpetual.
G. WASHINGTON.
Usited States, December 7,1796.
When the President had concluded his Ad-
dress, he presented copies of it to the President
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives. The President and the Senate
then withdrew, and the Speaker took the Chair.
The Address was again read by the Clerk, and on
motion, committed to a Committee of the Whole
House to-morrow.
Thursday, December 8.
James Gillespie, from North Carolina, ap-
peared and took his seat in the House.
A new member, to wit: George Ege, from
Pennsylvania, in place of Daniel Heister, re-
signed, appeared, produced his credentials, was
qualified, and took his seat.
Mr. Griswold, from the committee appointed
to bring in a bill to amend the act for the more
general promulgation of the laws of the United
States, reported a bill, which was twice read, and
committed to a Committee of the Whole House,
and made the order of the day for to-morrow.
Mr. W. Smith presented a petition from Tho-
mas Carpenter, praying encouragement to a pub-
lication of the debaU s of Congress from a short-
hand manuscript, to be taken in the House, of
which he had issued proposals; which was re-
ferred to the committee appointed to examine
the petition of Thomas Lloyd on the same sub-
ject-
Mr. Heath said, that by the standing order of
the House, a Committee of Claims ought to be
appointed, as the claims were numeous, and be-
come very pressing on the House; he would there-
fore move, that a Committee of Claims be now
appointed ; which was accordingly done, and Mr.
D. Foster, Mr. Malbone, Mr. Maclay, Mr.
Heath, Mr. Macon, Mr. Thompson, and Mr.
Williams, were appointed on the said committee.
Mr. Williams moved, " That two Chaplains of
different denominations be chosen, one by each
House, to exchange weekly;" which was agreed to.
ADDRESS TO THE PRESIDENT.
On the motion of Mr. W. Smith, the House
went into a Committee of the Whole on the
President's Address, according to the order of
the day. The Speech was read by the Clerk.
Mr. D. Foster moved the following resolu-
tion :
" Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee,
that a respectful Address ought to be presented from
the House of Representatives, to the President of the
United States, in answer to his Speech to both Houses
of Congress, at the commencement of the session, con-
taining assurances, that this House will take into consi-
deration the many important matters recommended to
their attention."
Which was unanimously agreed to, and Mr.
Ames, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Madison, Mr. &>it-
greaves, and Mr. W. Smith were appointed a
committee to draw up the Address. The Com-
mittee rose, and the resolution was adopted by
the House.
Mr. W. Smith presented a petition from Tho-
mas W. Baker, postmaster at Charlestown, pray-
iDg an increase of salary,as articles of necessity had
become dearer, and his business is become more
weighty, which was ordered to lie on the tatle
until a committee be appointed on Post Offices
and Post Roads.
Mr. Thatcher then moved
" That a committee be appointed to inquire if any,
and what alterations are necessary to be made in the
act for establishing Post Offices and Post Roads within
the United States, and to report by bill or otherwise:"
Mr. Thatcher, Mr. Bayley, Mr. Coles. Mr.
CoiT,Mr. Groves. Mr. Williams, Mr. Baldwin,
Mr. Ege, and Mr. Andrew Jackson, were ac-
cordingly appointed on that committee.
Mr. W. Smith made mention of the petition of
Henry Hill, which had been last session referred
to the Committee of Claims, but too late to be
taken up by the House. He therefore moved
that it be now committed to a Committee of the
Whole House. *
Mr. Macon thought it would be more in order
for the Committee of Rerisal and Unfinished
Business, which was yesterday appointed to re-
port first, as this business would of course be in-
cluded ; however, his only objection was to pre-
serve order.
Mr. W. Smith said, he saw no necessity of
waiting the report of that committee; he thought
the business of that committee lay in reporting
such business to the House as would otherwise
escape the notice of gentlemen, not to prevent
members making motion on any case; he thought
this had been the practice of the House.
Mr. Macon said, the gentleman was right in
part; it had been usual, in time past, to bring
i.otions of this kind immediately before the
House, but the last session was the first time a
committee of this kind had been appointed, in or-
der to remove some ill consequences attending
such a practice.
Mr. Speaker said, that this, with all other bu-
siness remaining from the last session, would be
sent to the committee. He thought if the House
took up this report separately, it would not be al-
together so orderly as to leave it for a committee
to report thereon.
Mr. W. Smith said, that this would be putting
too much power into the hands of the committee,
whereby they may protract business, which re-
quired haste in its decision.
Mr. Baldwin thought, that as the committee
would soon meet, their object would be to dis-
charge the most argent business earliest. He
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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/m1/42/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.