Resolved, That the President of the United States be authorized immediately to employ the public armed vessels for the purpose of convoy ing and protecting the ships and vessels the property of citizens of the United States, laden with goods of their growth, produce or manufacture, and not contraband of war, in their trade to and from ports open for their reception, by the regulations of the government under whose jurisdiction they are situated, and not being actually blockaded or invested by a competent force: Provided, such government shall not have in fonec edicts or decrees against neutral commerce, and that the owners and crews of merchant vessels owned, laden or destined as aforesaid, be permitted to associate and arm for their defence against illegal capture and molestation, under such regulations as shall be prescribed by law. A motion was made and seconded, that the said resolution be referred to the consideration of a select committee. And the question being taken thereon, Yeas 100. It was resolved in the affirmative, Nays 18. The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative, are Lemuel J. Alston, Howell Cobb, Willis Alston, junior, Ezekiel Bacon, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, James Cochran, Henry Crist, Josiah Quincy, John Rea, (Pennsylvania) John Ross, Thomas Sammons, Jabez Upham, Nicholas Van Dyke, Archibald Van Horn, Killian K. Van Rensselaer. Robert Weakley, Ezekiel Whitman, John Porter, Ordered, That Mr. Burwell, Mr. Pickman, Mr. J. C. Chamberlain, Mr. P. B. Porter, Mr. Richards, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Howard be the said committee. On motion of Mr. Findley, Ordered, That the memorial of sundry inhabi tants of the four western counties of Pennsylvania, presented on the thirtieth of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight, be referred to the Committee of Claims. On a motion made, and leave given by the House, Mr. Rhea, (of Tennessee,) from the committee appointed on the sixth instant, presented a bill further to provide for the government of the territory of Louisiana, which was received and read the first time. On motion, The said bill was read the second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House on Mon. day next. Mr. Emott presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the state of New-York, praying that the mode of trial by jury, as established by the laws of the several states, may be established and enforced in the courts of the United States; or at least, that the same may be established and enforced in the courts of the United States held within the state of New-York. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Emott, Mr. Gholdson, Mr. M'Kee, Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Ross, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Fisk presented a petition of Peter Pedesclaux, of the city of New Orleans, by Edward Livingston his attorney, praying to be indemnified for the loss of an estate for life which he held in the office of notary public and recorder of mortgages for the province of Louisiana, purchased from the Spanish government of that province, of which office he has been deprived by order of the present governor of the territory of Orleans. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Fisk, Mr. Whitman, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Key, and Mr. Jones, to examine the matter thereof, and report the same with their opinion thereon to the House. A message in writing was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Edward Coles, who delivered in the same and then withdrew. The House resumed the consideration of the bill respecting the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and for other purposes. The question recurred upon agreeing to the amend ment proposed by Mr. Mumford on Saturday last, before recited: Whereupon, Mr. Speaker declared that the said amendment was not now in order, as the subject matter contained within the same was already referred to the consider. ation of a select committee. The question then recurred upon agreeing to the amendment proposed to the said bill by Mr. Montgomery, on Saturday last, which said amendment was then modified by the mover to read in the following words, to wit: And be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President of the United States, and he is hereby authorized to give instructions to the armed vessels thereof, to seize any French or British vessel or vessels evading or violating this law, and to bring the same into any port of the United States or the territories thereof, for adjudication. A motion was made by Mr. Sheffey, to amend the said motion by adding to the end thereof the following: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall authorize the capture or search of any foreign vessel without the jurisdiction of the United States." And the question thereon being taken, It was determined in the negative. |