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tions of the treaty aforesaid, and after Louisiana shall be taken possession of in the name of the Government of the United States; and credit or credits to the proprietors thereof, shall thereupon be entered and given on the books of the Treasury, in like manner as for the present domestic funded debt, which said credits or stock shall thereafter be transferable only on the books of the Treasury of the United States, by the proprietor or proprietors of such stock, his, her, or their attorney: And the faith of the United States is hereby pledged for the payment of the interest, and for the reimbursement of the principal of the stock, in conformity with the provisions of the said convention: Provided, however, That the Secretary of the Treasury may, with the approbation of the President of the United States, and with the assent of the proprietors of the said stock vary the terms and instalments fixed by the convention for its reimbursement: And provided also, That every proprietor of the said stock may, until otherwise directed by law, on surrendering his certificate of such stock, receive another to the same amount, and bearing an interest of six per cent. per annum, payable quarteryearly at the Treasury of the United States.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the annual interest accruing on the said stock, which may, in conformity with the convention aforesaid, be payable in Europe, shall be paid at the rate of four shillings and sixpence sterling for each dollar if payable in London, and at the rate of two guilders and one half a guilder, current money of Holland, for each dollar if payable in Amsterdam.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That a sum equal to what will be necessary to pay the interest which may accrue on the said stock to the end of the present year, be, and the same is hereby appropriated for that purpose, to be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the end of the present year (in addition to the annual sum of seven millions three hundred thousand dollars, yearly appropriated to the sinking fund by virtue of the act, entitled "An act making provision for the redemption of the whole of the public debt of the United States,") a further annual sum of seven hundred thousand dollars, to be paid out of the duties on merchandise and tonnage, be, and the same hereby is, appropriated to the said fund, making in the whole an annual sum of eight millions of dollars, which shall be vested in the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund in the same manner, shall be applied by them for the same purposes, and shall be, and continue appropriated until the whole of the present debt of the United States, inclusively of the stock created by virtue of this act, shall be reimbursed and redeemed, under the same limitations as have been provided by the first section of the above-mentioned act respecting the annual appropriation of seven millions three hundred thousand dollars, made by the same.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause the said further sum of seven hundred thousand dollars to be paid to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, in the same manner as was directed by the above-mentioned act, respecting the annual appropriation of seven millions three hundred thousand dollars; and it shall be the duty of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund to cause to be applied and paid out of the said fund, yearly and every year, at the Treasury of the United States, such sum and sums as may be actually wanted to discharge

OCTOBER, 1803.

the annual interest and charges accruing on the stock created by virtue of this act, and the several instalments or parts of principal of the said stock, as the same shall become due and may be discharged, in conformity to the terms of the convention aforesaid, and of this act.

Mr. R. GRISWOLD proposed to amend the fifth section by introducing near the end thereof, after the word "conformity," the following words:" to the provisions of the said act, entitled 'An act making provision for the redemption of the whole of the public debt of the United States."

Mr. RANDOLPH and Mr. NICHOLSON considered the amendment as altogether useless. After some consideration, it was lost without a division.

Mr. EUSTIS moved to substitute in the first section, the word "Louisiana" in room of New" Orleans," making the payment of interest on the stock commence at the period when possession of Louisiana, instead of New Orleans, shall have been obtained. Agreed to without a division.

The Committee then rose and reported the bill with this amendment, and the House immediately took up the report and concurred therein; when the bill was ordered, without a division, to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.

SATURDAY, October 29.

Two other members, to wit: from New York, KILLIAN K. VAN RENSSELAER, and from South Carolina, THOMAS LOWNDES, appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and took their seats in the House.

On motion of Mr. RANDOLPH the House went into Committee of the Whole on the bill making provision for the payment of claims of citizens of the United States on the Government of France, the payment of which has been assumed by the Government of the United States, by virtue of the convention with the French Government of the thirtieth of April.

The bill appropriates $3,750,000, inclusive of $2,000,000 appropriated the last session, and authorizes the President to borrow, at a rate of six per cent., $1,750,000.

Mr. RANDOLPH moved an additional section appropriating $20,000 for compensation to commissioners, secretary, and agent for investigating claims, and for contingencies. This sum was afterwards reduced, at the instance of Mr. R., to $18,750.

The Committee agreed to the amendment, and reported the bill so amended. The House immediately took up the report of the Committee, and agreed thereto, when the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading this day.

The bill was afterwards read the third time and passed without a division.

LOUISIANA TREATY. An engrossed bill for carrying into effect the convention of the thirtieth of April, one thousand eight hundred and three, between the United States of America and the French Republic, was read the third time, and on the question that the same do pass, it was resolved in the affirmativeyeas 85, nays 7, as follows:

OCTOBER, 1803.

Lost Certificates.

H. OF R.

YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., Nathaniel Alexander, Isaac | He alluded to the case of Philip Bush, on which Anderson, John Archer, David Bard, George Michael the Commissioners had never made a report. The Bedinger, Wm. Blackledge, John Boyle, Robert Brown, Committee of Claims, he said, declined proceedWilliam Butler, George W. Campbell, John Campbell, ing until the Senate determined upon the subject, Levi Casey, Martin Chittenden, Thomas Claiborne, and the Senate decided in favor of those who held Joseph Clay, Matthew Clay, John Clopton, Frederick lost certificates. The House of Representatives Conrad, Jacob Crowninshield, Richard Cutts, John refused to concur, and the matter rests. He thereDawson, William Dickson, John Earle, Peter Early, fore moved that the case of Philip Bush be referJohn W. Eppes, William Findley, Peterson Goodwyn, Edwin Gray, Andrew Gregg, Wade Hampton, John red to a select committee. He said, that he did A. Hanna, Josiah Hasbrouck, Daniel Heister, Joseph not wish to interfere with the Committee of Claims, Heister, William Hoge, James Holland, David Holmes, and whether a select committee should determine Benjamin Huger, Samuel Hunt, John G. Jackson, for or against the petition, it would gain the opinWalter Jones, William Kennedy, Nehemiah Knight, ion of the House. Michael Leib, Andrew McCord, William McCreery, David Meriwether, Samuel L. Mitchill, Nicholas R. Moore, Thomas Moore, Jeremiah Morrow, Anthony New, Joseph H. Nicholson, Gideon Olin, Beriah Palmer, John Patterson, Samuel D. Purviance, John Randolph, jun., Thomas M. Randolph, John Rea of Penn-formity. sylvania, John Rhea of Tennessee, Cæsar A. Rodney, Mr. SMILIE asserted that it was a rule of the Erastus Root, Thomas Sammons, Thomas Sandford, House, that, when once a petition had been deEbenezer Seaver, John Smilie, John Smith of Newcided upon, it could not again be taken up. He York, John Smith of Virginia, Joseph Stanton, David thought it a good rule; if it was not so, there Thomas, Philip R. Thompson, Abram Trigg, John would be no end to applications; they would en Trigg, Philip Van Cortlandt, Isaac Van Horne, Joseph B. Varnum, Daniel C. Verplanck, Matthew Walton, gross the whole time of the House. He knew John Whitehill, Marmaduke Williams, Richard Winn, not, he said, what the petition was; but if it conJoseph Winston, and Thomas Wynns. tained anything material to be brought before the House, a new petition could be presented; but he did not wish to deviate from established rules.

NAYS-Manasseh Cutler, Thomas Griffin, David Hough, Joseph Lewis, jr., James Stephenson, Peleg Wadsworth, and Lemuel Williams.

Resolved, That the title be, "An act authorizing the creation of a stock to the amount of eleven million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the purpose of carrying into effect the convention of the thirtieth of April, one thousand eight hundred and three, between the United States of America and the French Republic, and making provision for the payment of the same."

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate disagree to the amendments proposed by this House to the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to enable the President of the United States to take possession of the territories ceded by France to the United States by the treaty concluded at Paris, on the thirtieth of April last, and for the temporary government thereof," and desire a conference with this House, on the subject-matter of the said amendments; to which conference they have appointed managers on their part.

The House proceeded to consider the said message: Whereupon,

Resolved, That this House doth insist on their said amendments, disagreed to by the Senate, and doth agree to the conference desired by the Senate on the subject-matter thereof; and that Mr. RANDOLPH, jr., Mr. LOWNDES, and Mr. SANDFORD, be appointed managers at the same on the part of

this House.

LOST CERTIFICATES.

Mr. J. RANDOLPH called the attention of the House to the subject of lost certificates. He said that he was not prepared to move a general question; but he would offer a specific case, which might bring the whole matter before the House.

Mr. LEIB said that, if he recollected right, the petition of Philip Bush had been long before the House, and he had hoped there had been an end to it; but he was willing that it should go to a Committee of Claims in order to preserve uni

Mr. NICHOLSON.-The gentleman who spoke last is perfectly right, provided the fact was as he conceives; but the petition of Philip Bush was never decided upon. The House refused to concur with the report of the Committee of Claims. He had, he said, looked into the records of the Journals, but the leaves were either misplaced or it was not noticed; he therefore thought a new petition would be best, for he should feel great pleasure in hearing the question discussed. There had been many great sufferers by lost certificates, and it was high time to make them satisfaction.

