Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-08

ged their duty with fidelity. Blu, they had
also duties to perform to themselves and
to their country, and he did hope they
would Immediately proceed on me assures OF
defence. Wou.d they put it in the power
OF a foreign minister TO write to liis court
that they might pursue their own measures,
that they had nothing to apprcherd from
the American Congress, as they were &C.
cup:ed in their domestic concerns? Al
though they had 10 official information Of
late date before them relating to their af-
fairs with Great Britain. ne YET presumed
every member of the House was convinced
of the hostile disposition of that govern
ment. Loo, to Nova Scotia (said MIR NJ }
you there find her militia in q state of re-
QUESTION, terrifying the port and harbor Of
Halifax, numerous reinforcenents daily
arriving there, and at Quebec, uuGcr the
| command of vigil,,nt entcrprising officer !;
| the whole OF their naval force on the lakes
prepared for war, numerous tribes OF sava-
ges assembled at their instigation in the
| neigii6oihood OF Detroit, secret eXpedl-
tiGh from Europe consisting OF 10000 mcn
| este nSibly given out for South America to
re-conquer Duenos Ayres, when in fact
J they might attack some vulnerable part Of
our country, II sail of the line and 10 fri
| gates they had heard were bound TO the
! West Indies, when in reality they might
| together with what force they had at Hall
fax, blockade the whole OF our ports and
I'harbors In order to over-awe our govern
ment, and enforce the demands very
! likely to he made by their Minister extra
ordinary daily expected to arrive in thIs
c unity When they were thus threatened,
there could be but enc sentiment and he
hoped they would not delay moment in
= least defend the country.
: The ideas suggested by other gentlemen,
: being neary correspondent with those al
ready given, are omitted for want of room,
: and to allow the admission of q greater
part of the debate on Qualifications.
Mr.. Cook, consented to Withdraw the
first resolution till the information asked
tor by the committee of aggressions was
received, which might altogether super
sede it, or induce him TO modi y ii so as to
obtain his object.
The three last resolutions were then "a
5 greed to without adivision.
On motion of Mr. Blount, the House went
: into committee of the whole Mr. Basset
in the chair, on the second report of the
committee of Aggressions, which recon-
: mends the fol owing resolutions
ReSolVed, That 1t is expedient TO autho-
rise the President Of the u s. to cause
e such Notifications to be erected as, in adj
= dition to those heretofore built, will, with
/. the assistance of n-boats, afford effectull
2 protection to our ports and harbors, and
; preserve therein the respect due to the
t constituted authorities Of the nation, and
e that there be, and hereby is, appropriated
o for tina. purpose, out of any monies in the
e treasury not otherwise appropriated, the
|. sum of dollars.
v RESOLVED, That ii is expedient to author
: Use the President Of the u 5. to cause to
: be built an additional number of gun-boais
: not exceeding and 70 arm, equip, man,
e III, and employ the same for the protection
c of our ports and harbors and that there
be and hereby is appropriated for that pur-
pose out of any monies in the treasury, not
otherwise appropriated, the sum of
The report be ng read. and the first re-
n solution under consideration.
g Mr. Blount said he would state, in as few
G words as he could, the views of the com.
= mittee in presentingto their consideration
d the resolution now before them. Ii would
: be seen that the committee were of opin.
ion that the Notifications contemplated
G were equally necessary in time Of peace
e and in time of war For the circumstance
: of our being at peace hitherto had not re-
: strained the rapacIty and insoIcnce Of Bri-
i tish naval commanders, aud similar con-
( duct would be continued, unless there were
f created in our harbours force sufficient
r to repel it. The contemplated sums to
c complete the Notifications already estab-
lished andto erect others, was in addition
e to what remained uneXpended Of former
I, appropriations for that purpose, about $50.
/ 900 dollars, in case a war took place; in
+ case Of peace, or our former state not pro-
perry ofpeace or war, 500 600 dollars would
: be sufficient, that being as large sum
as could conveniently be expended H.
he course of tic year. 1t was not neces-
. sary that the blank in the resolution should
{ be filed at present, and it would accord
better with mis- WISHES, if it were left till a
= Dill should be brought 10 conformably to
the resolution
The second resolution proposed nm ap-
propr alton for building a certain number
of gunboats. The reason of preference by
the committee OF this mode of defence, was,
that it was the only defence that could be
provided IN a short time. However gen
tlemen might differ in opinion with respect
to a naval force, all would agree that at
Ithis time they had not means or time to
lpToyide any other defence than that pro-
posed by the committee. 1t was proposed
to erect 1873 additional gun boats which
with the number already built, would A.
mount to 267, the number proposed as suf-
hcient for the purpose of defence. The
secretary of war, who was not called upon
in form to give information to the commit
Itee, was requested 70 cali on the commit