davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1800-12-22

NOW, let any man, acquainted with
the extent Of our country, and who knew
how vulnerable it was in many points for
ming line in one direction Of 1900
miles, and in the other direction of more
than 1000: let any man decide whether
iuch an extended country could be ade-
quately defended by forcelei than 900
In numhere When the numerous harbors
to be defended, on the fea board, and the
number Of forts on the weGern frontier
requiring garrlfons to protect them from
the attacks OF the Indians, were ccndder-
ed, could any reaionable man affirm that
1900 artilleriits and engineers were too
many.
Cannot we fuppors THIS eaahlifhnent.
Are we too poor? Tue ecchomy itie,f
would dictate, continuance Of the force.
For the militia, however ulefnl in o.hcr
circumstances could afford bat little de-.
fence to our forss and harbo,rs without
corps Of reguiarl artillery to fupporr and
encourage their efforts. He put entirely
out Of view al considerations derived from,
the four exiting regiments Of infantry.--.
They were entirely occupied IN defending
our wcfern frontiers from Indian i,,vaiion.
Their iervices were there required, as the
militia would not DC kept IN readiness to
rePel 1udden aggreiiion, but at an enor-
nous expenle.
We are extremely young in the cience
Of engineering. However competent the
militia may be to the great purpofe oful-
timately defending the country, they are
not IN fuch a fituaiion as to be enabled to
protect our forts aud harboars On fuddcn
invaGon. If the militia are Incompetent
to this end, we mua rely upon nanding
force. Infantry and cavalry might foon
be created Bat artillery ard engineers
were not the growth Of a day. BY difnin-
ing thefe, you deprive yourlslves of all
the fold advantages to be derived from
the militia, who in cooperation with
finall regular force Of this deicription
would be formidable, but who, unaided
by them would be Inefficient.
The refolution in quefion he ALTO con-
iilered as quite premature. What change,
he enquired fnce the laa ieMon, when
the maintenance OF this battalion was re-
cognized as expedient, had occurred in
our foreign and domefic relations A
convention it is iaid is made with France.
But we are ignorant of its terms, its na-
ture, or extent. (, 1t. has not yet been ra-
tilted, and when ratified, who will anfwer
for its due execution, or the con1equences
which may enfue---Ifit refores our friend
ly relations with France, may it not pro-
duce misunderstanding with other pow
ersl Do not circupnjtances exit that
render it highly prudent to fecure and
ftrebgthen our WeAern potts! He was
pcrfuaded that if a powerful nation like
the United States, would declare its ina
bility or reluctance to fuppcrt this mode
rate military force; it would incur the
contempt of othes nations, They would
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1800-12-22

were paGed which materially affected the
military eftablifhment. One of which fuC-
pended all further recruiting in reference
to the twelve regiments: but was iilent in
refpect to the artillery.
The other for authorizing the PRECEDENT
to difband the infantry and cavalry. but
expressly reGraining him from dimini.h;ng
the numbers Of the artiliery-Was he not
therefore warranted in the aaertion that
the pref.nt ei4abliihment Of the two regi-
ments Of artillery and engineers had been
authorized with the greateh deliberation,
and ianaioned as favourite meaiure.
That it was intended to be cherifhed as a
nurfery for: thoie branches Of military fci
ence which are mott difficult of acIuiGtion,
which cannot be learnt or prace,iiffcd upon a
{udden emergency! While every other
part of the military caabIifhment had OK
perienced a radical reform. The organi-
zaticn ofthe artillery had hitherto remain
ed exempt from OBJECTION and dilpute.
This being the cafe, was it not ;ncum-
bent or the gentleman, who had fnbm;tted
the reiclution before the houfe, to point
ionle Of thote discriminating circumstances
that recommended the adoption OF mea
iurc at this time which has been hitherto
deemed inexpedient? Was it not incum-.
bent on him to thew that he did not in .
tend the accomplishment Of this neaiure
as a prelude to the entire anriil1:iation OF
the little germ Of an army that now re-
mains ia thtS country
For his part, Mr.. Otis declared, he
was not ambitious Of affirming either Gre
dit or Responsibility that would arife from
a reformation that would leave the coun-
try dehitutc CT defence. He was willing
that thoie who fucceeded in the admin
fration of the government fhould reap the
honor and advantage Of this reform.
Whether the force at prefent authorized
by law wasmore than adequate to the pro-
lection Of our extended Tea board, ard our
no leis extenfive frontier, would, clearly
appear by@a fatement Of the diiribution
Of it that is intended when the regiments
are complete.
He had taken fome pains to inform
hirnfe!f Of this fact and had prepared do
cumcr1t to thew executive OF ofdcerS COM
milioned and non conlmiaoned, the num-
bers that would be itationed at Ale ref
pettive ports. Mr.. Otis then went mi
nutely into fatement Of the numbers al
lowed to every port and carlton where
the Artillery are to be employed, the re-
fults of which were as follows:
In Georgia and s. Csr}]ina Ioa
Virginia and Maryland 1ez
Pennsylvania IA
New York z88
Connecticut 49,
Rhode Inand I44
MaGachufetts 1oz
On the North Wefern frontier *
from Niagara to Mobile Bay. J
Total 1896
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1800-12-22

