Ordered, That Messrs. Giles, Adams, and Smith of Maryland, be a committee to inquire whether it is expedient, in the present state of public affairs, to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.
Ordered, That the Message of the President of the United States, of the 22d instant, together with the documents therein mentioned, be referred to the same committee.
Whereupon, Mr. Giles, from the committee, reported a bill to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for a limited time, in certain cases; and the rule was, by unanimous consent, dispensed with, and the bill had three readings, and was amended.
Resolved, That this bill pass as amended, that it be engrossed, and that the title thereof be “An act to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for a limited time in certain cases.”
The committee also reported the following message to the House of Representatives; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:
The Senate have passed a bill suspending for three months the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, in certain cases, which they think expedient to communicate to you in confidence, and to request your concurrence therein, as speedily as the emergency of the case shall, in your judgment, require.
Ordered, That Mr. Smith of Maryland be the committee to deliver the message to the House of Representatives.