A SUPPLEMENTAL JOURNAL

Of such proceedings of the Second Session of the Thirteenth Congress, as, during the time they were depending, were ordered to be kept secret, and respecting which the injunction of secrecy was afterwards taken off by order of the House.

THURSDAY, December 9, 1818..

The following message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Coles, his Secretary:

CONFIDENTIAL.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.

The tendency of our commercial and navigation laws, in their present state, to favor the enemy, and thereby prolong the war, is more and more developed by experience. Supplies of the most essential kinds, find their way, not only to British ports and British armics at a distance; but the armies in our neighborhood, with which our own are contending, derive from our ports and outlets a subsistence attainable with difficulty, if at all, from other sources. Even the fleets and troops infesting our coasts and waters, are, by like supplies, accommodated and encouraged in their predatory and incursive warfare.

Abuses, having a like tendency, take place in our import trade. British fabrics and products find their way into our ports, under the name and from the ports of other countries; and often in British vessels, disguised as neutrals, by false colors and papers.

To these abuses it may be added, that illegal importations are openly made, with advantage to the

violators of the law, produced by undervaluations or other circumstances involved in the course of the judicial proceedings against them.

It is found also, that the practice of ransoming is a cover for collusive captures, and a channel for intelligence advantageous to the enemy.

To remedy, as much as possible these evils, I recommend:

That an effectual embargo on exports be immediately enacted.

That all articles, known to be derived, either not at all, or in any immaterial degree only, from the productions of any other country than Great Britain, and particularly the extensive articles made of wool and cotton materials, and ardent spirits made from the cane, be expressly and absolutely prohibited, from whatever port or place, or in whatever vessels, the same may be brought into the United States: and that all violations of the non-importation act be subjected to adequate penalties.

That among the proofs of the neutral and national character of foreign vessels, it be required that the masters and supercargoes, and three-fourths at least of the crews, be citizens or subjects of the country under whose flag the vessels sail.

That all persons concerned in collusive captures by the enemy, or in ransoming vessels or their cargoes from the enemy, be subjected to adequate penalties.

To shorten, as much as possible, the duration of the war, it is indispensable that the enemy should feel all the pressure that can be given to it; and the restraints having that tendency, will be borne with the greater cheerfulness by all good citizens; as the restraints will affect those most, who are most ready to sacrifice the interest of their country, in pursuit of their own.

December 9, 1818:

JAMES MADISON.

The said message was read and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations,

The doors were then opened.

FRIDAY, December 10, 1818

Mr. Grundy, from the Committee on Foreign Af fairs, reported a bill laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States, which was read the first time; and, on motion, the said bill was read the second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House to-day.

A motion was made by Mr. Post, that the bill be printed.

And the question being taken,
It was determined in the negative,

Yeas 52.
Nays 82.

The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of

the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are

The House then resolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the said bill; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Nelson reported, that the committee had had the said bill under consideration and made some progress therein, and had directed him to ask leave to sit again.

Ordered, That the committee of the whole House have leave to sit again.

The House then adjourned with closed doors.

SATURDAY, December 11, 1818.

The order of the day, for the House to resolve itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States, was called for:

On which,

A motion was made by Mr. Oakley, that the said order be postponed until Monday next. And the question being taken,

Yeas 45.

It was determined in the negative,Nays 70.

The

yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are