Part 135

From Georgia, FRANCIS WILLIS.

A quorum of the members being present, the House proceeded to ballot for Speaker, when it appeared that JONATHAN TRUMBULL, from Connecticut, was elected.

On being conducted to the chair, Mr. TRUMBULL addressed the House as follows:

GENTLEMEN: I find myself unable to express to you the full sense I have of the distinguished honor you have done me in the choice of your Speaker.

The diffidence I feel in my abilities to discharge, with propriety, the duties of the chair, is almost insuperable in my own mind. But, encouraged by the known candor of this honorable body, and depending, as I think I may confidently do, on the kind assistance of each individual in it, I shall enter on its duties, with full assurances to you, gentlemen, that I shall endeavor to conduct myself with that impartiality, integrity, and assiduity, which become the conspicuous station in which you have been pleased to place me.

The House then proceeded to ballot for a Clerk, when there appeared a unanimous vote for JOHN BECKLEY.

The oath to support the constitution was then administered to the members present, and the oath of office to the Speaker and Clerk.

Ordered, That the Speaker appoint committees until the House shall otherwise determine.

A message was received from the Senate, informing the House that a quorum of that body is assembled and ready to proceed to business; and that the Senate have informed the President of the United States that they are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make to them.

Resolved, That Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, Mr. LAURANCE, and Mr. WHITE, be a committee on the part of this House, to act jointly with the committee from the Senate, to wait on the President.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report Standing Rules and Orders of proceeding for the House. Messrs. MUHLENBERG, TUCKER, WILLIAMSON, AMES, and SMITH, of New Hampshire, were named.

JOSEPH WHEATON was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms; and GIFFORD DALLEY, Doorkeeper, and THOMAS CLAXTON, assistant Doorkeeper.

Resolved, That two Chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress for the present session, to interchange weekly.

Mr. SMITH, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the President of the United States, reported that the President would make a communication to both Houses to-morrow at twelve o'clock, in the Senate Chamber.

A message from the Senate announced the agreement of that body to the resolution of this House for the appointment of two Chaplains, and had elected the Right Reverend Bishop WHITE, on their part.

TUESDAY, October 25.

The following members appeared, presented their credentials, and took their seats: ABRAHAM CLARK, JONATHAN DAYTON, and AARON KITCHELL, from New Jersey; and ISRAEL JACOBS, from Pennsylvania.

The House proceeded to ballot for a Chaplain, when a majority of the votes were found in favor of the Rev. Mr. BLAIR.

A message being received from the Senate, stating that they were ready to receive the communication from the President of the United States, the Speaker, attended by the members of the House, withdrew to the Senate Chamber for the purpose of receiving the same.

On the return of the members, the Speaker laid before the House a copy of the Speech delivered by the President, (which will be found in the proceedings of the Senate.)

The Speech was committed to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, October 26.

President's Speech.

The House then went into Committee of the Whole, on the President's Speech, Mr. MUHLENBERG in the chair.

The Speech being read, Mr. VINING moved a resolution, of which the following is the purport:

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that an Address should be presented to the President of the United States by the House of Representatives, in answer to his Speech, to congratulate him on the prosperous situation of the United States, expressive of the approbation of the House of the wise and prudent measures he has pursued during their recess, in the execution of the duties committed to his charge: promising speedy attention to the important and momentous objects recommended to their consideration, and expressing their approbation of the humane and effectual steps taken, under his direction, for the defence of the Western frontiers."

This resolution was objected to by Messrs. LAURANCE, SEDGWICK, SMITH, (of South Carolina,) and LIVERMORE, upon the principle, that it expressed the sense of the House upon points which required further information and investigation before the House could, with propriety, determine. It was difficult to say, before proper documents were laid before the House, whether the measures adopted for the defence of the Western frontiers were the most prudent that could be adopted. It was impossible positively to assert, that the President, in the execution of the duties assigned him in carrying into effect the excise act, had done all for the best. Every member that spoke agreed in expressing his individual opinion, that no doubt the President had acted with his wonted prudence and wisdom in the execution of the trusts reposed in him; but also agreed that it was improper, indeed, it was no compliment paid to the President, to approve, before a formal examination.

In answer to these objections it was observed, that so far as circumstances had been made known to the members, relative to the steps taken by the President during the recess of the Federal Legislature, so far they claimed the approbation of the House; and that the opinion of the House was only meant to be given as far as they were informed. It was urged, that the answer of the House should be a candid expression of their feelings; feelings which the prosperous situation of the country undoubtedly called forth, and which the issue of the measures adopted could not fail to excite.