Part 140

NAYS.--Messrs. Adair, Bradley, Hillhouse, Pickering, Plumer, Stone, Sumter, Tracy, and White.

FRIDAY, April 11.

Potomac Bridge.

The bill, entitled “An act authorizing the erection of a bridge over the river Potomac, within the District of Columbia,” was read the third time; and, on motion to postpone the further consideration thereof until the first Monday in December next, it passed in the affirmative--yeas 19, nays 10, as follows:

YEAS.--Messrs. Adair, Adams, Anderson, Baldwin, Gilman, Hillhouse, Howland, Kitchel, Maclay, Mitchill, Pickering, Smith of Maryland, Smith of New York, Stone, Sumter, Thruston, Tracy, Worthington, and Wright.

NAYS.--Messrs. Bradley, Condit, Gaillard, Moore, Plumer, Smith of Ohio, Smith of Tennessee, Smith of Vermont, Turner, and White.

So the bill was postponed.

SATURDAY, April 12.

Exclusion of Army and Naval officers from civil appointments.

The bill, entitled “An act to prohibit the officers of the Army and Navy from holding or exercising any civil office,” was read the second time; and on motion to postpone this bill to the first Monday in December next, it passed in the affirmative--yeas 17, nays 10, as follows:

YEAS.--Messrs. Adair, Adams, Baldwin, Condit, Gilman, Howland, Kitchel, Logan, Mitchill, Plumer, Smith of Maryland, Smith of New York, Smith of Tennessee, Smith of Vermont, Tracy, White, and Wright.

NAYS.--Messrs. Anderson, Gaillard, Hillhouse, Maclay, Moore, Pickering, Stone, Sumter, Turner, and Worthington.

So the bill was postponed.

MONDAY, April 14.

Tunisian Demand and Threat.

The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, which was read, and ordered to lie for consideration:

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

During the blockade of Tripoli by the squadron of the United States, a small cruiser, under the flag of Tunis, with two prizes (all of trifling value) attempted to enter Tripoli, was turned back, warned, and attempting again to enter, was taken and detained as prize by the squadron. Her restitution was claimed by the Bey of Tunis, with a threat of war, in terms so serious that, on withdrawing from the blockade of Tripoli, the commanding officer of the squadron thought it his duty to repair to Tunis with his squadron, and to require a categorical declaration, whether peace or war was intended. The Bey preferred explaining himself by an Ambassador to the United States, who, on his arrival, renewed the request that the vessel and her prizes should be restored. It was deemed proper to give this proof of friendship to the Bey, and the Ambassador was informed the vessels would be restored. Afterwards he made a requisition of naval stores to be sent to the Bey, in order to secure a peace for the term of three years, with a threat of war, if refused. It has been refused, and the Ambassador is about to depart without receding from his threat or demand.

Under these circumstances, and considering that the several provisions of the act of March 25th, 1804, will cease, in consequence of the ratification of the treaty of peace with Tripoli, now advised and consented to by the Senate, I have thought it my duty to communicate these facts, in order that Congress may consider the expediency of continuing the same provisions for a limited time, or making others equivalent.

TH. JEFFERSON.

APRIL 14, 1806.

TUESDAY, April 15.

Non-Importation Act.

The bill, entitled “An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares, and merchandise,” was read the third time; and the amendment adopted was again considered and rejected.

A motion was made to postpone the bill for the purpose of considering the following resolution:

Resolved, That, in consequence of a more favorable course of conduct on the part of Great Britain, in respect to the disturbance of the trade of the United States; and entertaining a hope that the British Ministry, lately established, will be disposed to a reasonable arrangement of all affairs of difference between the two nations, the Senate do hereby postpone the further consideration of the bill, entitled “An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares, and merchandise,” to the first Monday in November next.

And, on the question to agree to this motion, it passed in the negative--yeas 9, nays 19, as follows:

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