Amendments to the Constitution, [8 June] 1789 — reading text

Mr. BoUDiNoT Was well convinced of the importance of the fubjed, but did not think the committee ripe for a decilion. The ether departments were not eflabliflied, therefore it ?was hei\ to leai'c the refolutions on this fubjed as large as pof- lible. He had no objection to an adoption cf a genera* reiblution, and the appointment of a fub-committee, to confider of and arrange the bufmefs ; but he could not conit nt to limit it in the manner the gentleman propo- fed perhaps the mcafure might interfere \\ith the former ; arrangenienis, a'.:'d it would be d ffitult if not unjult to al- ter them, beiide the plan of the bulinefs was mere matter cf exoerinient niorcover the ueLtfluy of fuch an eila- : bliihment, may be fuperccded by tiirowing the bufmefs info the hards of one of three great departuxnis which the bcufe had agreed to orgsiiize. For thtfe reaforiS, he mo- ved to amend the rdblurion by flriking out the words *' a land office," w Inch v. oijid leave the fubjed: at large. Mr. Lee, feccnded this motion. IV} r. VixiNG Took it, that the couin ittet ought to carry this meafurc iv.tu tiiici, ks litc-uiiy i)& h was pcllible. Ht was cuH' A. 1789. O F C O N G R E S S. 403 vinced from what the gentleman near him (Mr. Scott) had laid, that it was iadilpeniibly iiectliary, that a lar;d of- ficefhould be eftablilhed. He did not conceive this buiinefs could be engrafted upon eiti^.er of the three grand (iepart- ments, but mull be an independent unconnected office, c{\a- blidied in the weflern country. The communications which are necellary, and the money can be fecured to the officer of the treafury. Why then, fhould gentletiien combine ob- jeds which are di(tindl in their nature, and throw tlie whole weight of this branch of the government upon another al- ready well burthened with buiinefs? Mr. Scott Admitted his meafure to be mere matter of experiment, but gentlemen ought not to object on that account becaufe; it was an experiment that would col't nothing, the officers were to have nothing but fees for their iervices. Mr. Clymer Did not belie /e the committee were prepared for a de- cifionatthis time ; he confidered the fubjedl to be as intri- cate and difficult as it was interefting ; and therefore hoj)ed full time would be given for inveftigation. Many perlons had purchafed large quantities of lands of the late ccngrefs, with a view to fell them cut in fmall lots, toaccoinodave the people who are inclined to fettle upon them. If con^rels now open a land-office for the f^le of fmall quantiries, it will no doubt, overcaii the profpeft of advantage which in- duced the former, and may iiiduce future purcliafers toaji- p!y for large grants. Thefe obiervaiions, and others which would readily occur to cvtrry gcntlen^an, would faiisfy the committee that they ought not to precijiitate the buiuicfs. For this realbn he moved the riling of the committee. Mr. White. Oppofed the rifing of the committee, for the rcafcns fuggefted, he was confident, every member faw.the pro- priety of doing fomething fpeediiy in the bufmefs, and he hoped they would agree to "the reiolution, as the bell mode of difpohng of the land, and giving fatisfacliou to-ihe people. Mr. Madison Had no objeftion to the riling of the committee, as the means of obtaining information, but he thought the buline's deferving of the earlieft: attention. l"he clear and full n-a:> ner in which the gentleman from Pcnnfylvania hid open- ed the fubjeft to the view of the commitiee, left no doubt en his mind of the propriety of taking fome early niealurt*  04 DEBATES A. 1789. 10 accomplilli the bufinefs in the manner fnggefted by that rrentleman. The fa6ls and intelhgence mentioned were too finportant to be paiFed lightly over ; he fhould for the pre- ient agree to rife, but hoped the fubjed would be refumed in the hcufe. The queftion was taken on the firfl; reiolution moved by Mr. Scott, andpafied in the affirmative, the others remain, cd on the table. The committee then rofe, and reported progrefs. Mr.. Gerry then moved, that a committee be appointed to confider the ftate ot the unappropriated lands in the weftern territory, and to report thereupon. Mr. ViNiNG Thought this motion contradidory to the one juft adopt- ed in committee. If time was nccefl'ary for obtaining infor- mation, it was ufelefs to fct a committee about the bufinefs, iiecaufe every gentleman might have eafy accefs to all the former congrefs hold done on this fubjecl. Mr. Page Difliked the appointment of a fub-committee on bufinefs which was before the whole, and doubted if it was in or- der. Mr. Gerry. Said, itwas of importance that the houfe fliould be made mafter of this fubjeft, and he knew no way fo likely to pro- ceed in this, as by appointing a fub-committee to conlider 3nd enquire into the ftate of thofe lands. He looked upon f his propofitioii to be detached from what was before th» committee of the whole, yet, it was of that that nature, as to refieft light upon the fubjedl. He therefore hoped hit; ^TiotiQp wptild be agreed to. Mr. Scott Did not pot defign to hurry the houfe or committee into any meafnres, efjjecially if they were of doubtful policy j ^rom his local fituation he was polTcfi'ed of facts, which it was inipoilibie for nsany men)bers of that houfe to be ac- |C]iiaip?ed with. Thefe fads he thought led to confidera- ticns of great importance to the United States. Under thefe prcuniitances, his duty led him to communicate to the houfe the information he had already given. He was far from wilhing