a. compensation of injaries, or if they made
treaties, they would violate them In TIE
tull confidence of impuity.
But it was Gaid by the gentleman, that
as this battalion had not yet been RATED,
, the inference was obvious that it was not
necetlary.
But for what reaion had the rating Of
it been delayeds It would be recolleeeed
that during the laR FELTON, of Congrsis,
the late iecretary OF war preiented TO rhis
horfc, project for reducing the two. re-
giInents of artillery to three battalion
each, and in lieu Of the fourth batrahons
to fubaitute corps of artil1erifs and en-
gineers, and a military academy in which
they might be initiated INTO the principles
of thefe ufefal ard neceflary licences.
Whale that report was pending bcioze tho
Legislature, ii would have been improper
and inexpedient to recruit for this fourth
battalion. Had the .fubAitutc been aiopt-.
ed, The mealure would have been mpelcesl-
ed. But the report Of the fecretary tho
many Parts Of il were in his opinion highly
delerying of attention, was not accertedhy
Congrefs. Since that period, the feat Of
government had been removed. The fer
nler iscretary Of the war department had
refgncd, and foine time OF courtc lad been
loft !; he knew however that forne of the
officers had been appointed, and had reaion
to believe that the corps would foon be
perfectly organized. another reafop,
Mr.. OTIS aledged was, that the attentiog,
of government had been principally direct
ed to organize the temporary army. It
bcirg conceived that the permanent eta !,
b.;fhment might proceed more leifurely.
On the whole, Mr.. Otis laid, that hcswas
not one Of thofe who were difinayed at
the critis in the political affairs CT ths
country, and he trufted there was fill
majority in the houfc, who unawed by
change of times, and unlhaken by tie prof
peet Of ieeing their meaflrcs hereafter re-
verfed, would pef,svcrc while they had
power in maintains. the principles and
meaiures to which the nation was indebted
for its dignity and profrcrity.< If the ad.
minihration of the government is defined
to change, let thofe whofucceed take upon
:themfIves the burden Of reform; and ifis
was intended by this refolution, that he
1hould have an opportunity to partake in
the glory and advantages of il, with all
due acknowledgement he begged to decline
the offer.
Let thofe, into Whole hands the future
goyernmentmight fall, realize the eSpesta-
tons that have been raiied, let them per- /,
form all the engagements they have made
let them preferye and augment tbepublic
PROPERTY, and while they enjoy the ex-
clufve credit Of their meafurcs, they !,
fhould On ,thefe conditions receive all the
fupport and appreciation which in his hum
BILE fphere, he could Afford Bot he had no
idea ofadoPting meafures that would betray
fymptoms Of regret and contrition for
the paf, and he hoped his friends would
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1800-12-18

