Address to the President.
The Speaker said, that it had been usual for the House to come to some order on the President's Address, which was to refer it to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. On which Mr. Williams moved, that it be committed to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, which was done accordingly.
Mr. Bayley moved, that a Committee of Commerce and Manufactures be appointed, when Mr. William Smith, Mr. Sewall, Mr. Coit, Mr. Parker, Mr. Blount, and Mr. Dent, were named for that committee.
Mr. Bayley then moved, that when this House adjourn, it adjourn till Monday at eleven o'clock.
[The reason stated during the last session for the House not meeting to do business on Saturdays was, that the standing committees were numerous, besides many special committees for different purposes, whose business was frequently very important and troublesome, it was therefore necessary that Saturday be allowed for the committees to sit, else business would be much protracted, and become too burdensome on gentlemen in committees.]
Monday, December 12.
Several other members, to wit: from New York, Edward Livingston; from Pennsylvania, Andrew Gregg; from Maryland, Gabriel Christie; from Virginia, William B. Giles, Andrew Moore, and John Nicholas; and from South Carolina, Robert Goodloe Harper, appeared, and took their seats in the House.
Tuesday, December 13.
Two other members, to wit, Thomas Claiborne and John Page, from Virginia, appeared and took their seats in the House.
A new member, viz: William Strudwick, from North Carolina, in place of Absalom Tatom resigned, appeared, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat.