again, and force from us what our diffidence in their friendship prevented us selling them.

Mr. C. GOODRICH was not willing to trust our trade in the present uncertain situation. He believed from the best information, that every step taken towards negotiation by our Envoys was taken with difficulty, and that every possible care was taken by France not to lose an article. He wished as much as any gentleman to see the trade opened with safety, but till it could be done with safety, he was not willing to take a step towards it. He would leave it with the President, whose information must at any time be adequate to take the proper steps.

Mr. CHAMPLIN renewed the motion to postpone till Monday.

The yeas and nays were taken on this motion, which was carried in the negative-yeas 40, nays 59, as follows:

YEAS-Bailey Bartlett, John Bird, Christopher G. Champlin, William Cooper, John Davenport, Franklin Davenport, John Dennis, William Edmond, Thomas Evans, Abiel Foster, Jonathan Freeman, Henry Glen, Chauncey Goodrich, Elizur Goodrich, Roger Griswold, William Barry Grove, Robert Goodloe Harper, Archibald Henderson, William H. Hill, Benjamin Huger, James H. Imlay, Ebenezer Mattoon, Lewis R. Morris, Harrison G. Otis, Josiah Parker, Thomas Pinckney, Jonas Platt, John Reed, Nathan Read, John Rutledge, William Shepard, John C. Smith, James Sheafe, Samuel Tenney, George Thatcher, John Chew Thomas, Peleg Wadsworth, Robert Waln, Lemuel Williams, and Henry Woods.

NAYS-Willis Alston, George Baer, Theodorus Bailey, James A. Bayard, Phanuel Bishop, John Brown, Robert Brown, Samuel J. Cabell, Gabriel Christie, Matthew Clay, William C. C. Claiborne, John Condit, William Craik, Thomas T. Davis, John Dawson, George Dent, Joseph Dickson, Joseph Eggleston, Lucas Elmendorf, John Fowler, Albert Gallatin, Samuel Goode, Edwin Gray, Andrew Gregg, John A. Hanna, Joseph Heister, David Holmes, George Jackson, Aaron Kitchell, Henry Lee, Michael Leib, Levi Lincoln, Matthew Lyon, James Lynn, Edward Livingston, Nathaniel Macon, Peter Muhlenberg, Anthony New, John Nicholas, Abraham Nott, Robert Page, Leven Powell, John Randolph, John Smilie, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Richard Stanford, David Stone, John Stewart, Benjamin Taliaferro, Richard Thomas, John Thompson, Abram Trigg, John Trigg Littleton W. Tazewell, Philip Van Cortlandt, Joseph B. Varnum, and Robert Williams.

The question recurring, to reject the bill, the yeas and nays were taken and it was decided in the affirmative-yeas 59, nays 37, as follows: YEAS-Willis Alston, George Baer, John Bird, Phanuel Bishop, John Brown, Robert Brown, Samuel J. Cabell, Gabriel Christie, Matthew Clay, William C. C. Claiborne, John Condit, William Craik, Thomas T. Davis, John Dawson, John Dennis, George Dent, Joseph Dickson, Joseph Eggleston, Lucas Elmendorf, John Fowler, Albert Gallatin Samuel Goode, Edwin Gray, Andrew Gregg, William Barry Grove, John A. Hanna, Joseph Heister, William H. Hill, David Holmes, George Jackson, Aaron Kitchell, Henry Lee, Michael Leib, Levi Lincoln, Matthew Lyon, Edward Livingston, Nathaniel Macon, Peter Muhlenberg, Anthony New,

FEBRUARY, 1801.

John Nicholas, Robert Page, Leven Powell, John Randolph, John Smilie, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Richard Stanford, David Stone, John Stewart, Benjamin Taliaferro, John Chew Thomas, John Thompson, Abram Trigg, John Trigg, Littleton W. Tazewell, Philip Van Cortlandt, Joseph B. Varnum, and Robert Williams.

NAYS-Bailey Bartlett, James A. Bayard Christopher G. Champlin, William Cooper, John Davenport, Franklin Davenport, William Edmond, Thomas Evans, Abiel Foster, Jonathan Freeman, Henry Glen, Chauncey Goodrich, Elizur Goodrich, Roger Griswold, Robert Goodloe Harper, Archibald Henderson, Benjamin Huger, Ebenezer Mattoon, Lewis R. Morris, Abraham Nott, Harrison G. Otis, Josiah Parker, Thomas Pinckney, Jonas Platt, John Reed, Nathan Read, John Rutledge, William Shepard, John C. Smith, James Sheaf, Samuel Tenney, George Thatcher, Richard Thomas, Peleg Wadsworth, Robert Waln, Lemuel Williams, and Henry Woods.

TREASURY AND WAR OFFICES.

Mr. HARPER said that he wished to call the attention of the House to a subject which had become interesting to its own honor and the honor of the nation. It was the subject of the calumnies so industriously propagated respecting the fires in the Treasury and War Departments, espe cially the former. Had those calumnies, sir, said Mr. H. continued to be confined to certain gazettes in this country, whose daily occupation everybody knows it is to invent and promulgate slanders at once the most absurd and the most atrocious against the Government, and all who are attached to it or concerned in its administration, I for one should certainly have continued to regard them with the profoundest contempt; for I well know that filth thus thrown, cannot tarnish the reputation of men of honor and character, much less of the Government itself. But, Mr. Speaker, these calumnies have assumed a far more imposing and dangerous form. They are uttered, sir, by men in this place, (it will not certainly be supposed that I allude to any honorable member of this House.) They are uttered, sir, by men in this place, whose stations give weight to their testi mony, and must be considered, in distant parts of the country especially, as entitling their assertions to belief. Yes, sir, there are found men in this place, men, too, let me repeat it, whose stations gave weight to their testimony, and who are prof ligate enough, far enough lost to all sense of honor, truth, and decency, to state in private letters, as a fact fully established and admitted, that the War and Treasury offices, especially the latter, were set on fire by the chief officers themselves, der to destroy the evidences of their own peculation. This abominable calumny, sir, one of the foulest and most malicious that party spirit has yet fabricated, is asserted as a well known fact by letters from this place, written by men of station and name. I know the fact, sir; I state it on the authority of competent and sufficient testimony. Those letters are handed about, and their contents are industriously circulated in other letters, which disseminate them though all parts of the country. Since this calumny has assumed such a shape;

in or

since it is thus propagated and supported, it is necessary to crush it by an authentic inquiry. It becomes necessary to investigate the subject, that the truth may be displayed to the eyes of the nation thus attempted to be abused and misguided. For this purpose I move the following resolution: "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the causes of the late fires in the War and Treasury Departments, and to report their opinion thereon to the House, with such facts and documents as may, in their opinion, be necessary for explaining the subject fully. And that the said committee have power to send for persons, papers and records."

The resolution was adopted, and a committee of seven appointed. The following members were named on the committee. Messrs. NICHOLAS, MACON, LIVINGSTON, GALLATIN, VARNUM, HARPER, and WALN.

CREDENTIALS OF MEMBERS. Mr. DENT, from the Standing Committee of Elections, made a report; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was read, and is as follows:

"The Committee of Elections, having examined the credentials of several members claiming seats in this House, report:

"That, by two certificates of the Governor of Massachusetts under seal of the State, and dated the ninth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and one, it appears by one of the said certificates that Ebenezer Mattoon is duly elected to serve as a member of the House of Representatives of the United States, in the place of Samuel Lyman, stated therein to have resigned; and, by the other certificate, that Levi Lincoln is duly elected as aforesaid, in the place of Dwight Foster, appointed a Senator of the United States.