Mr. J. RANDOLPH.-The Committee of Claims

made a general report in the year 1800; but I know not whether the petition in question was rejected or not.

Mr. R. then proceeded to search the Journals; which taking up considerable time

Mr. EUSTIS asked, whether any business was before the House?

The SPEAKER replied, that the Journals were being examined.

Mr. SMILIE said, until it could be ascertained, it had best be deferred.

Mr. RANDOLPH replied that, to oblige his friend, he would for the present withdraw the motion, though he thought that there was sufficient proof before the House that the petition had not been decided upon.

A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury was then read, which stated in answer to an application made to him; that there were several Journals of the House in his office; but not more than were necessary for the despatch of business of the department.

Referred to a select committee.

Mr. MITCHELL then moved, that a committee

H. OF R.

Mourning for Edmund Pendleton.

be appointed to consider on the expediency of reprinting the Journals of the House.

Mr. HUGER observed, that he wished the word "documents" to be added to the motion. He wished the documents from the first time of the sitting of Congress to be reprinted. He observed, that only two copies of those valuable records were in the possession of the House, and in the first volume there was most important business. After some observations on the words of the motion, it was agreed to.

MOURNING FOR EDMUND PENDLETON. Mr. EUSTIS rose and observed, that within a

few days past the House were called upon to take notice of an event which perhaps would be more interesting to posterity than to the present generation; the death of one of those illustrious patriots who, by a life devoted to his country, had bequeathed a name and an example to posterity which he would not attempt to describe. He had information that another of these sages, EDMUND PENDLETON, of Virginia, had paid the last tribute

to nature.

On this occasion he begged leave to offer to the House the following resolution:

Resolved, That this House, impressed with a lively sense of the important services rendered to his country by EDMUND PENDLETON, deceased, will wear a badge of mourning for thirty days, as an emblem of their veneration for his illustrious character, and of their regret that another star is fallen from the splendid constellation of virtue and talents which guided the people of the United States in their struggle for Independence. The resolution was immediately taken up, and agreed to-ayes 77.

MONDAY, October 31.

Another member, to wit: TOMPSON J. SKINNER, from Massachusetts, appeared produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat in the House.

Ordered, That the select committee of seventeen members, appointed on the twentieth instant, to whom were referred two motions for an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, respecting the election of President and Vice President, be discharged from the further consideration of the same.

Mr. JOHN RANDOLPH, jr., from the managers appointed on the part of this House to attend a conference with the Senate, on the subject-matter of the amendments depending between the two Houses to the bill, entitled "An act to enable the President of the United States to take possession of the Territories ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris on the thirteenth of April last, and for the temporary government thereof." reported that the conferees, on the part of this House, did meet the conferees on the part of the Senate, who agreed to report to their House certain modifications of the said amendments.

A message from the Senate inforrned the House that the Senate recede from their disagreement to

OCTOBER, 1803.

the amendments insisted on by this House to the bill, sent to the Senate, entitled "An act to enable the President of the United States to take possession of the Territories ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris on the thirtieth of April last, and for the temporary government thereof."

On a motion made and seconded, that the House do come to the following resolution:

Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law for the relief of the owners of the Danish brigantine Henrick, taken by a French privateer in 1799, retaken by an armed vessel of the United States, carried into a neutral island, and there adjudged to be neutral, but under allowance of such salvage and costs as absorbed nearly the whole amount of sales of the vessel and cargo.

Ordered, That the said motion, together with cated by a message to this House, from the Prea report of the Secretary of State, communisident of the United States, on the twenty-third of February last, and the accompanying documents, be referred to the Committee of Člaims; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the report of the committee appointed on the seventeeth instant, to prepare and report such standing rules and orders of proceeding as are proper to be observed in this House; and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose and reported to the House their agreement to the

same.

Ordered, That the consideration of the said report be postponed until to-morrow.

Resolved, That the order of the day for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House on a motion of the twenty-eighth instant, for the appointment of a committee "to inquire into the expediency of extinguishing the claims of the United States for certain balances reported to be due from several of the States to the United States, by the Commissioners appointed to settle the accounts of the individual States with the United States, with power to report by bill, or otherwise," be postponed until the first Monday in December next.

