$sr?JM£?6zfSt*rt*4 4 « * V O T E' Sd+ and >//'-y/^i % ''tut * PROCEEDINGS * * * V * / O F T H E S I XTEENTH $ 7 * I GENERAL ASSEMBLY t + * I j. "b F T H E , 4 1 ' *" :"! ! i r - * C_io \ I - * 1 /S T 'A T E , ! I ? £< n £ ; ! N E W- J E R S % 'Y. I At a Seffion begun at Trenton on the 25th Day of J + * <- -$** Odlober, 1 79 1, and continued by Adjournments. I IZ * ^^X-^STPTwk THE FIRST SITTING. f + '/^64*-islf/L< + ?4 1 (/ \(?J ' '"•' * BURLINGTON: * ' t % PRINTED BY I S\A AC N K A U E. M.DCC.XCI. I * * V * V,v, '* V 4* V"*Cs\ • «* #<» & A . \ LIST of Perfons returned as MemBrrs of the LEGISLATIVE-COUNCIL. Bergen, [John Outwater, EJJex, John Condit, Middlcfex, Samuel Randolph, Monmouth, Eliiha Lawrence, V. P. Somcrfet, ^3W Frederick Frelinghuyfen, u Burlington, o James Kin fey, c Glouccjhr, o Jofeph Ellis, j> Efquire; Salem, X John May hew, Cape-May, _c Jeremiah Eldredge, Hunterdon, John Lambert, Morris, Ellis Cook, Cumberland, Samuel Ogden, Suffex, [Charles Beard flee, LIST of Perfons returned as Members of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY. -Edmund W. Kingfland, \ Bergen, [ohn Haring, ^ Henry Berry, ( Elias Dayton, EJfex, < Matthias Williamfon, ( Ifrael Hedden, C_ Peter Vredenburgh, Middle/ex, 3 John Runyan, C [ohn Combs, r Jofeph Stillwell, Monmouth, 3 Thomas Little, q John Imlay, T James Linn, Somerfet, < Robert Stockton, C Peter De Vroom^ r George Anderfon, Burlington, 5 Jofhua M. Wallace* Newbold, (_ Caleb { Jofeph Cooper, Gloucejler, ^ Thomas Clark, j Efquires. (John Blackwood, r Samuel Sharp, Salem, ^ Bateman Lloyd, / [ohn Sinnickfon, Elijah Townfend, C Cape-May, \ Richard Townfend, ( Matthew Whilden, ^ Thomas Lowrey, Hunterdon, < Benjamin Van Cleve, (. Aaron D. Woodruff, r Silas Condicf, Morris, \ John Starke, ( Hiram Smith, John Burgin, c Speaker, Cumberland, j Ebenezer Elmer, C Joel Fithian, r Aaron tf ankinfon, Helmes, Suffex, \ vVilham (• Voluntine Bidleman, / ; VOTES( 5 ) PROCEEDINGSAND OF THE SIXTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY STATEOF THE O F N E W - J E R S E Y. Trenton, Tuefday, October 25, 1791. THIS being the Time and Place appointed by Law for the firft Meeting of the fixteenth General Affembly, the following Perfons attended, to ivit Elias Dayton, returned as One of the Reprefentatives of the County of Effex; Peter Vrcdenburgh, as One of the Reprefentatives of the County of Middlcfex; Jofeph SHllivell and John Imlay, as Two of the Reprefentatives of the County of'Monmouth; J ames Linn, Robert Stockton, and Peter D Vroom, as Reprefentatives of the County of Somerfet ; Joflrua Maddox Wallace, and Caleb Newbold, as Two of the Reprefentatives of the County of Burlington; John Blackwood, as One of the Reprefentatives of the County of Gloucejler; Samuel Sharp, Batcman Lloyd, and John Sinnickfon, as Reprefentatives of the County of Salem; Elijah Tvwn- fend, as One of the Reprefentatives of the County of Cape May; Thomas Loivrey, Benjamin Van Clcve, and Aaron D. Woodruff", as Reprefentatives of the County of Hunterdon ; Silas Condift, John Starke, and Hiram Smith, as Reprefenta- tives for the County of Morris; "John Burgin, Ebcnezer Elmer, and Joel Fi- thian, as Reprefentatives for the County of Cumberland ; Aaron Hankinfon Wil- liam Helmes, and Voluntine Bidlemau, as Reprefentatives for the County of Snf- Jex. The refpeclive Certificates of their Election were read, approved, and or- dered to be filed. Aaron D. Woodruff, Efquire, was appointed agreeably to the Conflitution to qualify Benjamin Van Clcve, Efquire, who being duly fwom took his Seat accordingly, and the remaining Perfons being returned as Reprefenta- tives, being Qualified by the faid Benjamin Van Clcve, took their beats in the Houfe. The Houfe proceeded to the Choice of a Speaker, when the Honorable Ebc- nezer Elmer, Elquire, was chofen and accordingly placed in the Chair. B The ( 6 ) The Houfe proceeded to the Eledion of a Clerk, when Mafiel Ewing was unanimoufly cholen. Majkcl Ewing attended, and after taking the Oath of Allegiance, and alfo an Oath for the faithful Difcharge of his Office, he took his beat .as Clerk of the Houfe. Ordered, That Mr. Dayton do wait on the Council and acquaint them that the Houfe of AtVembly have this Day proceeded to Bufinefs, and have cholen the Honorable Ebenezer Elmer, Elquire, their Speaker. Refohed, That David Wrigbter be Door-keeper to the Houfe during the prefent Sitting. A MefTage from the Council was delivered by Mr. Gondii, informing that a fufficient Number of Members of the Council have this Day met, elefted the Honorable Elifoa Lawrence, Efquire, Vice Prefdent, and proceded to Bufinefs. Ordered, That MefTrs Woodruff, Linn, and Vancleve, be a Committee to bring forward a Draught of Rules and Regulations, for the better Government of the Houfe. The Houfe adjourned till To-Morroiv Morning Nine