The Patowmac guardian, and Berkeley advertiser — Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.], 1797-01-12 00:00:00, page 2

Your com'niutee fine? farther, that the laid trea
surer hath ditburfrd and admitted in djlcounr, a
■greeable to hw, to the amount ol 220,425 dollars
a ltd.46 cents, as appears by the receipts 10 us pro
iiucea ; the correlponding warrants, after having
been carefully examined and compared with the re
ceipts, were burnt.
Your committee find alfo, that a lof» has been fuf
tsineri on the tales or the public tobacco, to the a
rmniut ol Q^9 dollars and cents, as appears by
the ftatetnem. hereto annei u.
Your committee find further, that the faid trea
f> rer hath admitted in p.irt. for one tenth ol the ar
rearages of fbe laud tax, as the law directs, ofthe
bills of credit of the tfi b ol M u ch, i^Bo, common
ly called 1 for 40 money, to the amount of 88 dol
lars, which bills were produced to the committee,
examined, i-ti 1 burnt.
Your committee find alfo, that the faid treafurer
bath admitted indikount, as the law directs for the
arrearages of tl.cert it1. .ate tax, certificates and
Warrants for fopplics, to the amount ol 2587 dol
j us and 98 cons, as appears by the receipts to us
P-oriuce.l ; the correlponding vouchers, after having
heel* carefully exunt'ued, were burnt. Thele cre
dits being ell duly traced, there remained a balance
on the 3 >ih of September, '96,due from the treafu
ry, ol 161,029 dollars and fc cents, as will appear
by ihe general account hereto annexed. That the
j-4«j balance waft dtiiy accounted for except the fum
ot $ cents, the annexed certificate, figned by the
niMiiijtrn of council duly authorised to examine the
Treafurer’s nCn wifi prove; to which certificate,
and the accounts hereto annexed, your committee
beg leave to refer.
VIKOINIA.
In the Houle of Del.“{rates December r3,'g6.
•y RDERED, That the public Printer be differed
to ferike off two tbouiand copies of tlie fol
lowing Keiblution, to In diitriboted among the le
veral counties of ill is Common-wealth, for the con
federation of the good people thereof.
Attcit, JOHN STEWART, C. H. D.
WHERE AS petitions have been prefented to the
General Alsembfy, Irom various pans ol this Com
mon wealth, praying for the eltanlilhment of lome
Diode, whereby the prelent Cotiftitution or Form of
, Government, Ihouid be reviled and amended ,• and
this Alsembl), deeming it improper for them to
«' t upon the ca!e without a declaration of the pub
lic will respecting it, or totally to liifie the wilhes
of a part of their fellow citizens :
R.'folved therefore, That it he recommended to
11jc: good people of ihis Commonwealth, to infrruct
their Re pi eientati ves in the next lelEon of the Ge
neral Aiseftibly, upon the propriety of calling a
Convention for that pnrpofe, and of afeertaining
the manner io which Che lame Ihould he carried
H. BROOKE, C.S.
into effect.
ITcemhe^ i ’o6.‘ Agreed to by the Honfe of
Delegates. JOHN STEWART, C. H. D.
Congress of thk United States.
MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Tuefday, December 20.
Mr, Williams's oljer*vations on the Militia Bill.
Mr. Williams laid, a well regulated Militia muft
be acknowledged as the belt lupport in a free Re
public ; and as every man mult be interefted in car
rying into effect fuch a fyltein, it became us to pay
every polsihle attention to this very important lub
ject. He thought the prefent (yftem very excepti
onable; and the one propoled arid now under confi*
deration, appeared to him coropulfive, arbitrary,
and not agreeable to the lpirit of a Republican go
vernment. The annual encampments would be very
expeniive and injurious to morals and induftry. The
regiments thus computed would extend over a great
furl ice, and would want that compact folidity which
military corps Ihould pofsefs. In the bill, all (ex
cept thole exempted) between 20 3tid 25 years of
age, are to do duty. This was a period, he laid,
that the pureft morals ought to be inculcated in
youth, ini read of which we might reasonably ex
pect that a greater part of them would, in conle
tpu-nce of their being encamped, imbibe immoral
principles, which would be exceeding difficult to re
move. Be fid eg, this is a period that young men take
upon thtmU Ive an active part in life, and begin the
World for themfelves.
As the chute now flood, the public muft be at a
very great expence, fuch a£ in our prelent circum
fiances, we ire unable to bear. To agree to the
fi.Tt cl ante would be legillating in the dark, .as it
was impofsible to know what number ol citizens
there wtie within that age, and of courfe we can
not form aneltimate of the txpences. 11 luch a fyf
■tem was to take place, he laid, we ought to have
Keen furnilmd with the number as near as circum
fiances would admit. But as a gentleman obterved
lhe oilier day, that before gentlemen negatived the
prelent mode, they would do well to propole abet
ter. Mr. W. laid, he was of opinion, that a legi
onary fyftem would not only be far preferable to
the one under coniideraiion, but be more agreeable
to the minds ot the people; fully as fufficieut, end
•would -all but for litrle aid from the public.
A legion lit faid, was the nioft efficient corps in
everv point of view. A (elect legion might ealily
be formed from every brigade of militia, agreeably
jo a certain ruleof appointment which ihould be fix
•cu by law. Molt bi igadea*ould form oue troop of
hoTfe, one company of artillery and a battalion of
iufautry. The regiments which compote this bii
ot Referved Militia ibould he divided into In*
taniry, Cavalry, and Artillery Ckjftt. Theie clafts
Ihould De determined by-lot, or by the a-rrangenitnt
of tiie commandant ot the brigade. Every regi
ment ihouldfurnitb a certain proportion otlntantry,
iVUtrofses, and Cavalry. The clafses Ihoold be ob
liged to turrdlh the m<-n for thefe corps completely
equipped with arms and accoutrements, with a mi
litary hat or cap, with a coatee and a pair of over
all-. The clafses which furniih theie legionary fol
diera to be exempted from the prefect military re
gulations. Theie ihall be denominated tht RrJerr.ed
Corps, and lhal! only meet on the regimental p.raoe
ur»ce in three years, to be iniptcttd and to recruit
c.aie or tieieruou ui '
the legion. 1 lie dais*
pulton, Ihould be obligated, by pecuniary penal
ties, to replace the man who deferts or is expelled.
Iftheclafses refufe to raife the men directed by jaw,
or the by-orders of thelupenor officer, every mdi
vidu ,1 of fuch rials Iboold be fined with feverity.
The term of the legionary enlifitr.ent to -be for
years. During their fervice in the legion
they might be exempted from all works on the road ,
from all civil duties as jurors, and from perfonal
tax. Every three years of lervice to he diftinguilh
ed by fome honorary badge, and that period offer
vice to exempt the legionary loldier from all mili
tary duties except when the country is in danger.
The legionary foidirr, when hre time expires, to
receive a military diploma, expreffive of his patri
otilm and attachment to I ; w and order. '1 he legi
onary Cavalry and infantry to be infpected and cx
ercifed in fcuods convenient to their relidence
times in the year by the legionary adjutant, who
Should be liberally rewarded by government lor
his military fervices. The artillery ihould be en
camped days, and Ihould be exercifed and in
Ipected by lome able artillery officer in each divili
on. This lervice to con lift in practical experi
ments, and government Ihould provide tor this ex
pence. This corps to be imitled to a luperiority
in point of pay, and military honor.
The legions of each ft ate to be infpected yearly
by die adjutant general of eacli ftate, whole rank
and emoluments ihould be relpectable. He Ihould
make yearly reports of the legtonary corps, of the
legionary adjutants and of the defects of the law to
the commander in chiei of the ftatet, and to the le
cretary of war. He Ihould he refponfible for the
good appearance and difeipline of the legion, and
therefore c.ery legion.ry adjutant Ihould be recom
mended or appointed by him. The firltday the ar
tillery ihould be infpected, the fecond day the ca
valry, the third day the infantry, and the fourth
day the legion ihould be exercifed in mock engage
ments. The officers and loldiers of the legion to
receive a compenlation for lofs of time.
In order to accomplilh an uniformity in arms, go
vernment might furniih them and charge them to the
daises at fir ft colt. He believed moll of the ftates
could furniih the legion with arms.
The legion ihould bear the name of the County or
brigade dijirifl, and ihould be officered in the firlt in
fiance from the prelent officers of the miiiiia ; the
brigadier general of the referved corps Ihould al
ways command the legion, and fuperior encourage
ment Ihould be given to the non-commiflioned offi
cers. The brigadier general to be refponfible lor
the raifingof the legion to apportion the requilition
to each regiment, and the commandant of eacli re
giment ro apportion the regimental requifition to
each company. Any neglect or dilobedience of or-t ’
ders to be punilhed with feverity.
The penalties of non-attendance and other offen
ces would deferve confideration. He believed no
iyitem would be efficient, if the fines were not giv
en to the officers commanding the companies, for
their ufe and equipment, and no fyftem will be fo
juft as to determinate every lpecies of guilt by a
court martial.
The court members fhould receive the lame pay
as if on any other duty.
When the legion was collected to be fuhjecr to
the articles of war, except as to corporal punilh
menl. It would be belt to arrange a fyftem lor the
legion from the anninl reports ol the adjutant gene
ral to the fecretary of war, who Ihould report an
nually the defects ol the law.
Mr. Williams laid, it appeared to him that there
was a certain proportion of our citizens who were
better calculated and more dilpofed lor military du
ty than others. The principle here laid down
would give them an opportunity to diltinguilh them
(elves according to their genius ; but in the claule
in the bill before them, ail were to be considered as
forming the militia, let their genius or abilities be
ever fo much at variance with the lervice. Of what
ufe could it be, (aid Mr. V& illiarns, to difeipline
men who difliked the fervice. In his opinion it
was only a lofs of time.
Mr. Williams concluded by faying that he had
thrown thele ideas together, and lubmitted them to
the confideration of the Houle. They appear to
him to obviate many objections which had been ur
ged againft the hill before them, and to remedy ex
iting evils. The Houle would perhaps think dif
ferently ; if fo, they would of courle reject them.
He Ihould at ail events vote for ftriking oui the
firft faction of the bill before them.
December 2g.
The refolution propoftng to afford the {offerer*
by the fire at Savannah feme relief, was called up,
and it was'moved to go into committee of the whole
upon it.
In favour of this motion and of granting relief, it
was flated, that few houfes ia the City of Savannah
remained, rot one public building rorhoufe cfwor
Ihip ; that four-bhhs of the city bad fallen a prey
to Hie fl sines ; that the cal'e of that city was, wierc
iore, peculiar, becaule unexampled, and that the
federal Legiflature had voted i elief tor the run
grams from br. Domingo, and could not certainly
rtlufeit to their own citizens.
Againlt the motion it was urged.that if the prin
ciple was once efi ablilhed, that Congrefs ought to
afford relief to Cofferers by tiro, they fhould noc
know whereto ftop, but would be called upon front
New-Vork, Charlelton, and other cities that had
iufF.'reO : that if this principle was eitafflilhed toe
neceffity of inl’urance companies would be done a.
way, and that the incitement to build wi<h r.oa
combuftible materials would be conliderabiy weak
The motion lor going into a committee of the
whole was lilt, 38 to 39.
A morion was then made to diicharge the com
mittee of the whole from the tonlidci aiion of the
refolution.
Aga'wft the motion and in favour of affording re
lief 10 the (offerers at Savannah, it was urged, that
it would be intuiting the mifery of the unfortunate
Georgians to difch^rge the hufinets without a free
ditcufsion ot it ; that ih-oe were prectdents of
relief having been afftided by Congrefs in cafe*
linriJar to the prelent ; the daughters of the
Count de Graise and the St. Domingo refugees had
received alsiltance from government. It was argu
ed. that it is the duty of a poli 1 ic:-l fociety 10 alle
viate diftrefses (o grievous thole endured by the
inhabitants of Savannah j that 1 he deft ruction by
the fires at New-Ynrk or Cliai lelion, was not one
ewentierh part fo conlidrrable as that of Savannah,
in proportion to the wealth of the relpecrive cilia.
ini.ilI a portion of the inhabitants of Geoigia
have cfcaperl from ihe general calamity, that ade
quate relief could not he expected {rum them. It
was a!!o laid, that if I'ome alsiltaiice wr.j not given
to Savannah, to enable it to rile in a /mcalure from
it* allies tin-: revenue arHing from that commercial
city would be loir.
In favour of difeharging the committee of the
whole, it was tuged, that if the Hon'c did not
think tliemfe4veb ar liberty t«> give any thing, ;e
loouer they declared this the better it would be for
the fuff, rers, who then might look to the State
Legiflatores for afliftance.
Upon putting the question, only 20 rofe in favor
of dil'charging the committee ; 1 ht 11 ihe motion for
going into committee of the whole was renewed and
carried, 45 members riling in its favor ; and iVlr.
Mullienburg was placed in the chair.
In committee ol the whole, doubts were exprefs
as ro ihe power of the Houle to appropriate rhe
public monies, f-* any purpote but the public ler
vice.as Ipecified in the conl'titurion. It was moved as
an amendment Jto the reloluiion, that Lexingtoo
(Virginia) ihould participate in the reiiei conum
plaitd to be granted 10 Savannah. It was /tat <J,
that Lexington had luffered more than any other
town in proportion to its fize, having been totally
defrroyetl by tire home months ago.
It was alio fa hi, that in t lie cafe of the St. Do
mingo fufferers, the relief then afforded was only
intended as an advance, and thar repayment had
been expected from France ; that in the cafe of the
daughters of the Count dt- Gratae, what was given
them was in conlidcration of their father’s Cervices.
In favour of the Savannah 1 offerers and againft the
propofed amendment it was urged, that there wa»
no com pari Ion betweep Savannah and Ltxington ,*
that .Savannah was a lots in a national point ct
view 1 hat the proportion of our Southern fron
tier, especially in time of war, required a confirie
rable and fluurifhing city where Savannah hood,
and that any advances now made for its relief
would be amply repaid by the public advantage*
which would be derived from its re-eltablilhnient.
The amendment, -to inlert Lexington was negati
ved, 26 members riling in favour of ic.
The debate was renewed upon the main queft»on.
It was further added in oppolitionto it ; that it the
legiilatnre of the Union did give the (offerers of Sa
vannah 15 or 20 000 dollars, this would rather bq
an injury to than as it might cramp the liberality
of the State Leg'1 flat 11 res, and that the Federal Go
vernment fhould be jolt before they were generous,
and dilcharge the claims of thole Ihtit out by their
acts of limitation ; that the houfe had no right to
be generous out of the public money, e(jpeci*ily in
this cafe, w hich called more properly lor ihe in
tervention of the State Legislatures, in the cafes of
the St. Domingo fuff rers, and of the daughters of
the Count de Gralse, foreigners were to be relieved,
and this was the bufinefs of the general government
excluflvely.
In favour of affording relief it was finally urged,
that too ftrict an interpretation of that part of the
conltitution which rejected appropriations was
contrary to the (pint of it ; that fume cafes were (o
calamitous as to require relief from the government
and that this was ceirainly one.
The refolution was negatived, in the committee,
and the yeas and nays being called upon agreeing to
the report they were as ftdlows :
YEAS 55—NAYS 24.
SALEM, December 20.
By the brig Mary, captain Joleph Lind fey. who
arrived at Marblehead on Saturday lafc, in 58 days
from Cadiz, we have a pofitive confirmation of the
declaration of war by Spain againft England. It
was proclaimed by the heralds of ftate, at the corner
of every ftreet in Cadiz, the day before capr Lind
fey failed; and the day was celebrated with the
moft enthufiaftic joy. The inhabitants appeared