Part 14

Tripolitan Aggression.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I have the satisfaction to inform you, that the act of hostility mentioned, in my message of the 4th of November, to have been committed by a cruiser of the Emperor of Morocco, on a vessel of the United States, has been disavowed by the Emperor. All differences in consequence thereof have been amicably adjusted, and the Treaty of 1796, between this country and that, has been recognized and confirmed by the Emperor, each party restoring to the other what had been detained or taken. I enclose the Emperor’s orders given on this occasion.

The conduct of our officers generally, who have had a part in these transactions, has merited entire approbation.

The temperate and correct course pursued by our Consul, Mr. Simpson, the promptitude and energy of Commodore Preble, the efficacious co-operation of Captains Rodgers and Campbell, of the returning squadron, the proper decision of Captain Bainbridge, that a vessel which had committed an open hostility, was of right to be detained for inquiry and consideration, and the general zeal of the other officers and men, are honorable facts, which I make known with pleasure. And to these I add, what was indeed transacted in another quarter, the gallant enterprise of Captain Rodgers, in destroying, on the coast of Tripoli, a corvette of that power, of 22 guns.

I recommend to the consideration of Congress, a just indemnification for the interest acquired by the captors of the Mishouda and Mirboha, yielded by them for the public accommodation.

TH. JEFFERSON.

DEC. 5, 1803.

The Messages and papers therein respectively referred to, were read.

Ordered, That they severally lie for consideration.

WEDNESDAY, December 7.

AARON BURR, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate, attended.

JOHN ARMSTRONG, appointed a Senator by the Executive of the State of New York, in the room of De Witt Clinton, resigned, attended.

THURSDAY, December 8.

The credentials of Mr. ARMSTRONG were read, and the oath was administered to him by the Vice President as the law provides.

MONDAY, December 12.

Amendment of the Constitution.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the last resolution reported by the committee appointed on the 22d of October last, to consider the motion for an amendment to the constitution in the mode of electing the President and Vice President of the United States; which is as follows:

“Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, That the following amendment be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as an amendment to the constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislature, shall be valid, to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution, to wit;

“That no person who has been twice successively elected President of the United States shall be eligible as President until four years shall have elapsed: but any citizen who has been President of the United States may, after such intervention, be eligible to the office of President for four years and no longer.”

On the question to agree to this resolution, it passed in the negative--yeas 4, nays 25, as follows:

YEAS.--Messrs. Anderson, Butler, Dayton, and Jackson.

NAYS.--Messrs. Adams, Armstrong, Bailey, Baldwin, Bradley, Breckenridge, Brown, Cocke, Condit, Ellery, Franklin, Hillhouse, Logan, Maclay, Olcott, Pickering, Plumer, Potter, Israel Smith, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Tracy, White, Worthington, and Wright.

TUESDAY, December 13.

ABRAHAM B. VENABLE, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Virginia on the 7th instant, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat in the Senate.

Repeal of Bankrupt Act.

The bill, entitled, “An act to repeal an act, entitled ‘An act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,’” was read the third time; and, on motion, that the further consideration of this bill be postponed to the second Monday in December next, it passed in the negative--yeas 13, nays, 17, as follows:

YEAS.--Messrs. Adams, Armstrong, Bailey, Baldwin, Bradley, Brown, Condit, Jackson, Israel Smith, Samuel Smith, Tracy, White, and Wright.