Ordered, That the Committee of Ways and an appropriation for carrying into effect the sevMeans have leave to bring in a bill or bills making and Navigation, between the United States and enth article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, His Britannic Majesty.

last mentioned, presented a bill making an approMr. JOHN RANDOLPH, jr., from the committee priation for carrying into effect the seventh article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between the United States and His Britannic Majesty; which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the whole House to-morrow.

TUESDAY, November 1.

The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee appointed on the seventeenth ulti

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mo to prepare and report such standing rules and orders of proceeding as are proper to be observed in this House, to which the Committee of the whole House, yesterday; reported their agreement; and the resolution contained therein, being twice read at the Clerk's table, was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as follows:

Resolved, That the Rules and Orders established and observed by the late House of Representatives, be adopted by this House.

Mr. JACKSON moved the following resolution: Resolved, That provision be made by law for the application of one-twentieth part of the net proceeds of the land lying within the State of Ohio, sold or to be sold by Congress, from and after the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and two, to the laying out and making public roads, leading from the navigable waters emptying into the Atlantic, to the Ohio river, and to the said State of Ohio, in conformity with the act of Congress, entitled "An act to enable the people of the western division of the Territory Northwest of the river Ohio to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union, on an equal footing with the original States, and for other purposes;" passed upon the thirtieth of April, one thousand eight hundred and two, as well as the act passed the third of March, one thousand eight hundred and three, in addition to, and in modification of, the propositions contained in the act aforesaid, and the ordinance of the Convention of the State of Ohio, bearing date the twenty-ninth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and two.

Ordered, That the said motion be referred to a Committee of the whole House to-morrow. The motion for excluding strangers from the floor of the House was resumed.

Mr. CLAIBORNE spoke against the motion. He did not think that a certain part of the citizens (females) should be excluded from their right of hearing the debates. They had a curiosity to be gratified, and they were interested in the proceedings of the House. It would be inferred that they had transgressed, by being debarred at this time. He had ever observed that they have conducted themselves in a manner that gave no interruption to the business pending in the House. He should therefore vote against the resolution.

Mr. EARLY replied, that he had but one single observation to add, which was, that it was not the particular class of citizens referred to who caused the interruption, but the members themselves, when they were present. They would remain peaceable, if gentlemen who attended them did not occasion the complaint.

Mr. CLAIBORNE wished members so offending to be reprimanded, by name, from the Chair. The motion was rejected.

Mr. VARNUM moved the order of the day on making provision for carrying into effect the seventh article of the British Treaty, and the House went into a Committee-Mr. J. C. SMITH in the Chair.

The bill was read and agreed to, without a division.

H. OF R.

Mr. R. GRISWOLD observed, that the seventh section provides that the Commissioners shall examine claims, and award thereon. The article in the present bill says, that interest of six per cent. shall be allowed upon the claim. He thought this improper; he wished the interest to take place upon the award being made, and he should therefore move to strike out the word "claim," and insert "award."

Mr. EARLY said, he did not rise to oppose the amendment, but to observe that he thought it improper to proceed upon the business in the absence of the gentleman who moved it, (Mr. J. RANDOLPH,) he therefore moved the postponement until to-morrow; upon which a division took place-yeas 60, nays 32.

On motion of Mr. NICHOLSON, it was

Resolved, that a committee be appointed to inquire and report, by bill or otherwise, whether any additional provisions are necessary to be made to the act, entitled "An act to prescribe the mode in which the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings in each State shall be authenticated, so as to take effect in every other State."

Ordered, That Messrs. NICHOLSON, GRIFFIN, and HOLLAND, be appointed a committee, pursuant to the said resolution.

ted two resolutions respecting post roads, which Mr. DAWSON said he had, last session, submithad not been acted upon; he therefore renewed them, in substance, as follows:

1. Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law for the establishment of post roads throughout the United States.

2. Resolved, That whatever money received from the Post Office shall remain, after defraying the expenses of the same, be appropriated to the fixing and improvement of the post roads.

Referred to a Committee of the Whole, and made the order for Monday.

Mr. JOHN C. SMITH, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred, on the eighteenth ultimo, the petition of Amey Dardin, presented on the third of February last, made a report thereupon; which was read, and ordered to be re

ferred to a Committee of the whole House on Friday next.

WEDNESDAY, November 2.

