TUESDAY, December 20. The VICE PRESIDENT Communicated to the Senate a Letter from the Secretary for the Department of State, with a report from the Director of the Mint; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. ALLOWANCES TO CLERKS OF THE SENATE. Mr. TRACY, from the committee appointed on the 13th instant, on the motion for an extra allowance to the principal and engrossing clerks in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, reported: "That, on the 5th day of February, 1796, an act passed appropriating eleven thousand five hundred dollars for expenses of fire-wood, stationery, printing work, and all other contingent expenses of the two Houses of Congress, for the year 1796.' They find that the Senate directed the two dooorkeepers of the Senate to be paid out of the contingent fund, for their services during the session of June, 1795; and that, at the close of the last session, the House of Representatives directed one hundred dollars each, to be paid out of the contingent fund, to two of the clerks in Mr. Beckley's office, for their extra services. There is no other instance, since the commencement of the Government, of clerks receiving allowances out of the contingent fund. "The committee find several instances of both Houses having allowed their doorkeepers extra sums out of this fund. “The principal, clerk is allowed by law three dollars per diem, and the engrossing clerk two, during the session. This sum, the committee do not hesitate to say, ought to have been increased for the last session, especially as Mr. Beckley's clerks actually received one hundred dollars each, in addition, for the same period, and similar services. "The laws of the United States have stated the sums, from time to time, which were thought proper to give the clerks and doorkeepers, and the sums are paid quarterly out of the Treasury; and the accounting officers of the Treasury have paid the extra sums of one hundred dollars each, to Mr. Beckley's clerks, supposing themselves authorized by the resolution of the House of Representatives. "The words of the Constitution, on the subject of drawing money out of the Treasury, are as follows, viz: "No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.' "The committee are of opinion that payment for all such services as can properly be specified, and of course become objects of a law, ought to be made out of the Treasury, by virtue of a direct and specific ap [SENATE. propriation made by law, and not otherwise; and that no appropriations ought to be made out of the contingent fund, but for such services and necessary articles and cannot, with any propriety, become the objects of of expenditure as, in their own nature, are contingent, an antecedent law. "And although they are of opinion that it might be well to appropriate by law the sum of one hundred dollars each, to the clerks mentioned in the resolution referred to their consideration; yet, they are fully of opinion it would be improper to direct the payment of that sum out of the contingent fund. They, therefore, report it as their opinion that it will be improper for the Senate to adopt the resolution." for the use of the Senate. The report was read, and ordered to be printed Mr. TRACY notified the Senate that he should, to-morrow, ask permission to introduce a bill for granting to the principal and engrossing clerks in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, each tion allowed by law, for extra services during the one hundred dollars, in addition to the compensa last year. WEDNESDAY, December 21. the State of Massachusetts, in place of CALEB THEODORE SEDGWICK, appointed a Senator by STRONG, resigned, attended, produced his credentials, and the oath required by law being administered to him, he took his seat in the Senate. Conformably to notice given yesterday, Mr. TRACY had permission to introduce a bill for granting an extra allowance to the clerks in the office of the Secretary of the Senate; which bill was read the first time, and ordered to a second reading. THURSDAY, December 22. The VICE PRESIDENT Communicated a Letter Treasury, accompanying statements of tonnage from the Secretary for the Department of the and imports for one year preceding the first of October, 1795; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. clerks in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, The bill for granting an extra allowance to the was read the second time; and, being amended, it was, by unanimous consent, read the third time. Resolved, That this bill pass; that it be engrossed; and that the title thereof be "An act for granting an additional allowance to the clerks in the office of the Secretary of the Senate." FRIDAY, December 23. The Senate assembled, but transacted no business. MONDAY, December 26. Ordered, That Messrs. BLOUNT, READ, and SEDGWICK, be a committee to report a bill giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Tennessee. "That a committee be appointed to take into consideration the report of the Attorney General, of the 28th April last, together with the documents therein referred to, relative to the territorial limits of the State of Georgia, &c.; and thereon to report what shall appear to them to have been the Southern boundary of the said State, from the sea Westward, at the time of the Confederation of American States; and, also, to report, by a description of boundary, what territory, lying to the Southward of the said State boundary, shall appear to belong to the United States." It was agreed that this motion lie for consideration. A message from the House of Representatives informe the Senate that they had passed the bill entitled "An act for the relief of John Sears," in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bill was read the first time, and ordered to a second reading. THURSDAY, December 29. The bill sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act for the relief of John Sears," was read the secon time. and referred to Messrs. TRACY, Ross, and PAINE, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. On motion, permission was given to withdraw the motion postponed yesterday, in order to substitute the following: "That a committee be appointed to take into consideration the report of the Attorney General of the 28th of April last, together with the documents therein referred to, relative to the territorial limits of the State of Georgia, &c.; and to report what shall appear to them to be the Southern and Western boundaries of the said State; and, also, to report, by a description of boundaries, what territory, if any, lying to the Southward and Westward of the said State boundaries, shall appear to belong to the United States; and what, in their opinion, [JANUARY, 1797. it will be proper for Congress to do relative to such territory. Ordered, That the motion be referred to Messieurs Ross, MARSHALL, LAURANCE, HENRY, and HILLHOUSE, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. FRIDAY, December 30. A motion was made as follows: Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law for inflicting an adequate punishment on those who shall forge, counterfeit, or alter, the securities of the Bank of the United States; or those who shall utter such securities, knowing them to be forged, counterfeited, or altered, and on those who shall be aiding in the perpetration of either of the said crimes." sieurs SEDGWICK, LIVERMORE, and Ross, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. Ordered. That this motion be referred to Mes MONDAY, January 2, 1797. Mr. TRACY reported, from the committee appointed to inquire what laws will expire before the next session of Congress; and the report was read, and ordered to lie for consideration. Mr. T. also notified the Senate that he should to morrow ask permission to introduce a bill, in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States. Ross, be a committee to inquire whether any alOrdered, That Messrs. TRACY, BROWN, and teration, and if any, what alteration, in their opinion, will be necessary, in the ordinance establishing the Government of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the river Ohio. Resolved, That this bill pass; that it be engrossed; and that the title thereof be "An act repealing the limitation to the act in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and to continue the same." A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they had passed "resolutions relative to the balances found due by Com- the purpose, reported a bill, giving effect to the Mr. BLOUNT, from the committee appointed for missioners for settling accounts between the Uni-laws of the United States within the State of ted States and the individual States," in which Tennessee; which was read the first time, and they desire the concurrence of the Senate. ordered to a second reading. The resolutions were read, and ordered to be priated. MONDAY, January 9. Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was referred the bill repealing the limitation to the act in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, reported amendments; which were read, and ordered to lie for consideration. The following Message was received from the of the House of Representatives: G. WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, January 9, 1797. THURSDAY, January 12. AARON BURR, from the State of New York, and STEVENS THOMSON MASON, from the State of Virginia, attended. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they had passed a bill, entitled "An act making provision for the claim of M. Poirey, as secretary and aid-de-ca.mp to Major General Lafayette;" in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bill was read and ordered to a second reading. The bill giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Tennessee was read the second time; and, being amended, was ordered to a third reading. Mr. PAINE notified the Senate, that he should to-morrow ask permission to introduce a bill for allowing to the District Judge of Vermont the The Message and papers were read, and ordered sum of two hundred dollars, in addition to his to lie for consideration. present compensation. FRIDAY, January 13. The bill giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Tennessee was resumed. Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed. The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act making provision for the claim of M. Poirey, as secretary aud aid-de-camp to Major General Lafayette," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. SEDGWICK, HOWARD. and LIVERMORE, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. Mr. Ross laid before the Senate the memorial of the Illinois and Wabash Land Company, which was read, praying that Congress would take their case into consideration. Ordered, That the memorial lie on the table. Conformably to notice given yesterday, a motion was made by Mr. PAINE, that he might be permitted to introduce a bill for allowing to the District Judge of Vermont the sum of two hundred dollars in addition to his present compensation. Ordered, That the consideration of this motion be postponed until Monday next. Mr. BINGHAM laid before the Senate the petition of I. Simonds and others, inspectors of the customs for the Pennsylvania district, praying for an increase of compensation; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. MONDAY, January 16. The bill giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Tennessee, was read the third time. On motion, to reduce the salary of the District Judge from one thousand to eight hundred dollars, it passed in the negative. Resolved, That this bill pass; that it be engrossed; and that the title thereof be "An act giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Tennessee." The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made on the 13th instant, by Mr. PAINE, for permission to bring in a bill for allowing to the District Judge of Vermont the sum of two hundred dollars, in addition to his present compensation; and leave being granted, the bill was read, and ordered to a second reading. Mr. READ laid before the Senate the petition of Thomas Wright Bacot, postmaster at Charleston, in the State of South Carolina, together with the statement of the present emoluments of his office, and praying additional compensation. The petition was read, and ordered to lie on the table. (JANUARY, 1797. WEDNESDAY, January 18. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion, made on the 17th instant, on the resolutions sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, "relative to the balances found due by Commissioners for settling accounts between the United States and the individual States." And on the question to agree to the motion, as followeth : "Resolved, That the book marked A, referred to by the Commissioners for the settlement of accounts between the United States and the individual States, in their report dated the 29th of June, 1793, be brought into the Senate for the inspection of the members:" It passed in the negative-yeas 10, nays 16, as follows: YEAS. Messrs. Bloodworth, Burr, Cocke, Henry, Latimer, Laurance, Livermore, Martin, Tazewell, and Vining. NAYS.-Messrs. Bingham, Bradford, Brown, Foster, Goodhue, Hillhouse, Langdon, Marshall, Paine, Read, Ross, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tattnall, Tichenor, and Tracy. Ordered, That the resolutions of the House of Representatives be referred to Messrs. GOODHue, Ross, LAURANCE, VINING, STOCKTON, READ, and TRACY, to consider, and report to the Senate. The VICE PRESIDENT Communicated a Letter from the Secretary for the Department of War, with a list of invalid pension applicants; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. The bill to punish frauds committed on the Bank of the United States was read the second time; and, after debate, Ordered, That the memorial of the Illinois and Wabash Land Company, together with the print-be ed statement of their claims, be referred to Messieurs Ross, LIVERMORE, TRACY, TAZEWELL, and STOCKTON, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. TUESDAY, January 17. Ordered, That the further consideration thereof postponed. THURSDAY, January 19. The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill to punish frauds committed on the Bank of the United States; and, after debate, The Senate proceeded to consider the "Reso-be lutions relative to the balances found due by Commissioners for settling accounts between the United States and the individual States." A motion was made, that it be "Resolved, That the book marked A, referred to by the Commissioners for the settlement of accounts between the United States and the individual States, in their report dated the 29th of June, 1793, be brought into the Senate for the inspection of the members." And, after debate Ordered, That the consideration of the subject be postponed. Mr. SEDGWICK, from the committee appointed for the purpose, reported a bill to punish frauds committed on the Bank of the United States; which was read, and ordered to a second reading. The bill for allowing an additional compensation to the Judge of the District of Vermont, was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. LIVERMORE, LAURANCE, and GOODHUE, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. Ordered, That the further consideration thereof postponed. FRIDAY, January 20. Mr. SEDGWICK made report, from the committee appointed on the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act making provision for the claim of M. Poirey, as secretary and aid-de-camp to Major General Lafayette" which report was read, and ordered to lie on the table. MONDAY, January 23. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom was referred the bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, entitled "An act making provision for the claim of M. Poirey, as secretary and aid-de-camp to Major General Lafayette ;" and the report was adopted; and, on the question to agree to the third reading of the bill, it passed in the negative. Mr. MARTIN notified the Senate that he should, JANUARY, 1797.] Proceedings. [SENATE. ment of the House of Representatives to the bill, entitled "An act giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Tennessee;" and Resolved, That they do not concur in the said amendment. to-morrow, request permission to introduce a bill to declare the consent of Congress to an act of the State of North Carolina, passed the first day of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, entitled "An act to raise a fund for the support of an health and harbor master in the The petition of Benjamin Walker, one of the port of Wilmington, in this State." Also, to an executors, on behalf of himself and the other exact, entitled "An act to empower the Commis-ecutor of the late Major General Baron Steuben, sioners of Navigation of the port of Wilmington to appoint an health officer and harbor master for the said port." Mr. LAURANCE laid before the Senate the petition of Mary Hibborn, late widow of Francis Cranberry, a soldier in Captain Johnson's company, in the third New York regiment, commanded by Colonel Peter Gansevelt, deceased, praying the interposition of Congress in relation to the bounty lands due to the said Francis. Also, the petition of Michael Van Kleeck, a matross in the second regiment of New York artillery, during the late war, praying the interposition of Congress respecting certain certificates issued from the War Office in his name to William Stevens, of said regiment, said to have absconded; which petitions were read. Ordered, That they severally 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 to punish frauds committed on the Bank of the United States; and, after debate, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed. TUESDAY, January 24. Conformably to notice given yesterday, a motion was made by Mr. MARTIN, that he might be permitted to introduce a bill to declare the consent of Congress to an act of the State of North Carolina respecting an health officer and harbor master in the port of Wilmington, in that State; and, by unanimous consent, the bill was read the second time. Ordered, That it be referred to Messrs. HOWARD, MARTIN, and GOODHUE, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill to punish frauds committed on the Bank of the United States. Ordered, That the bill be recommitted, and that Messrs. BINGHAM and LAURANCE be added to the committee. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed the bill, sent from the Senate for concurrence, entitled "An act giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Tennessee," with an amendment; in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. was presented and read, praying that an act may be passed to enable the Secretary for the Department of State to issue patents for certain lands granted by the Legislature of Virginia to the said Baron Steuben, agreeably to the original grant. Ordered, That this petition be referred to Messrs. LAURANCE, TAZEWELL, and HENRY, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. THURSDAY, January 26. The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the report of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund; which was read, as follows: "The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund respectfully report to Congress, that, in pursuance of the powers committed to them by the act, entitled "An act making provision for the payment of certain debts of the United States," passed in the last session of Congress, they have authorized sales of a part of the capital stock of the Bank of the United States, belonging to the United States, the proceeds of which have been applied to discharge certain debts according to law. "The particulars and amount of the said sales, and the measures authorized by the Board for the execution of their trust, so far as the same have been completed, are represented in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, dated the 24th instant, and in the proceedings of the accounting officers therein referred to, which are herewith transmitted, and prayed to be received as part of this report. The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully reports to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, that, in purfor the payment of certain debts of the United States," suance of the act, entitled "An act making provision passed on the 31st day of May, 1796, and a resolution of the Board, passed on the 5th day of August last, he has caused two thousand one hundred and sixty shares of the Bank of the United States, belonging to the United States, to be sold, on a credit of sixty days, without interest, at the rate of five hundred dollars, or twenty-five per centum advance on the original capital. The proceeds of the said sales, amounting to one million and eighty thousand dollars, have been received and placed in the Treasury of the United States, as appears by the proceedings of the accounting officers of the Treasury, herewith transmitted, showing the dates and particulars of the said sales. As the proceeds of the said sales were destined to reThe amendment to the bill was read. imburse a part of the debt due to the Bank of the UniOrdered, That the consideration thereof be ted States, it was agreed with the Bank that the mopostponed. WEDNESDAY, January 25. neys should be applied to the credit of the United States from the dates of the respective payments. In addition to the proceeds of the said Bank stock, the Secretary has obtained the sum of one hundred and The Senate proceeded to consider the amend-twenty thousand dollars, on the credit of the six per |