Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-03-08
Congrsis ofths United States.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
+, THURSDAY, March, l..
[coscLuDED.l
{ DETACHAfENT OF MILITIA.

& 3S5yfr LIE 1HI HIuS"A "a -
Ma, SN1L1E said that the arms were a
bounty TO volunteers. The rations were to
support them whale in the field. In ax'ng
! the pay of an army, of whatever deseriP-
tiep, due regard saght to be hsd to the ma
serials Of which it is comPosed. ms was
not 70 be amercenary regular army, but, as
he trusted, q body composed OF the best
materials of the country. ~. 17, -.
NIX. VARsuM was in favor of the amend.
menf. Notwithstanding the donation OF
the accoutremen,s of the soldiers might be
deemed A. sufficient compensation tor ten
days service, yet twas 70 be considered
that those who turned out as volunteers
and signed an engagement 70 serve six
months, and to remain under that engage
mrnt two years, made considerable sacrl'
ice: The boaa,y of set of arms was not
too great as an inducement to engage. In
, addition to this they ought to receive com.
pensaFion while in service, and be placed
!. IN thissrespsct on par with the officers.
Mr. BAssETT said that IN ordinary NIL
esiitia duty the laws at present required every
militia man TO be mustered at least six days
IN year at his own cost, and in SO dong
shsvwere often compelled to 90 twenty or
thirty miles to the place Of rendezvous.
. Now the ten days in the year, during when
these volunteers were TO be exercised,
would be but an addition OF four days to
the time now required, and as eomPsnsa'
zion they would draw the rations the whole
time. The sum to be paid to each one, it
the amendment was adopted, would be but
dollar and two thirds. and no great OBJ
iset to the individuals but as economy
was of importance at this time, the sum
total would be an object to the finances OF
che u. S.
Mr.. GARLAND observed that the aceou-
trem,nts were to be no part OF compensa-
ton for the services of the volunteers, but
a bounty 20 induce them to engage. These
distinctions between officers and Privates
were aly avs odious. Hence it was that it
was so much easier to procure an army OF
ofSrefs than of soldiers. Small as the sum
:, was 10 each individual, the amendment was
correct in principle, and would place the
priyates on an squa! footing with the ON,
GERS. These persons were not by the bill
exempt from the ordinary militia duty, as
he understood It.; SO that It would DC ten
and not four days additional service. lhe
distinction, IS suffered to remain, would
be odious and preiudicial to the system ;
and if the pay was only six cents instead
: of a dollar and two thirds, it ought to be
given. ...,... ,....
Ma. Roor was afraid that this bounty to
the volunteers would break them down. Ii
was proposed now TO give to the privates'
the same pay and rations SIS to the army OF
the II, S.whilst in service. 1t the same
wa.. given % the officers Ito whom the bill
slows pay only) there would be great
contest who should be received as officers
NoSnore was required than a sufficient ~
ducemene to the militia to volunteer, and II
was already held out by che. bill. 1t the
rosnmittee' were thus layishly bountifui, be-
fore the bill found its way to the president
Il would be broken down. ~
The amendment moved by MIR. Garland
Was agreed co, so 20 IS. ~. ~
Mr.. BAssEr moved to strike out tn
.,std IS six rn5nths," the tim. for whieh
az. militia are liable 70 serve after they ar.
,;ws q che place of destination, and insert
,.' r;as m,nshs.s Ifso be called out at all
~, ,ranths would be too short q time for
sh.,n q arapsoY it 30 any advantage. A.
greed TO- 10 20 SO:
NJ. HAS, said there were m,ny corn.
.-.a;.s IN me Uaitsd States, aud in some
80 ,he wh0le bndy Of the militia, who
- freely arm:d and eqaipped accord
80 sn;Isw. 4 To shep . bounty oftheir ae-
80 -, 80. wsa!d be no iadaesm.as to
$500 sss.s,s.s n. moved Co am.ad the bill {by
ad6isss provisons has aas'vosnsesf,.wa 9,
= M owu expense armed and equipped
S;m,eE according 70 law, should reseiYe