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

Thomas Sinnickfon, Peter Sylveller, Thomas Sumpter, Jonathan Trumbull, John Vining, and Jeremiah Wadfworth. The fame oath, and moreover the oath ot office, pre- fcribed by the faid ad:, were alfo adminiftered by Mr. fpeaker to the clerk. Mr. Hugar and Mr. Smith (of South-Carolina) produ- ced certificates under the hand of the chief] uftice of New- York, of their having taken the oath to fupport the conlti- tution of the United States, before the laid chief juftice, purfuant to a former reiolution of this houfe. Mr. Baldwin from the committee appointed, prefented, according to order, a bill to eltablilh an executive depart- ment, to be denominated the department of war, which v/as received, and read the firlt lime. Mr. Baldwin, from the committee appointed, prefented, according to order, a bill to eftablifli an executive depart- ment, to be denominated, the department of foreign affairs^ which was received, and read the firlt time. The houfe, according to the order of the day, refolved itfelf into a committee of the whole houfe, on the bill to regulate the colieclion of duties impofed on goods, wares, and merchandizes imported into the United States. After iome time fpent therein, the committee rofe and reported, that they had, according to order, had the faid bill under eonfideration, and made a further progrefs therein. Refolved, that this houfe will to-morrow, again refolve jtfelf into a committee of the whole houfe on the faid bill. On motion, ordered, that it be an inftiucfion to the com- mittee appointed the nth of April, to prepare and bring in a bill or bills for regulating the colieclion of inipoftsar/d tonnage in the United States; that they do prepare and bring in a bill, directing the mode of regilterir.g and clear* ing vefTels, alLtnaining their tonnage, and for re^-ulating the coalting trade^ pilots, and light-houles. — Adjourned. June 3. A mellage from the fenate, by Mr. Otis, their fecretary. Mr. fpeaker— The fenate have agreed to the amended 4oS . D E n A T S S A. 1789. report, for the publication of the a£ls of congrefs, with an' arne.dment, to which they defire the concurrence of this houle. And then he withdrew. The houfe proceeded to confider the amendment of the fenate to the laid report, and the fame being read, was agreed to. Ordered, that the clerk of this houfe to acquaint the feuate theresi'ith. A bill to eftabUlh an executive department, tobedeno- minaced the department of war, was read the fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole h-oufe on Tuefday next. A bill to eitabliih an executive department, to be deno- ininated thJb department of foreign affairs, was read the fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole houfe, on Tuefday next. A inefTage from the fenate, by Mr. Otis, their fecretary. — Mr. I'peaker Tlie fenate are about to proceed to take ihe oath to lupport tin conftitution of the United States, purfuant to the act', entitled, " An act to regulate the time and manner of adminiftering certain oaths," and requeft that the faid act, to which the prefident of the United States affixed his fignature, may be fent to them for that purpofe. And then he withdrew. Ordered that the clerk of this houfe do carry tlie f-^id acl to the fenate-y for the purnofe exprelfed in their mef- fage. J» 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 oti goods, wares and merchandizes hnported into the United States, alter Ibme time fpent therem. Mr. fpeaker refuit. td the cliiHr, and the chairman re-' ported, that the counuittee had according to order, had the laid bill under conlideraticn, and made a farther pro- grefs therein. Rtfoived, th.u this houfe will, to-morrow, again re- fclve iifclf inio a committee 01 the whole houfe, on the ftid blil. June 4. Ths hoine according to the order of the day, refolved itfelf into acommittee of the whole houfe, on the bill to ret;uiate the coUedion of dutiesimpufed on goods, wares and merchandizes imported into the United Statts, after fome ti:::e fpcnt therein. A. 17S9. Of congress. 409 Mr. Speaker refLimed the chsir, and ihe chairman re- ported, that the cominiaee had, according to order, had the faid bill under conliaeration, and made a farther pro- grefs therein. Refolved, that this houfe will, to-morrow, agsin rcfolve itfelf into a committee cf the whole houie on the faid bill. A meflage from the ren?.te, b^ Mr. Oris, their fecretary. Mr. Speaker. The fenate have agreed to the following refolution : UNITED STATES of AMERICA. In Senate, June 4. 1780, ^"^ Refolved, that in ten days after the palling of ev^ery adt of Congrefs during the prefent felTion, or until fome uther regulation Ihall be adopted, iwenty-two printed co- pies thereof, ilgned by the fccretary of the I'enate, and clerk of the houfe of reprefentatives, and certified by them to be true copies of the original acts, be lodged with tlie prelident of the United States ; and that he be requeitcd to caul'e to be tranfmitted two of the faid copies, fo atteftedas afwefaid, to each of the fupreme executives ui the feveral ftates," to which relolution they delire the concurrence of this houie ; and then he withdrew. . , Mr. Baldwin from the committee appointed, prefented, according to order, a bi-Il.to eftabliih an executive depart-; ment, to be denominated the treafury department, which vas received, and read the lirit time. Adjourned. The houfe proceeded to cooiider the refohjticn of th'is fenate, fen: for concurren e ye(\erday, whereupon, Refolved, that this houfe dcth concur with the fenate^ in the faid refolution. Ordered, that the clerk of this houfe do acquaint the fe- nate therewith. A bill to eft-ciblifh an executive department, to be deno- minated the treafury department, was read the fecond time/ and order to be committed to a committee of the wh.olg: houfe on Tuefday next. The houfe accordmg to the order of the day, refolvea itfelf into a comniittee of the whole houfe, on the bill to regulate the collection of duties iinpofed on goods, wares^. ^ and merchandizes imported into the United States^ after fome time fpent therein. Mr. fpeaker reiumed the chair, and the chairman repor- F ff 4IO ted, DEBATES that the co.nninee had accordin<r to A. 1789. order, had the faid bill under coiiliJeratioii, and mad- a farther progrefs therein. Refolved, that this honfe will, on Monday next, again relolve itfelf intvja couaiiteee of ths whole houfe on the laid bill. A petition of th? tradefinen and manufaLilnrers of the town of Bultou, was prefenicd to the huuie and read, praying the atten.ion of con.irt fi 10 the encouragement of iTianufacliires, and the incrcafe of A lerican Ihipping, by luch coi.iaiercial regulations as the wildom of the national legiflature Iha'l judge molt coniiitent with the intereft, prolperity and happinefs ot this extenlive empire. Ordered, that the faid petition da he on the table. Tvlr. Benfoii moved, that the houfe should go into a committee of the whole, on the ftate of the union, for the purpofe of conlidcring the following relolution ; The congrcfb of the United States do refolve and declare it to be their molt eirneil defire, that the legillature of the itate cf Rhode- liland and Providence Plantations, do re- commend to the people of that itate to chufe delegates to meet in convention, and to whom the conftitution of the United States is to be fubmitted, conformably to the una- nimous refolution of tiie United States in congrefs afTem- bled, of the iSch September 1787. Mr. Page. I think of Rhode-Ifland as the worthy gentleman from New- York does, but, as a member of congreis, I doubt the propriety of ih;s body iuierfering in the bulinefs. If I put mylelf for a mo iient iiuo the iiruaiion (4 a citizen of a itate tliat has refufed 10 accede to the conllitution of the United Stales, I muit admit that I lliould watch your actions with a jealous eye ; I Ihoukl be apprchenlive of undue influence, if I was to fee you throw your weight into tiie Icale. But what occalion is there for adopting ibch a refolution ? Are <Tenilemen afraid to leave them to tlieir cnvi! uubiaOld judgment? for my part 1 am not: It will dv-monitrate the goodnefs of the conititutir.n, if it is atlopted upon maiure coniidtratioM witjioui any other aid but its own intrinfic value. As to amendments, when we come to confider of them, I dare lay they will be fuch as ro make th.e con'.tltution more agreeable but, for the pre- ; fcnt, I think it improper to have any thing to di.) with the gentleman's motion, 1 hope he may be prevailed upon to withdraw it : He h.as done hioduty by bringing it lor\Nard, A. 1789. Of C O N G R E S S. 411 but does not meet the approbation of the houfe, it will if it be an ufelels vvafte of time to give it any fariher difculTion. The gentleman has fliewn fufficiently his attachment to the federal government, by the earneflnefs he Ihews to have it adopted throughout the United States. But, in addition to this, let him coniider where fuch meafures may lead us. Becaufe the legillature of Rhode-Ifland have neglected or refufed to fubmit ihe confideration of the conltitutiori tea convention, we are to recommend it, and exprefs a moll earned defire that ihey will comply. But fuppofe they de- cline doing what you require, wiiac is next to be done ? I hope gentlemen will helitare before they go any further. I think, for my part, we Ihou'd be employed more in the ]ine of our duty, by attending to the ijiterelh of our con^ flituents, and completing the organization of a goveVnment they ordered, than to l].et)d cmr lime about bufuiels which is not within our powers : Why fhould we interfere with the concen-s ot our filler flates, who have not yet joined the new govermuen.i' I irulf the gentleiran will Ice the impropriety of his morion and a^^Tce to withuraw it. Mr. Bensom. I hope we not go into ..n examination of the refo- Hiall 1-ution at this itage ot 'lie bjlnicfs, niy motion goes no far- ther than that the houfe (Louid relolve itielf imo a com- mittee of the whole lor the pur[ofe of conlidering the refolution ; therefore when tlie houfc is in committee, it will be time enough to enter into the merits of the quellion. I admit, that it is not impoflible but we may find, when we are in committee, that we cannot do any thing in the bufi- nefs, yet I think it proper to let that queition reft until v/e go there. But, as the fubject is of great importance, i have no doubt but the houfe will agree to my motion. Mr, Smith (of South-Carolina) I think we ought to go into committee, and hear what the gentleman has to lay on the fuiijeft. Though I muft acknowledge I am at prefent againll the adoption of ths reiblution he has propofed ; yet it is pofiible when he has Itated his reafons, and poitjted out the necefiity oi ir, that I may alter my opinion but I wonder why the geutlenjau ; hasoiiiiired North-Carolina. Mr. Sherman I think Rhode-Ifland ftands in a different fituation ^lopr North-Carolina. When this conftituiion was formed ii\ the convention, North-Carolina was