Part 162

The petition of William Dunbar, executor of the last will and testament of George Galphin, deceased, late a Commissioner of Indian affairs, was presented and read, praying in behalf of the children of the said George Galphin, that the compensation allowed to the other Commissioners of Indian affairs may be extended to them, the legal representatives of their late father.

On motion that this petition be referred to a committee, it passed in the negative.

FRIDAY, November 23.

RICHARD BASSETT, from the State of Delaware, attended and took his seat.

THURSDAY, January 3, 1793.

A motion was made and seconded that the Senate adopt the following resolutions, to wit:

"Resolved, That the Senate of the United States are individually responsible for their conduct to their constituents, who are entitled to such information as will enable them to form a just estimate thereof.

"Resolved, That the journals are too voluminous and expensive to circulate generally; and, if it were otherwise, that the information they contain, as to the principles, motives, and designs of individual members, is inadequate.

"Resolved, That this information, defective as it is, becomes more nugatory and delusive, in proportion as the occasion for it increases, since the Senate make their own Journals.

"Resolved, That the conducting of the Legislative and Judicial powers of the Senate in public, and suffering an account of their measures and deliberations to be published in the newspapers, is the best means of diffusing general information concerning the principles, motives, and conduct of individual members; and that, by withholding this information, responsibility becomes unavailing, the influence of their constituents over one branch of the Legislature, in a great measure, annihilated, and the best security which experience has devised against the abuse of power and a maladministration abandoned.

"Resolved, therefore, That it be a standing rule that the doors of the Senate Chamber remain open whilst the Senate shall be sitting in a Legislative and Judicative capacity, except on such occasions as, in their judgment, may require secrecy; and that this rule shall commence and be in force on the first day of the next session of Congress.

"Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate request the Commissioners of the city and county of Philadelphia to cause a proper gallery to be erected for the accommodation of an audience."

On motion that the resolves now proposed be printed for the use of the Senate, it passed in the negative.

Ordered, That they lie on the table, and that the consideration thereof be the order of the day for the first Monday in February next.

FRIDAY, January 4.

The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters, and the report of the committee thereon; and, after debate, the consideration thereof was further postponed.

FRIDAY, January 18.

The bill respecting fugitives from justice and persons escaping from the service of their masters, was read the third time, and being further amended, on a motion to strike out "five hundred dollars," for the purpose of inserting a less sum in section 4th, the penalty on "any person who shall knowingly and willingly obstruct or hinder such claimant, his agent or attorney, in so seizing or arresting such fugitive from labor, or shall rescue such fugitive from such claimant, his agent, or attorney, when so arrested, pursuant to the authority herein given or declared, or shall harbor or conceal such person, after notice that he or she was a fugitive from labor as aforesaid;" it passed in the negative.

Resolved, that this bill pass, that it be engrossed, and that the title thereof be, "An act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters."

MONDAY, February 4.

RICHARD POTTS, from the State of Maryland, appointed in place of CHARLES CARROLL, resigned, produced his credentials, and took his seat.

Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate proceeded to consider the motion made the 3d of January, 1793, "That the doors of the Senate Chamber remain open whilst the Senate shall be sitting in their Legislative and Judicative capacity."

On motion for the previous question, to wit: Shall the question be now put on the following preliminary resolutions?

"Resolved, That the Senate of the States are, individually, responsible for their conduct to their constituents, who are entitled to such information as will enable them to form a just estimate thereof:

"Resolved, That the journals are too voluminous and expensive to circulate generally; and, if it were otherwise, that the information they contain, as to the principles, motives, and designs, of individual members, is inadequate:

"Resolved, That this information, defective as it is, becomes more nugatory and delusive, in proportion as the occasion for it increases, since the Senate make their own journals:

"Resolved, That the conducting of the Legislative and Judicial powers of the Senate in public, and suffering an account of their measures and deliberations to be published in the newspapers, is the best means of diffusing general information concerning the principles, motives, and conduct, of individual members: and that, by withholding this information, responsibility becomes unavailing, the influence of their constituents over one branch of the Legislature in a great measure annihilated, and the best security which experience has devised against the abuse of power and a maladministration abandoned:"

It passed in the negative--yeas 7, nays 21, as follows: