Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-02-12
CONGRESS.
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~ Eessersyes "a t>se committee Of the SwAc'e to
son, was Yciayvsa the Tnggao'sal hosnsthe e.
s,,,,a 80 slass.s .stl1ssts on that subject.
Air ss.spi svesth presented TIE ., eiiaoalal
IL nanlher OF irisaaitants Of tlas County OF
lie, ennsg lania, pressing ior an enquiry AZ
lie detect ia the law CT administration Oh
tie issw sor the isllInent o. treason; WINCH
MIS- referred 70 the ccmnitte &c 2 that part OF
.ss,e Presidents message which relates to en-
tssy,s i1es agai;it tie pubic peace
Mr.. S. HNifb also presented a. petuon
isoili the Inhabitants OF the same county, re-
presenting heir unprotected and dangerous US
situation IN Csc OF a var as aRprehenaed.
lrra ytnes the attention. Of Congress to their
s:sastion. Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Guewcit presented the following reso-
kIaion ).
Rescued, That the committee on our mill
tsry ant! .s,svs.i establishments be instructed to
enquire into the expediency of authorising
tie President Of the United States to procure
as soon as practicable thousandstsn OF
arms.
Mr.. Rurs,eN hoped the house would agree
TO the resolution, that It might goto the COM
S mitsce that they might report bill Il would
lie beco,ectee. that colleague OF his had "a
few weeks ago submitted to the house some
resolutions for tie purpose OK arrnlng the
wI,oIc lr.itTi. in the United States. 4 his gen
.tlen3an, SAID MIR. B. is at this time SO much
isdisposetl as TO be unable to attend, and pos
s:bIv TIE nation nav not at this session receive
tie beaeG. Of any such plan. If, however the
rcsol1lfiona which offer, shall become the
foundation Of i law, and the house app'oprl
ate sufficient stun to purchase nifty or an
s lnne.rsd Thousand stand of arms, 1t Will not
siateri,re NTH thst object, II it can be accom-
s.is.,sss: but, ii procured, they might be SO
etlisposed as to arr, the militia or regular tor
~ccs acooyline 10 TIE future determination OF
TIE hsase It's scarcely rsecesssry to callthe
sttentioiss OF the house to the situation ofthe y
s:atcs; every man must be impressed witt
it; cu,sconmerce attacked In every part o.
TIE globe, our peace menacad by the most
powerful nstioas IN the world Although
there may be III the United States anindlsPo-
sitioa to protect commerce at all hazards, yet
whenever il is necessary mo nan can tell
{ v!.a. is 10 happen in tie present state of at
firs, We should therefore prepare for the
\ worsi) to psepars for defence against the at
tack on landbut one opinion Can prevail.
4 have offered this resolution because the pro-
curing arms WI be ,indispensably necessary
10 enable us to defend the country. am one ]
Who believe that if tsais country is possessed
of sufficient number Of arms, we are per-
fect,y safe against the world. | for one fee,
no sort OF alarm ); I feel Indifferent to any
combination however extensive or formidable.
II is i'm possible to conquer this country it
would require a COZ poral and guard For eve
nv man Let us have arms and fear not any
mischief from Combination of any kind a
s eainst this country hope the resolution
will be agreed to and rcferredto tie commit
tee have mentioned.
Mr.. Bacon thoarht this resolution Of con-
siderable Importance, which need not be a
eopsed at "a moments warning. He wished
further time to consider the subject, and mo-
we'd that it be referred to a committee OF the
whole.
Mr. DGyrSan said that the committee on our
military and naval establishments had made
TIE enquiry. contemplated by the resolution.
They found that the United States were now
IN possession Of 10000 stand of arms, and
annually manufactured fhousanain
addition. Upon this enquiry they had thought
1t unnecessary to enquire into the means OF
procuring an additional supply.
MIR. Marion said 1t was Indifferent to HIM
what course this resolution should take, tho
he was anxious that the house, should come
to some determination on the subject Early
IN the session committee had reported a re-
solution for loaning or selling arms to the Sc
vera states, which resolution had lain on the
table. Several legislatures had since been In
session and appropriated money for procuring
arms But as long as these motions were
pending in this house, and Congress had the
subject under consideration, they knew not
how 10 act. IL Congress will purchase arms,