"That the President of the United States be requested to lay before the Senate the correspondences which Ordered, That Messrs. BRADLEY, LIVERMORE, have been had between the Minister of the United and BROWN, be a committee to take into consider-States at the Republic of France and said Republic, ation the laws passed in the Territory of the Unit- and between said Minister and the office of the Secretary ed States Northwest of the river Ohio, from July of State :" to December, 1792, inclusive, and report thereon to the Senate.

slaves to foreign nations, and preventing foreigners from fitting out vessels for the slave trade in the ports of the United States.

The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a Letter from the Secretary of State, enclosing a translation of the French Act of Navigation.

WEDNESDAY, January 29.

Mr. ELLSWORTH, from the committee appointed to consider the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act for completing and better supporting the Military Establishment of the United States," reported amendments, which were agreed to.

Ordered, That the further consideration of this bill be postponed.

THURSDAY, January 30.

The following Message was received from the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
Gentlemen of the Senate, and

[JANUARY, 1794.

30th of December last, respecting certain impediments in the coinage of the precious metals, together with the Report of the Secretary for the Department of State thereon.

Ordered, That Messrs. CABOT, IZARD, and ELLSWORTH, be a committee to take into consideration and report on that part of the Message of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, of the 30th of December last, which respects certain impediments to the coinage of the precious metals, together with the Report of the Secretary for the Department of State thereon.

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the last paragraph of the said Message, and the papers to which it refers; and

Ordered, That they be committed to the committee last mentioned, to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

TUESDAY, February 4.

of the House of Representatives: A message from the House of Representatives Communications have been made to Congress during informed the Senate that the House have passed a the present session, with the intention of affording a full bill, entitled "An act providing for the relief of view of the posture of affairs on the Southwestern such of the inhabitants of Saint Domingo, resifrontiers. By the information which has lately been dent within the United States, as may be found laid before Congress, it appeared that the difficulties in want of support," in which they desire the conwith the Creeks had been amicably and happily termi-currence of the Senate.

nated. But it will be perceived with regret, by the This bill was read the first time, and ordered to papers herewith transmitted, that the tranquility has a second reading.

unfortunately been of short duration, owing to the mur

der of several friendly Indians, by some lawless white

men.

The condition of things in that quarter requires the serious and immediate consideration of Congress, and the adoption of such wise and vigorous laws as will be competent to the preservation of the national character, and of the peace made under the authority of the United States with the several Indian tribes. Experience demonstrates that the existing legal provisions are entirely inadequate to those great objects.

G. WASHINGTON.

UNITED STATES, January 30, 1794. The Message and papers therein referred to were read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act for completing and better supporting the Military Establishment of the United States ;" and, after debate, the further consideration thereof was postponed.

FRIDAY, January 31.

The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act for completing and better supporting the Military Establishment of the United States ;" and, after debate,

Resolved, That this bill do not pass. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives that the Senate do not concur in this bill.

MONDAY, February 3.

The Senate took into consideration the Message of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, of the

WEDNESDAY, February 5.

The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act providing for the relief of such of the inhabitants of Saint Domingo, resident within the United States, as may be found in want of support," was read the second time; and, after debate, the further consideration thereof was postponed until to-morrow.

Mr. CABOT reported, from the committee appointed to take into consideration the last clause of the Message of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, of the 30th December, which report was read; and, after debate,

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made the 16th January last, that the doors of the Senate remain open while the Senate shall be sitting in a Legislative and Judiciary capacity. Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed to this day fortnight.

THURSDAY, February 6.

Mr. Ports, from Maryland, attended. The petition of Jonathan Holton, late a Lieutenant in the Militia of New Hampshire, was presented and read, stating that he was wounded in the battle of Bennington, and disabled from labor, and praying to be reinstated in the list of invalid pensioners.

Ordered, That this petition be referred to the Secretary for the Department of War to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for

concurrence, entitled "An act providing for the relief of such of the inhabitants of Saint Domingo, resident within the United States, as may be found in want of support."

On motion, that it be recommitted, for the purpose of further inquiry, it passed in the negative. And, after agreeing to an amendment, the bill was ordered to a third reading.

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the report of the committee on the last clause of the Message of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, of the 30th December.

On motion to recommit the report, and that the committee be instructed to bring in a bill for the purposes therein mentioned, it passed in the negative. It was then agreed that the report of the committee be adopted.