that congrefs flipuld proceed in the dark in their dptej-minatipns on this fubjecl ; he rather wiflied for every *nformatif)n to be brought forward which could poilibly ?end to illullrate it and for that reafon had chearfuUy at- ; giziefcgfj iq the rifinjj of tjie committceo As he had ipipe A. 1/89. Of C O N G R E S S. 405 i^oubts with refpecl to the propriety of this motion^ he ho= ped it would not be precipitated he tliought it was unne- ; cefiary to appoint a committee to confider the ftate of the unappropriated lands in the weftern territory, becaufe their lituation was fuch as to ftare every one in the face. No gentleman in that houfe was ignorant of the great Ibm of money due to congrefs, upon completing the furveyscf the grants already made. He fuppofed likewife, that it was not in the power of the United Stares to make any alterations in their contrafts with the purchafcrs of the land ; a committee would therefore be ufelels. He thought it was very clear, from the fads he had flated, that there was a necelTity of adopting fome meafurcs hke thofe he had propofed. If the gentleman by his mo- tion intended to embarrais the bufinels, or prevent any but the million acre purchafcrs from acquirin^^ lands in that country, he was certain it would do an eflential injury to ihe interefts of the United States ; the people, who are now diipofed to fettle, would go to the Spanilh or Engliili colonies, they would iorm a place of refuge, for all the outcafts of the Atlantic Hates, who in fuch cafe, would be- come very dangerous neighbours. He had done his duty by bringing the fubjecT: before the houfe, and had no doubt but that others would do what was right in determining up- on this queftion. The rnotion was hereupon decided in the affirmative, and £ committee conliliing of Mefl". Scott, Huntington, and — Sherman, was appointed. Adjourned. May 29. An engroffed bill impofing duties en tonnage, was read the third time. Refolved, that the faid bill do pafs, and that the title be, " An acT: impofing duties on tonnage.'"' Ordered, that the clerk of this houle do carry the faid bill to the fenate, and defire their concurrence. Mr. Partridge from the committee appointed to confer with a committee of the fenate, on the proper method of receiving into either houfe, bills or mefiages from thepre- fident of the United States, made a report, and the laid report being amended to re^d as loUoweth : That until the public cifices are eflablidied, and the re- fpeftive officers are appointed, any returns of bills, and refolutions, or other communications from the prclident^ may be received by either houfe, under cover, directed 10 the prefident of the ftrnate^ or fpeaker cf the houfe of 4o6 DEBATES A. 1789, l-eprefentatlvcs, as the cafe rngy be, and tranfmitted by fuch perfoii as tlie prefident may think proper. llciolved, that this houl'e doth agree to the faid report. Ordered, that the clerk of this hou{e do acquaint the fenate therewith, and defire their concurrence. A bill to regulate the colle£lion of duties impofed on goods, wares, and merchandizes imported into the United States, was read the fecond time, and ordered to be com. initted to a committee of the whole houie -on Monday next. Adjourned. June i. A melTage from the fenate, by Mr. Otis, tlieir fecretary. — Mr. i'peaker The fenate agree to the report, on the mode of receiving into either houfe, bills, or other commu- nications, from the prefident of the United States, as the- fame was amended by this houfe. And then he withdrew. The houfe, according to the order of the day, refolved itfelf into a committee of the whole houfe, on the bill to regulate the collection of duties impofed on goods, wares, jnd merchandizes imported into the United States. After fome time fpent therein, the committee rofe up and reported, that they had, according to order, had the laid bill under confideration, and made fome progrefs therein. Refolved, that this houfe will, to-morrow, again refolvc itfelf into a committee of the whole houfe on the faid bill. A meiTage was received from the prefident of the United States, notifying, that the prehdent approves of the ad, entitled, '^ an act to regulate the time and manner of ad- minillering certain oaths," and has this day affixed his tignature thereto and the meflengcr delivered in the faid ad, and then withdrew. Ordered, that the clerk of this houfe do acquaint the fenate therewith. Mr. Baldwin, from the committee appointed to take into coiifideration the fubjeft of compenfations 10 be made for the fervices of the prefident, and vice-prefident, the mem- bers of the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives, made report, which v\as read, and ordered to lie on the table. On motion, ordei'ed, tha'. Mr. Sjnith, (of South-Caro- lina) Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. Ames, be a committee to pre- pare and bring in a bill or bills, to ellabliih an uniform lyficm on the fubjecl of bankruptcies throughout the United States, June 2. Mr. fpeaker, purfuant to the diredions of the act, en* liiled, '' An aft to rcTulate 9 the time and mannef of admi- A.1789. Of CONGRESS. 4of niltering certain oaths," proceeded to adminifter the oath to fupport the conditution of the United States, in the form prefcribed by the faid att, to the following members of this houfe, who had not before taken a fnnilar oath, viz. A.braham Baldwin, Egbert Benfon, Edanus Burke^ Ifaac Coles,Benjamin Contee, William Floyd, Jonathan Grout, John Hathorn, James Jatkfon, Samuel Liver- more, Jeremiah Van Ranll'elaer, joihua Seney,