INDEX TO VOL. III.
Reading edition
A
Act, Embargo, the, 641.
Adair, John, Senator from Kentucky, 348;
on British aggressions on our commerce, 358.
Adams, John Quincy, Senator from Massachusetts, 6, 163, 345, 485, 547;
for the issue of stock for the purchase of Louisiana, 18;
on the amendment to the constitution relative to the election of President, 25;
opposes removal of seat of Government, 46, 47;
on suspending intercourse with St. Domingo, 349;
on the bill to prevent the abuse of the privileges of foreign ministers, 364;
on the bill for the relief of the ex-Bashaw of Tripoli, 372;
on order of proceedings in the case of John Smith, 554;
on the expulsion of Senator John Smith, 573;
on amendment to the constitution relative to the removal of the Federal Judges, 607.
Address of Senate and House, in answer to President’s Messages.—See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Admirals in the Navy.—See Index, vol. 2.
Admissions on the Floor of the Senate, considered, 39.
African Slavery, petition of Thomas Morris relative to, 166.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
African Slaves.—See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Alexander, Evan, Representative from North Carolina, 413, 613.
Alexander, Nathaniel, Representative from North Carolina, 50, 297.
Algerine War.—See Index, vol. 1.
Alien and Sedition Laws.—See Index, vol. 2, Seditious Practices and Defensive Measures.
Allegiance, Foreign.—See Index, vol. 1.
Alston, Willis, jr., Representative from North Carolina, 50, 285, 377, 493, 613;
on the postponement of the bill to tax imported slaves, 141;
on laying a duty on imported slaves, 387;
on the payment of witnesses on the trial of Chase, 410;
on importations from Great Britain, 464;
on a plurality of offices in the same person, 468;
on conference with the Senate relative to a repeal of the duties on salt, 482, 484;
on the appropriation to build gunboats, 518;
on securing the privilege of the habeas corpus, 533;
on British aggressions, 617;
on inquiring into the conduct of General Wilkinson, 645.
See Index, vol. 2.
Alston, Lemuel J., jr., Representative from South Carolina, 613.
Amendment to the Constitution.—Proposed in the Senate, 6;
necessity of designating the persons severally, whom the people should wish to hold the offices of President and Vice President, 6;
are three readings of a resolution required by the rules of the Senate? 6;
opinions of Senators asked, 7;
resolutions requiring the joint action of both Houses required to take the same course as bills, 7;
this resolution proposes an alteration of the supreme law of the land, 7;
amendments offered to the form and substance of the resolution, requiring a majority of votes of electors necessary to a choice of Vice President, and when wanting, referring his election to the Senate, 7;
amendment proposed, that no person serve more than eight years, or more than four in any period of eight years, 7;
moved to refer to a select committee, 7;
subject too important to be hurried, 7;
the business should be immediately proceeded with, 7;
amendments carried and resolution referred, 7;
committee report, 7;
moved to strike out all relating to the appointment of Vice President, 7;
object of the mover to put off the main question, 8;
custom of some to arraign motives instead of meeting arguments, 8;
charge of arraigning motives totally unfounded, 8;
if this motion is considered it may jeopard the amendment for discrimination, as two-thirds of the State Legislatures will be in session in two or three months, 8;
postponement moved, 8;
lost, 8;
report of the committee further considered, 21;
question of order raised relative to a two-thirds vote, 21;
motion to strike out all relating to the Vice President, lost, 21;
various amendments adopted, 21;
discussion on limiting the choice for President to natural-born citizens, 21;
discussion on limiting the number from which the House shall choose a President, to three, 22;
a point of importance to the small States, 22;
the small States have no reason for any apprehension, 22;
the number five desirable, 22;
design of the constitution to secure a competition to the aspirant for the office, 23;
this general amendment of the constitution unnecessary, 23;
present mode may be the source of great good, 23;
amendment read, 23;
the Vice President should be chosen by the same ratio of numbers as the President, 23;
he may by some casualty become President, 23;
adopt the designating principle without some precautions, and you lose the assurance that the Vice President will be the second man in the nation, 24;
if we designate any, then designate both President and Vice President, and on equal terms, 24;
the number three is large enough, if the candidates are designated, 24;
is not the constitution susceptible of correction under experience? 24;
reason for adopting the number three instead of five, 25;
this is really a question between great and small States, 25;
in the old Congress the States were all equal, 25;
the amendment calculated to produce more good than evil, 25;
by reducing the number do you not attack the principles of the federative compact? 26;
object of the amendment to make the election more certain by the people, by leaving it to them to designate the persons they preferred for each office, 26;
the jealousy of States is nothing but the leaven of the old Congress, 26;
why is no regard paid to the experience of the last election? 27;
the most effectual mode to keep the selection out of the House is to fix it on the number three, 27;
three conforms more to the spirit of the constitution than five, 27;
the number three adopted, 27;
reasons for opposing this amendment of the constitution, 27;
the constitution bears marks of having been issued under the influence of State classifications, 27;
effect of this amendment when two rival parties are arrayed against each other, 28;
what inconvenience is there in the present mode? 28;
the experiment has worked well, 28;
importance of the Vice Presidency, 28;
operation of the designating principle examined, 29;
how amendments must be made, 29;
this amendment affects the relative interest and importance of the smaller States, 30;
it has a tendency to render the Vice Presidency less respectable, 30;
the resolution contains principles which have a manifest tendency to deprive the small States of an important right, secured to them by a solemn and constitutional compact, and to vest an overwhelming power in the great States, 30;
imperfections of man, 30;
attempt to excite the attention, the vigilance, and even the jealousy of the small States, against the large, 31;
constitution examined to place in its proper light the operation and effects of the resolution, 31;
Madison on the mode of electing President, 32;
what is the direct object of the proposed alteration in the choice of President, 32;
intention of the plan adopted by the constitution for choosing a President, 33;
the opposition to this discriminating amendment is condensed into a single stratagem, namely, an effort to excite the passion of jealousy in various forms, 33;
two principles sustain the constitution—a majority of the people, and a majority of States, 34;
these principles considered, 34;
view under which the amendment should be considered, 34;
is the amendment calculated or not to cause the popular principle to operate perfectly, and to prevent the abuse of an election by a minority, 35;
does the amendment afford cause of jealousy to the smaller States, 35;
instance of a government, the substance of the constitution of which is destroyed, but the form remains unaltered, 35;
solution of this effect, 35;
the design of the amendment is to bestow on the majority a power to elect a Vice President, 36;
question carried, 37;
not decided fairly, 37;
two-thirds of the whole number elected are required, 37;
amendment as adopted, 37;
further amendment considered, 38;
lost, 38.
In the House, report of the Committee considered, 58;
evils relative to the election of President and Vice President were anticipated at the time of the adoption of the constitution, 58;
amendment moved to the resolution, 58;
true spirit and principle of the constitution, through the organs of government, to express public opinion, 58;
the amendment moved proposes to elect the President by the House, not by States, 58;
amendment misunderstood, 59;
if any defect in the constitution, that defect perhaps consists in a departure from the plain and simple modes of an immediate election by the people, 59;
a legislative election should be restrained to the smallest number, 59;
the number should be five, instead of three, 59;
object of the amendment should be to prevent persons voted for as Vice President from becoming President, 60;
five will allow to the smaller States a larger scope for choice, 60;
two comes nearer to the principle of the constitution than five, 60.
Relative to the removal of Federal Judges, resolutions offered, 341;
referred to Committee of the Whole, 341;
postponed to next session, 341;
moved in the House, 413;
postponement moved, 414;
reasons against postponement, 414;
an important means of bringing the administration back to the principles on which it came into power, 414; note, 414;
history of corruptions, 415;
causes of the delay in the business of the House, 415;
a subject of last importance to the peace and happiness of the United States, 415;
reasons for postponement, 416;
reasons against postponement, 416;
postponement indefinite lost, 417.
Various amendments suggested.—State of the country at the adoption of the constitution, 607;
Federalist and Republican, 607;
one of the errors of the constitution, 607;
modes of correction, 607;
proposed to reduce the term of representatives to one year, 608;
term of senators to three years, 608;
President to be chosen by lot from the Senate, for one year, 609;
objections considered, 609;
advantages considered, 610.
See Index, vol. 1.
Amy Dardin’s claim, report on considered in the House, 82;
report not agreed to, 82;
moved to grant the prayer of the petitioner, 82;
carried in committee, 82;
amendment moved in the House, 82;
committee instructed to bring in a bill, 82;
motion to take up the bill, 85;
move to postpone, in order ultimately to test the sense of Congress on repealing the statutes of limitation, 85;
motion lost, 85;
bill amended, so as to allow $2,500 for the horse Romulus, 85;
the $2,500 negatived, 85;
$2,300 adopted, 85;
bill ordered to third reading, 85;
bill lost, 85;
petition of referred, 302;
bill reported and read twice, 340.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Anderson, Isaac, Representative from Pennsylvania, 50, 285, 377, 493.
Anderson, Joseph, Senator from Tennessee, 3, 165, 346, 547;
favors temporary removal of seat of government, 46;
further remarks, 47;
elected President pro tem. of Senate, 169;
on British aggressions on our commerce, 356;
on expelling Senator John Smith, 598.
See Index, vol. 2.
Appropriations, Naval, bill making for the year 1806 considered in the House, 474;
what objects intended to be provided for under this term, 474;
this bill mere form, the money might be appropriated in the lump, 474;
expenditure the same, 474;
motion to strike out, lost, 474;
annual expenditures for the navy, 475;
further debate, 475;
bill ordered to third reading, 476;
moved to recommit, 478;
passed, 478;
importance of circumscribing contingencies, 478;
time to check this loose proceeding, 478;
bill reported, 478.
Appropriations.—See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Archer, John, Representative from Maryland, 52, 285, 378.
See Index, vol. 2.
Arms, exportation of, amendments to bill relative to, 380.
Armstrong, John, Senator from New York, 38, 44.
Army.—See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Army Uniforms, petition of Andrew Jackson relative to, 167.
B
Bacon, Ezekiel, Representative from Massachusetts, 614;
on inquiry into the conduct of Gen. Wilkinson, 648.
Bailey, Theodore, Senator from New York, 3;
resigns his seat in the Senate, 39.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Baldwin, Abraham, Senator from Georgia, 3, 163, 345, 485.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Baldwin, Simeon, Representative from Connecticut, 79, 286.
Bank of the United States, memorial of stockholders, 611.
Bank of the United States.—See Index, vol. 1.
Bankrupt Act, vote on the bill to repeal in Senate, 38;
bill to repeal, as passed by the Senate, 38.
In House.—Resolution to repeal considered, 79;
no remonstrance hostile to it has been received, 79;
law expires by its own limitation in a few years, 79;
principle unjust, as it favors one class of citizens at the expense of all others, 79;
the preferable system was that of the States extending relief to insolvents, 79;
its partial operation has a most mischievous influence on the morals of the mercantile world, 79;
the principle inequitable as regards debtor and creditor, 79;
while justice and humanity dictates the liberation of the body of the debtor, justice forbids the exoneration of property from going to satisfy debts, 80;
the principle of the law, however good in theory, can never be carried into effect, 80;
the honest, though unfortunate, debtor has nothing to fear from his creditors, 80;
the public silence indicates neither hostility nor opposition, 80;
true policy to suffer the act to expire by its own limitation, 81;
general sentiment of the nation concurs in the propriety of affording some relief to the distresses of the commercial world, 81;
if the exoneration of property from just debts is a violation of justice, this does not hold in commercial concerns, 81;
credit is the life of trade, 81;
the principles of a bankrupt law do not operate in favor of the debtor, 81;
such a system multiplies checks against fraud, 81;
one object of the constitution in granting the power, was the establishment of credit upon broad principles of justice, 81;
report of committee agreed to, 82;
amendment extending the period of removal moved, 82;
amendment directing the completion of all proceedings under commissions taken out previous to repeal, 82.
Bankruptcy.—See Index, vol. 2.
Barbary Powers, protection of commerce against, see Duties on Imports.
Bard, David, Representative from Pennsylvania, 50, 285, 377, 493, 612;
on a tax on imported slaves, 96;
on the importation of slaves, 130.
See Index, vol. 2.
Barker, Josiah, Representative from Massachusetts, 377, 493, 612.
Barney, Joshua, report on petition of, 615.
Bassett, Burwell, Representative from Virginia, 377, 493, 613;
to prohibit members of Congress from making contracts with the Government, 659.
Bassett, John, his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 210.
Bayard, James A., Senator from Delaware, 165, 353, 487, 552;
on British aggressions on our commerce, 357.
See Index, vol. 2.
Beaumarchais, claim of petition relative to, 473;
claim of report on, 542.
Beckley, John, chosen Clerk of the House, 51, 378.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Bedinger, George M., Representative from Kentucky, 50, 285, 378, 493;
on a tax on imported slaves, 130, 132, 140.
Bedford, Gunning, his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 225.
Bentley, Wm., appointed Chaplain by the House, 164.
Betton, Silas, Representative from New Hampshire, 50, 285, 377, 493.
Bibb, William W., Representative from Georgia, 503, 613,
on home manufactures, 709.
Bidwell, Barnabas, Representative from Massachusetts, 377, 493;
offers a resolution to present a sword to Gen. Eaton, 380, 381;
on the presentation of a sword to Gen. Eaton, 382;
on discharging committee from consideration of invasion of neutral rights, 394;
on a plurality of offices in the same person, 471;
on the importation of slaves, 494, 495, 497;
on the suspension of the Habeas Corpus, 510;
on securing the privilege of the Habeas Corpus, 525, 535.
Bills, in Senate, to authorize President to take possession of territory ceded by France, 6;
second reading of do., 7;
ordered to third reading, 8;
passed, 8.
Bills, Money.—See Index, vol. 1.
Bishop, Phanuel, Representative from Massachusetts, 50, 287, 377, 497.
See Index, vol. 2.
Blackledge, William, Representative from North Carolina, 50, 285, 613.
Blake, John, jr., Representative from New York, 377, 493, 612.
Blount, Thomas, Representative from North Carolina, 378, 613;
on post roads, 542;
reports relative to the attack on the Chesapeake, 616;
further report relative to British aggressions, 621;
on building gunboats, 626, 628.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Bonaparte’s proclamation to the inhabitants of St. Domingo, 362.
Bonde, Thomas, Representative from Pennsylvania.
See Index, vol. 2.
Boston, Mass., memorial of inhabitants relative to aggressions on commerce, 399.
Boyd, Adam, Representative from New Jersey, 50, 285, 676;
on the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 308;
on the Georgia claims, 324.
Boyd, James P., his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 228.
Boyle, John, Representative from Kentucky, 50, 285, 380, 493;
on the resolution relative to public roads, 84;
on the government of Louisiana, 148;
reports relative to canal at the Rapids of the Ohio, 465.
Bradley, Stephen E., Senator from Vermont, 3, 163, 345, 485, 547;
offers amendments to the resolution relative to amendments of the constitution, 7;
moves to strike out part of the proposed amendment to the constitution, 23;
further remarks, 24.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Breach of Privilege.—See Index, vol. 2.
Breckenridge, John, Senator from Kentucky, 3, 165;
gives notice for leave to bring in a bill to authorize President to take possession of territories ceded by France, 6;
asks leave, 6;
reports on amendments of the House to Senate’s bill authorizing the President to take possession of Louisiana, 8;
on the merits of the Louisiana treaty, 16.
See Index, vol. 2.
Bribery.—See Index, vol. 1.
Brice, Nicholas, his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 228.
Bridge over the Potomac, bill postponed, 374.
See Potomac Bridge.
British Aggressions on our Commerce, message from the President relative to, in Senate, 353;
report of the committee on the message considered, 355;
first resolution passed, 355.
Second resolution relative to a demand for the restoration of property, &c., and to make arrangements relative to the impressment of seamen considered, 355;
impropriety of agreeing to the resolution arising from all the circumstances of the case, 356;
this resolution predicated on the principle of the first, which passed unanimously, 356;
language of the resolution not too strong, 356;
the principle of the resolution considered, 357;
the resolution shelters the Executive from the responsibility which ought to attach to its measures, 357;
it demonstrates the union of the different branches of the Government on the subject, 357;
the resolution will bear the character of advice to the President, 357;
we should reflect upon this step, 357;
object of the resolution, 358;
motion to recommit to a special committee, 358;
objections to the resolution in its present shape, 358;
motion to recommit lost, 358;
it becomes the Senate to take stronger ground and adopt vigorous measures before requesting the President to negotiate, 359;
negotiation not exhausted, 359;
two objections made to the resolution, a censure upon the President, and a sacrifice of the honor and interests of the United States, 359;
these considered, 359;
resolution carried, 359.
Third resolution considered, 369;
the first resolution is a declaration of our neutral rights, the second requests the President to send a special Minister to England, &c., the third proposes to prohibit the importation of certain British goods, unless redress is obtained, 369;
it is designed to aid negotiation, 369;
Great Britain prohibits the importation of our goods, and how can she regard this as a war measure? 369.
In the House.—Resolution to call on the President for a copy of his Proclamation interdicting our ports and harbors to British armed vessels, 617;
no necessity for the measure, 617;
it has been published in all the newspapers, 617;
the former practice, 617;
this opposition to the motion unaccountable, 618;
not contained in the report of the committee because it was believed to be sufficiently official in the newspapers, 618;
resolution adopted, 619;
copy of Proclamation, 619;
report of committee on the report, 621.
British Treaty, deficiency in the appropriation to carry out the seventh article, 287.
See Index, vol. 1.
Broom, James M., Representative from Delaware, 383, 493;
on laying a tax on imported slaves, 390;
on securing the privilege of the Habeas Corpus, 520, 526.
Brown, John, Senator from Kentucky, 3, 165;
elected President pro tem. of Senate, 3;
on rules of the Senate relative to separate readings of resolutions, 7;
submits to Senate a question of order, 21;
elected President pro tem. of Senate, 41.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Brown, Obadiah B., elected chaplain of the House, 614.
Brown, Robert, Representative from Pennsylvania, 50, 286, 377, 493, 612.
See Index, vol. 2.
Bryan, Joseph, Representative from Georgia, 79, 286, 379.
Burr, Aaron, as Vice President presides in Senate, 38;
Vice President presides over the Senate, 163;
franking privilege denied, 168;
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Burwell, William A., Representative from Virginia, 493, 613;
on rejection of the bill from the Senate suspending the Habeas Corpus, 504;
on securing the privilege of the Habeas Corpus, 522;
on British aggressions, 618;
on inquiry into the conduct of General Wilkinson, 646;
on naturalization laws, 659;
on suspension of the act of non-importation, 709.
Butler, Pierce, Senator from South Carolina, 6;
reports on amendment to the constitution, 7;
offers amendment to limit eligibility to Presidency, 7;
on the eligibility only of natives to the Presidency, 21;
resigns, 165.
See Index, vol. 1.
Butler, William, Representative from South Carolina, 51, 207, 378, 493, 613.
C
Calhoun, Joseph, Representative from South Carolina, 613.
Campbell, George W., Representative from Tennessee, 51, 285, 378, 613;
on the amendment to the constitution relative to the election of President, 58, 60;
on postage on newspapers, 78;
on the resolution relative to public roads, 83;
on the resolution to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 94;
on the government of Louisiana, 152;
continues the argument for the prosecution on the trial of Judge Chase, 232;
on improving the navigation of the Potomac, 291;
on the establishment of post roads, 338;
on importations from Great Britain, 451;
on the appropriation to build gunboats, 517;
on securing the privilege of the Habeas Corpus, 531;
on fortifications and gunboats, 638;
on removal of the federal judges, 675;
on suspension of the embargo act, 677;
on suspension of the act, 693.
Campbell, John, Representative from Maryland, 50, 286, 377, 493, 612.
See Index, vol. 2.
Carlton, Peter, Representative from New Hampshire, 612.
Carondelet, his letter relative to money for General Wilkinson, 642.
Casey, Levi, Representative from South Carolina, 51, 287, 378, 494;
decease announced, 491, 515.
Census of the Union.—See Index, vol. 1.
Chamberlain, William, Representative from Vermont, 50, 285.
Champion, Epaphroditus, Representative from Connecticut, 612.
Chandler, John, Representative from Massachusetts, 377, 493, 612;
on importations from Great Britain, 462;
on building gunboats, 627;
on inquiry into the conduct of General Wilkinson, 645.
Charitable objects.—See Index, vol. 1.
Charlestown, Virginia, petition of inhabitants for a port of entry, 407;
report of committee of commerce, 409;
facts in the case, 409;
report agreed to, 409.
Chase, Judge, official conduct of considered in the House, 88;
no people have such a sense of the importance of preserving unpolluted the fountains of justice as citizens of the United States, 88;
hence the independence of the judges under the constitution, 88;
resolution offered to appoint a committee to inquire into the official conduct of Samuel Chase, and whether he has so acted in his judicial capacity as to require the interposition of the constitutional power of the House, 89;
called upon to vote an inquiry into the conduct of a judge without any facts being adduced to show that such an inquiry should be made, 89;
to adopt the resolution in its present form would be a vote of censure on the Judge, 89;
parties aggrieved, or members cognizant of the facts, should bring up the measure, 89;
statement of facts made at last session, 89;
occasion of that statement, 90;
a statement of the facts occurring in Pennsylvania, 90;
this is the first instance in which a motion to appoint a committee of inquiry into the official conduct of a public officer has been opposed, 90;
this House the constitutional guardians of the morality of the judiciary, 90;
character of the Judge involved by this discussion, 90;
the conviction of any one member of the propriety of this measure cannot warrant the House in taking this step, 90;
the statement of facts is not founded on personal knowledge, 91;
hearsay should never be the ground for instituting an inquiry, 91;
action should be delayed until such facts are disclosed as will justify the step, 91;
the propriety of the inquiry cannot be seen without evidence, and what is the object of the inquiry but to obtain evidence, 91;
if the inquiry cannot be had without the evidence, both must be dropped, 91;
no impropriety in giving the case the same direction as all other business of the House, 91;
it does not appear correct to call the character of a public officer in question, unless some necessity should first appear, 92;
no precedents adduced which apply to this case, 92;
case of Judge Pickering, 92;
the course proposed inverts the natural order of things, being an inquiry for and not out of facts, 92;
facts stated not sufficient for impeachment, 93;
the grounds should be stated in the form of a resolution, and such resolution be referred to a committee for investigation, 93;
we have the same right to impeach the President, yet it would be improper without facts, 93;
question of adjournment moved and lost, 93;
postponement desired, to afford time for reflection, 94;
we should proceed cautiously in this matter, 94;
before the vote for an inquiry there should be probable grounds that facts exist to authorize such a procedure, 94;
improper to go into such an inquiry before specific charges are laid before the House, 94;
reasons for proceeding in what is termed so precipitate a manner, 95;
all objections are applicable to a motion for impeachment only, 95;
committee rose, 95;
amendment moved to insert also the name of Judge Richard Peters in the resolution, 96;
only a committee is asked to receive evidence, and determine whether it affords grounds for an impeachment, 96;
no way more favorable to the person implicated, 96;
on the request of a member for a committee of inquiry, that measure ought to be adopted, 96;
precedents are not necessary;
reason and common sense are all that is necessary to guide to a decision, 97;
British annals are full, 97;
case of the Earl of Strafford, 97;
it is notorious that Fries was tried for his life without being heard, 97;
Peters equally guilty with Judge Chase—amendment carried, 98;
let the facts be laid before the House, 98;
otherwise we shall legislate on the opinion of a member, 98;
men of talents will not take seats on the bench, if their character is liable to be scrutinized without any facts being previously adduced, 98;
any member may procure an investigating committee if this resolution pass, 98;
under the circumstances, the measure is improper in every point of view, 99;
arguments of the opposition turn on the ground of expediency and precedent, 99;
its expediency argued, 99;
precedents considered, 99;
resolution objected to because of the indelicacy of implicating the character of a judge, 100;
all independence has its limits, 101;
is not this House under a solemn oath for the faithful discharge of this and every other duty, 101;
other objections considered, 102;
reasons for every member to vote for the resolution, 102;
this House is the grand inquest of the nation, whose duty it is to inquire, on a proper representation, into the conduct of every officer, 103;
it is the duty of a grand jury to inquire who is guilty, 103;
in England common report has been considered sufficient authority for similar inquiries, 103;
not necessary that the House should be acquainted with any facts to make this inquiry, 103;
the accused should have an opportunity to prove to the world that his character has been assailed without cause, 104;
what will a committee do, 104;
it operates in the nature of an inquisition, 104;
let us first ascertain if there is sufficient grounds for an impeachment, 104;
when did this case occur, 104;
why has it rested so long, 104;
it is not of the serious nature contended, 104;
precedents do not warrant this form of proceeding, 105;
so important is this matter that the conduct of any officer should be inquired into on the demand of a member, 105;
the offence charged is such as will warrant impeachment, 105;
is the present proceeding conformable to principle? 105;
a charge has been made against Judge Chase, 107;
precedents examined, 107;
a more anti-republican resolution not seen, 108;
unprecedented, unparliamentary, 108;
information on the matter extremely contradictory, 109;
precedents examined, 109;
resemblance to a grand inquest, 110;
proceedings in North Carolina, 110;
difference between the friends and opponents of the resolution, 111;
form of a resolution offered, 111;
objections and personal allusions examined and answered, 112;
is the denial to the prisoner and the jury of the right of having the point of law discussed nothing? 113;
is treason better defined than murder? 113;
should an incipient inquiry be confined by the same rules which govern a criminal trial? 113;
cases of precedent offered, 113;
the House is vested with the sole power of impeachment;
how it is to be exercised must depend on its discretion, 114;
what does the resolution demand of us? 114;
if gentlemen are in possession of facts, let them declare them, 114;
let the instances of malfeasance of these judges be specified, 115;
what public character will be safe, if this resolution is adopted on the request of a single member? 115;
observations of the opponents are incorrect; the resolution is to inquire, not to impeach, 115;
the duty of the committee will be to inquire into the official conduct of a certain public officer, 115;
if there is no ground for impeachment, the character of the officer should be vindicated, 115;
no justification in the constitution on which to ground a refusal to inquire, 115;
various objections considered, 116;
precedents for the judgment in Fries’ case, 116;
no facts have been shown, 116;
the inquiry is an act of justice due to the people of the United States on the one hand, and to the officers on the other, 117;
all the difference possible between an inquiry and an impeachment, 117;
analogy between the functions of this House and a Grand Jury correct, 117;
the reputation of the Government demands the inquiry, 117;
it is not the examination, but the result of the examination, that attaches merit or demerit to a public officer, 118;
a full inquiry into the conduct of public officers should be cherished with great care, 118;
in this case a specific charge has been made, 118;
authorities from foreign nations adduced, 118;
the case of the Western Insurrection, 119;
the precedents adduced, examined, 120;
committee of investigation of the last Congress, 120;
this resolution points to two particular officers as objects of suspicion, 121;
if charges were specified, a member, on moving the resolution, might demand an inquiry, 121;
others have their convictions as well as the mover of the resolution, 121;
common fame no ground on which to support such a resolution, 122;
on the broad basis of universal right, the resolution is condemned, 122;
reason why the charge is of a serious nature, 123;
amendment moved, 123;
moved to strike out amendment and insert other words, 124;
motion to strike out agreed to, 124;
motion to insert carried, 124;
question on agreeing to the amendment as amended, lost, 124;
original resolution carried, 124;
committee appointed, 125;
report of the committee, 161;
ordered printed for the use of the members, 161;
report, 174.
report of committee in favor of impeachment adopted, 174;
committee appointed to impeach Judge Chase at the bar of the Senate, 174;
committee to prepare articles of impeachment, 174;
do. considered, 175;
managers to conduct the impeachment appointed, 175;
proceedings in the Senate, 175;
rules of proceeding adopted by the Senate, 175;
preliminary proceedings, 177, 178;
answer of Judge Chase, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191;
replication by the House of Representatives, 191;
names of the witnesses, 191, 192.
Impeachment opened, 192;
it is for a daring inroad upon the criminal jurisprudence of the country, by delivering an opinion, at a time and in a manner before unheard of and unknown, that the respondent is impeached, 192;
the soundness of the opinion is offered as a defence, 193;
this was a criminal trial for a capital offence, 193;
answer of respondent on this point examined, 193, 194;
the second article is the case of Basset, whose objection to serve on a jury was overruled by the judge, 194;
the same exception to a juryman, which would furnish ground for a new trial, ought to be a cause of setting aside such juror, if it be taken previous to his being sworn 195;
third, the rejection of the evidence of John Taylor, 195;
is it not an unheard-of practice, in a criminal prosecution, to declare testimony inadmissible because it is not expected to go to the entire exculpation of the prisoner? 195;
fourth, requiring the questions intended to be put to the witness to be reduced to writing, and submitted to the Court, in the first instance, 196;
refusal to postpone the trial, although an affidavit was regularly filed, stating the absence of material witnesses, 196;
fifth, arresting and committing the defendant contrary to law, 196;
other articles stated, 197;
testimony of William Lewis, 198;
testimony of Alexander J. Dallas, 199;
testimony of Henry Tilghman, 201;
testimony of Wm. Rawle, 202;
testimony of George Hay, 204;
testimony of John Taylor, 207;
testimony of Philip N. Nicholas, 207;
testimony of John T. Mason, 209;
testimony of John Heath, 210;
testimony of James Triplett, 210;
testimony of John Basset, 210;
testimony of George Read, 211;
testimony of James Lea, 212;
testimony of John Montgomery, 213;
testimony of Samuel H. Smith, 214;
testimony of John Stephen, 214;
documents offered in evidence, 215.
Opening for the defence, 215;
statement of the points to which testimony will be directed, 215;
first, that the opinion was not only legal, but had been twice expressly decided, and once admitted, in the same court, and had before that trial been laid down as a general principle of law, 215;
second, that the nature of Basset’s application has been wholly misunderstood by the witnesses on the part of the prosecution, 216;
other points stated, 216;
fifth and sixth, that by a rule solemnly made by the Supreme Court, that they never considered the State laws as regulating process, &c., 216;
other points stated, 216;
testimony of Samuel Ewing, 217;
testimony of Edward J. Coale, 217;
testimony of William Meredith, 217;
testimony of Luther Martin, 218;
testimony of James Winchester, 219;
testimony of William Marshall, 219;
testimony of David M. Randolph, 221;
testimony of John Marshall, 222;
testimony of Edmund J. Lee, 224;
testimony of Robert Gamble, 224;
testimony of Philip Gooch, 224;
testimony of Gunning Bedford, 225;
testimony of Nicholas Vandyke, 226;
testimony of Archibald Hamilton, 226;
testimony of Samuel Moore, 226;
testimony of William H. Winder, 227;
testimony of James Winchester, 227;
testimony of Walter Dorsey, 227;
testimony of John Purviance, 228;
testimony of Nicholas Brice, 228;
testimony of James P. Boyd, 228;
testimony of William McMechin, 228;
testimony of William S. Govane, 228;
testimony of William Cranch, 229;
argument begun by Mr. Early, on the part of the Managers, 229;
remarks upon the first article of the impeachment, 229, 230;
do. on the second, third, and fourth articles of the impeachment, 231;
remarks on the sixth and seventh articles of the impeachment, 232;
do. on the eighth article, 232;
argument continued for the House, by Mr. Campbell, 232;
provisions of the constitution relative to impeachments—their precise object and extent, so far as relates to the present case, 233;
the several charges founded on the trial of Callender, stated in the second, third, and fourth articles of impeachment examined, 234;
disqualification of a juror, 234;
argument continued by Mr. Cloud, on the fifth and sixth articles of the impeachment, 236;
the practice of the Federal Courts, 236.