o' Clock. Wednefday, October 26, 1791. The Houfe met. Thomas Clark returned as One of the Reprefentatives of the County of Glou- cester ; George Anderfon, as One of the Reprtlentatives of the County of Bur-' lingiou ; Iprael Hedden and Matthias William/on, Junior, returned as Two of the Reprefentatives for the County of Ejfex ; and Richard Towtfend, returned as One of the Reprefentatives for the County of Cape-May, appeared in the Houfe and produced the refpeetive Certificates of their Election, which were read, approved, and ordered to be filed ; whereupon, being duly qualified by the Speaker, they took their Seats in the Houfe, and having rendered an Excule for their Non- Attendance before this Time, Refohed, That the fame is Satisfactory. Mr, Woodruff from the Committee appointed to report a Draught of Rules and Regulations for the better Government of the Houfe, brought in a Report which was read by him in his place, and being afterwards read by Paragraphs, was agreed to, and ordered to be engroffed, The Speaker laid before the Houfe a Letter from Abraham Clark, Efquire, Commiffioner appointed on the Part of this State, to fettle the Accounts ot this State with the United btates, which was read and ordered to be filed. Ordered, That Mr. Anderfon do wait upon the Council, and inform them that this Houfe are ready to go into a Joint-Meeting, to appoint a Governor, and other Officers of the State, and do requefl that Council will appoint the Time and Place of Meeting. Ordered, That MefTrs. Linn, Helmes, and Woodruff, be a Committee to exa- mine and corredl Bills after a fecond Reading, and before the Engroffing. Ordered, That MefTrs. D. Vroom, Hedden, Wallace, Blackwood, Sharps, Lloyd, and Fithian, or any Three of them, be a Committee to join a Committee of the Council, to fettle the Accounts of the Treafurer, and that Mr. Anderfon do wait on the Council, and requeft them to appoint a Committee to join the Committee of this Houfe for that Purpofe. Refohed ( 7 ) Refolved, That the Speaker have Power during the Seffion to convene the General AiTembly whenever any extraordinary Occalion fhall, in his Opinion, render it neceffary. Ordered, That Meffrs. Loivrey, Linn, and Hankinfon, be a Committee to ex- amine the Minutes of the lad Sitting, and reporc fuch Bulinefs to the Houfe, as remained unfinifhed or was referred to this Sitting. Ordered, That Meffrs. Van Cleve, Wallace, and Conditt, be a Committee to prepare and prefent a Bill for defraying incidental Charges. The Petition of John Hepnor, late a Soldier in the Jerfey Line, was read, praying a Compenlation for the Depreciation of his Pay, while in the Service, attended with lundry Certificates, were read and ordered a fecond Reading. Ordered, That Meffrs Clark and Condi ft be a Committee to examine and re- port what Laws have expired, or are near expiring. Ordered, That Meffrs. Imlay, Burgih, Helmes, Hankinfon, and Anderfon, or any Three of them, be a Committee for the prefent Seffion, to join a Committee of the Council on fuch public Accounts as may be referred to them during the Sitting of the Legiflature; that the faid Committee fettle and report all Accounts, for the Payment of which when fettled, Provilion is already made by Law, and that they deliver all others to the Committee appointed to bring in a Bill for de- fraying incidental Charges. Ordered, That Mr. Anderfon do wait on the Council and requeft them to ap- point a Committee to join the Committee of this Houfe for the above Purpofe. The Petition of Peter Quick, Jun. a Prifoner confined in the Goal of the County of Sujjex, praying that a Law may be palled to liberate him from Con- finement, was read: whereupon, a Petition was prcfented from his Creditors fta- ting reafons why the Prayer of his Petition mould not begranted, and being read. Ordered that they be Committed to Meffrs. Condicl, Williamfon, E To-wnfend, Si ill well, and Sharp. The Petition from Benjamin Jones and others, Inhabitants of the County of Burlington, praying Liberty to throw a Dam acrofs Rancocus Creek, near a place called Slab-Bridge, for the Purpofe of railing a Head of Water to fupply a Grift-Mill, was read and ordered a fecond Reading. Sundry Petitions were prefented from Prifoners confined in feveral Goals of the State, praying aLa* may pafs to Liberate them from Confinement, with fun- dry Petitions from Creditors of Prifoners, praying for Reafons fet forth, that no Law may pafs for that Purpofe, were read and committed to Meffrs. CondiB, Williamfon, E Townfend, Stilt'well, and Sharp. Ordered, That Meffrs. Williamfon, Woodruff', and Linn, be a Committee to examine and correct the Minutes. A Petition from Jonar Ward and others praying the Benefit of a Lottery, the better to enable them to Erect a Wire-Mill, and cany on a Card Manufactory, wasread, and ordered a fecond Reading.