"It appears, also, by a letter under the signature of the Governor of Pennsylvania, dated the twenty-first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and one, and addressed to the Speaker, accompanied by authenticated documents, that John Stewart is duly chosen, in the place of Thomas Hartley, deceased. "The committee are of opinion that Ebenezer Mattoon is entitled to a seat, in the place of Samuel Lyman, resigned; Levi Lincoln, in the place of Dwight Foster, appointed a Senator of the United States; and John Stewart, in the place of Thomas Hartley, de

ceased."

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.

Mr. BAYARD moved an additional rule in relation to the Presidential election, viz: that five hundred tickets should be printed, on which should be the name of Thomas Jefferson, and five hundred on which should be the name of Aaron Burr, and that the members in balloting should be confined exclusively to these.

The SPEAKER requested Mr. BAYARD to modify his motion, so that six hundred tickets should be printed, and that after Thomas Jefferson, should be printed "of Virginia," and after Aaron Burr," of New York," as he (the Speaker) had given directions to this effect; to which Mr. BAYARD agreed.

The question was taken that the House do agree to the same, and it passed in the negativeyeas 36, nays 59, as follows:

H. of R.

YEAS-Bailey Bartlett, James A. Bayard, John Bird, John Brown, William Cooper, John Davenport, Franklin Davenport, John Dennis, Joseph Dickson, William Edmond, Abiel Foster, Henry Glen, Chauncey Goodrich, Elizur Goodrich, Roger Griswold, Wm. B. Grove, Robert G. Harper, Archibald Henderson, Benjamin Huger, Henry Lee, Lewis R. Morris, Abraham Nott, Harrison G. Otis, Thomas Pinckney, Jonas Platt, Leven Powell, Nathan Reed, John Rutledge, jr., William Shepard, John C. Smith, James Sheafe, Samuel Tenney, George Thatcher, John Chew Thomas, Richard Thomas, and Lemuel Williams.

NAYS-Willis Alston, George Baer, Theodorus Bailey, Phanuel Bishop, Robert Brown, Samuel J. Cabell, Christopher G. Champlin, Gabriel Christie, Matthew Clay, William Charles Cole Claiborne, John Condit, William Craik, Thomas T. Davis, John Dawson, George Dent, Joseph Eggleston, Lucas Elmendorf, Thomas Evans, John Fowler, Albert Gallatin, Samuel Goode, Edwin Gray, Andrew Gregg, John A. Hanna, Joseph Heister, William H. Hill, David Holmes, George Jackson, Aaron Kitchell, Michael Leib, Levi Lincoln, Matthew Lyon, James Linn, Edward Livingston, Nathaniel Macon, Ebenezer Mattoon, Peter Muhlenberg, Anthony New, John Nicholas, Robert Page, Josiah Parker, John Randolph, John Smilie, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Richard Stanford, David Stone, John Stewart, Benjamin Taliaferro, John Thompson, Abram Trigg, John Trigg, Littleton W. Tazewell, Philip Van Cortlandt, Joseph B. Varnum, Peleg Wadsworth, Robert Williams, and Henry

Woods.

Resolved, That this House will attend in the Chamber of the Senate, on Wednesday next, at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of being present at the opening and counting of the votes for PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT of the United States; that Mr. RUTLEDGE and Mr. NICHOLAS be appointed tellers, to act jointly with the teller appointed on the part of the Senate, to make a list of the votes for PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT of the United States, as they shall be declared; that the result shall be delivered to the President of the Senate, who shall announce the state of the vote, which shall be entered on the Journals; and if it shall appear that a choice hath been made agreeably to the Constitution, such entry on the Journals shall be deemed a sufficient declaration

thereof.

DENT and VICE PRESIDENT, there were present the following Representatives, respectively, that is to say:

From New Hampshire-Abiel Foster, Jonathan Freeman, James Sheafe, and Samuel Tenney.

STATES.

Mattoon.

From Connecticut-John Davenport, Roger Griswold, Samuel W. Dana, Chauncey Goodrich, Elizur Goodrich, William Edmond, and John C. Smith. From Vermont-Matthew Lyon, and Lewis R. Morris. From Rhode Island-Christopher G. Champlin, and John Brown.

