Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-07

have the matter discretionary with the exeeu.
tive. He should be in favor of giving the
president power to raise any number of men
not exceeding 10000.
Mr.. Fisk also supported filling the blank
with large number. We had (he said) a
| large extent of frontier to defend There
| were many people in Canada who were anxi7
| Gus to live under the American government /;
but if small force was sent there, these peo-
! pie would be compelled to fight against us.
He stated the probable amount of British re-
gular troops in Canada as being about 5000
men.
Mr.. Nelson was opposed to any alteration
in the resolution. The committee of Foreign
Relations had stated that they had given the
subject the most mature reflection; they had
the best sources of information and they had
recommended the present number as amply
sufficient. IF more men should be wanting.
they could be raised afterwards" He had
!! more dependence on the militia than on re-
guar troops. What, he asked was to be
done wi,hthese 80 or 10000 mercenarics and
the miscreants who attended them, in case OF
our assuming a peaceful attitude? There
was no necessity for rushing precipitately
into enormous eXpences.
Mr. Wright expressed his astonishmentthat
the gentleman from Virginia Mr. Nelson)
should have termed men, about TO be raised to
defend the liberties of their country, bribed
mercenaries and miscreants. 1t was paying
no great compliment to the revolutionary ar
my and it was calculated, besides, to render
the contemplated service disgraceful. Mr..
Wright dweit on this subject at some length
and manifested considerable warmth. MIR.
Nelson rose to explain; but Mr.. w. would
not permit him, observing, that he might re-
ply afterwards. Mr.. Wright was in favor OF
large number of regulars.
MIR. Porter said that as these resolutions
were offered merely to try the sense OF the
house, whsthcr or not they were willing to
go to war, he would suggest the propriety of
leaving the resolution blank; in order that the
details might be settled in the bill to be bro't
in, pursuant to the resolution, if adopted.
Mr. Fisk accordingly withdrew his propo.
sition for filling the blank.
Mr.. Nelson replied to what had fallen from
Mr.. Wright, denying that he had applied the
| term miscreants to the army, but to their at
PENDANTS.
Mr.. Wright made some remarks in answer;
querable unwillingness to detail occurrences
of this nature.
The several propositions to fill the blank
being withdrawn, the question was taken Gil
the resolution, and it was agreed to without a
division, as were also the third, fourth & fifth.
Mr.. M'Kee spoke against the sixth resolu-
| ton, following merchant vessels to arm.)-
He said it was absurd to talk Of going to war
ard at the same time barely permitting vessels
to arm in self defence.
Mr.. Wright hoped the resolution would be
so amended as to allow merchant vessels
to capture any assailant. He moved so to a.
mend it. He said he wished to authorize our
| vessels to recapture any vessels unlawfully
| captured.
Mcssrs. Porter and Srailie opposed the a.
| mendment, on the ground that an authority to
capture was equivalent to declaration of war,
| for which, they said, we were not at present
prepared.
Mr.. Wright's amendment was lost, only
; FIVE or six members voting in favor of it.
Mr.. M.Kee moved to amend the resolution
! so as to read, "Resolved, That an EMBAR-
GO be laid for ninety days, &C."
| The chairman said this was an entire sub
stitute, and could not be received.