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been involved in a war, unusually calamitous and destructive, it was not to be expected, that the United States could be exempted from extraordinary burdens. Although the period is not arrived, when the measures, adopted to secure our country against foreign attacks, can be renounced, yet it is alike necessary, to the honour of the government, and the satisfaction of the community, that an exact economy should be maintained. I invite you, Gentlemen, to investigate the different branches of the public expenditure-the examination will lead to beneficial retrenchments, or produce a conviction of the wisdom of the measures to which the expenditure relates."

"Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

"At a period, like the present, when momentous changes are occuring, and every hour is preparing new and great events, in the political worldwhen a spirit of war is prevalent in almost every nation, with whose affairs the interests of the United States have any connection; unsafe and precarious would be our situation, were we to neglect the means of maintaining our just rights. The result of the mission to France is uncertain; but, however, it may terminate, a steady perseverance in a system of national defence, commensurate with our resources, and the situation of our country, is an obvious dictate of wisdom. For, remotely as we are placed from the belligerent nations, and desirous as we are by doing justice to all, to avoid offence to any, nothing short of the power of repelling aggressions, will secure to our country a rational prospect of escaping the calamities of war, or national degradation. As to myself, it is my anxious desire so to execute the trust reposed in me, as to render the people

people of the United States prosperous and happy. Í rely with entire confidence on your co-operation in objects equally your care, and that our mutual labours will serve to increase and confirm union among our fellow-citizens, and an unshaken attachment to our government.'

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"United States, December 3d, 1799."

The principal subject of discussion, during this session of Congress, was a bill, brought into the Senate, by MR. Ross, of Pensylvannia, and passed by that body, prescribing the mode of deciding disputed elections for President and Vice President of the United States. The bill was amended by the lower house, and was finally thrown out; but it deserves to be recorded here.

" A BILL

Prescribing the Mode of deciding disputed Elections, of President and Vice-President of the United States.

SECT. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled, That on the day before the second Wednesday in February next, following the day when a President and Vice-President shall have been voted for by electors, it shall be the duty of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, to choose, by ballot, in each House, six members thereof; the Senate, immediately after this choice, shall nominate by ballot, three of its members, and transmit their names to the House of Representatives, who shall, by ballot, choose one of the three, and the thirteen persons thus chosen, shall form a

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Grand

Grand Committee, and shall have power to examine and finally to decide all disputes relative to the election of President and Vice-President of the United States, Provided always, That no person shall be capable of serving on this committee, who shall be one of the five highest candidates, out of whom a President of the United States may be chosen by the House of Representatives, in case no person should be found to have a majority of the whole number of the votes of the electors appointed by the different states.

SECT. II. And be it further enacted, That after the members of the committee shall have been appointed in the Senate and House of Representatives as aforesaid, each House before it adjourns shall proceed to choose, by ballot, two members thereof, as tellers, whose duty it shall be to receive the certificates of the electors, from the President of the Senate, after they shall have been opened and read, and to note in writing, the dates of the certificates, the names of the electors, the time and place of their meeting, the number of votes given, and the names of the persons voted for; and also, the substance of the certificates from the Executive Authority of each state, accompanying the certificates of the electors: and the minutes thus made by the tellers, shall be read in the presence of both Houses, and a copy thereof entered on the journals of each.

SECT. III. And be it further enacted, That when the certificates, transmitted by the electors of the different states, shall have been opened by the President of the Senate, and read in the presence of both Houses, and the minutes of the tellers read and compared, the President of the Senate shall administer the following oath, to all the members of the grand committee, appointed in pursuance of this act :

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"I, A. B., do swear, (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will impartially examine the votes given by the electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, together with all the exceptions and petitions against them, and a true judgment give thereon, agreeable to the constitution and laws, and according to the evidence-So help me God. The President of the Senate shall then deliver to the chairman of the grand committee, all the certificates of the electors, and all the certificates or other documents transmitted to them, or by the Executive Authority of any state, and all the petitions, exceptions, and memorials against the votes of the electors, or the persons for whom they have voted, together with the testimony accompanying the

same.

SECT. IV. And be it further enacted, That after the grand committee shall have been appointed and sworn in the manner herein directed, the person chosen by the House of Representatives out of the nomination made by the Senate, shall act as chairman of the committee; they shall meet on every day (Sundays excepted) from the time of their appointment, until they make their final report; they shall sit with closed doors, and a majority of the members may proceed to act. And if any members of the committee, appointed by either House, should die, or become unable to attend, after his appointment, the committee, before they proceed farther, shall notify both Houses of such 'death or inability, and the House by which such member was appointed, shall immediately proceed to choose another member, by ballot, to supply such vacancy; and the member thus chosen, shall be sworn, or affirmed by the President of the Senate: and if the chairman of the committee shall die, or become unable to attend, after his appointment, the committee, before

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they proceed farther, shall notify both Houses of such death or inability; the Senate shall then nominate three of its members, out of whom the House of Representatives shall choose, according to the provision of this act, who shall be sworn or affirmed by the President of the Senate; and shall thenceforth be the chairman of the said grand committee, and the person or persons, thus appointed and sworn, or affirmed, shall, from thenceforth, have and exercise the powers necessary to supply such vacancy.

SECT. V. And be it further enacted, That the grand committee shall have power to send for persons, papers, and records, to compel the attendance of witnesses, to administer oaths or affirmations to all persons examined before them, and to punish contempts of witnesses refusing to answer, as fully and absolutely as the Supreme Court of the United States may, or can do in causes depending therein; and the testimony of all witnesses examined before the committee, shall be reduced to writing by the secretary of the committee, and shall be signed by the witnesses, after his examination is closed. And if any person, sworn and examined before this committee, shall swear, or affirm falsely, such person, being thereof convicted, shall incur the pains, penalties, and disabilities, inflicted by the laws of the United States, upon wilful and corrupt perjury.

SECT. VII. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the marshals of the several districts of the United States, and of their deputies, to serve all process directed to them, and signed by the chairman of the grand committee: and for such services, they shall receive the fees allowed for services of similar process, issued by the Supreme Court of the United States; and, all witnesses attending the committee, in consequence of

summons

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