Argument for the defence opened by Mr. Hopkinson, 236;
the first proper object of inquiry is to ascertain, with proper precision, what acts or offences of a public officer are the objects of impeachment, 237, 238;
first article examined, 240;
second specification of first article examined, 242;
argument for the defence continued by Mr. Key, on the second, third, and fourth articles of the impeachment, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248;
argument for the defence continued by Mr. Lee, on the fifth article, 248;
do. on the sixth article, 249;
argument for the defence continued by Mr. Martin, 250;
general review of the case, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257;
argument for the defence continued by Mr. Harper, 258;
political position of the defendant, 258;
general review of the first six articles of impeachment, and an examination of the law and the facts, under the seventh and eighth articles, 260.
Reply for the prosecution continued by Mr. Nicholson, 261-262;
to sustain an impeachment it is not necessary to show that the offences charged are of such a nature as to subject the party to indictment, 263;
words “good behavior,” 263;
treason examined, 264;
reply further continued for the prosecution, by Mr. Rodney, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273;
reply for the prosecution concluded by Mr. Randolph, 274;
the doctrine of impeachment, 274.
Manner of taking the judgment of the Court, 281;
opinion of each Senator taken on each article, 282, 283;
acquittal of Judge Chase, 284.
Chesapeake Frigate, attack on, 614;
report on, 616.
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.—Report of committee on, 418.
Chittenden, Martin, Representative from Vermont, 50, 285, 377, 493, 612.
Church in Georgetown.—Bill to incorporate Presbyterian society considered in the House, 408;
moved to strike out the section authorizing a lottery for finishing the building, 408;
objected to as authorizing public gambling, 408;
ecclesiastical corporations, object of hatred, 408;
no objection to such an act, 408;
no incorporation among Quakers, 408;
Quakers think no money ought to assist them in their passage to heaven—others think money employed to the best advantage in this way, 408;
in a moral, political and religious view, these acts highly necessary, 408;
such an application never refused in a State, 408;
bill passed, 409.
Circuit Courts in Ohio and Tennessee, bill relative to, 519.
Claggett, Clifton, Representative from New Hampshire, 50, 285.
Claiborne, John, Representative from Virginia, 377, 493.
Claiborne, Thomas, Representative from Virginia, 50, 285.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Clark, Christopher, Representative from Virginia, 285, 384;
on improving the navigation of the Potomac, 294, 297;
on the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 310;
on the Georgia Claims, 324;
on the importation of slaves, 386;
on laying a tax on imported slaves, 388;
on incorporating a church in Georgetown, 408;
on postponing the resolution for amending the constitution, relative to the removal of Federal judges, 413;
on amendment of the constitution, relative to the removal of Federal judges, 416;
on importations from Great Britain, 442.
Clark, Daniel, delegate from Orleans Territory, 493, 640;
refuses information relative to Gen. Wilkinson, 644;
his statement relative to Gen. Wilkinson, 646.
Classification of the Senators of Ohio, 38.
Claxton, Thomas, chosen doorkeeper of the House, 378.
See Index, vol. 1.
Clay, Henry, Senator from Kentucky, 487.
Clay, Joseph, Representative from Pennsylvania, 50, 285, 377, 493, 615;
on the amendment to the constitution, relative to the election of President, 59;
on the motion to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 90;
on the increase of specific duties, 158;
offers a resolution to present a sword to Com. Decatur, 286;
on the remission of duties on books, 289;
on the Georgia Claims, 337;
offers resolutions of non-intercourse with Great Britain, 400;
on importations from Great Britain, 421;
on a plurality of offices in the same person, 472;
on naval appropriations, 478;
on repeal of the duty on salt, 481;
on securing the privilege of the Habeas Corpus, 540.
Clay, Matthew, Representative from Virginia, 50, 287, 383, 613;
on organizing the militia of the United States, 659.
See Index, vol. 2.
Clinton, Dewitt, Senator from New York, 3;
on rules of Senate, relative to separate readings of resolutions, 6;
denies charge of Dayton, relative to arraigning motives, 8;
in favor of amendment reported, relative to Vice President, 8;
resigns his seat in the Senate, 20.
Clinton, George, elected Vice President, 168;
presides in Senate as Vice President, 349, 485, 547.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Clinton, George, jun., Representative from New York, 340, 494, 676;
presents the petition of the Manhattan Co., 497.
Clopton, John, Representative from Virginia, 51, 286, 377, 493, 613;
on the amendment to the constitution, relative to the election of President, 59.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Coale, Edward J., his testimony for the defence, on the trial of Judge Chase, 217.
Coast Survey, resolution relative to, 494.
Cobb, Howell, Representative from Georgia, 613.
Cocke, William, Senator from Tennessee, 3, 165;
opposes removal of seat of government, 46.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Cod Fisheries.—See Index, vols. 1. and 2.
Commerce of United States.—See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Committee of Senate to wait on President, 4;
on resolutions relative to amendments of the constitution, 7;
on act relative to the importation of slaves, 39;
of House to inquire into the official conduct of Judges Chase and Peters, 174;
report of do., 174;
to prepare articles of impeachment against Judge Chase, 174;
to conduct the trial, 175;
of the House, second session, eighth Congress, 285.
Compensation of President, Vice President, and other Officers.—See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Condit, John, Senator from New Jersey, 3, 20, 163, 345, 485, 547.
See Index, vol. 2.
Congress.—First session of eighth, Oct. 17, 1803, 3;
extra session, Oct. 17, 1803, 3;
second session of eighth commenced, 163;
adjourned, 343;
third session of eighth adjourns, 344;
first session of ninth commences, 345;
adjournment of the first session of ninth, 484;
commencement of second session of ninth, 485;
adjournment of second session, ninth Congress, 546;
commencement of first session of tenth Congress, 547;
adjournment of first session, tenth Congress, 710.
Connecticut, vote for President, 168.
Conrad, Frederick, Representative from Pennsylvania, 50, 285, 377, 493;
on the application of the Society of Harmony, 404;
on naval appropriations, 478.
Contested Election of Thomas Lewis, report on, 143;
Contested Elections.—See Index, vol. 1.
Contingent Fund, message relative to, 39.
Contingent Expenses, resolution relative to, 388.
See Index, vol. 2.
resolution relative to, 659.
Cook, Orchard, Representative from Massachusetts, 377, 493, 612;
on fortifications and gunboats, 628, 630.
Covington, Leonard, Representative from Maryland, 377, 494.
Cranch, William, his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 229.
Crawford, William H., Senator from Georgia, 551;
on expelling Senator John Smith, 604.
Crowninshield, Jacob, Representative from Massachusetts, 50, 285, 377, 493, 615;
in favor of the resolution to carry the Louisiana treaty into effect, 67;
on the protection of seamen, 314;
on discharging the committee from consideration of invasion of neutral rights, 394;
on the importation of slaves, 401;
on the West India trade, 403;
on making Charlestown, Virginia, a port of entry, 409;
on importations from Great Britain, 422;
on reference of the petition of the Manhattan company, 497;
on British aggressions, 617, 618;
on building gunboats, 626, 629, 634;
decease of, 694.
Culpepper, John, Representative from North Carolina, 613.
Cumberland Road, bill relative to, 384.
Custis, George Washington Parke, letter relative to retrocession of the District of Columbia, 297.
Cutler, Manasseh, Representative from Massachusetts, 50, 286.
See Index, vol. 2.
Cutts, Richard, Representative from Massachusetts, 50, 287, 377, 493, 612.
See Index, vol. 2.
D
Dallas, Alexander J., testimony for the prosecution on the trial of Judge Chase, 199.
Dana, Samuel W., Representative from Connecticut, 50, 286, 377, 493, 612;
on the bill authorizing the President to take possession of the Louisiana Territory, 74;
on the resolution to appoint a committee to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 120;
on protection against the Barbary Powers, 161;
on the resolution relative to the Georgia claims, 315, 316;
on laying a duty on imported slaves, 387, 388, 389;
on naval appropriations, 474, 478;
on repeal of the duty on salt, 481;
on the coast survey, 494;
on the suspension of the Habeas Corpus, 515;
on revolutionary pensions, 614;
on British aggressions, 618.
See Index, vol. 2.
Darby, Ezra, Representative from New Jersey, 377, 493, 612;
deceased, 675.
Davenport, John, Representative from Connecticut, 50, 285, 377, 493, 612.
See Index, vol. 2.
Dawson, John, Representative from Virginia, 50, 285, 377, 493, 613;
on the amendment to the constitution relative to the election of President, 58, 59;
moves to take up resolution relative to the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 161;
on improving the navigation of the Potomac, 292, 301;
on the bill to authorize the court of the District of Columbia to grant divorces, 313;
on laying a tax on imported slaves, 391.
See Index, vol. 2.
Dayton, Jonathan, Senator from New Jersey, 3, 164;
moves to refer resolution relative to amendments of the constitution to a select committee, 7;
opposes amendment of constitution reported relative to the Vice President, 7;
charges Clinton with the habit of arraigning motives, 8;
on the acquisition of Louisiana, 13;
on choice of the House from the three highest candidates, 22;
on amendment to the constitution relative to the election of President, 25;
offers public buildings at Trenton in case of a removal of the seat of Government, 46.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Deane, Josiah, Representative from Massachusetts, 612.
Dearborn, H., letter with documents relative to the conduct of Gen. Wilkinson, 663.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Debates, reporting of.—See Index, vol. 2.
Decatur, Stephen, resolution of thanks to, 165.
Defensive measures under John Adams’ administration.—See Index, vol. 2.
Delaware, vote for President, 168.
Delegates from Territories.
See Index, vol. 1.
DeLemos, letter in cipher of Gen. Wilkinson to, 642;
do. letter of, 665.
Dennis, John, Representative from Maryland, 50;
on considering the resolution to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 92, 111;
on the resolution to appoint a committee to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 122;
on the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 304.
See Index, vol. 2.
Departments, Executive.—See Index, vol. 1.
Desha, Joseph, Representative from Kentucky, 613.
Dickinson, John, his death announced in the Senate, 553.
Dickson, William, Representative from Tennessee, 51, 285, 378, 494.
See Index, vol. 2.
Diplomatic or Foreign Intercourse.—See Index, vol. 2.
District of Columbia, resolution for the recession of, considered, 161;
point fully considered at the last session, 161;
motion to go into committee lost, 161;
motion to discharge the committee carried, 161;
resolutions relative to, 295;
resolutions for recession considered, 303;
motion to postpone lost, 303;
not the intention to remove the Government, 303;
object to cede back to Maryland and Virginia all but the city of Washington, 303;
question of power in Congress after accepting the cession, 304;
constitution examined, 304;
its possession every way expensive to the General Government, 304;
the people of the District are the merest subjects in their condition, 304;
in a degraded situation, 304;
the resolutions are unconstitutional, inexpedient, and unjust and cruel to the people of the District, 304;
resolutions of high importance, 306;
it is said the recession cannot be made without the consent of the people of the District and of the United States, 306;
these points examined, 306;
seat of Government is fixed permanently here if the right of jurisdiction extended only over the soil covered by the public buildings, 306;
if the right of Congress to recede is admitted, the whole will eventually be receded, 307;
two questions involved, 307;
difficulty of legislating for ten miles square considered, 308;
the State Legislatures had presumed Congress would exercise exclusive jurisdiction, 308;
the removal of the seat of Government, which would be the consequence of recession, is not only inexpedient, but also unconstitutional, 308;
these points examined, 308;
what are constitutions, 308;
if the object is to recede all but the city of Washington it operates a change of the seat of Government, 309;
this point demonstrated, 309;
Congress not prepared to act on these questions at present, 309;
constitutional point examined, 310;
expediency of retrocession, 310;
is Congress competent to legislate for the people of the District, 310;
no, 310;
not equal to the task, 310;
the end of the resolutions is to reduce the present quantum of territory, 311;
expense and time in legislating for the territory, 311;
business of the Union interrupted, 311;
resolutions lost, 311.
Bill to prohibit the exaction of bail in certain suits within the District of Columbia, read third time, 312;
proper measure to prevent the oppression of malignant creditors, 312;
not essentially necessary, 312;
recommitment moved, 312;
lost, 312;
bill lost, 312.
Bill to authorize the court of the District of Columbia to decree divorces in certain cases, 313;
reasons for the bill, 313.
Emancipation in the District, reasons for, considered, 313;
rejected, 313.
Divorces, bill to authorize court of District of Columbia to grant, postponed, 343.
Documents, Executive, communicated to the House, 379.
Dorsey, Walter, his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 227.
Drawbacks.—See Index, vol. 1. Duties on Imports.
Durell, Daniel M., Representative from New Hampshire, 612;
on fortifications and gunboats, 628.
Duties on Imports, passage of the bill imposing specific duties, 342.
Duties on Imports, bill for the protection of commerce against the Barbary Powers considered in the House, 158;
moved to strike out first section laying increased duties to provide means for protection, 159;
improper to tack to the provisions for the Mediterranean service, upon which there could be no difference of opinion, a new tax, in respect to which they could not agree, 159;
the increased rate of duty proposed, 159;
duties already high, 159;
why impose a tax of $750,000 to meet an expenditure of $500,000? 159;
now about to authorize a greater expense than usual, and the Legislature are called upon to provide means, 159;
the public debt should never be increased while the resources of the country are adequate to its wants, 159;
statements of the opposition examined, 159;
average rate of ad valorem duty thirteen and a half per cent., 160;
goods charged with ad valorem duties are the most difficult to smuggle, 160;
duty on spirits not too high though it yields a fifth of the revenue, 160;
duty on sugars, on salt, on wines, on woollens, 160;
design to apply the resources to the support of the navy, 160;
the only objection is to the imposition of unnecessary taxes, 161;
the measure gives an improper impression of the causes of the bill, 161;
motion to strike out lost, 161;
do. renewed in the House and lost, 161.
Salt, motion for an inquiry relative to the duty on, 295;
various rates which have been imposed, 295;
present duty twenty cents per bushel, 295;
equal to thirty cents, 295;
finances amply sufficient to authorize a reduction, 296;
imports of salt, 296;
origin of Liverpool salt, 296;
distinction to be made against British salt, 297;
to retrieve reputation of salted provisions, 297;
resolution moved, 297;
state of the finances will not allow a reduction, 297.
Resolution to inquire into the expediency of repealing the duty on salt, 479;
committee already instructed, 479;
duty too high, and falls heavy on the agricultural interest, 479;
adopted, 479;
bill to repeal duty on salt and bounty on exported salt provisions and pickled fish, considered, 479; note, 479;
moved to amend so as to take off eight cents of the duty, 480;
a difference of twenty cents on the bushel will operate very seriously on those who have made shipments, 480;
changes should be gradual, 480;
this duty was pledged for the payment of the national debt, 480;
no argument that it will operate injuriously on shipments, 480;
one of the objects of the bill to get rid of the pledge to pay the debt, 480;
the taxes pledged will still exceed the amount for which they were pledged, 481;
can the Administration get along without this tax, 481;
immediate effect of this measure ruinous, 481;
further debate on the third section, 481;
passage of the bill, 481.
Amendments of the Senate considered in the House, provisions repealing the duty on salt being struck out, and imposing two and a half per cent. duty, retained, 482;
sole and indisputable prerogative of the House to grant the money of the people, 482;
extent of the power of the Senate, 482;
House should never give up this privilege, 482;
not a bill originating revenue, 482;
a question of necessity, 483;
motion to agree to amendments of Senate lost, 483;
reasons for adhering to the disagreement, 483;
committee of conference appointed, 483;
Senate adhere, 484;
House receded, 484.
In Senate bill passed, 491;
in House bill for repeal referred, 502;
Importation of Slaves, duties on considered in the House, 96;
South Carolina repealed her law prohibiting the importation of slaves, 96;
its repeal gives fresh activity to the trade, 96;
to impose a tax on imported slaves is the extent of the power of Congress, 96;
resolution to lay a tax of ten dollars on each slave imported, moved, 96;
in Committee of the Whole, resolution amended to lay a tax of ten dollars on each slave imported into the United States and their Territories, 129;
repeal of the law of South Carolina, should not occasion so much dissatisfaction here, 129;
the law was repealed because it was evaded, and could not be enforced by the State, 129;
this tax will not prevent the introduction of a single slave, 129;
by laying the tax and deriving a revenue, the Government will be giving a sanction to the trade, 129;
effect of the resolution, if adopted, would be injurious, 130;
the question is on the policy of laying the tax, 130;
this point considered, 130;
to import slaves is to import enemies into our country, 131;
danger of a rebellion, 131;
effect of holding slaves on the national character, 131;
importation of slaves is in direct contradiction to the principles of morality, 131;
Eastern States engaged for many years in smuggling them, 132;
the resolution would sanction the trade, 132;
all declamation and appeal to the passions in behalf of the resolution unnecessary, 132;
impose the tax and it becomes the duty of our armed ships to protect the trade, 132;
the question is not whether we shall prohibit the slave trade, but whether we shall tax it, 132;
other considerations urged against its policy, 132;
as a profitable article of commerce it is as eligible for taxation as any other, 133;
by laying the tax Congress does all it can to discourage the trade, 133;
this is the only constitutional power at present enjoyed, 133;
the question should be considered only in its commercial, economical, and fiscal relations, 133;
present extent of the commerce, 133;
present prohibitory statutes disregarded by common consent, 133;
arguments against the policy of the tax considered, 134;
so far from binding the nation to protect it by laying a tax, it is already recognized in many of the States and permitted by the constitution, 134;
the condition of man subdued by fraud or force delineated, 134;
a tax will in some degree discourage the traffic, 135;
gentlemen reprobate a traffic as infamous and horrid, and yet wish to draw a revenue from it, 135;
South Carolina had an undisputed right to do as she has done—why single her out for censure, 135;
it is not a mere question of revenue, but whether the Government of the Union shall condemn the act of a State which she was fully authorized to pass, 135;
should not be hurried away by passion and feeling, 136;
the Treasury wants money, and taxes must be laid, 136;
this article should be taxed because the trade is odious, 137;
motion that the committee rise and report progress, as there is a prospect the Legislature of South Carolina will repeal the law admitting the importation, 137;
arguments urged by the friends of the measure two-fold, 138;
people of South Carolina not friendly to the act admitting the importation, 138;
question of postponement lost, 139;
resolution adopted, 139;
bill ordered, 139;
question on the day for the consideration of the bill, 140;
motion to postpone to next session, 140;
all concede that the tax will not diminish the traffic, 140;
the revenue should be appropriated to humane purposes, 140;
propriety of agreeing to the postponement considered, 140;
a postponement will be destructive of the bill, 141;
the law would have a partial effect, 141;
Motion in House to impose a tax of ten dollars per head on each slave imported, 385;
ninth section of the constitution read, 385;
no reason why this article of importation should remain without duty, while others pay, 385;
the adoption of the resolution can only express the opinion of Congress of the impropriety of importing slaves, 386;
be partial in its operation, 386;
a question of revenue merely, 386;
partial and unjust in its operation, 386;
a duty on South Carolina alone, 386;
it would have prevented a large importation if it had been adopted two years ago, 386;
black men not the only men imported into this country, 387;
moved to strike out the word “slaves,” and insert the word “persons,” 387;
this preserves the words of the constitution, 387;
under the constitution a tax can be laid on the importation of slaves or freemen, 387;
object to express disapprobation of the traffic, 387;
amendment would make a false impression in Europe, 387;
amendment necessary to the passage of a law on this subject, 388;
how should a cargo of slaves be entered at the Custom House, 388;
proceedings in North Carolina on the subject, 389;
the amendment does not correspond with the spirit of the constitution, 389;
this point examined, 389;
amendment lost, 389;
object of the resolution to raise a revenue, or to point the disapprobation of the nation against South Carolina, 389;
is this a course to secure peace and harmony, 389;
amount to be realized, 390;
reasons for not exempting this article, 390;
further debate, 391;
resolution agreed to, 391.
A new section to the bill moved, prohibiting the importation of all slaves into the United States, 401;
what would be the effect of forfeiture in case of smuggling slaves, 401;
further debate, 401;
ordered to be engrossed, 401;
read third time, 418;
bill recommitted, 418.
Bill to prohibit the importation of slaves in Committee of the whole House, 494;
strong objections to forfeiture of persons of color imported, 494;
under the bill it was followed by a sale of these persons as property, 494;
better be left to the laws of the several States, 494;
in some States there could be no such thing as a slave, 494;
fugitives in the State of Massachusetts faithfully restored, 494;
her laws do not interfere with persons passing through, only those coming there to reside, 495; note, 495;
a valid sale would interfere with these laws, 495;
this motion an old thing in a new shape, 495;
importation in the free States an improbable thing, 495;
the United States should retain control of them, 495;
if imported in the south they will be slaves, if at the north vagabonds, 495;
what shall be done with the negroes if they are not forfeited, 495;
to leave them to the operation of the laws of the States is to leave them to become slaves, 495;
slaves will continue to be imported unless you forfeit them, 496;
motion to refer the bill to a select committee, 496;
reasons for the motion, 496;
if imported contrary to law they are to be seized as smuggled goods, and treated accordingly, 496;
what besides the negroes can be found for the law to operate on, 496;
committee rose, 496;
objections against the amendment reduced to two;
first, that a forfeiture is necessary to deprive the importers of every motive to introduce any slaves into the country and render prohibition effectual; second, if slaves are emancipated and turned loose in the Southern States they will be a nuisance, 497;
objections not well founded, 497;
a forfeiture implies a right of ownership in the importer, 498;
better do nothing than forfeit them, 498;
the practical state of things, 498;
what is our duty? 498;
objections to forfeiture considered, 499;
only a commercial question, 499;
forfeiture only will effect prohibition, 499.
See slaves, importation of.
Bill laying more specific duty on certain articles, and imposing light money, read a third time, 158;
postponement moved, 158;
a postponement a rejection of the bill, 158;
it increases the existing rate of duties, 158;
remove the fraudulent practice in making out invoices of the articles, subject to ad valorem duties, 153;
promote manufacturers in the Eastern and Middle States to the detriment of the Southern, 158;
postponement lost, 158;
Remission of Duties on Books, report of the committee considered, 289;
constitution a grant of limited powers, 289;
its leading feature an abhorrence of exclusive privilege, 289;
the privilege asked for is referred to the first section of the eighth article, 289;
the impost shall be uniform, 289;
one quantum, one mode of collecting, and one manner, 289;
if one class is exempted, others may be also, 289;
objectionable on the ground of expediency, 289;
constitutional objection considered, 289;
the power of Congress adequate to promote science and literature, 289;
mistake to suppose that a denial to exempt books from impost is a tax on literary institutions, and, therefore, not uniform, 290;
these institutions soon be rivalling booksellers, 290;
report against the remission adopted, 290.
Duties on Imports.—See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Duties on Tonnage.—See Index, vol. 1.
Dwight, Thomas, Representative from Massachusetts, 50, 285.
Dwight, Theodore, Representative from Connecticut, 493;
on the importation of slaves, 501.
E
Earle, John B., Representative from South Carolina, 51, 285, 378, 494.
Early, Peter, Representative from Georgia, 52, 285, 378, 493;
opposes a repeal of the Bankrupt Law, 79;
on the resolution to appoint a committee to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 117;
on the Georgia militia claims, 125;
appointed to impeach Judge Chase at the bar of the Senate, 174;
opens the argument for the prosecution on the trial of Judge Chase, 229;
on the appointment of an agent to collect information on the Louisiana lead mines, 287;
on the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 306;
contingent expenses, 388;
on laying a tax on imported slaves, 389, 390;
on the payment of witnesses on the trial of Chase, 412;
on importations from Great Britain, 439;
on a plurality of offices in the same person, 469;
on the importation of slaves, 495, 496, 501;
on the appropriation to build gunboats, 517;
on securing the privilege of the Habeas Corpus, 525.
See Index, vol. 2.
Eaton, General, resolutions of thanks submitted in the Senate to Gen. Eaton and his companions, 371;
resolution in the House to present a sword to Gen. Eaton, 380;
moved to amend by striking out “sword,” and inserting “medal,” 381;
only on extraordinary occasions, that medals are awarded, 381;
the case of Preble, 381;
nothing can be done which fame has not anticipated, 382;
honors should be apportioned to merit, 382;
the advantages derived from the services of Gen. Eaton considered, 382;
sword is a reward for mere valor; in this case the valor displayed is only a small part of the distinction, 382;
what services were rendered, 382;
amendment carried, 382;
verbal amendments proposed, 382;
resolution reported to the House, and referred to a select committee, 333;
bill to authorize the settlement of accounts with Gen. Eaton, 482.
Electoral votes for President in 1804—counting of, 167;
counting of, 340.
Electors of President.—See Index, vol. 1.
Elmer, Ebenezer, Representative from New Jersey, 86, 285, 377, 493;
on the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 309;
on incorporating a church in Georgetown, 408;
on importations from Great Britain, 440;
on a plurality of offices, 469;
on the appropriation to build gunboats, 516;
on securing the privilege of the Habeas Corpus, 541.
See Index, vol. 2.
Ellery, Christopher, Senator from Rhode Island, 3, 163.
See Index, vol. 2.
Ellicott, Andrew, letter to the Secretary of State, 668.
Elliott, James, Representative from Vermont, 50, 285, 377, 493, 612;
remarks on the death of Samuel Adams, 52;
on the amendment to the constitution, relative to the election of President, 60;
on the resolution to carry the Louisiana treaty into effect, 64;
on the bill to authorize the President to take possession of the Louisiana territory, 73;
advocates a repeal of the Bankrupt Law, 79;
on the inquiry into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 89, 93;
on the resolution to appoint a committee to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 108;
on the bill relative to the Louisiana territory, 144;
on the Georgia claims, 319;
an the reference of the letter of the Postmaster General, 333, 334;
on the presentation of a sword to Gen. Eaton, 381;
relative to the impressment of seamen, 384;
on importations from Great Britain, 440;
on the suspension of the Habeas Corpus, 505;
on the appropriation to build gunboats, 517;
on securing the privilege of the habeas corpus, 527;
on fortifications and gunboats, 632.
Ellis, Caleb, Representative from New Hampshire, 377, 493.
Ely, William, Representative from Massachusetts, 377, 493, 612;
on the application of the Society of Harmony, 404, 405, 407;
on the importation of slaves, 500.
Emancipation in the District of Columbia, resolution on, 313.
Embargo, Message from President Jefferson recommending, 640;
documents accompanying the Message, 641;
resolution relative to offered, 641;
House informed that the Senate had passed a bill laying an embargo, 641;
action of the House on the bill, 641;
bill passed, 641;
act laying an embargo, 642;
bill to authorize the President, under certain contingencies, to suspend the embargo, considered, 677;
the Orders of Council by Great Britain, and the decrees of France, the causes of the embargo, 677;
if removed, the embargo should be withdrawn, 677;
possible they may be modified or changed before another session, 677;
let the public see we have done every thing to relieve them from the distress of measures rendered necessary by the conduct of other nations, 677;
no argument urged against delegating the exercise of special powers, 678;
distinction between the authority to suspend a law in operation, and one not commenced, 677;
this delegation of power examined, 677;
power to lay an embargo considered, 679;
our Government, by its conduct, the author of the cause of the embargo, 680;
author of the resolution laying the embargo, 680;
rejection of the treaty of December, 1806, 681;
circumstances of the two treaties and their provisions, 681;
the subject of blockades, 683;
the question of impressment, 683;
objectionable condition of the treaty, 684;
assertions respecting the Administration, 685;
either treaty is preferable to the present state of affairs, 686;
raise the embargo and arm our vessels, 686;
objections to an embargo, 686;
fraught with impolicy, 687;
impressment the main block in the way of negotiation, 687;
arming of our merchant vessels produces war, 688;
subject of the treaty, 688;
constitutionality of the embargo, 689;
the embargo considered, 690;
its immediate repeal only will save from great distress, 691;
the resolution considered, 691;
our fisheries, 692;
object of the embargo, 692;
the resolution is pernicious, 693;
object of the embargo to make an impression on Europe, and the resolution, tells them we are already tired of it, 693;
foreign nations will see we are determined the embargo shall never be repealed until they revoke their decrees and orders in council, 693;
further debate, 694;
the discretion to the President should be absolute, but the resolution in pretence only gives it, 695;
amendment moved, 695;
amendment more objectionable than the original, 696;
it limits the discretion of the President to specific circumstances, 696;
interpretation of the constitution, 696;
expediency of investing the President with this power, 697;
some provision relative to the embargo unavoidable, 697, 698;
two characteristics of the embargo power, 699;
the most enormous power in the manner in which it affects the hopes and interests of the nation, 699;
which position of invested power most auspicious to a happy issue, 700;
constitutionality of the bill, 700;
to give the President power to suspend a law is equal to giving him power to suspend all laws, 701;
similar powers have been exercised, 702;
other cases stated, 702;
question of power examined, 703;
constitutional power of the House, 703;
history of former embargoes, 704;
does the constitution restrain us from giving this power, 704;
precedents, 705;
the pressure and weight of the embargo should not have influence in deciding this question, 705;
pass the bill, and the Executive has it in his power to declare war, 706;
amendment lost, 706;
moved to amend so as to repeal the embargo, 706;
remarks thereon, 706;
bill passed, 707.
Embargo.—See Index, vol. 1, Great Britain, retaliating measures upon.
Eppes, John W., Representative from Virginia, 50, 285, 377, 493, 613;
on the resolution to appoint a committee to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 118;
on the postponement of the bill laying a tax on imported slaves, 141;
on the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 306;
on importations from Great Britain, 443;
on a plurality of offices in the same person, 467;
on naval appropriations, 475;
on the exclusion of military and naval officers from civil employment, 477;
on the suspension of the habeas corpus, 507;
on inquiry into the conduct of General Wilkinson, 658;
on suspending the act of non-importation, 705;
on home manufactures, 710.
Eustis, William, Representative from Massachusetts, 50, 286;
on the bill authorizing the President to take possession of the Louisiana territory, 75;
opposes a repeal of the bankrupt law, 79;
in favor of augmentation of the navy, 88;
on the resolution to appoint a committee to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 115;
on the bill relative to the Louisiana territory, 145;
on expenses of repairs at Navy Yards, 314;
on the Georgia claims, 325, 331.
See Index, vol. 2.
Ewing, Samuel, his testimony for the defence, on the trial of Judge Chase, 217.
Ex-Bashaw of Tripoli, report of committee in the Senate on Message relative to, 370.
Ex-Bashaw of Tunis, bill for relief of, passed, 484.
Excise Laws.—See Index, vol. 1.
Executive Departments.—See Index, vol. 1.
Expatriation.—See Index, vol. 2.
F
Fenner, James, Senator from Rhode Island, 345, 487, 551.
Findlay, William, Representative from Pennsylvania, 50, 285, 377, 493, 612;
on the resolution to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 99;
on a tax on imported slaves, 132, 140;
on the remission of duties on books, 289, 290, 291;
on the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 307;
on the Georgia claims, 327;
on importations from Great Britain, 438;
on suspension of the embargo, 703.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Fisk, James, Representative from Vermont, 377, 493, 612;
on laying a duty on imported slaves, 387;
on a plurality of offices in the same person, 466;
on the appropriation to build gunboats, 517;
on excluding settlers from the public lands, 545;
on fortifications and gunboats, 631;
on suspension of the embargo act, 687;
on inquiry into the conduct of Judge Innes, 708.
Flag of the United States.—See Index, vol. 1.
Florida, purchase of, motion to refer to a select committee, 353;
confidential message from the House, 353;
bill relative to, amendment of, 353;
third reading of bill in Senate, 354;
motion to postpone, 354;
amendments offered, 354;
Foreign Ministers, in Senate, bill to prevent the abuse of the privileges and immunities of, considered, 364;
two points of view to be considered, 364;
one, as the provisions of the bill relate to the law of nations—the other, as they regard the Constitution of the United States, 364;
privileges under the law of nations, 364;
no citizen of a republic enjoys such a privilege, 364;
writers have assigned various reasons for this phenomenon in politics and morals, 364;
this arises from the nature of their office and duties, 365;
experience shows the necessity of erecting some barrier against the abuse of these privileges, 365;
the provisions of the bill considered in detail, 366;
treatment in case of heinous offences, 366;
do. of offences against the Government, 366;
relations which the bill bears to the Constitution of the United States, 366;
circumstances in which the bill originated described, 367;
by the passage of the bill we may prevent the spread of an evil which threatens the dearest interests of the nation, 368;
bill ordered to third reading, 369;
various amendments proposed and carried, 369;
bill lost, 369.
Fowler, John, Representative from Kentucky, 50, 383, 497.
See Index, vol. 2.
France, relations with, during John Adams’ Administration. See Index, vol. 2.
Franking Privilege.—See Index, vols. 1 and 2, Post Office bill.
Franklin, Jesse, Senator from North Carolina, 3, 163, 547;
elected President pro tem. of Senate, 44.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Franklin, Meshack, Representative from North Carolina, 613.
Freedom of conscience.—See Index, vol. 1.
French Refugees.—See Index, vol. 1.
French Spoliations bill, relative to, 380.
French Spoliations.—See Index, vol. 2.
Frontiers, protection of.—See Index, vol. 1.
Fugitives from Justice.—See Index, vol 1.
G
Galliopolis, petition of the inhabitants of, 353.
Gamble, Robert, his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 224.
Gannt, Rev. Dr., Chaplain of Senate, 4, 348.
See Index, vol. 2.
Gardenier, Barent, Representative from New York, 612;
on building gunboats, 627;
on fortifications and gunboats, 629;
on inquiry into the conduct of General Wilkinson, 645.
Gardner, Francis, Representative from New Hampshire, 612.
Garnett, James M., Representative from Virginia, 377, 493, 613.
General welfare clause examined.—See Index, vol. 1.
Georgia, vote for President, 168.
Georgia Land Claim.—Resolutions in the House relative thereto offered, 142;
referred, 142;
bill relative to considered, 148;
desirable to take the sense of the committee in the first instance on the resolutions, 148;
not our duty to give an opinion, whether the Legislature of Georgia acted wickedly or uprightly, 149;
no opinion required from us, 149;
the committee should have stated whether the facts in the resolutions are erroneous or not, 149;
certain of the claims are not recognized, either by the State or the United States—let gentlemen prove it if they can, 149;
no pledge has been given, or it can be proved, 149;
the recognition of these claims is equally a violation of the rights of the State of Georgia, with a rejection of them, 150;
the resolutions examined in detail, 150;
further statement of facts, 151;
moved to postpone the resolutions to the next session, 153;
the principles of the resolutions are not abstract, 153;
when we are called to compromise claims, can we not determine whether they are founded in justice or not? 153;
it is necessary to determine the validity of the act of 1795, in order to decide the justice of compromising claims under it, 152;
point upon which the decision must turn, 153;
comparison of the facts with the resolutions, 153;
evident the claims under the acts of Georgia have no validity, 154;
a stain on our character to grant compensation for their pretended losses to any of those adventurers who made the spurious contract with Georgia in the year 1795, for the purchase of her western territory, 154;
sources of information that led to this conclusion, 155;
the Yazoo contract, how obtained, 155;
reception of the law of 1795 by the people of Georgia, 155;
vote on the postponement of the resolutions taken separately, 156;
report of committee for appointment of commissioners considered, 315;
report confined to statement of facts, 316;
is a summary of all, 316;
report considered in the House, 316;
amendment proposed limiting the resolution to a particular class of claims, 316;
claim of the New England Mississippi Land Company, whom it is proposed to debar from any benefit of the five million acres, reserved in the compact with Georgia to satisfy any claims not specially provided for in that contract, 317;
case of the Connecticut Reserve, 318;
various questions proposed and examined, 320;
did the State of Georgia in 1795 possess a title to the territory in question? 320;
were the Legislature of Georgia in 1795 invested with power to sell the territory, &c.? 320;
can a legislature rescind a contract made by its predecessors? 321;
can the judicial power declare a legislative act void, as having been passed by means of corruption? 321;
were the claims of the present claimants recognized by the act of cession, &c.? 321;
the equity of the claims, and the policy of compromise, 322;
the acts of fraud, 323;
the four land companies, 323;
wrong sufficient to invalidate the contract, 323;
present applicants innocent holders, 323;
the question is, whether we are to do a good or an injury to a class of men denounced as a band of speculators, 324;
effects of the amendment proposed, 324;
had the claimants, at the time of their purchase, or not, a knowledge of the fraud? 326;
the arguments urged are not intended to influence the judgment of the House, but to control the public mind by an avowed appeal to the people, 326;
silence and concert of unprincipled men, 326;
Message of the President in February, 1795, considered, 327;
title of Georgia doubtful, 327;
lands sold by Georgians to citizens of Massachusetts, at Boston, 327;
the bargain and sale fair and legal, 328;
amount of land sold, 328;
the law of Congress taking possession of the government of the territory, 328;
conditions on which Georgia surrendered her right of soil, 329;
question of title given up, question turns on expediency, 329;
equitable considerations urged, 329;
observations on the various objections urged, 330;
manner of selling the land in the Eastern States, 331;
story of the distressed female applying to the Magdalen Hospital, 332.
Present claimants no right in law or equity to the lands in question, and policy does not demand the interference of the national Legislature, 336;
how could Georgia have a pre-emption title to the lands while the Indian title still existed? 337;
notoriety of the fraud is evidence that the present claimants are not innocent purchasers, 337;
Georgia Limits, in House, report on memorial of the Legislature of Georgia, 403;
report deferred, 404.
Militia Claims.—Report of the committee, in the House, on claims against a petition for pay as militiamen, called out in the State of Georgia for protection of that State against the Indians, considered, 125;
they were called out under the authority of the Government of the United States, which is bound to compensate them, 125;
petitioners must look for compensation to the State of Georgia, which has agreed to receive a certain sum in full of all demands for military service, 125; note, 125;
interpretation of the articles of cession, 125;
statement of facts, 126;
committee assume the principle that the State was bound in the first instance to pay the soldiery, notwithstanding the ulterior responsibility of the General Government, 126;
reasoning to sustain this principle examined, 126;
the troops were called out in all cases by the State Executives, on instructions from the General Government, 126;
two modes marked out in the constitution in which the militia may be called into service, 127;
when a service is performed, the party for whom it is performed is the only one responsible for the compensation, 127;
a distinction taken between the situation of troops called into the field by order of General Government, and those called by State Executives on the authority of the former, 127;
this proves nothing in the present case, 127;
has the right of peace and war been yielded to the General Government, and yet the States bound to compensate for war services, 128;
the simple question considered by the committee was, whether compensation had or had not been rendered for those services, 128;
this depended upon the decision of another question, whether the State of Georgia was in the first instance liable for these claims, 128;
two ways by which the militia of a State may be called out by the Executive of the United States, 128;
what are the facts in this case? 128;
what is the nature of the compromise made in the case, 128.
German Language, laws in.—See Index, vol. 2.
Giles, William B., Senator from Virginia, 163, 552;
reports the bill for the Government of the Territory of Orleans, 166;
on the order of proceedings in the case of John Smith, 554;
on expelling Senator John Smith, 589.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Gillespie, James, Representative from North Carolina, 78, 285;
decease of, 312.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Gilman, Nicholas, Senator from New Hampshire, 345, 485, 547.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Goddard, Calvin, Representative from Connecticut, 50, 286;
on the call upon the President for documents showing the title to Louisiana, 55;
on the resolution relative to public roads, 84;
on improving the navigation of the Potomac, 291.
See Index, vol. 2.
Goldsborough, Charles, Representative from Maryland, 377, 493, 612;
on a Naval Peace Establishment, 402.
Gooch, Philip, his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 224.
Goodrich, Chauncey, Senator from Connecticut, 551.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Goodwyn, Peterson, Representative from Virginia, 50, 288, 377, 493, 613.
Govane, William S., his testimony for the defence on the trial of Judge Chase, 328.
Granger Gideon, Postmaster-General, letter to the House, 332;
considered, 333;
a second letter stating his interest in the Georgia grants, 333;
motion to refer to a select committee, 333;
an affair of honor between two gentlemen and Congress has nothing to do with it, 333;
Congress has no power to remove the Postmaster-General, if the charges were true, 333;
nothing more reasonable than to grant the reference, 333;
the letter couched in such language the House should not listen to it, 334;
too late in the session for this business, 334;
nothing disrespectful in the letter, 335;
if the charges are true, the President is the proper person to apply to for removal of the officer—subject postponed, 336.
Gray, Edwin, Representative from Virginia, 50, 288, 379, 497, 613.
Great Britain, retaliatory measures upon in Washington’s Administration. See Index, vol. 1.
Green, Isaiah L., Representative from Massachusetts, 377, 493, 612.
Gregg, Andrew, Representative from Pennsylvania, 50, 377, 494;
on the resolution to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 91;
on a tax on imported slaves, 137, 141;
on the bill relative to the Louisiana Territory, 144, 145;
on the bill to bridge the Potomac, 290;
on the Georgia claims, 329;
on the reference of the letter of the Postmaster-General, 334;
on the Yazoo claims, 379;
submits a bill relative to a Naval Peace Establishment, 385;
on discharging the committee from consideration of invasion of neutral rights, 394;
introduces resolutions of non-intercourse, 395;
on a Naval Peace Establishment, 402;
on the application of the Society of Harmony, 404, 405;
on the amendment of the constitution relative to the removal of Federal Judges, 415;
on importations from Great Britain, 419;
on a plurality of offices in the same person, 472;
on the exclusion of military and naval officers from civil employment, 476;
on the appropriation to build gunboats, 517;
on excluding settlers from the public lands, 543;
Senator from Pennsylvania, 547.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Griffin, Thomas, Representative from Virginia, 50, 285;
on the resolution to appoint a committee to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 114.
Griswold, George, Representative from New York, 50, 285.
Griswold, Roger, Representative from Connecticut, 50, 286;
on the motion to call on the President for documents relative to the acquisition of Louisiana, 54;
on the amendment to the constitution relative to the election of President, 58;
against the resolution to carry the Louisiana Treaty into effect, 61;
remarks on the bill authorizing the President to take possession of the Louisiana Territory, 73, 75;
on the resolution relative to public roads, 83;
in favor of augmentation of the Navy, 88;
on the motion to inquire into the official conduct of Judge Chase, 90, 92, 104;
on the postponement of the bill to tax imported slaves, 141;
on protection against the Barbary Powers, 159;
on the remission of duties on books, 289;
on improving the navigation of the Potomac, 292;
on the retrocession of the District of Columbia, 307.
See Index, vols. 1 and 2.
Gunboats.—Report of the committee, in the House, on fortifying harbors considered, 516;
question on filling the blank with $250,000 for building fifty gunboats, 516;
better appropriate the money to solid and durable fortifications, 516;
a sufficient number already, 516;
the system of gunboats a matter of experiment, 516;
if the experiment succeeds, then let us vote liberally, 516;
the House has already refused to man the gunboats now built, 516;
when the necessity arises the boats can be built, 517;
more information desired on the subject, 517;
experience has proved them to be useful, as in the late war with Tripoli, 517;
the expense, as compared with that of frigates, 517;
advantages and disadvantages, 518;
number already on hand, 518;
postponed, 518.
In House, the bill from the Senate, for building gunboats and the bill for fortifying harbors from committee on aggressions, considered, 625;
moved to reduce the number of gunboats to be built from one hundred eighty-four to one hundred, 625;
gunboats could not have prevented any one of the aggressions of which we complain, 625;
could only act in harbor defence, 625;
some frigates should be provided, 625;
other means of defence can be provided in other bills, 625;
a sufficient number should be built, or the money would be thrown away, 625;
a frigate costs more than gunboats with same number of guns, 625;
gunboats not a mere experiment, 625;
without the boats the squadron would not have been competent to attack Tripoli, 626;
these boats crossed the Atlantic, 626;
of 60 or 70 tons burden, 626;
duty of the House to provide effectual protection, 626;
fortifications and gunboats regarded by the committee as the best system, 626;
and such a number of boats, they say, are wanting, 626;
if the object is to protect the country, this bill should pass, 626;
if ships or frigates will add to the protection, they can be voted when the subject comes up, 626;
these boats eminently and essentially useful as a species of defence, 626;
expense of a frigate and gunboats compared, 626;
shall a certain sum of money be appropriated for the defence of ports and harbors? 626;
never should be said that we ought to defend ourselves beyond our own shores, 626;
the information obtained from the Executive was in favor of gunboats, 627;
when the number necessary is known, the money should be appropriated, 627;
the situation of the country in relation to Great Britain should be considered, 627;
no objection to vote for gunboats if land batteries will be sufficiently provided for, 627;
a visionary scheme to evade the real object of defence, and to introduce false notions of economy, 627;
intention of the committee to erect new works and repair old, 628;
after such a proposition as this, no one which could be made would be surprising, 628;
the great object was to arm the nation to meet an event which they would be called on before long to meet, 628;
question now on one species of this arming, 628;
gunboats in connection with fortifications cannot obtain the end proposed, 628;
these boats cannot be used in certain ports to which they are assigned, 628;
reasons, 628;
moved to strike out sixty-four gunboats and substitute four frigates, 628;
question on striking out, 629;
difference of opinion on the subject of gunboats, 629;
bill accords with the sentiments of the Northern States, 629;
if the motion prevails, a million dollars more will be required, 629;
United States have not means to build a fleet, 629;
time for a naval establishment has passed, 630;
not in our power to provide as respectable a fleet as Denmark, 630;
let us then apply our limited means to a mode of defence on which more reliance can be placed, 630;
put the harbors in such a state of defence we shall not feel the want of a Navy, 630;
gunboats a part of land defence, 630;
British not dared to attack a single French port, 630;
other modes of defence should be taken into account at the same time, 631;
it would be a proper measure now to increase the Navy, to prevent aggression from a foreign power, 631;
no danger can arise to the liberties of the people from an increase of the Navy, 631;
had more tons of shipping afloat and more largely concerned in the freedom of the seas than any nation on earth save one, and shall they lie unconcerned while the dearest rights of nations are destroyed by that one? 631;
this measure is beyond our means, and is not a measure of exigency, 631;
what became of the Navy of Denmark? and what will be the fate of ours, 632;
it has been charged that the formidable Navy raised by the former Administration has been sold off by this, and the nation left without defence, 632;
amendment negatived, 632;
presents one of those great crises that rarely occur in the annals of a nation, 632;
a crisis of awful moment, 632;
principal unavowed argument in favor of the present measure is the supposed predilection of the Executive, 633;
a new volume of the celebrated proclamation and gunboat system, 633;
subject of messages, 633;
opinions of naval officers annexed, 634;
every argument is answered by saying it is a popular system, 634;
with whom is it popular? 634;
the whole seaboard interested in this question, 634;
utility of gunboats examined, 635;
objections to the bill considered, 635;
reasons for the measure, 636;
origin of gunboats, 636;
a period has arrived when this nation must receive a satisfaction for injuries inflicted, and security for the future, or the sword must be drawn, 637;
negotiations, 637;
course of the Administration, 637;
evidence of the utility of gunboats, 637;
until gentlemen on the seacoast could better agree on the number and utility of gunboats, so large a number should not be built, 638;
how are the boats to be manned, 638;
attempt to persuade the public that the friends of this measure are about to drain the Treasury for a useless measure of defence, 638;
does the present state of our foreign relations require effective measures, 638;
will the nation consent to expose to an enemy the whole extent of our seacoast, without an effort to repel him until he is landed? 639;
what are the means in our power best calculated for defence? 639;
either gunboats or ships, 639;
opinion of naval men that gunboats may be useful, but they should not supersede all other means of defence, 639;
instead of a comprehensive system, measures are laid before us by piecemeal, 640;
objections to the measure, 640;
bill passed, 640.
H
Habeas Corpus, suspension of the writ of.—In the Senate, committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of suspending, 490;
bill reported, 490;
bill passed, 490;
confidential Message to the House, 490.
In House, on the question that proceedings on the bill be had with open doors, 504;
carried, 504;
moved to reject the bill, 504;
information in President’s Message, 504;
existing laws sufficient, 504;
its suspension would hold out an improper idea of danger and alarm, 505;
danger nearly over, 505;
this step never resorted to before, 505;
no apology for suspending this writ, 505;
a dangerous precedent, 505;
most extraordinary proposition ever presented to our consideration, 506;
constitution forbids it only in the case of self-preservation, 506;
proposition is to invest unlimited power in the supreme Executive, over the personal liberty of the citizens, 506;
nature and character of the writ, 506;
bill objectionable also in its details, 506;
what evidence of the necessity of this measure? 507;
condition of the leader, 507;
called by this bill to exercise one of the most important powers vested in Congress, 507;
words of the constitution, 507;
does the public safety require its suspension? 507;
this point examined, 508;
constitution does not restrict the power of the Government to such extreme cases, 508;
a rebellion exists, 508;
a conspiracy has been formed with deliberation, and existed a long time, 508;
the country is in a state of insecurity, 508;
no insurrection ever occurred like this, 508;
the conspiracy considered, 509;
nature of this writ, 509;
its effects on the individual and on the community at large, 509;
no insurrection to be compared in magnitude to this, 510;
a subject sanctioned by the Senate, and worthy of discussion and reference, 510;
satisfactory proof of a rebellion should be obtained, 510;
no doubt of its existence, 510;
this not sufficient to justify this measure, 510;
it can be necessary only for the detection and conviction of offenders, 510;
once suspended in Massachusetts, and regarded as useful, 511;
House competent to reject the bill on its first reading, 511;
an improper measure coming from the Senate should be viewed with jealousy, 511;
an oblique attempt to cover a certain departure from an established law of the land, and a certain violation of the constitution, 512;
the case at issue is, whether the military government is subject to the civil power, or the civil authority to the military, 512;
it is merely a foreign intrigue, 512;
if this bill passes it establishes a new era in the Government, 513;
a nation is never enslaved at once, 513;
the details of the bill, 514;
shall we exercise the only power with which we are clothed, to repeal an important part of the constitution? 514;
example of England, 514;
does the necessity exist? 514;
in the opinion of the President no danger is to be apprehended, 514;
this bill operates as an ex post facto law, 515;
bill rejected, 515.
Resolution, in House, to make farther provision for securing the privileges of the writ of habeas corpus considered, 520; note, 520;
necessity and importance of the provision contemplated, 520;
provision of the constitution, its intention, 520;
arguments in support of the motion, 520;
proceedings at New Orleans, 521;
doubtful if a change in the law is material, 522;
acts of Congress determine the manner in which this writ shall be enforced, 522;