Kitabı oku: «Abridgement of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856 (4 of 16 vol.)», sayfa 117
The bill was then read the second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole to-day.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the said bill; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Bassett reported that the committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made some progress therein, and had directed him to ask leave to sit again.
Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House have leave to sit again on the said bill.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.
Thursday, June 4
A motion was made by Mr. Milnor that the doors of the House be now opened; and was determined in the negative.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the bill declaring War between Great Britain and her Dependencies and the United States and their Territories; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Bassett reported that the committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto.
A motion was then made by Mr. Quincy to amend the said bill, by adding thereto a new section, as follows:
"Sec. – . And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passage of this act, the act, entitled 'An act concerning the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France and their dependencies, and for other purposes,' passed the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and ten; and, also, the act, entitled 'An act supplementary to the act, entitled "An act concerning the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France and their dependencies, and for other purposes,"' passed the second day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eleven; and, also, the act, entitled 'An act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States for a limited time,' passed the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and twelve, be, and the same hereby are, repealed."
A motion was thereupon made by Mr. Nelson, that the bill and the proposed amendment be recommitted to a Committee of the whole House:
And the question thereon being taken, it was determined in the negative.
The question was then taken on the amendment proposed by Mr. Quincy; and determined in the negative – yeas 42, nays 82.
No other amendment being proposed to the said bill, the question was taken that it be engrossed, and read the third time; and passed in the affirmative – yeas 78, nays 45, as follows:
Yeas. – Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Francis Carr, Langdon Cheves, James Cochran, John Clopton, Lewis Condict, William Crawford, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, William Findlay, James Fisk, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, John M. Hyneman, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lefevre, Peter Little, Wm. Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Alexander McKim, Samuel L. Mitchill, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Israel Pickens, William Piper, James Pleasants, jr., Benjamin Pond, William M. Richardson, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, Samuel Shaw, George Smith, John Smith, William Strong, John Taliaferro, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, jr., Robert Whitehill, David R. Williams, William Widgery, Robert Wright, and Richard Wynn,.
Nays. – John Baker, Josiah Bartlett, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam Boyd, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, Epaphroditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, Thomas B. Cooke, John Davenport, jr., William Ely, James Emott, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Jacob Hufty, Richard Jackson, jr., Philip B. Key, Lyman Law, Joseph Lewis, jr., George C. Maxwell, Archibald McBryde, Arunah Metcalf, James Milnor, Jonathan O. Mosely, Thomas Newton, Joseph Pearson, Timothy Pitkin, jr., Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy, John Randolph, William Reed, Henry Ridgely, William Rodman, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart, Lewis B. Sturges, George Sullivan, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tallmadge, Uri Tracy, Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, and Thomas Wilson.
Ordered, That the said bill be read the third time to-day.
The said bill was engrossed, and read the third time accordingly, and the question stated that the same do pass: Whereupon, a motion was made by Mr. Randolph, that the farther consideration of the said bill be postponed until the first Monday in October next; and the question thereon being taken, it was determined in the negative – yeas 42, nays 81.
A motion was then made by Mr. Stow, that the farther consideration of the said bill be postponed until to-morrow; and the question thereon being taken, it was determined in the negative – yeas 48, nays 78.
A motion was then made by Mr. Goldsborough, that the House do now adjourn; and the question thereon being taken, it was determined in the negative – yeas 43, nays 82.
The question was then taken, that the said bill do pass; and resolved in the affirmative – yeas 79, nays 49, as follows:
Yeas. – Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Daniel Avery, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Francis Carr, Langdon Cheves, James Cochran, John Clopton, Lewis Condict, William Crawford, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, William Findlay, James Fisk, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Boiling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, John M. Hyneman, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lefevre, Peter Little, William Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Alexander McKim, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Israel Pickens, William Piper, James Pleasants, jr., Benjamin Pond, William M. Richardson, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, Samuel Shaw, John Smilie, George Smith, John Smith, William Strong, John Taliaferro, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, jr., Robert Whitehill, David R. Williams, William Widgery, Robert Wright, and Richard Wynn.
Nays. – John Baker, Josiah Bartlett, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam Boyd, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, Epaphroditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, Thomas B. Cooke, John Davenport, jr., William Ely, James Emott, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Chas. Goldsborough, Jacob Hufty, Richard Jackson, jr., Philip B. Key, Lyman Law, Joseph Lewis, jr., George C. Maxwell, Archibald McBryde, Arunah Metcalf, James Milnor, Samuel L. Mitchill, Jonathan O. Mosely, Thomas Newbold, Joseph Pearson, Timothy Pitkin, jr., Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy, John Randolph, William Reed, Henry M. Ridgely, William Rodman, Thomas Sammons, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart, Silas Stow, Lewis B. Sturges, George Sullivan, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tallmadge, Peleg Tallman, Uri Tracy, Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, and Thomas Wilson.
Ordered, That the title be, "An act declaring War between Great Britain and her Dependencies, and the United States and their Territories."
Mr. Macon and Mr. Findlay were appointed a committee to carry the bill entitled "An act declaring War between Great Britain and her Dependencies, and the United States and their Territories," to the Senate, and to inform them that the House of Representatives have passed the same, in confidence, and to request their concurrence therein.
Thursday, June 18
Bill Declaring War
A confidential message was received from the Senate, by a committee of that body appointed for the purpose, consisting of Mr. Anderson and Mr. Varnum, notifying the House that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act declaring War between Great Britain and her Dependencies, and the United States and their Territories," with amendments; in which they desire the concurrence of the House.
The House proceeded to consider the said amendments; when a motion was made by Mr. Sheffey, that the said bill and amendments be postponed indefinitely.
A motion was then made by Mr. Milnor, that the said bill and amendments do lie on the table; and the question thereon being taken, it passed in the affirmative – yeas 71, nays 46.
The House resumed the consideration of the amendments of the Senate to the aforesaid bill; when the question recurred on the motion of Mr. Sheffey, and, being taken, it was determined in the negative – yeas 44, nays 85, as follows:
Yeas. – John Baker, Abijah Bigelow, Harmanus Bleecker, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, Epaphroditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, Thomas B. Cooke, John Davenport, jr., William Ely, James Emott, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Edwin Gray, Jacob Hufty, Richard Jackson, jr., Philip B. Key, Lyman Law, Joseph Lewis, jr., Archibald McBryde, James Milnor, Jonathan O. Mosely, Joseph Pearson, Timothy Pitkin, jr., Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy, John Randolph, William Reed, Henry M. Ridgely, William Rodman, Daniel Sheffey, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart, Silas Stow, Lewis B. Sturges, George Sullivan, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tallmadge, Uri Tracy, Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, and Thomas Wilson.
Nays. – Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Daniel Avery, David Bard, Josiah Bartlett, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Francis Carr, Langdon Cheves, James Cochran, John Clopton, Lewis Condict, William Crawford, Richard Cutts, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, William Findlay, James Fisk, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, John M. Hyneman, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lefevre, Peter Little, William Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, George C. Maxwell, Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Alexander McKim, Arunah Metcalf, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Israel Pickens, William Piper, James Pleasants, jr., Benjamin Pond, William M. Richardson, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Nathaniel Roberts, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, Samuel Shaw, John Smilie, George Smith, John Smith, Wm. Strong, John Taliaferro, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, jr., Robert Whitehill, David R. Williams, William Widgery, Robert Wright, and Richard Wynn.
A motion was made by Mr. Randolph, that the said bill and amendments be postponed until the first Monday in October next. And the question thereon being taken, it was determined in the negative – yeas 49, nays 80.
A motion was then made by Mr. Randolph, that the said bill and amendments be postponed until the first Monday in July next. And the question thereon being taken, it was determined in the negative – yeas 51, nays 79.
The said amendments were then concurred in by the House. And Mr. Macon and Mr. Findlay were appointed a committee to inform the Senate of the concurrence of the House in the said amendments.
Mr. Crawford, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined the said bill, and had found the same to be truly enrolled; when the Speaker signed the said bill, and the Committee of Enrollment were ordered to take it to the Senate, for the signature of their President.
Shortly after, Mr. Crawford, from the same committee, reported that the committee had presented the said bill to the President of the United States, for his approbation, and that they were instructed by the President to inform the two Houses that he had approved and signed the same.
On motion of Mr. Calhoun, the injunction of secrecy was removed from so much of the journals as relates to the President's Message of the 1st instant, with the proceedings thereon. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock.
Friday, June 19
Occupation of Florida
On motion of Mr. Troup,
Resolved, That the committee to whom was referred so much of the President's Message, at the commencement of the session, as relates to the Spanish American colonies, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the President of the United States to occupy East and West Florida without delay.
And then the doors were opened.