From New York-John Smith, Philip Van Cortlandt, Jonas Platt, Henry Glen, John Thompson, Theodorus Bailey, John Bird, William Cooper, Lucas Elmendorf, and Edward Livingston.

From New Jersey-James Linn, Aaron Kitchell, John Condit, James H. Imlay, and Franklin Davenport.

From Pennsylvania-Robert Brown, Albert Gallatin, Andrew Gregg, John A. Hanna, Joseph Heister, John Wilkes Kittera, Michael Leib, Peter Muhlenberg, John Smilie, John Stewart, Richard Thomas, Robert Waln, and Henry Woods.

From Delaware-James A. Bayard.

From Maryland-John Chew Thomas, Samuel Smith, Gabriel Christie, William Craik, Joseph H. Nicholson, George Dent, George Baer, and John Dennis.

From Virginia-Samuel J. Cabell, Matthew Clay, John Dawson, Joseph Eggleston, Thomas Evans, Samuel Goode, Edwin Gray, David Holmes, George Jackson, Henry Lee, Anthony New, John Nicholas, Robert Page, Josiah Parker, Leven Powell, John Randolph, Abram Trigg, John Trigg, and Littleton W.

Tazewell.

From North Carolina-Willis Alston, Joseph Dickson, William Barry Grove, Archibald Henderson, William H. Hill, Nathaniel Macon, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Richard Stanford, David Stone, and Robert

Williams.

From South Carolina-Robert Goodloe Harper, Benjamin Huger, Abraham Nott, Thomas Pinckney, and

John Rutledge.

From Georgia-Benjamin Taliaferro.
From Kentucky-John Fowler, and Thomas T.

Davis.

From Tennessee-William Charles Cole Claiborne. Mr. SPEAKER, attended by the House, then went into the Senate Chamber, and took seats therein, when both Houses being assembled, Mr. RUTLEDGE and Mr. NICHOLAS, the tellers on the part of this House, together with Mr. WELLS, the teller on the part of the Senate, took seats at a table provided for them, in the front of the President of the

Senate.

The PRESIDENT of the Senate, in the presence of both Houses, proceeded to open the certificates of the Electors of the several States, beginning with the State of New Hampshire; and as the votes were read, the tellers on the part of each House, counted and took lists of the same, which, being compared, were delivered to the President of the Senate, and are as follows:

Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Vermont
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
Kentucky

North Carolina
Tennessee
South Carolina
Georgia

Recapitulation of the votes of the Electors.
Thomas Jefferson
Aaron Burr
John Adams

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
John Jay -

73

65

64 1

The PRESIDENT of the Senate, in pursuance of the duty enjoined upon him, announced the state of the votes to both Houses, and declared that THOMAS JEFFERSON, of Virginia, and AARON BURR. of New York, having the greatest number, and a majority of the votes of all the Electors appointed, and, being equal, it remained for the House of Representatives to determine the choice.

The two Houses then separated; and the House of Representatives, being returned to their Chamber, proceeded, in the manner prescribed by the Constitution, to the choice of a President of the United States, and the following members were appointed tellers of the respective States, to exrule adopted by the House on the ninth instant, amine ballots of each State, pursuant to the sixth to wit:

For the State of New Hampshire, Abiel Foster; Massachusetts, Harrison G. Otis; Rhode Island, Christopher G. Champlin; Connecticut, Roger Griswold; Vermont, Lewis R. Morris; New York, Theodorus Bailey; New Jersey, James Linn; Pennsylvania, Albert Gallatin; Delaware, James A. Bayard; Maryland, George Dent; Virginia, Littleton W. Tazewell; North Carolina. Nathaniel Macon; South Carolina, Thomas Pinckney; Georgia, Benjamin Taliaferro,; Kentucky, John Fowler; Tennessee, William Charles Cole Claiborne.

