PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTEENTH CONGRESS, BEGUN AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1817. mont. DAVID DAGGETT, from Connecticut. JAMES J. WILSON and MAHLON DICKERSON, from New Jersey. ABNER LACOCK and JONATHAN ROBERTS, from Pennsylvania. JAMES BARBOUR and JOHN W. EPPES, from Virginia. NATHANIEL MACON, from North Carolina. JOHN GAILLARD and WILLIAM SMITH, from South Carolina. CHARLES TAIT, from Georgia. JOHN J. CRITTENDEN, from Kentucky. JAMES NOBLE and WALLER TAYLOR, from JOHN GAILLARD, President pro tempore, resumed the Chair. CLEMENT STORER, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of New Hampshire, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Jeremiah Mason; JAMES FISK, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Vermont, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Dudley Chase; JOHN J. CRITTENDEN, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Kentucky, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last; JOHN WILLIAMS. appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Tennessee, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last, respectively, produced their credentials, which were read; and the oath prescribed by law was administered to them, and they took their seats in the Senate. JOHN W. EPPES, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Virginia, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last, stated that he had received his credentials, but had neglected bringing them with him, expecting that the Executive of Virginia would forward a duplicate thereof to the Senate, and which he still supposed would speedily be done: whereupon, the oath prescribed by law was administered to him, and he took his seat in the Senate. On motion by Mr. MACON, the Secretary was ordered to acquaint the House of Representatives, that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and ready to proceed to business. On motion by Mr. BARBOUR, a committee was appointed to inquire whether any, and if any, what legislative measures may be necessary, for admitting the State of Mississippi into the Union; and Messrs. BARBOUR, KING, and WILLIAMS, of Tennessee, were appointed the committee. Mr. BARBOUR presented a copy of the constitution and form of government, as adopted for the State of Mississippi; which was read, and referred to the said committee to consider and report thereon. On motion by Mr. LACOCK, Resolved, That each Senator be supplied, during the present session, with three such newspapers, printed in the United States, as he may choose, provided the same be furnished at the usual rate, for the annual charge of such papers; and provided, also, that if any Senator shall choose to take any newspapers, other than daily papers, he shall be supplied with as many such papers as shall not exceed the price of three daily papers. Messrs. TICHENOR and MACON were appointed a committee, on the part of the Senate, to join such committee as may be appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communication which he may be pleased to make to them. A committee was appointed, agreeably to the 42d rule, for conducting business in the Senate, and Messrs. LACOCK, DICKERSON, and DAGGETT, were appointed the committee. DECEMBER, 1817. TUESDAY, December 2. HARRISON GRAY OTIS, from the State of Massachusetts, arrived on the 1st instant, and attended this day. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have appointed a committee on their part, to join the A committee was also appointed, agreeably to committee appointed on the part of the Senate, to the 22d rule, for conducting business in the Sen-wait on the President of the United States, and ate; and Messrs. CRITTENDEN, DICKERSON, and inform him that a quorum of the two Houses is RUGGLES, were appointed the committee. assembled, and ready to receive any communicaMr. TICHENOR Submitted the following motion tions he may be pleased to make to them. for consideration, which was read: Resolved, That a committee of three members be appointed, who, with three members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by that House, shall have the direction of the money appropriated to the purchase of books and maps, for the use of the two Houses of Congress. The resolution was ordered to the second read ing, and on motion by Mr. WILSON, it was read a second time by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment having been proposed, the PRESIDENT reported it to the House. On the question, "Shall this resolution be engrossed and read a third time?" it was determined in the affirmative. The resolution was then read a third time by unanimous consent, and passed; and Messrs. DICKERSON, KING, and TAIT, were appointed the committee. On motion by Mr. TICHENOR, Resolved, That Mountjoy Bayly, Doorkeeper and Sergeant-at-Arms to the Senate, be, and he hereby is, authorized to employ one assistant and two horses, for the purpose of performing such services as are usually required by the Doorkeeper of the Senate, which expense shall be paid out of the contingent fund. Mr. TICHENOR Submitted the following motion for consideration, which was read: Resolved, That two Chaplains of different denominations be appointed to Congress, during the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly. Ordered, That it pass to the second reading. On motion by Mr. WILSON, it was read a second time by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole, and no amendment having been proposed, the PRESIDENT reported it to the House. On the question, "Shall this resolution be engrossed and read a third time?" it was determined in the affirmative. The resolution was then read a third time by unanimous consent, and passed. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that a quorum of the House of Representatives is assembled, and have elected HENRY CLAY, one of the Representatives for the State of Kentucky, their Speaker, and THOMAS DOUGHERTY their Clerk, and are ready to proceed to business. The Senate then adjourned. Mr. TICHENOR reported, from the joint committee, that they had waited on the President of the United States, and that the President of the United States informed the committee, that he would make a communication to the two Houses, this day, at twelve o'clock. PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL MESSAGE. the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The following Message was then received from Fellow-citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives : At no period of our political existence had we so much cause to felicitate ourselves at the prosperous and happy condition of our country. The abundant fruits of the earth have filled it with plenty. An extensive and profitable commerce has greatly augmented our revenue. The public credit has attained an extraordinary elevation. Our preparations for defence, in case of future wars, from which, by the experience of all nations, we ought not to expect to be exempted, are advancing, under a well digested system, with all the despatch which so important a work will admit. Our free Government, founded on the interest and affections of the people, has gained, and is daily gaining, strength. Local jealousies are rapidly yielding to more generous, enlarged, and enlightened views of national policy. For advantages so numerous, and highly important, it is our duty to unite in grateful acknowledgments to that Omnipotent Being, from whom they are derived, and in unceasing prayer, that he will endow us with virtue and strength to maintain and hand them down, in their utmost purity, to our latest posterity. I have the satisfaction to inform you, that an ar rangement which had been commenced by my predecessor, with the British Government, for the reduction States, on the Lakes, has been concluded; by which of the naval force, by Great Britain and the United it is provided, that neither party shall keep in service on Lake Champlain more than one vessel; on Lake Ontario, more than one; and on Lake Erie, and the upper Lakes, more than two; to be armed, each, with one cannon only; and that all the other armed vessels, of both parties, of which an exact list is interchanged, shall be dismantled. It is also agreed, that the force retained shall be restricted, in its duty, to the internal purposes of each party; and that the arrangment shall remain in force until six months shall have expired, after notice given by one of the parties to the other of its desire that it should terminate. By this arrangement, useless expense, on both sides, and, what is of armed vessels, in those inland waters, which was great, still greater importance, the danger of collision, between is prevented. I have the satisfaction also to state, that the Commissioners, under the fourth article of the Treaty of Ghent, to whom it was referred to decide, to |