traint and prohibition of that intercourse to be dis continued, on terms which were made known by proclamation. Since the renewal of this intercourse, our citizens trading to those ports, with their property, have been duly respected, and privateering from those ports has ceased.

"In examining the claims of British subjects, by the commissioners at Philadelphia, acting under the sixth article of the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation with Great Britain, a difference of opinion on points deemed essential in the interpretation of that article, has arisen between the commissioners appointed by the United States, and the other members of that board, from which the former have thought it their duty to withdraw. It is sincerely to be regretted, that the execution of an article, produced by a mutual spirit of amity and justice, should have been thus unavoidably interrupted. It is however confidently expected, that the same spirit of amity, and the same sense of justice, in which it originated, will lead to satisfactory explanations. In consequence of the obstacles to the progress of the commission in Philadelphia, His Britannic Majesty has directed the commissioners appointed by him, under the seventh article of the treaty, relating to British captures of American vessels, to withdraw from the board, sitting in London, but with the express declaration of his determination, to fulfil with punctuality and good faith, the engagements which his Majesty has contracted by his treaty with the United States, and that they will be instructed to resume their functions, whenever the obstacles which impede the progress of the commission at Philadelphia, shall be removed. It being in like manner, my sincere determination, so far as the same depends on me, that with equal punctuality and good faith, the engagements contracted by the United States, ni

their treaties with his Britannic Majesty, shall be fulfilled. I shall immediately instruct our Minister at London, to endeavour to obtain the explanations necessary to a just performance of those engagements on the part of the United States. With such dispositions on both sides, I cannot entertain a doubt that all difficulties will soon be removed, and that the two boards will then proceed and bring the business committed to them respectively, to a satisfactory conclusion *.

"The act of Congress, relative to the seat of government of the United States, requiring that on the first Monday of December next, it should be transferred from Philadelphia, to the District chosen for its permanent seat; it is proper for me to inform you, that the Commissioners, appointed to provide suitable buildings, for the accommodation of Congress and the President, and for the public offices of the government, have made a report of the state of the buildings, designed for these purposes in the city of Washington, from which they conclude, that the removal of the seat of government to that place, at the time required, will be practicable, and the accommodations satisfactory. Their report will be laid before you.”

"Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

"I shall direct the estimates of the appropriations, necessary for the service of the ensuing year, together with an account of the revenue and expenditure, to be laid before you. During a period, in which a great portion of the civilized world has

*The hypocrite well knew, that the two boards would not meet again. He himselt had been the principal cause of the breaking up of the board at Philadelphia; and a more scandalous breach of faith no government on earth was ever guilty of. VOL. XII.

D

been

been involved in a war, unusually calamitous and destructive, it was not to be expected, that the United States could be exempted from extraordinary burdens. Although the period is not arrived, when the measures, adopted to secure our country against foreign attacks, can be renounced, yet it is alike necessary, to the honour of the government, and the satisfaction of the community, that an exact economy should be maintained. I invite you,

Gentlemen, to investigate the different branches of the public expenditure-the examination will lead to beneficial retrenchments, or produce a conviction of the wisdom of the measures to which the expenditure relates."

"Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

"At a period, like the present, when momentous changes are occuring, and every hour is preparing new and great events, in the political worldwhen a spirit of war is prevalent in almost every nation, with whose affairs the interests of the United States have any connection; unsafe and precarious would be our situation, were we to neglect the means of maintaining our just rights. The result of the mission to France is uncertain; but, however, it may terminate, a steady perseverance in a system of national defence, commensurate with our resources, and the situation of our country, is an obvious dictate of wisdom. For, remotely as we are placed from the belligerent nations, and desirous as we are by doing justice to all, to avoid offence to any, nothing short of the power of repelling aggressions, will secure to our country a rational prospect of escaping the calamities of war, or national degradation. As to myself, it is my anxious desire so to execute the trust reposed in me, as to render the people

people of the United States prosperous and happy. I rely with entire confidence on your co-operation in objects equally your care, and that our mutual labours will serve to increase and confirm union among our fellow-citizens, and an unshaken attachment to our government."

99

"United States, December 3d, 1799."

The principal subject of discussion, during this session of Congress, was a bill, brought into the Senate, by MR. Ross, of Pensylvannia, and passed by that body, prescribing the mode of deciding disputed elections for President and Vice-President of the United States. The bill was amended by the lower house, and was finally thrown out; but it deserves to be recorded here.

"A BILL

Prescribing the Mode of deciding disputed Elections, of President and Vice-President of the United States.

SECT. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled, That on the day before the second Wednesday in February next, following the day when a President and Vice-President shall have been voted for by electors, it shall be the duty of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, to choose, by ballot, in each House, six members thereof; the Senate, immediately after this choice, shall nominate by ballot, three of its members, and transmit their names to the House of Representatives, who shall, by ballot, choose one of the three, and the thirteen persons thus chosen, shall form a

Grand Committee, and shall have power to examine and finally to decide all disputes relative to the election of President and Vice-President of the United States, Provided always, That no person shall be capable of serving on this committee, who shall be one of the five highest candidates, out of whom a President of the United States may be chosen by the House of Representatives, in case no person should be found to have a majority of the whole number of the votes of the electors appointed by the different states.

SECT. II. And be it further enacted, That after the members of the committee shall have been appointed in the Senate and House of Representatives as aforesaid, each House before it adjourns shall proceed to choose, by ballot, two members thereof, as tellers, whose duty it shall be to receive the certificates of the electors, from the President of the Senate, after they shall have been opened and read, and to note in writing, the dates of the certificates, the names of the electors, the time and place of their meeting, the number of votes given, and the names of the persons voted for; and also, the substance of the certificates from the Executive Authority of each state, accompanying the certificates of the electors: and the minutes thus made by the tellers, shall be read in the presence of both Houses, and a copy thereof entered on the journals of each.

SECT. III. And be it further enacted, That when the certificates, transmitted by the electors of the different states, shall have been opened by the President of the Senate, and read in the presence of both Houses, and the minutes of the tellers read and compared, the President of the Senate shall administer the following oath, to all the members of the grand committee, appointed in pursuance of

this act :