A remonstrance and memorial of Zachariah Cox, a citizen of the United States, was presented to the House and read, stating certain injuries which he sustained in his person and property, some time in the year 1798, in the Mississippi Territory, and at Nashville, in the State of Tennessee, by a body of armed men, belonging to the army, commanded by officers in the service of the United States, and by the proceedings of the Judge of a Federal Court; and praying that such redress may be afforded in the premises, as to the wisdom and justice of Congress shall seem

meet.

Ordered, That the said remonstrance and meThe SPEAKER having resumed the Chair, was morial be referred to Messrs. EARLY, THOMAS M. proceeding to read the bill-when RANDOLPH, PURVIANCE, SKINNER, and LEWIS;

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that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Mr. NICHOLSON, from the committee appointed yesterday, presented a bill supplementary to the act, entitled "An act to prescribe the mode in which the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings, in each State, shall be authenticated, so as to take effect in every other State;" which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the whole House to-morrow.

The House took up the report of the Committee of the Whole on the bill making an appropriation for carrying into effect the 7th article of the British Treaty.

An amendment, not affecting the principle of the bill, being made at the instance of Mr. R. GRISWOLD, and Mr. J. RANDOLPH, the bill was ordered to a third reading to-morrow.

Mr. MITCHILL called the attention of the House to a subject of considerable importance, growing out of our possessions on the Mississppi. He stated that the mail to the Natchez was at present trans

ported by a route circuitous and difficult of performance. The Cherokee country, which constituted a part of it, was so destitute of water and articles of subsistence, as to render it necessary for the conveyor of the mail to carry whatever himself or his horse required. Even the water used was carried in goat skins. A great portion of the country was likewise infested with robbers. The measure he proposed was to inquire by what means the carriage of the mail to the Natchez and New Orleans could be facilitated, so as to abridge the time now consumed, and lessen the dangers and difficulties attending the transportation. Mr. M. believed a route might be pursued whereby four hundred miles could be saved in the present distance to the Natchez. Mr. M. desired such an inquiry to be made into the means of accomplishing this important object, as should, while it tended to promote the great political and commercial interests of the country, convince the Indian tribes that our object was not to invade their rights. He further observed that the usual voyage to New Orleans was about thirty days. If the route by land should be improved, that place might be probably reached in ten days. He therefore offered the following resolution:

NOVEMBER, 1803.

An engrossed bill making an appropriation for carrying into effect the seventh article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between the United States and His Britannic Majesty, was read the third time, and passed.

Mr. DAWSON laid on the table a motion for continuing for - years the act of April, 1799, for augmenting the salaries of certain officers.

Mr. JACKSON observed that when he submitted a resolution for the application of one-twentieth part of the net proceeds of land sold in Ohio, he did not expect there would exist that diversity of opinion, which he had since learned did exist, in relation to the construction of the ordinance for the government of the Northwestern Territory. In order to give time for such a full investigation of the subject, as might, in its issue, be satisfactory to the State of Ohio, he moved a postponement of the consideration of the resolution, until the third Monday in November.-Agreed to.

FRIDAY, November 4.

of the United States, transmitting information of A Message was received from the President sel of the United States by an armed ship of the an act of hostility committed on a merchant vesEmperor of Morocco.

with. were read, and referred to Mr. EUSTIS, Mr. The said Message, and letter transmitted thereJOSEPH CLAY, Mr. SANDS, Mr. M'CREERY, and Mr. DANA, to examine and report upon the same. that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled “An A message from the Senate informed the House act authorizing the creation of a stock to the amount dollars, for the purpose of carrying into effect the of eleven millions two hundred and fifty thousand Convention of the thirtieth of April, one thousand eight hundred and three, between the United States and the French Republic; and making provision for the payment of the same," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

The House proceeded to consider the said message: Whereupon,

together with the bill, be referred to the Committee Ordered, That the amendment of the Senate, of Ways and Means.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House to whom was referred, on the first instant, tion of Amey Dardin, be discharged from the cona report of the Committee of Claims on the peti

Resolved, That the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads be directed to inquire by what means the mail may be conveyed with greater facility and dispatch, than it is at present, between the City of Wash-sideration thereof; and that the said petition ington, and the Natchez and New Orleans. and report be recommitted to the Committee of Claims. Agreed to without a division.

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Mr. LYON moved the following resolution: Resolved, That provision ought to be made, by law, the United States on all articles the growth, produce, for suspending the collection of duties in the ports of or manufacture, of the territory ceded to the United States by the Treaty of Paris, of the thirtieth of April last, as well as for the reimbursement of such duties as shall have been paid on such articles since the ratification of the said treaty.

Ordered, That the said motion be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. EARLY, in order to attract the attention of

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