Thursday, February 28.
The Vice President being indisposed, the Senate proceeded to the choice of a President pro tempore as the constitution provides, and the Hon. Joseph Anderson was elected.
Ordered, That the Secretary wait on the President of the United States, and acquaint him that, the Vice President being absent, the Senate have elected the Hon. Joseph Anderson President of the Senate pro tempore.
Ordered, That the Secretary make a like communication to the House of Representatives.
The following Messages were received from the President of the United States:
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the United States, according to the returns last received from the several States. It will be perceived that some of these are not recent dates, and that from the States of Maryland, Delaware, and Tennessee, no returns are stated. As far as appears from our records, none were ever rendered from either of these States.
TH. JEFFERSON.
February 28, 1805.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
I now render to Congress the account of the fund established by the act of May 1st, 1802, for defraying the contingent charges of Government. No occasion having arisen for making use of any part of the balance of $18,560, unexpended on the 31st day of December, 1803, when the last account was rendered by Message, that balance has been carried to the credit of the surplus fund.
TH. JEFFERSON.
February 28, 1805.
The messages and documents therein referred to were severally read, and ordered to lie for consideration.
Franking Privilege to Col. Burr.
The bill freeing from postage all letters and packets to and from Aaron Burr was read the third time; on motion to postpone the further consideration thereof until the first Monday in December next, it passed in the negative—yeas 12, nays 18, as follows:
Yeas.—Messrs. Baldwin, Ellery, Franklin, Hillhouse, Howland, Logan, Maclay, Olcott, Pickering, Plumer, Stone, and Sumter.
Nays.—Messrs. Adams, Anderson, Bradley, Breckenridge, Brown, Cocke, Condit, Dayton, Gaillard, Jackson, Mitchill, Moore, Smith of Maryland, Smith of New York, Smith of Ohio, Smith of Vermont, Worthington, and Wright.
On the question, Shall this bill pass? it was determined in the affirmative—yeas 18, nays 13, as follows:
Yeas.—Messrs. Adams, Anderson, Bradley, Breckenridge, Brown, Cocke, Condit, Dayton, Gaillard, Jackson, Mitchill, Moore, Smith of Maryland, Smith of New York, Smith of Ohio, Smith of Vermont, White, and Wright.
Nays.—Messrs. Baldwin, Ellery, Franklin, Hillhouse, Howland, Logan, Maclay, Olcott, Pickering, Plumer, Stone, Sumter, and Worthington.
So it was Resolved, that this bill do pass, that it be engrossed, and that the title thereof be “An act freeing from postage all letters and packets to and from Aaron Burr.”