The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-08


coniiderable Inconvenience. 1t had left the go-
vernment without any organized force until the
detachment was called out. BY the pretent re-
foution the Prefdent was authorized to receive
the offers of volunteer companies, that they
might be organized, and be ready to enter into
actual fervice at any moment. There was good
reafon TO believe that there was a number of
citizens of the u. S. willing to offer their fer
vices fufficient to prevent any attack onthe
frontier, or any other attempt that might be
made to diiturb the peace of the nation. Of
fers, to a comfortable extent, had been alrea-
dy made. There could be no objection to veft-
ing the President with authority to accept thefe
offers, as it was not intended to incur any ex.
pence until the volunteers were called into ac-
tnal fery;ce.
Mr.. C. added that the fervces of thefe 70.
iunteers might be fully depended on, to defend
the country, in cafe any hottie attempt fhould
PC made. Tho(e who offered their fcrviccs vo.
UNFAIRLY, it would be admitted, were as worthy
ofreliance as men compelled to ferve, or thofe
who tervsd entirely from pecuniary coniidera-
tons. For thefe reafons he believed that no
meaitres could be adopted, better calculated
to repelinvafion, or fupPrefs any attempt that
might be made againf the peace of the nation.
fir- Dana faid, he obferved that the chair,
man OF the felect committee had addreffed
letter to the fecretary of war, requefting infor-
nation with regard to the number of troops in
the army of the United States, to which an an
liver had been given by the Secretary, Rating
taeIr amount, and the different fations at which
they were ported.
MIR. D. faid he wiiEcd to know whether
there was any neceility for any additional force,
and to decide this point he called for the read
ing otthe law fixing the military eftablifhment
This law having been read, Mr.. D. remarked
that this law was filent as to the amount of the
marine corps. He would with fome gentleman,
acquainted with the fnbjeet, to give him this
Information.
Mr.. G. w. Campbell faid he would barely
ob!erve that the mef3age Of the PRECEDENT, who
mutt be conlidered as beH acquainted with the
mutation OF our troops, and fuch meafures as
are neceGay to fecure the frontiers, had ftated
the necefiity of adopting meafdrcs to organize
the militia that might be called out, or of OBJ.
tanning volunteers.
Mr.. c. here quoted the meCage1
1t would feem upon this that he meant TO in
innate the neceiiity of adopting fuoh meafurc,
as was contemplated by the refoution. AS to
The information received from the fccretary of
"ar, Mr.. c. pretumed every gentleman could
Ultimate the number on the frontiers as well as
the ieereiary, as he advifed us where the Others
were ftatoned, as well as that all the corps were
nearly full.
Mr.. Dana faid he would freely acknow,edge
that one of the objects, which induced him to
rse, was TO obtain information as to the nate
OF affairs, and the means we poflefTed of fecu-
ring the country. He did fuppofe the Houfe
entitled 70 this information. He did fuppofe it
proper for the Secretary of War to ay what
troops were in actual fervice. 1t required but
iuperhcial knowledge to know that the number
oftroops on paper were very different from the
number OF active troops. The laff was what
he wanted. Gentlemen had referred to the
hatement OF the Secretary, and had faid il fup-
.lied the means of making this Ultimate. Bnt
did they not know that the number which com.
poied company of artillery was not the fame
with that which competed company of iufan.
t'y? The Secretary did not in his letter diff
crimInate between them. Mr.. d. faid he was
wiling to vote for whatever meaflres were
necei1arY for the defence of the country; but
he did believe that the representatives of the
~-pcopie, before they voted for fuch meafures,
had right to more satisfactory information.
Mr.. Chandler obierved that he believed the
Secretary of War had given information from
@hich every member could adduce the infor-
NATION that the gentleman from Connecticut
protected 10 deilre. He tells us that the peace
eftabhihment is nearly complete; and as to the
difference in the nurGber of men that compofe
accompany OF infantry and artillery, it was too
tritling 10 make any material difference in the
climate. The Secretary had not confined him.
fclf to Rating the amount of our forces on pa.
per but had expressly declared that they are
nearly complete. as 10 the marine CORDS. Mr..
6. faid he did not know whether he was cor
rect, but he had always conlidered it as more
appurtenant 10 the naval than the military ef
taoliihment 4; information relative to which
could aot therefore bs expected from the Secre.
tsry of War.
Mr.. Dana replied that all the information
giveu byth Secretary that the companies
were nearly complete. Who could fay what
was meant by nearly complete ? 1t might mean
that they were four fifths full, as it was known
that in common cafes this was conlidered as
toleraby full. Mr.. D. faid he wiihed for more
precfe information, and for one he entered his
proteit againll 70 incomplete a tateinent. He
did not think the representatives of the people
faould acquielce in fuch courfe. AS to CAL
ling forth volunteers, he did not know that he
had any objection to it though perhaps, more
efficient force might be proper.
Mr. Bidwell fad that the gentleman from
Connecticut had not fatisfied him that he was
10 ignorant as he profefed TO be. 1t appeared
20 hin, on the contrary, that he had before
him all the means OF information that could be
thought neceffary. It was objected that the
Secretary inhead of Eating the exact return of
each corps, had merely fsted that they were
nearly complete 1t was true the Secretary had
not ftated the numbers in each company, Wig
tier there were two, or three, or half dozen
men wanting I'm each. Ths ,yaa not -erh,-,