Part 197

SIR,--I have had the honor to receive your letter of the second instant, from St. Mary's, where you had arrived in discharge of the trust reposed in you by the President, in relation to East Florida.

My letter by Mr. Isaacs, has, I presume, substantially answered the most important of the queries submitted in your letter, but I will give to each a more distinct answer.

By the law, of which a copy was forwarded to you, it is made the duty of the President to prevent the occupation of East Florida by any foreign power. It follows that you are authorized to consider the entrance, or attempt to enter, especially under existing circumstances, of British troops, of any description, as the case contemplated by the law, and to use the proper means to defeat it.

An instruction will be immediately forwarded to the commander of the naval force of the United States, in the neighborhood of East Florida, to give you any assistance, in case of emergency, which you may think necessary, and require.

It is not expected, if you find it proper to withdraw the troops, that you should interfere to compel the patriots to surrender the country, or any part of it, to the Spanish authorities. The United States are responsible for their own conduct only, not for that of the inhabitants of East Florida. Indeed, in consequence of the comportment of the United States to the inhabitants, you have been already instructed not to withdraw the troops, unless you find that it may be done consistently with their safety, and to report to the Government the result of your conferences with the Spanish authorities, with your opinion of their views, holding in the mean time the ground occupied.

In the present state of our affairs with Great Britain the course above pointed out is the more justifiable and proper. I have the honor to be, &c.,

JAMES MONROE.

FRIDAY, July 3.

A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, and Mr. LEIB, a committee appointed for the purpose, notifying the House that the Senate have rejected the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes."

MONDAY, July 6.

On motion of Mr. BIBB,

Resolved, That the injunction of secrecy, so far as concerns "An act to enable the President of the United States, under certain contingencies, to take possession of the country lying east of the Perdido, and south of the State of Georgia and the Mississippi Territory, and for other purposes," passed on the twelfth of January, one thousand eight hundred and eleven, and "A bill authorizing the President to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes;" passed the twenty-fifth of June last, and the proceedings thereon, respectively, be removed. And, also, so far as relates to the following letters: two from the Secretary of State to General G. Matthews, one dated the twenty-sixth of January, one thousand eight hundred and eleven, and the other the fourth of April, one thousand eight hundred twelve and two from Mr. Monroe to General D. B. Mitchell, one dated the tenth of April, the other the twenty-seventh of May, one thousand eight hundred and twelve.

The doors were then opened.

TWELFTH CONGRESS.--SECOND SESSION.

BEGUN AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 2, 1812.

PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.

MONDAY, November 2, 1812.

The second session of the twelfth Congress commenced this day at the city of Washington, conformably to the act passed at the last session, entitled "An act fixing the time for the next meeting of Congress;" and the Senate assembled in their Chamber.

PRESENT.

NICHOLAS GILMAN and CHARLES CUTTS, from New Hampshire. JOSEPH B. VARNUM, from Massachusetts. CHAUNCEY GOODRICH, from Connecticut. JEREMIAH B. HOWELL, from Rhode Island. JONATHAN ROBINSON, from Vermont. JOHN LAMBERT, from New Jersey. MICHAEL LEIB, from Pennsylvania. OUTERBRIDGE HORSEY, from Delaware. SAMUEL SMITH, from Maryland. JESSE FRANKLIN and JAMES TURNER, from North Carolina. JOHN GAILLARD, from South Carolina. WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD and CHARLES TAIT, from Georgia. GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, from Tennessee. THOS. WORTHINGTON and ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, from Ohio.

There being no quorum, the Senate adjourned till to-morrow.

TUESDAY, November 3.

ANDREW GREGG, from the State of Pennsylvania, and JOHN TAYLOR, from the State of South Carolina, severally attended.

WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD, President pro tempore, resumed the chair.

Ordered, That the Secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled and ready to proceed to business.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that a quorum of the House is assembled and ready to proceed to business. The House have appointed a committee on their part, jointly with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the Senate, to wait on the President of the United States and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled and ready to receive any communication that he may be pleased to make to them.

The Senate concurred in the appointment of a joint committee on their part, agreeably to the resolution last mentioned; and Messrs. GAILLARD, and SMITH of Maryland, were appointed the committee.

A committee was appointed agreeably to the 42d rule for conducting business in the Senate. Messrs. LEIB, FRANKLIN, and GREGG, are the committee.