Several other members, to wit: from Rhode Island, Christopher G. Champlin; from Pennsylvania, Thomas Hartley; and from Virginia, Carter B. Harrison; appeared, and took their seats in the House.
Address to the President.
Mr. Dana, from the committee appointed to draft a respectful Address in answer to the President's Speech, made a report, which was committed for to-morrow.
Thursday, December 13.
Philip Van Cortlandt, from the State of New York, appeared, and took his seat.
Address to the President.
On motion of Mr. Dana, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the Address yesterday reported, in answer to the Speech of the President of the United States, and Mr. Dent having taken the chair, the Address was read, as follows, omitting the words printed within brackets, which were added as amendments: The words printed in italics were struck out in the discussion, so that the Address to be presented to the President contains the words printed within brackets, and does not contain those printed in italics.
John Adams, President of the United States—
Sir: The House of Representatives unite with you in deploring the effects of the desolating malady by which the seat of Government and other parts of our country have recently been visited. In calling our attention to the fatality of its repeated ravages, and inviting us to consider the expediency of exercising our constitutional powers, in aid of the health laws of the respective States, your recommendation is sanctioned by the dictates of humanity and liberal policy. On this interesting subject we feel the necessity of adopting every wise expedient for preventing a calamity so distressing to individual sufferers, and so prejudicial to our national commerce.
That our finances are in a prosperous state, notwithstanding the commercial derangements resulting from this calamity, and from external embarrassments, is a satisfactory manifestation of the great extent and solidity of the public resources. Connected with this situation of our fiscal concerns, the assurance that the legal provisions for obtaining revenue by direct taxation will fulfil the views of the Legislature, is peculiarly acceptable.