Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1807-01-12
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. "a.

that the port OF that city may be foru-
fed.
Referred to the com11itte appointed
on so much Of the Presidents message
as relates to the fertilization of ports,
towns, sc.
On motion of Mr.. Fisk, the house
resolved itselfihto a committee Of the
whole, on the report Of the select COM
mittee appointed on so much of the
Presidents Message as relates to an in
vasion OF our territory by the troops Of
spain. Mr. Gregg in the chair. The
resolutions are as follows
L. Rcsohcd, That provision ought
to be made by law to fortiy and defend
such position on the Mississippi, below
the city of New Orleans, as the Presi-
dent Of the o. States shall designate
for the protection Of that city; and
that further provision ought to be made
by Law, for guarding approaches to
the satnc from the east.
2. Rssolvca. That the President of
the United States be authorized 70 ac-
cept of any company or companies Of
volunteers, either Of artillery, cavalry,
or infantry, who may associate
and offer themselves for the SER
vice (not exceeding-------tho1sahd
mcn}who shall be cloathed and furnish
cd with horses, at their own e,lpence,
ana armed and otherwise equipped at
the expence Of the United States ex-
ccpt such of them as may choose 10
furnish their own arms and whose COM
missioned officers shall be appointed by
tie respective state and territorial au-
thorities who shall be liable to be
called upon to do military duty at any
time the Pre- dent shall Judge proper,
Wlthin----years after he shall
accept the same and when called In
TO actual service, and whilst remaining
in the Same, shall be under same rules
and regulations, and be entitled to the
same pay rations, forage, and allowance
for clothing, with the regular troops of
the United States.
llr. FISK said the Notifications now
Cd the river were very trihing, and that
in the present state OF our political af-
fairs, some measures Of defence APP
Pcared necessary. 1t would also prob
ably be thought that some Notifications
or gunboats would be useful 10 protect
New~Orleans on the east.
Mr.. Dana observed, that It appeared
from the report on this subject, that the
chairman of the committee had address
sed letter to the war department for
information as to the number of troops
on the southern frontier The Secrel
tary in his answer had not given the in
formation sought-He had only mem
toned the number Of companies sta
tiened elsewhere, and then referred the
committee to the laws concerning the
peace establishment for tire whole num-
Der tcOmPanies, stating that those not
elsewhere, were at New rleans,and in
Its vicinity, and that the companies
wer. nearly full. Mr.. d. wished to
know If any further troops were re quiz
site, and to Judge on that question, it
would be necessary to know how many
were stationed there at present. Mr..
y called for the reading of the law re-
lating to the army establishment. The
law was read by MIR. Gregg the chair
man.
Mr.. D. then observed that he had tn4
derstood some part of the marine corps
was at New-Orleans. The secretary al
| war had given no information concer-
ming them and he wished to be informed
| what the number was.
Mr.. G.. w. Campbell, said he
| would mention merely that the presi-
dent, who he presumed was considered
4, as acquainted with the subject, had in
his message inGorned congress that il
was necessary to take some further
measures for the protection of that
| country. The message intimated the
proprIety Of such measure as tina,
proposed by the committee. Every
member could estimate as well as the
\ secretary at war the number Of troop.
III the western country.
! Mr. Dana. | wish information or
, the subject OF the resolutions before
US, and suppose that the house is en-
titled to this information when we un
dertake to legislate concerning the de
fence of our country. | wish the sec
. rotary at war to inform us how man,
, effective troops are in the territory O
Orleans. 1t cannot be ascertaine
from thrs statement which he has pre-
: sented to Us. Regiments in actual SCI
vice are never full and why not tell u
whether the companies are artillery o
{ lnfantrY / am MT ,..iIli.,.z u L. II