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FROM GALES AND SEATON'S ANNALS OF CONGRESS; FROM THEIR
REGISTER OF DEBATES; AND FROM THE OFFICIAL

REPORTED DEBATES, BY JOHN C. RIVES.

BY

THE AUTHOR OF THE THIRTY YEARS' VIEW.

VOL. V.

NEW YORK:

D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 346 & 348 BROADWAY.

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18

250 856 25.5

ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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1896.

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS.-FIRST SESSION.

BEGUN AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, MAY 24, 1813.

PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.*

MONDAY, May 24, 1813.

place of Chauncey Goodrich, resigned; JEREConformably to the act passed the 27th of Feb-MIAH MORROW, appointed a Senator by the Leruary last, entitled "An act to alter the time for the next meeting of Congress," the Senate assembled in their Chamber at the Capitol.

PRESENT.

NICHOLAS GILMAN, from New Hampshire.
JOSEPH B. VARNUM, from Massachusetts.
SAMUEL W. DANA, from Connecticut.
WILLIAM HUNTER and JEREMIAH B. HOWELL,
from Rhode Island.

JONATHAN ROBINSON, from Vermont.
JOHN LAMBERT, from New Jersey.
MICHAEL LEIB, from Pennsylvania.
OUTERBRIDGE HORSEY, from Delaware.
JAMES TURNER, from North Carolina.
JOHN TAYLOR, from South Carolina.
JOSEPH ANDERSON, and GEORGE W. CAMP-
BELL, from Tennessee.

gislature of the State of Ohio, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last; DAVID STONE, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of North Carolina, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last; and CHARLES TAIT, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Georgia, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last, respectively, produced their credentials; which were read; and the oath prescribed by law was administered to them, and they took their seats in the Senate.

The oath was also administered to JOHN GAILLARD and ABNER LACOCK, their credentials having been read and filed during the last session.

Address of the Vice President.

THOMAS WORTHINGTON, from Ohio. JAMES BROWN, from Louisiana. JESSE BLEDSOE, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Kentucky, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth day of March last; WILLIAM B. BULLOCK, appoint- Our fellow-citizens, in the free exercise of their ed a Senator by the Executive of the State of constitutional authority, having been pleased to Georgia, in place of William H. Crawford, re- honor the person addressing you, with this distinsigned; DUDLEY CHACE, appointed a Senator by guished station, have inferred from him an indispenthe Legislature of the State of Vermont, for the sable obligation to meet their just expectations. To term of six years, commencing on the fourth day attain this desirable object, and to preside over this of March last; CHARLES CUTTS, appointed a Sen-honorable body in conformity to their magnanimity ator by the Executive of the State of New and dignity, which at all times have been conspicuHampshire, to fill the vacancy in the represent-ous, will be his primary pursuit. Whilst the constiation in the Senate from that State, during the present recess of the Legislature of the said State; DAVID DAGGETT, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Connecticut, in

The VICE PRESIDENT exhibited a certificate of his having taken the oath of office prescribed by law; which was read; and he addressed the Senate as follows: Gentlemen of the Senate:

*LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.
New Hampshire.-Nicholas Gilman, Charles Cutts.
Massachusetts.-Joseph B. Varnum, Christopher Gore.
Connecticut.-Samuel W. Dana, David Daggett.
Rhode Island.-William Hunter, Jeremiah B. Howell.
Vermont.-Jonathan Robinson, Dudley Chace.
New York. Obadiah German, Rufus King.
Pennsylvania.-Michael Leib, Abner Lacock.
New Jersey. John Lambert, John Condict.
VOL. V.-1

tution has invested him with Legislative and Execu-
tive powers, in cases only that are casual, to the
decisions of these it has attached a great responsibil-
ity; in anticipating which, and his other duties, he

Delaware.-Outerbridge Horsey, William H. Wells.
Maryland.-Samuel Smith, Robert Henry Goldsborough.
Virginia.-Richard Brent, William B. Giles.
North Carolina.-James Turner, David Stone.
South Carolina.-John Taylor, John Gaillard.
Georgia.-William B. Bullock, Charles Tait.
Kentucky. Jesse Bledsoe, George M. Bibb.

Tennessee.-Joseph Anderson, George W. Campbell.

Ohio.-Thomas Worthington, Jeremiah Morrow.

Louisiana.-James Brown, Elegius Fromentin.

SENATE.]

Address of the Vice President.

[MAY, 1813.

has the pleasing prospect of reposing on your liberali- | the hope of divisions or conquest ? Does the enemy ty and candor. But if, in this high and influential expect, by burning defenceless towns and villages, to branch of the Government, such unanimity should promote his views? Such conduct may entail on prevail, as to decide for themselves every question of the nation which sanctions it eternal infamy, but can policy, the example will still increase their lustre, never subdue the elevated souls of our brave fellowand add to his happiness. citizens, or even depress the sublime minds of our innocent fair, the ornaments of our country, who, amidst the unmerited distresses inflicted on them and their tender offspring by a merciless foe, will soar above sympathy, and claim the just tribute of universal admiration and applause.

It is a subject of cordial congratulation, that the liberties of the people, in so great a degree, rest on that wisdom and fortitude which mark the characters of the exalted personage who fills the Supreme Executive, of the dignified members who constitute the National Legislature, and of the eminent officers who direct the Ministerial departments-public virtues, emulated by few Governments, need no encomiums. Fidelity and integrity, unsubdued by the severest ordeals, and presaging to public calamities a favorable issue, will be ever held in high estimation; whilst a Government, scrupulously faithful to its trust, and measures which merit the highest applause, have a just claim to the public support.

The present epoch is momentous, and leads to observations which would not occur on ordinary

occasions.

Whilst the Executive in the full exercise of its authority, is left to test the sincerity of pacific overtures, it is a happy circumstance that the United States, at all times desirous of an honorable peace, and superintended by an officer whose capacious mind embraces, and whose patriotic fortitude will pursue, every interest of his country, thus meet with ardor an indispensable war. Is not their power a pledge that they can, and their sacred honor that they will, with intrepidity, maintain the conflict? They demand justice; and can they relinquish it without a surrender of their sovereignty?

Our country is again involved in a sanguinary conGreat Britain is in collision with her best customflict, the issue of which, in the estimation of the ene- ers, and once her commercial friends, who had my, is to determine whether the republican system, viewed peace as a mutual blessing; and who, by their adopted by the people, is imbecile and transient, or moderation, had preserved it, until necessity has whether it has force and duration worthy of the en- pointed to a different line of conduct. They had terprise. That it can never fail whilst they are true annually sent to her their productions and specie to a to their interest, is beyond doubt. And is it not vast amount; had thus employed her mechanics, purequally so, that they will never desert the Govern- chased her manufactures, extended her commerce, ment of their choice, or attach themselves to a for- and become a great source of her national wealth. eign domination, from which, under the benign smiles Hence, her zealous and persevering opposition to of Divine Providence, they have lately, by their own their commercial restraints, representing, in high valor, emancipated themselves? Can they need ar- strains, their great injury to this country; but preguments to convince them, that, in proportion to the serving silence on a most important point, their purity of Republican Governments, have ever been destructive effects on her own manufactures and the reproaches and efforts for overthrowing them, by commerce. imperious Sovereigns who once ruled them?

"To divide and to conquer" have long been the objects of the enemy. He has presumed on his own arts, and on impotency in our system of Government; but, in both instances, he will be convinced of his error. The people and constituted authorities of the several States, those great pillars of our confederate system, numerous as they are, and inevitably discordant in some of their interests, have evinced, in various ways, a firm determination to support it. The interior frontier States, where the territorial war commenced and continues, assailed by innumerable difficulties, have surmounted them; and, by their unanimity and Spartan valor, are establishing for themselves immortal honor. Through the extensive wilds of our military operations, some of these, as in all wars, have been successful, and others unfortunate. But to whatever causes the latter may be traced, they never can be imputed to those heroic officers or privates of the army or of the militia, who have bravely combated the enemy; and of whom, some have been crowned with laurels, others have submitted to irresistible misfortunes, and many have nobly fallen, enshrined with glory. The Atlantic States have repelled, with magnanimity, maritime invasions; and have also given proofs of their patriotic ardor, by conquests on the ocean. Their enterprises and victories have been sources of national triumph and renown. Are not our officers and mariners, in naval combats, unrivalled by fame? Have they not presented infallible sureties for signalizing themselves on great occasions? How vain then is

The United States are now her enemy; and is it not easy to foresee, that, if the war should continue, the Canadas will be rendered independent of her; and, as friends or allies to the United States, will no longer be instrumental in exciting an unrelenting and savage warfare against our extensive and defenceless borders? To such inhuman acts, in former times, were the Canadians urged by France in her Albion wars; and by our colonial aid Great Britain obtained jurisdiction over them. She in turn has abused this power, and has justified the United States in their efforts to divest her of it. And is not their energy adequate to the object? Will not this be evident by a view of their effective National and State Governments? of the unconquered minds and formidable numbers of their citizens? of their martial spirit? of their innate attachment to their rights and liberties? and of their inflexible determination to preserve them? But, if any one still doubts, will he not recollect, that, at the commencement of our Revolutionary war, which terminated against her, the united colonies had not a third of their present population; nor arms or military stores for a single campaign; nor an efficient arrangement for warfare; nor specie in their treasuries; nor funds for emitting a paper currency; nor a national Government; nor (excepting two instances) State Governments; nor the knowledge either of military or of naval tactics? Will he not also remember that Great Britain was then in the zenith of her power; that neighboring nations trembled at her nod; that the colonies were under her control; that her crown officers opposed

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