Monday, June 22
On motion made, and leave given, Mr. Mitchill, from the committee appointed on that part of the President's Message, at the commencement of the session, which relates to Spanish American colonies, presented a bill authorizing the President of the United States to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory, of the State Georgia, and for other purposes; which was read the first time. When a question was taken whether the subject matter of the said bill required secrecy; and passed in the affirmative – yeas 71, nays 44.
The said bill was then read the second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow; and the doors were then opened.
Thursday, June 25
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill authorizing the President to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory, of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes; and, after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Lewis reported that the committee had had the said bill under consideration, and made an amendment thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where it was again read, and concurred in by the House. The question was then taken that the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time; and passed in the affirmative – yeas 70, nays 48, as follows:
Yeas. – William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Robert Brown, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Francis Carr, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, John Clopton, Lewis Condict, William Crawford, Richard Cutts, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, William Findlay, James Fisk, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, John M. Hyneman, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Peter Little, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, George C. Maxwell, Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Alexander McKim, Samuel L. Mitchill, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Israel Pickens, William Piper, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Samuel Shaw, John Smilie, George Smith, John Smith, William Strong, John Taliaferro, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, jr., Robert Whitehill, David R. Williams, William Widgery, and Robert Wright.
Nays. – Ezekiel Bacon, John Baker, Abijah Bigelow, Harmanus Bleecker, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, William A. Burwell, Epaphroditus Champpion, Langdon Cheves, Martin Chittenden, Thomas B. Cooke, John Davenport, jr., William Ely, James Emott, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Edwin Gray, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, Richard Jackson, jr., Philip B. Key, Lyman Law, Joseph Lewis, jr., William Lowndes, Archibald McBryde, Jas. Milnor, Jonathan O. Mosely, Joseph Pearson, Timothy Pitkin jr., James Pleasants, jr., Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy, John Randolph, William M. Richardson, Henry M. Ridgely, William Rodman, Thomas Sammons, Adam Seybert, Daniel Sheffey, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, and Thomas Wilson.
Ordered, That the said bill be read the third time to-day.
The said bill was engrossed, and read the third time accordingly: When a motion was made by Mr. Ridgely, that the same be postponed until Monday next; and the question being taken, it was determined in the negative.
The question was then taken that the said bill do pass; and resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That the title be, "An act authorizing the President to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes."
Mr. Mitchill and Mr. Troup were appointed a committee to carry the said bill to the Senate, and inform them that this House have passed the same, in confidence, and request their concurrence therein; and the doors were then opened.
Friday, June 26
A motion was made by Mr. Randolph, that the injunction of secrecy imposed by this House on the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes," together with the injunction of secrecy imposed upon the proceedings of the said bill, be taken off: and, on the question that the House do now proceed to the consideration of the said motion, it was determined in the negative.
A motion was then made by Mr. Ridgely, that the House do come to the following resolution:
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested, if, in his opinion, it be compatible with the public interest, to lay before this House, confidentially or otherwise, full information of all the proceedings that have been had under and by virtue of the act of Congress, entitled "An act to enable the President of the United States, under certain contingencies, to take possession of the country lying east of the river Perdido, and south of the State of Georgia and the Mississippi Territory, and for other purposes;" and also copies of all instructions that may have been issued by the Executive branch of this Government under the said act.
And on the question that the House do now proceed to the consideration of the said resolution, it passed in the affirmative – yeas 78, nays 38.
The question was then taken that the said resolution do pass; and resolved in the affirmative – yeas 58, nays 51.
Wednesday, July 1
Mr. Ridgely, from the committee appointed, on the 26th ultimo, to present a resolution to the President of the United States, reported that the committee had performed that service, and that the President answered, that a due attention should be paid to the subject.
Occupation of Florida
A Message was then received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Coles, his Secretary, who delivered in the same, and withdrew.
The Message was read, and is as follows:
To the House of Representatives of the United States:
In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the twenty-sixth of June, I transmit the information contained in the documents herewith enclosed.
JAMES MADISON.
July 1, 1812.
The said documents were read; and the doors were then opened.
[The following letters, forming a part of the documents accompanying the above Message of the President of the United States, were ordered to be published by the House on the 6th instant.]
From the Secretary of State to General George Matthews and Colonel John McKee, dated
Department of State,January 26, 1811.
The President of the United States having appointed you, jointly and severally, Commissioners for carrying into effect certain provisions of an act of Congress (a copy of which is enclosed) relative to the portion of the Floridas situated to the east of the Perdido, you will repair to that quarter with all possible expedition, concealing from general observation the trust committed to you, with that discretion with which the delicacy and importance of the undertaking require.