more than any thing, and that they would
be gratifed by an appeal from the deciiion
of the chair. He hoped it would be left
with the chair, as it always had been.
MIR. Thatcher believed the concluiion,
whatever it might be, was of but little
coniequence, and he cared but little about
1t. The matter of form was, in his view,
the mott important. He faid that for 4
out of fetions, Photographers were not
permitted to come within the bar, while
at New York, and he believed the debates
were taken with as much accuracy or
more than they had been ince. Indeed he
believed the complaints made, had ali been
iince the period when they were admitted
within the bar; and therefore he conclud-
ed the 1ituation would not prevent the de-
bates from going out to the public; that
was but an idle execute: if, however, the
iPeaker thought proper to admit them,
even IN front Of the chair, he ihouid have
no objection.
Mr.. Nichollon explained, that he did
notWifh nor hint that the place to be az
iigned fhould be in the area or front of
the chair, but that it might be in the re-
.ceiles Of the windows, which being LARGE.
might be occupied without at all neon
modlng the members, and Especially 10 if
the alterations in the benches were made
which he before propoied, and which could
be done with eafc.
Mr.. Davis faid, that being feated on
ON one tide Of the houfe, he really could not
hear what was faid by gentle non on the
other, and # 70, how could it be expected
the photographers could hear who were
placed without the bar at the ends of the
houie !; Especially from their attention be
ing taken off by gentlemen whifperino
and converting about them, which they
woald Go In the lobby.
Ii they were placed within the bar Of
the hoaie, they would then be in the power
OF tie houie: ifthey were incapable, or gull
ty OF MISREPRESENTATION, the houie could at
any time turn them out, and therefore the
object OF fome gentlemen would be more
eifectualiy accomplished. He contended
that 1t would be impoHble to convey the
buiinefs OF the houfe to the KNOWLEDGE &C
the people, if it was not reported in the
newspapers. OF what avail, he alled,
was 1t to take the yeas and nays? Was
It In order to be hut up within the con
flnes OF the journal Of the houfe. This
would very lily anfwer the purpofes often
declared of making the votes public. No.
II was that the votes may be diaeminated
on important quel3ions. The people were
iollcltous to know upon what princ;ple
their representatives acted, and how were
they know it? Not the 40 or GO who
attend the galleries could diiIem;nate
~ but 1t could be done by encouraging
the debates to be made public, and this
could only be done efsetuzlly through
the medium of the newspapers. There
could be no danger of a croud being ad
mllea to theie fituations, for it would
ever De In the power Of the houfe to pre-
vent the number becoming burthenfome.
lt mad been (aid thar there u,.o .c
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1800-12-18
By this Days Mail.
NEW YORK, Dec. II.

Gay IN the brig Union from Malaga,
the Editor of the New York Gaze1te
has been fayoured with the following
copy Of the 4th article Of the Treaty
between this country and France.
Property captured and not yet de6ni-
lively condemned, or which may be cap
tured before the exchange of ratification.
(contraband goods defined to an cnemy's
port excepted hall be mutually reftored
on the following proof of ownerlhip, viz.
Here follows a copy Of the French CO.
lumns OF the passports, now uied by the
American veGels.
And this paaport will be fnficienr,
without any other paper, any ordinance to
the contrary Notwithstanding, which pai-
portfhall not be deemed requiGte to have
been renewed Or recalled, whatever mum.
bers OF voyages the faid fhip may have
made, unleis ihe 1hall have returned home,
within the fpace ola year.
Proof with, refpea to the cargo f1all be
certificates containing thesfevcral particu-
lars Ct the cargo, the place whence the fhip
fallet, and WHITTIER fhe is bound 60 that
the forbidden or contraband goods may be
diitlnguifhed by the certificates, which
iha!l have been made ont by the officer of
the place whence the fhip lct fail, in the
accuiton,ed form Of the country.
And if fuch paarort or certificates, or
both, fhall have been de1royed by acct
dents or taken by force, their deficiency
may De lupplied by fuch other proof Of CT
tiazenihip, as ere admiMble by the general
uiage of nations.
Proof with refrea to any others than
merchant Clips, fhall be the comm:fion
they bear-This article fnall take effect
from the date Of the fgnature of the, pre-
lent rroy'ilonal treaty and if from the
date Of the laid fgnature, any property
ihall be condemned contrary to the intent
or the iaia treaty, before the knowledge Of
this stipulation ihall be obtained, the pro-
Perty 10 condemned, fhal1, without delay,
be reltored or paid for.
In Paris paper Of the 9th October, re-
celved by the brig Union, we find the fol-
lowing articles:
lhe two American minihers, MeGrs.
DAVE and Eliworth, are to iet fail from
fiavre this day. The third, MIR. Muir
ray, Will depart tomorrow for the Hague,
where he is miniffer.
citizen Louis Buonaparte ets off to-
morrow Tor journey to Germany. He
goes frf to Pruflia.
they write from Rome, that M. La
orador. miniiter of Spain, has begun the
exerclie OF his function near Plus VII.
a .Piedmontefe, named Amoreti, was
srfeited at Genoa, being the bearer Of
leyerai letters from the King and Queen
OF Sardinia directed to Turin.
=. "hen the arrival of the Emperor at
.ne army was announced by the firing Of
guns, ana that general Moreau was ap-
neu ., IL this latt TENT to the head-quar-
tiers OF the Emperor a general officer to
compliment his majeRy.
Apprvpn
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1800-12-18

United States lent up there? Why ihould
they be Put where they could not hear
Beiides theie reaions, why fhonld the,
places be filled to narrow the boundaries
OF the houfe already too much circumicrib-
ed! He lhould not be dilpoied to make
any innovations in this new chamber but
from the mott powerful reafons. What
was to be-done when the heads of depart
ments and foreign minifers, uiually admit
ted to thoie iituations, came to the houfe:
there would then be no room for the iteno- 4
graphers, and yet they would make kind
OF claim, except the rcfolution for their
adrniilion was to be reicinded, which it
would undoubtedly be neceHary to do, for
the ipeaker could never undo what the
hous had thought it neceaary for them to
do.
MIR. Nicholfon thought the queRion
barely reited On this (: would the houie do
what the fpeaker had refufed to do? Had
the ipeaker granted this permifiion, it
would not have been left for queltion to
the ,houie. Objections had been made on
the ground of fanetion; it was faid to be
an appreciation to the reports given of the
ipceches, for the houfe to admit the fteno-
graphers within the bar. What, he ak
ed, was the difference The houfe had
delegated to the ipeaker the power of ad-
uniting them: by that delegation was not
the houie equally refponGble for their ac-
curacy Certainly.
But It had been faid, that upon great
queitions the 1peaker might admit 1feno-
graphers, provided the places were not
tiled with the heads Of departments and
foreign miniiters. Thus foreign niiniRers
and heads of departments were to be ac-
conmodated at all events. He confef1ed
ne would rather thefe officers lhouId be
entirely excluded from the houfe, than that
the people Of this country fhould be told
that the houfe Of representatives would
not fuller them to hear what was DOING
there. Certainly the convenience of the
people OF this country ought to be con-
iuited before that Of the heads Of depart
ments or foreign nlininers. He conceived
II OF vaft importance, that the peop,e
mould be acquainted with the proceedings
OF their representatives, and, as had been
laid, 1t could only be known through the
prcis. 'Ao
1t had been complained by the gentle
man lait up, that inaccuracies were fome-
times committed, and therefore it ought
MOTTO be fanetioned. IF this were really
true' ne would ak was it the way to a.
mend It by magnifying the evils Ifthefe
gentlemen were put in WORE ftuation
than uiual, could it be expected but their
reports would De more inaccurate Rills I
IT they could not carry the fpeecb of =,
gentleman through an hour or two with
accuracy, was it to be expected they could
40 it with accuracy, when they could NOT
hear It difinaly! He believed it 70 he
lmpofiible to hear the Gpeaker in the lobby !
or IN the gallery: he had obferved tbs.
truth of.thls declaration in the lobby: he
had not in the gallery, but had been IN
formed 1t was impoaiible to hear there.
u certainly was deGrable thing 70 fell
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1800-12-18

hazard of finall inconvenience, he hoped
the houfe would grant the object of the
memorial, and diiagree with the report of
the committee.
Mr.. Rutledge obierved, that the two
gentlemen oppoled to the report had talk
ed very much Of the means of afording
the people knowledge ofthe proceedings
OF the hocle, but he would appeal to their
candor to lay whether that was the queiti-
on. There was not gentleman in the
houie. he would be bold to fay, who
would with to fife the debates, or to
prevent their being taken down. The
only queition was, whether the houfe fhould
be obieryant Of their former practice, or
whether novel proceeding fhould be in
troduced? Whether the houie would fup-
pofe that thofe perfons would diEcharge all
the duties of their engagement with impair
TALLY and propriety, or whether they
would Unfit on having the debates publiih-
ed under the kind of lanetion given by the
proceedings propofed.
MIR. r. then adyerted to former deci-
fion-of the chair, when, he laid, GER
tain reporter 70 groAy mifrepre{ented, and
was In that habit, as to become the fub-
jet of complaint upon application from
the misitated member, he refufed to cor
rect the intended error, on which account
the Speaker executed his power by diff
charging him from the privilege ufsd by.
others, of being within the bar. This
was acquieiced in by the houfe without
any public oppoiition. Now if perion
ihould 10 miireprefeat member, who was
admitted by a vote of the houie, the Speak
er would not have power to difcharee him !
1t mutt be done by vote, which would
very much retard public proceedings. He
wllhed to iupport the opinion of the chair.
which he thought confident with the con.
ycnence of the houie.
Mr. Hill declared that he was oppofed
to the reiolution offered by the commit
tee: he coniidered this mere queaion Of
convenience: he thought the fpeaker very
properly declared it 70, in oppoGne the
adIniiiion of thofe gentlemen it was his
opinion that it would be inconyenient to
the members: the members were now an
pied to, and were called upon to Eay. by'
their vote, whether it would incomnode
them or not. For himfeif, he declared he
was willing to undergo the perfonal In
convenience, and he believed from the
ieat ne had taken it would be as much TO
MIN as to any gentleman. He wifned TO
DO every thing in his power to obtain a
correct ftatement of the proceedings of the
houie, and that the people fhould alio fee
10 Whieh he was well anured it was i'm
Poihble to obtain, confdering the fitua-
ton OF the reporters without the bar.
MIR. Grifwold viewed the fubjes3 as no
thing ellie but an appeal from the deciGon
OF the chair. Stenographers had been ex-
GUIDED by order of the fpeaker, they had
aho been admitted by permiflion Of the
iPeaKsr the queition now was fimply whe-
tner the houfe would deprive the ipeaker
OF that power, and to open the area in
the front OF the chair or.not /. What would
IN
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1800-12-18

geh that it had or would be done, bur ..
thought, to place it in the houe, would
prevent the po.iibility.
10 be eoutnued.l
The Dover herald. ([Dover, Del.) 1800-18??, 1800-01-16
[ II ]

iniufe it is to be ready TO ailert our rights,
and oppoie violence and injuRice, let it
come from what quarter it may: 1t is
with thankfulnefs and much plealure that
can inform you the lalt lealon has not
been 10 afiiiSting to any part of the citi-
zens Of the fate as the former, kind Pro-
violence did not fend tile Peailential Rod
into any part of our fate, which was 10
ieverely felt in many of cur filter aates
neither did our farmers il.fcr 70 much in
their crops the lait, as they did the for
mer year; and it is with much iatistsction
| congratulate YOU on the union and har-
mony which meaiurably prevails through
out the fate: But while this affords great
conlolaton, and would be a ltrong re-
fource in any event, yet the circumstances
of our national affairs are fuch, as utilities
me in fuggeang, the propriety of Re-
0.fon Of 0ur Militia Lazv, Especially re-
ipetting the feveral lAit7tsry Companies in
the fate, Whole uiefulreis NUT forever be
lott, unlels they are furniihcd with field
pieces, carriages and apparatus, and alto
reipetting the impoiing fines on delin-
qnents, and the mode of collection. As
ltand informed, in iome parts of the fate,
the law, as it now aands, as to fines for
non-attendante e, on mutter and field days,
by the conduct of iome officers, only az
feet thoie perIons who are conicientioully
icrupulous of bearing arms in any cafe,
the roll not being called over, or if called
over, 70 mana ged as 10 elnde the law
with rcipctt to others. again from my
information the mode OF collecting the
fines, as the law now Glands, is iuch from
the fmallnefs OF the compensation allowed
for collection, that renders it in,prattic-
able, believe, and out of the power of
tie Commiiiary to get per(uns who are
tralt-worthy TO undertake the collection.
therefore beg leave to fuggea the pro-
Priety of pnttiug, by law, tie collection
OF all militia fines into the hands Of the
lIuadred Collectors, to be by them col
le&ted On the warrant of the conlmiifary,
upon the fame terms the county rates and
levies are collected. further beg leave
to ohierve, that IN my humble opinion a
partial review Of The whole brigade in
each county, would be far more ufeful
than the reviewing the militia in regi-
mcnts, inrpoIlng the whole attended, and
| cannot help eSprelIiug with thar the
comMander in chief ihoutd be uneqnivo-
caliy authorized by the law to review the
militia in brigade or Regiments, when he