The members of the respective States then proceeded to ballot, in the manner prescribed by the rule aforesaid, and the tellers appointed by the

States, respectively, having put duplicates of their votes into the general ballot boxes prepared for the purpose, the votes contained therein were taken out and counted, and the result being reported to the SPEAKER, he declared to the House that the votes of eight States had been given for THOMAS JEFFERSON, of Virginia; the votes of six States for AARON BURR, of New York; and that the votes of two States were divided.*

The Constitution of the United States requiring that the votes of nine States should be necessary to constitute a choice of President of the United States, a motion was made and seconded, that the ballot for the President be repeated in one hour; and, the question being taken by States, it passed in the negative.

H. OF R.

eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth ballots; and, upon examination of the ballots, respectively, the result was declared to be the same.

A motion was then made and seconded, that the States proceed again to ballot at ten o'clock; and the question being taken thereupon, it passed in the negative-the votes of the States being ayes 7, noes 9.

Ordered, That the next ballot be repeated at nine o'clock, and not before.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the sixteenth ballot; and upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated in one hour.

The States then proceeded in like manner to a third ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

The States then proceeded in like manner to a fourth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

The States then proceeded in like manner to a fifth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

The States then proceeded in like manner to a sixth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

The States then proceeded in like manner to a seventh ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

A motion was then made and seconded, that the States proceed again to ballot in one hour; and, the question being taken thereupon, it was resolved in the affirmative-the votes of the States being ayes 12, noes 4.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded, in manner aforesaid, to the eighth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same, to wit:

The votes of eight States for THOMAS JEFFERSON, of Virginia; the votes of six States for AARON BURR, of New York; and the votes of two States were divided.

The States then proceeded to a ninth, tenth,

* During the time the States were employed in balloting, sundry messages from the President of the United States, from the Senate, and communications from Departments, were received, and reports from committees made; but, it being contrary to the rules established on the 9th instant for the House to take them into consideration at that time, they were taken up and acted upon after the balloting had been completed, and the final result declared. Among which documents was a Message from the President of the United States, concerning the disposition of the property of the United States now in his possession.

6th CoN.-33

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at eleven o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the eighteenth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

A motion was then made and seconded, that the ballot be repeated to-morrow at eleven o'clock, and not before.

The question being taken thereupon, it passed in the negative.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at twelve o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the nineteenth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated in one hour.

FEBRUARY 12-1 o'clock, A. M.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the twentieth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at two o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the twenty-first ballot; and. upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at half after two o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the twenty-second ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at four o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner as aforesaid to the twenty-third ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at five o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the twenty-fourth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at six o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the twenty-fifth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at seven o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the twenty-sixth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at eight o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the twenty-seventh ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at twelve o'clock, and not before.

The time agreed upon by the last-mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the twenty-eighth ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated to-morrow at eleven o'clock, and not before.

FEBRUARY, 1801.

aforesaid to the thirty-first ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at two o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the thirty-second ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at three o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the thirty-third ballot; and, upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated on Monday next at twelve o'clock, and not before.

FEBRUARY 16.

The time agreed upon by the last mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the thirty-fourth ballot; and upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated to-morrow at twelve o'clock, and not before.

FEBRUARY 17.

vote being expired, the States proceeded in manThe time agreed upon by the last mentioned ner aforesaid to the thirty-fifth ballot; and upon examination thereof, the result was declared to be

the same.

Ordered, That the ballot be repeated at one o'clock.

The time agreed upon by the last mentioned vote being expired, the States proceeded in manner aforesaid to the thirty-sixth ballot; and, upon by the tellers to the SPEAKER, the SPEAKER deexamination thereof, and the result being reported clared to the House that the votes of ten States had been given for THOMAS JEFFERSON, of Virginia; the votes of four States for AARON Burg. of New York; and that the votes of two States had been given in blank; and that, consequently. THOMAS JEFFERSON, of Virginia, had been, agree ably to the Constitution, elected PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES. for the term of four years, commencing on the fourth day of March next.

*The following account of the ballotings and inci dents connected therewith in the House, is taken from the National Intelligencer, of February 13, 16, and 18,