The Fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 4, 1795, to March 4, 1797, during the last two years of George Washington's presidency.
Events[]
List of events that have taken place so far. (Add to this list as legislation is passed.)
Legislation[]
Treaties Ratified[]
- June 24, 1795: Treaty of London ("Jay's Treaty")
- March 7, 1796: Treaty of Madrid ("Pinckney's Treaty")
States Admitted[]
- June 1, 1796: Tennessee
Leadership[]
Discussion/Debate[]
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An Act to establish an Executive department, to be denominated the Department of the Navy, and to ensure the protection of the nation's coasts.
- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that there shall be an executive department under the denomination of the Department of the Navy, whose chief officer shall be called the Secretary of the Navy, and whose duty it shall be to execute orders received from the President of the United States, relative to the procurement of naval stores and materials, the construction, armament, and equipment, and the employment of vessels of war, as well as all other matters connected with the navy of the United States.
- A principal clerk, and other such clerks, should the Secretary of the Navy deem it necessary, shall be appointed by the Secretary and employed, for the purpose of maintaining the books, records, and documents, of the navy, if the Secretary is unable to.
- Immediately upon his appointment the Secretary of the Navy shall be tasked with the records, books, and documents, and other matters, of the United States Navy.
- An annual salary shall be allowed to the Secretary of the Navy, at this time being three thousand dollars, which shall be paid quarter yearly at the treasury of the United States. Similarly, the clerks employed by the department will also be compensated, subject to the same regulations as the Secretary.
- All duties related to that of the United States Navy shall be repealed from the Secretary of War, after the Secretary of the Navy has been appointed.
- Be it enacted that the state of Virginia shall make a cession of land to the United States' jurisdiction, for the purpose of contracting, at the approval of the President, a lighthouse on Old Point Comfort.
- The Secretary of the Treasury shall be authorized to cause six buoys to be placed in Portland Harbor, in the state of Massachusetts, as to best secure the navigation of said port; and in the channel of the Warren River, from Narraganset Bay, to the port of Warren, in the state of Rhode Island, to be staked out and distinctly marked.
- A sum of money will be raised for the purpose of enacting the above changes, gathered from imports and tonnage.
--Proposed by George Lyman, Senator from Rhode Island.
Discussion[]
- John Pierce: I firmly plan to vote yes in favor of this act, as I see it as an important step in creating a strong naval presence around the globe, and as such a strong nation.