Ordered, That Mr. MONTGOMERY and Mr. GARLAND be appointed a committee to acquaint the Senate therewith.

A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. CUTTS and Mr. CAMPBELL, two members of that body, notifying the House that the President of the United States had approved and signed a confidential bill, passed this day, entitled "An act concerning 'An act to enable the President of the United States, under certain contingencies, to take possession of the country lying East of the river Perdido, and south of the State of Georgia and the Mississippi Territory, and for other purposes," and the declaration accompanying the

same.

Ordered, That the doors be now opened.

CONFIDENTIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE

AT THE SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH CONGRESS

[Annals of Congress, vol. 25, pp. 124-134.)

SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1813.

On motion, by Mr. ANDERSON,

Ordered, That the confidential proceedings of the Senate at their last session, in relation to East Florida, be made public.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1812.

Mr. ANDERSON submitted the following motion for consideration, which was read:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider whether it be expedient to authorize the President of the United States to occupy and hold the whole or any part of East Florida, including Amelia Island, and also those parts of West Florida which are not now in the possession and under the jurisdiction of the United States, with leave to report by bill or otherwise.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15.

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted the 10th instant, respecting the Floridas; and, after debate, the further consideration thereof was postponed to Monday next.

85080-18- -3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16.

Mr. LEIB submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the Senate any information which he may have of the intention of the enemy to take possession of East Florida, and of the disposition of the people of that Territory to be received under the protection of the Government of the United States; the amount of the American force in that neighborhood, and under the command of General Wilkinson; and the quantum of Spanish or other force in St. Augustine, Pensacola, and Mobile.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18.

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted the 16th instant, calling upon the President of the United States for information respecting East Florida; and, on motion by Mr. GOODRICH, to amend the motion, so as to read as follows:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the Senate any information which he may have of the intention of the enemy to take possession of East Florida, and of the disposition of the people of that Territory to be received under the protection of the Government of the United States; the amount of the American force in that neighborhood, and under the command of General Wilkinson; and the quantum of the Spanish or other force in St. Augustine, Pensacola, and Mobile; and respecting any negotiation that may have been had for the settlement of differences and claims existing between the United States and Spain, not heretofore laid before the Senate; respecting any proposal or negotiation that may have been made, or had, by or with any person or persons exercising the powers of the Government of Spain, or claiming to exercise the powers of said Government, or with their respective agents, for the cession of East Florida to the United States; respecting any proposal to or from the local authorities of East Florida, (not heretofore communicated,) for the cession, surrender, or occupancy thereof, to or by the United States; and also, any information respecting the relations of the United States with Spain or said Territory of East Florida, which the President may deem proper to communicate.

On motion, by Mr. ANDERSON, the further consideration of the motion for amendment was postponed to Monday next.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22.

The Senate resumed the motion made the 10th instant to appoint a committee to inquire into the expediency of taking possession of East Florida; and, on motion by Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, to postpone the further consideration thereof to Monday next, it was determined in the negative-yeas 15, nays 15.

On motion, by Mr. LEIB, to strike out the words "with leave to report by bill or otherwise," it was determined in the negative.

On the question to agree to the original motion, it was determined in the affirmative yeas 18, nays 12.

Ordered, That Messrs. ANDERSON, GOODRICH, SMITH, of Maryland, TAIT, and VARNUM, be the committee.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made the 16th instant, calling upon the President of the United States for information respecting East Florida, together with the amendment proposed thereto on the 18th instant; and, having agreed to the amendment,

Resolved, That the motion be agreed to as amended.

Ordered, That the Secretary lay this resolution before the President of the United States.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1813.

The following confidential Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:

To the Senate of the United States:

I transmit to the Senate a report of the Secretary of State, complying with their resolution of the 22d December.

JANUARY 14, 1813.

JAMES MADISON.

The Message and report were read. And on motion, by Mr. LEIB, that they be printed confidentially for the use of the Senate, it was agreed that the motion be postponed until to-morrow.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made yesterday, "that the Message and report respecting East Florida be printed confidentially for the use of the Senate, with the exception of the return of the number of troops and their respective stations, on the Southern and Western frontier;" and, on the question to agree thereto, it was determined in the negative—yeas 13, nays 18.

Ordered, That the Message, and documents therein referred to, be referred to the committee appointed the 22d December on the same subject, to consider the report thereon.

Mr. BRADLEY submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the Senate all letters and communications that have passed between the Government of the United States and that of Spain, or the Minis

ters thereof, since the 9th day of January, 1804, on the subject of indemnities for spoliations committed on our commerce by her subjects before that time; and also, in relation to French seizures and condemnation of our vessels in the ports of Spain, during the late war with France; together with such communications between this and the French Government as relate to the same subjects; with such instructions as have been given to the Ministers of the United States in relation to the same. And any propositions or negotiations that have been had or made with France or Spain, for ceding East Florida to the United States. previous to the 15th day of January, 1811, not heretofore communicated.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16.

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted yesterday by Mr. BRADLEY; and, on motion, by Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, the further consideration thereof was postponed until Monday next.

MONDAY, JANUARY 18.

The motion submitted by Mr. BRADLEY on the 15th instant was resumed and agreed to without amendment.

Ordered, That the Secretary lay the said resolution before the President of the United States.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19.

Mr. ANDERSON, from the committee appointed the 22d December on the subject, reported the following bill:

A bill authorizing the President of the United States to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to occupy and hold all that tract of country called West Florida, which lies west of the river Perdido, not now in possession of the United States.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to occupy and hold all that part of West Florida east of the Perdido, and the whole or any part of East Florida, including Amelia Island.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That, for the purpose of occupying and holding the country aforesaid, and of affording protection to the inhabitants thereof, under the authority of the United States, the President may employ such parts of the military and naval force of the United States as he may deem necessary.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That, for defraying the necessary expenses, dollars are hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, and to be applied for the purposes aforesaid, under the direction of the President.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That, until further provision shall be made by Congress, the President shall be, and hereby is, empowered to establish within the country he may acquire by this act a temporary Government, the civil and military authorities of which shall be vested in such person or persons as he may appoint, and be exercised in such manner as he may direct: Provided, That he shall take due care for the preservation of social order, and for securing to the inhabitants the enjoyment of their personal rights, their religion, and their property: And provided, also, That the section of country herein designated, that is situated to the eastward of the river Perdido, may be the subject of future negotiation.

The bill was read; and passed to the second reading.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22.

The bill authorizing the President of the United States to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes, was read the second time.

Mr. LEIB submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That the documents which accompanied the President's Message of the 14th instant, be confidentially printed for the use of the Senate, excepting those papers which relate to the stations and the amount of the military force of the United States, and the letter of General Pinckney of the 27th December.

On motion, by Mr. LEIB, that the bill be now taken up and considered, it was determined in the negative.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25.

On motion, by Mr. ANDERSON, that the bill authorizing the President of the United States to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes, be now considered, it was determined in the negative.

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted on the 22d instant, by Mr. LEIB; and, on motion, by Mr. BAYARD, that the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow, it was determined in the negative.

On the question to agree to the resolution, on motion, by Mr. REED, it was agreed that it be taken by yeas and nays; and, on motion, by Mr. BAYARD, the Senate adjourned.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26.

On motion, by Mr. ANDERSON, the Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill authorizing the Presi