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"Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, "I shall direct the estimates of the appropriations necessary for the service of the ensuing year, together with an account of the revenue and expenditure to be laid before you. During a period in which a great portion of the civilized world has been involved in war, unusually calamitous and destructive, it was not to be expected that the United States could be exempted from extraordinary

.burthens.

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Although the period is not arrived when the measures adopted to secure our country against foreign attack, can be renounced; yet it is alike necessary to the honor of the government, and the satisfaction of the community, that an exact œconomy should be maintained. I invite you, gentlemen, to investigate the different branches of the public expenditure....the examination will lead to beneficial intrenchments, or produce a conviction of the wisdom of the measure 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 occurring, and every hour is preparing new and great events in the political world....when 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

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mission to France is uncertain; but however it 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 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 of the United States prosperous and happy. I rely with entire confidence on your co-operation in objects equally your care, and that our mutual labors will serve to increase and confirm union among our fellow-citizens, and an unshaken attachment to our government."

On the motion of Mr. Bayard, the President's speech was referred to a committee of the whole house, on the state of the union. On Monday the 9th of December, both houses of Congress waited separately upon the President with their respective addresses.

On Wednesday the 11th of December, Mr. Harper, by the direction of the committee of ways and means, brought in a bill to amend the act, entitled, "An act to provide for the valuation of lands and dwelling houses, and the enumeration of slaves within the United States," which was granted.

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Monday, December 16, Mr. H. Lee moved, that a committee be appointed to report whether any, and if any, what alterations were necessary to be made in the militia law of the United States.

In prefacing his motion, General Lee said "he wished to call the attention of the house to a subject highly interesting to the citizens of the United States, and deserving the serious attention of its legislature. He thought the system heretofore pursued was radically wrong, and viewed every measure which was not predicated on the wishes of the people, as answering but little effect. He wished to see that system of defence which, growing out of nature, should enable all men to serve without injuring their families....the youth of our country should alone be called upon, who would be found sufficiently adequate for its defence. Seventeen and twenty-six, were the age of which the defenders of our country should consist. When father and son are arrayed in the same ranks, a wavering must take place, and present an opportunity for an impression from the enemy."

During the same sitting, a report was made by the commissioners of the sinking fund, inclosing a report to them from the secretary of the treasury, and sundry official statements of the accounting officers of the treasury department, relative to the measures which had been authorized by the commissioners, for purchasing the public debt subsequent to their report of the 15th December, 1798.

By the secretary's report, it appeared that the sum of 1,034,938-2 dollars had been applied towards the discharge of the principal debt of the United States.

On Wednesday, the 18th of December, congress received the afflicting intelligence of the death of General Washington. 1

General Marshall came into the House of Representatives, after the journal was read, apparently much agitated, and addressed the Speaker in the following words:

"Information, Sir, has just been received, that our illustrious fellow-citizen, the commander in chief of the American army, and the late President of the United States, is no more."

The House of Representatives, as well as the Senate, in consequence of a national calamity so heavy and distressing, immediately adjourned.

Some account of this great and virtuous soldier may, perhaps, be here expected; but this is a task of too important a nature to be discussed in the trifling compass of a few pages. The life of Washington is a subject which ought not to be polluted by a transient sketch, or connected with the vices of a corrupted administration. Whatever might be the errors which the weakness of age induced Washington to commit in the latter period of life, his former actions ought to screen them from the virulence of calumny, and protect his memory from the reproach of party spirit. A certain republican writer has indulged too freely in the abuse of this great patriot. Perhaps even the compiler of this

volume may be censured for the same reason; but whenever any unwarranted expressions are dropped, they ought to be regarded as the effect of a survey of his politics abstracted from the man. When we separate the latter from the former, we view only a monument of virtue and wisdom, but when we blend them together, we are forced to regret the tarnish and incrustation of prejudice, which time had inflicted.

The House of Representatives, at their next meeting, exhibited a pleasing, though mournful evidence of the respect which was felt for the character of General Washington. The Speaker's chair and table, and the tables on each side, were entirely shrouded in black; the casement in the rear of the Speaker's chair, and the recess, were also elegantly ornamented with mourning; the prints presented to the house by Mr. Trumbull, the historical painter, were overhung with curtains of black. Between these, and in the centre of the house, a striking likeness of the illustrious Hero was added, which acted as a feeling index of the weeping emblems that surrounded it.

On January the 2d, a petition was presented to the House of Representatives, by Mr. Waln, from the free blacks of the city and county of Philadelphia, praying for a revision of the laws of the United States, relative to the slave trade; of the act relative to fugitives from justice, and for the adoption of such measures as should in due time

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