Part 131

Ordered, That the message and bill last read, be considered confidential, and that secrecy be observed by the members and officers of the Senate.

FRIDAY, January 24.

JAMES A. BAYARD, appointed a Senator for the State of Delaware, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth of March last, produced his credentials, which were read; and, the oath prescribed by law having been administered, he took his seat in the Senate.

FRIDAY, January 31.

Purchase of Florida.

The third reading of the bill, entitled “An act making provision for defraying any extraordinary expenses attending the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations,” was resumed; and, on the question to amend the bill, as follows: After the words “United States,” sec. 1, insert “for the purpose of obtaining by negotiation, or otherwise, as he may deem most expedient, the free navigation of the river St. Lawrence, as His Britannic Majesty’s territory, lying south and east thereof, or any other territory lying east of the Mississippi, and south of the aforesaid river St. Lawrence not owned or possessed by citizens of the United States.”

It was determined in the negative--yeas 10, nays 21, as follows:

YEAS.--Messrs. Adams, Bayard, Bradley, Hillhouse, Pickering, Plumer, Smith of Vermont, Tracy, White, and Wright.

NAYS.--Messrs. Adair, Anderson, Baldwin, Condit, Fenner, Gaillard, Gilman, Howland, Kitchel, Logan, Maclay, Mitchill, Moore, Smith of Maryland, Smith of New York, Smith of Ohio, Smith of Tennessee, Sumter, Thruston, Turner, and Worthington.

WEDNESDAY, February 5.

The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the report of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, stating that the measures which have been authorized by the Board subsequent to their report of 5th February, 1805, so far as the same have been completed, are fully detailed in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury to the Board, dated the 4th of the present month; and in the statements therein referred to, which are herewith transmitted, and prayed to be considered as part of the report. And the report was read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Maryland, from the committee appointed the 15th of January last, on that part of the Message of the President of the United States which relates to the spoliation of our commerce on the high seas, and informs us of new principles assumed by the British Courts of Admiralty, as a pretext for the condemnation of our vessels in their prize courts, made report, and the report was read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

The motion, that it be

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire why the expenditures in the Navy Department, for the year 1805, have so far exceeded the appropriations for the same, and report thereon to the Senate;

was resumed and adopted; and ordered that it be referred to the committee appointed on the 28th January last, to make inquiry into the specific expenditures of the respective departments, to report thereon.

The bill making provision for the compensation of witnesses who attended the trial of the impeachment of Samuel Chase, was read the second time, and ordered to the third reading.

THURSDAY, February 6.

Purchase of Florida.

The Senate resumed the third reading of the bill, entitled “An act making provision for defraying any extraordinary expenses attending the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations;” and,

On motion that the bill, and message from the House of Representatives accompanying the same, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to inquire and report to the Senate their opinion, whether West Florida was or was not included in the cession of Louisiana to the United States by the treaty with France, concluded on the 30th of April, 1803, together with the evidence upon which such an opinion may be supported; it was determined in the negative--yeas 8, nays 23, as follows:

YEAS.--Messrs. Adair, Adams, Bayard, Hillhouse, Pickering, Plumer, Tracy, and White.

NAYS.--Messrs. Anderson, Baldwin, Bradley, Condit, Fenner, Gaillard, Gilman, Howland, Kitchel, Logan, Maclay, Mitchill, Moore, Smith of Maryland, Smith of New York, Smith of Tennessee, Smith of Vermont, Stone, Sumter, Thruston, Turner, Worthington, and Wright.

On motion to postpone the further consideration of the bill at this time, and to take up the following resolution:

Resolved, That the President be requested to lay before the Senate the instructions given to Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney, late Ministers of the United States to the Court of Spain, together with the facts and arguments exhibited by them, in their negotiation, in support of their claims to territories eastward of the Mississippi, as far as the river Perdido, and of territory on the western side of the Mississippi, as far as the Rio Bravo; the essay of Mr. Cevallos, the Minister of His Catholic Majesty, in answer to our Ministers, in relation to the western limits; and any other documents in his possession, tending to establish the rightful boundaries of Louisiana:

It passed in the negative.

FRIDAY, February 7.

Purchase of Florida.

The Senate resumed the third reading of the bill, entitled “An act making provision for defraying any extraordinary expenses attending the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations;” and,