Whereupon, it was

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the payment notified by the President of the United States, in his Message of the 30th of December last, to have been made, be approved; and that the President be authorized to make further advances on the

same account, as he may judge expedient, not exceeding in the whole the amount which might be claimed of the United States, on the principles stated in the Message.

Ordered, That the Secretary desire the concurrence of the House of Representatives in this resolution.

FRIDAY, February 7.

[SENATE.

sider the last paragraph of the Message from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, of the 30th of December last, be reconsidered.

Ordered, That Messrs. BURR, ELLSWORTH, and KING, be a committee to take into consideration the Message from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES of the 30th December, and that the committee be directed to report a bill to carry the same into execution.

The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a Letter from the Treasurer of the United States, together with his War Department account; which were read.

Ordered, That they lie on the table.

MONDAY, February 10.

The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a Letter from the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, in reference to the orders of Senate of the 20th January last, for a return of sundry statements from that Department; which Letter was read.

Mr. BRADLEY reported from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Conrad Laub and others, respecting the appointment of Mr. GALLATIN to be a Senator of the United States; and the report was read.

Ordered, That Wednesday next be assigned to take this report into consideration, and that, in the mean time, it be printed for the use of the Senate. On motion, that the Senate adopt the following resolution:

"Resolved, That the doors of the Senate be opened,

The following Message was received from the and continue open, during the discussion upon the conPRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:

Gentlemen of the Senate, and

of the House of Representatives:

tested election of ALBERT GAllatin."

Ordered, That this motion lie on the table until to-morrow.

I transmit to you an Act and three Ordinances, pass- A message from the House of Representatives ed by the Government of the Territory of the United informed the Senate, that the House concur in States South of the river Ohio, on the 13th and 21st of the amendment of the Senate to the bill, entitled March, and the 7th of May, 1793; and also certain Let-"An act providing for the relief of such of the ters from the Minister Plenipotentiary of the French inhabitants of Saint Domingo, resident within the Republic, to the Secretary of State, enclosing despatches United States, as may be found in want of supfrom the General and Extraordinary Commission of port." Gaudaloupe. G. WASHINGTON.

UNITED STATES, February 7, 1794.

The Message and papers therein referred to were read.

Ordered, That the Act and three Ordinances, mentioned in the Message, be referred to the committee appointed the 21st of January last, to whom were referred the laws passed in the Territory Northwest of the Ohio, to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

Ordered, That the other papers referred to in the Message lie for consideration.

66

That the petition of Conrad Laub and others, citizens of Pennsylvania, stating that ALBERT GALLATIN had not been more than eight years a citizen of the The Senate proceeded to the third reading of United States at the time of his election as a Senator, the bill, sent from the House of Representatives is sufficient, as well in respect to the competency of the for concurrence, entitled "An act providing for petitioners, as in respect to the matter alleged in the the relief of such of the inhabitants of Saint Do-petition, to authorize the Senate to inquire and decide mingo, resident within the United States, as may be found in want of support." Whereupon,

Resolved, That this bill pass as amended. Resolved, That the resolution passed yesterday, on the report of the committee appointed to con3d CoN.-3

whether the said ALBERT GALLATIN had been a citizen of the United States the term of years required by the Constitution as a qualification to be a Senator of the United States."

Ordered, That this motion lie until to-morrow.

On motion, that the consideration of the reporting to be heard by counsel. of the committee on the petition of Conrad Laub and others, respecting the appointment of Mr. GALLATIN to be a Senator of the United States, be postponed until Monday next; it was passed in

Ordered, That the prayer of the petition be granted.

The consideration of the report of the committee on the petition of Conrad Laub and others, respecting the election of Mr. GALLATIN to be a Senator of the United States, was resumed, and, progress, passed tion thereof be postponed until Wednesday next. The bill in alteration of "The act establishing a Mint and regulating the coins of the United States," was read the second time and ordered to a third reading.

it was ordered that the considera

others, respecting the election of Mr. GALLATIN to be a Senator of the United States.

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be further postponed until to-morrow.

The following Message was received from the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
Gentlemen of the Senate

and of the House of Representatives :

I lay before you the copy of a Letter which I have received from the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States; and, at their desire, the representation, mentioned in the said Letter, pointing out certain defects in the Judiciary sys

tem.

G. WASHINGTON.

UNITED STATES, February 19, 1794. The Message and representation therein referred to were read.

Ordered, That they be referred to Messrs. ELLSWORTH, STRONG, TAYLOR, LIVERMORE and POTTS, to consider and report thereon to the Senate.

Conformably to the order of the day, the Senate resumed the consideration of the motion, made on the 16th of January last, that the doors of the Senate Chamber remain open while the Senate shall be sitting in a Legislative and Judiciary capacity.

On motion, by Mr. MARTIN, that the question be now taken on the propositions generally,

A motion was made for the previous question, to wit: Shall the question be now put on the following preliminary resolutions?

Resolved, That, in all Representative Governments, the Representatives are responsible for their conduct to their constituents, who are entitled to such information, that a discrimination and just estimate be made thereof. Resolved, That the Senate of the United States, being the Representatives of the Sovereignties of the individual States, whose bases is the people, owe equal responsibility to the powers by which they are appointed, as if that body were derived immediately from the people, and that all questions and debates arising thereupon in their Legislative and Judiciary capacity, ought to be public.

[SENATE. day

It passed in the affirmative-yeas 14, nays 13, as follows:

YEAS.-Messrs. Bradford, Bradley, Cabot, Ellsworth, Foster, Frelinghuysen, Izard, Langdon, Livermore, Mitchell, Morris, Rutherfurd, Strong, and Vining.

NAYS.-Messrs. Brown, Burr, Butler, Edwards, Gallatin, Gunn, Hawkins, Jackson, King, Martin, Monroe, Potts, and Taylor.

The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill, authorizing and directing the settlement of the accounts of Major General LAFAYETTE; and, having amended the same, the bill was ordered to a third reading.

On motion to reconsider the following motion, to wit:

"Resolved, That it be a standing rule that the doors of be sitting in a Legislative and Judiciary capacity, exthe Senate Chamber remain open while the Senate shall cept on such occasions as, in their judgment, may require secrecy; and that this rule commence on — day of

It passed in the affirmative-yeas 17, nays 10, as follows:

YEAS. Messrs. Bradley, Brown, Burr, Butler, Edwards, Foster, Gallatin, Gunn, Hawkins, Jackson, King, Langdon, Livermore, Martin, Monroe, Potts, and Taylor.

NAYS.-Messrs. Bradford, Cabot, Ellsworth, Frelinghuysen, Izard, Mitchell, Morris, Rutherfurd, Strong, and Vining.

A motion was made to amend the motion last reconsidered, as follows:

"6 Resolved, That, after the end of the present session of Congress, and, so soon as suitable galleries shall be provided for the Senate Chamber, the said galleries shall be permitted to be opened every morning, so long as the Senate shall be engaged in their Legislative capacity, unless in such cases as may in the opinion of the Senate require secrecy, after which the said galleries shall be closed:"

And, after debate, the Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, February 20.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the

Resolved, That the mode adopted by the Senate of publishing their journals, and extracts from them, in newspapers, is not adequate to the purpose of circulating satisfactory information. While the principles and designs of the individual members are withheld from public view, responsibility is destroyed, which, on the pub-motion made yesterday, to amend the motion then licity of their deliberations, would be restored; the Con-reconsidered, respecting the opening the doors of stitutional powers of the Senate become more important, the Senate Chamber whilst sitting in a Legislain being more influential over the other branch of the tive capacity. Legislature; abuse of power, mal-administration of office, more easily detected and corrected; jealousies, rising in the public mind from secret legislation, pre- On motion, that the amendment be agreed to, it vented; and greater confidence placed by our fellow-passed in the affirmative-yeas 18, nays 9, as folcitizens in the National Government, by which their lives, liberties, and properties, are to be secured and protected:

It passed in the negative.

On motion to postpone the main question to the next session of Congress, to wit:

"Resolved, That it be a standing rule that the doors of the Senate Chamber remain open while the Senate shall be sitting in a Legislative and Judiciary capacity, except on such occasions as in their judgment may re

On motion to commit the motion for amendment, it passed in the negative.

lows:

YEAS.-Messrs. Bradley, Brown, Burr, Butler, Edwards, Ellsworth, Foster, Gunn, Hawkins, Jackson, King, Langdon, Livermore, Martin, Monroe, Potts, Taylor, and Vining.

NAYS.-Messrs. Bradford, Cabot, Frelinghuysen, Gallatin, Izard, Mitchell, Morris, Rutherfurd, and Strong.

On motion to adopt the resolution, amended as follows: