Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-03-08


preparation for perfecting the Torpedo sys.
tenn, was read. This bill proposes to APP.
propriase Eve thousand dollars for the pur-
poses therein m.ntioned.],
Mr. L,vermore moved to reject the bill
Without second reading. The question
was taken by ayes and noes and lost, Ayes
27--Noes rs. The bill was then read a
second time and made the order of the day
in committee of the whole on Monday next.
Mr. quincy moved to have the bill print.
ed for the use of the members. The ques-
tion on this motion was lost. So that it
appears, that although the majority are
willing to discuss this whimsical subject,
and Gill perhaps appropriate money 70 pro-
mote the project, yet that they ART ashamed
10 have she bill printed, for fear the people
viii! not BE- SO we'll pleased with The expert
men, as III, ir representatives are.
On motion Of Mr. Clay, the house re.
solved itself into commiu+e Of the whole,
on the bill Tor d,tsehing 100 900 militia /;
Mr. MILsoR in the chair. ...
Mr.. Root spoke at length in favor Of he
clause. lie tslked much of pursuing the
British into, Canada she said thar unless
the president had the power to march the
militia out Of the United States, the army
nigh, pursue the British 70 Canada l;~r,
and must there halt, and let the enemy
escape. b.. ..-' n.,s.'. }.t. ~. ..,
Mr.. Van Horn spoke against giving tina.
power co the president. He wished to have
, it unders,ood whether this detachment are
to be militia or regulars. If militia they
cannot be marched out of the u. States,
without violating the constitution. If they
were to be regulars, he wisls d to know it.
Mr. Bacan agreed with Mr.. Yam Horn,
that the militia could not be marched on,
of the United States but as this was con.
templated to be volunteer corps, who were
to nter into certain stipulations as to the
s"rvice they were 10 perform, he saw no
reason why thesr m; n should not he march.
ed 10 any place where their services may
be required. He did MOI, however. consi-
der this body as ,egulars--they were still
militia, stjpulatlng OF their own accord, to
perform certain services, which, IS militia,
they could be compelled to pertor n.
Mr.. G9H thought thar, though the dis
tinctions of the hon. member frun Massa-
chuset,s Mir. Bacon) might be very inge-
NOUS, vet he could not see that it would
answer the great constitutional principle
mentioned by the g. ntleman from Mary.
land (NIr. ' nhornc.) If We give up the
principle OF the constitution and permit the
militia may be marched to Canada, thcv
! may be marched to Cape Horn, or any
where else. lie thought bv the course the
| argument had taken, tina. some great OBJ
i.ct was in view. If it was to invade Ca
NADIA, as gentlemen animated, they ought
| 20 declare it. that the question might be
me, fairly. He thought the states would
be alarmed, aur justly so, it large body
OF their milt!ia W, r. to b. drawn out, 70
perform tn; duty oil regular army. He
Goubttd whe, the governors Of states
would COMMISSION a corps for such a SER
vice
Mr. Key said he had no doubt but
the ohieu, of his bill was to raise provi-
s;onal ARM to he read 10 case of an unla
vorabl result in our affairs " tn G 3 ila ,
| to mareh and invad C.nadl. Ii this "
the object he contc d d that the pres mt
corps could not constitutionalty be applied
70 it. Il ,hey were militia they could not
| be used for the purFose of making con
quest. Blu, be had gentleman in ms cyc,
(>lr, Clay) who understands this business
ne.t>c,ly. He will say that when the men
have signed the paper contemplated for
them to subscribe, they will sbe as much
entis,~d as it shsy mad bsen enlisted mi re-
eeived r. bounty a. the drum head by a
recruiting sergeant
IUr. Lyon was for the amendment.
DR. Ross and Mr.. Fisk were against the
| amendm, mt.
Dir I,ten said that in th- days of John
Ad.ms BE- had the opinions of all the re.
publcans on the fu,litv of such armies as
this proposed, he had now the opinions OF
al the Erderalsts against such measures he