Should you find Governor Folch, or the local authority existing there, inclined to surrender, in an amicable manner, the possession of the remaining portion or portions of West Florida now held by him in the name of the Spanish Monarchy, you are to accept, in behalf of the United States, the abdication of his, or of the other existing authority, and the jurisdiction of the country over which it extends. And, should a stipulation be insisted on for the redelivery of the country, at a future period, you may, engage for such redelivery to the lawful sovereign.
The debts clearly due from the Spanish Government to the people of the Territory, surrendered, may, if insisted on, be assumed within reasonable limits, and under specified descriptions, to be settled hereafter as a claim against Spain in an adjustment of our affairs with her. You may also guarantee, in the name of the United States, the confirmation of all such titles to land as are clearly sanctioned by Spanish laws; and Spanish civil functionaries, where no special reasons may require changes, are to be permitted to remain in office, with the assurance of a continuation of the prevailing laws, with such alterations only as may be necessarily required in the new situation of the country.
If it should be required, and be found necessary, you may agree to advance, as above, a reasonable sum for the transportation of the Spanish troops.
These directions are adapted to one of the contingencies specified in the act of Congress, namely, the amicable surrender of the possession of the Territory by the local ruling authority. But, should the arrangement contemplated by the statute, not be made, and should there be room to entertain a suspicion of an existing design in any foreign power to occupy the country in question, you are to keep yourselves on the alert, and on the first undoubted manifestation of the approach of a force for that purpose, you will exercise with promptness and vigor, the powers with which you are invested by the President to preoccupy by force, the Territory, to the entire exclusion of any armament that may be advancing to take possession of it. In this event you will exercise a sound discretion in applying the powers given with respect to debts, titles to land, civil officers, and the continuation of the Spanish laws; taking care to commit the Government on no point further than may be necessary. And should any Spanish military force remain within the country, after the occupancy by the troops of the United States, you may, in such case, aid in their removal from the same.
The universal toleration which the laws of the United States assure to every religious persuasion, will not escape you as an argument for quieting the minds of uninformed individuals, who may entertain fears on that head.
The conduct you are to pursue in regard to East Florida, must be regulated by the dictates of your own judgments, on a close view and accurate knowledge of the precise state of things there, and of the real disposition of the Spanish Government, always recurring to the present instruction as the paramount rule of your proceedings. Should you discover an inclination in the Governor of East Florida, or in the existing local authority, amicably to surrender that province into the possession of the United States, you are to accept it on the same terms that are prescribed by these instructions in relation to West Florida. And, in case of the actual appearance of any attempt to take possession by a foreign power you will pursue the same effective measures for the occupation of the Territory, and for the exclusion of foreign force, as you are directed to pursue with respect to the country east of the Perdido, forming, at this time, the extent of Governor Folch's jurisdiction.
If you should under these instructions, obtain possession of Mobile, you will lose no time in informing Governor Claiborne thereof, with a request that he will, without delay, take the necessary steps for the occupation of the same.
All ordnance and military stores that may be found in the Territory must be held as the property of the Spanish Government, to be accounted for hereafter to the proper authority; and you will not fail to transmit an inventory thereof to this Department.
If, in the execution of any part of these instructions, you should need the aid of a military force, the same will be afforded you upon your application to the commanding officer of the troops of the United States on that station, or to the commanding officer of the nearest post, in virtue of orders which have been issued from the War Department. And, in case you should moreover need naval assistance, you will receive the same upon your application to the naval commander, in pursuance of orders from the Navy Department.
From the Treasury Department will be issued the necessary instructions in relation to imposts and duties, and to the slave ships whose arrival is apprehended.
The President, relying upon your discretion, authorizes you to draw upon the Collectors of Orleans and Savannah for such sums as may be necessary to defraying unavoidable expenses that may be incurred in the execution of these instructions, not exceeding, in your drafts on New Orleans, eight thousand dollars, and in your drafts on Savannah two thousand dollars, without further authority; of which expenses you will hereafter exhibit a detailed account, duly supported by satisfactory vouchers.
Postscript. – If Governor Folch should unexpectedly require and pertinaciously insist that the stipulation for the redelivery of the territory should also include that portion of the country which is situated west of the river Perdido, you are, in yielding to such demand, only to use general words that may by implication comprehend that portion of the country; but, at the same time, you are expressly to provide, that such stipulation shall not, in any way, impair or affect the right or title of the United States to the same.
