Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-10
Congress Of the United States.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
MoYDAr, 9TH December, 1911.

IREPoRTED FOR THIS GAZETTE.
Mr.. Taliaferro obtained leave of absence
until Friday next.
Mr.. Lewis presented petition from Rich
ard Bland Lee, praying Naturalization for
damages done by the United States to tract
of land owned by him near Harper's Ferry
Referred to the committee Of claims.
A great number of petitions and resolutions
for the establishment of new post roads, were
presented and referred.
Mr.. Quincy presented a petition from Da-
MEL Hastings, merchant, of Boston, praying
permission to import certain British goods
Referred to the committee of commerce and
manu- features.
On motion of Mr.. Porter, the house re-
sumed the consideration of the unfinished bu-
siness of Friday, report Of the committee oil
Foreign Relations. When the house adjourn
ed on that day, the second resolution (!or
raising an additional number Of regularsJ was
under discussion.
MIR. Wright moved to insert the words
" twenty thousand" so as to authorize the
raising Of that number of men.
The Speaker said this amendment was not
in order.
Mr.. Smile hoped the house wonld decide
on the general principle contained III this re-
solution, and leave the details 20 be settled
hereafter. A concurrence va this principle
would decide the great question before the
house, which an agreement TO the first reso-
luton did not.
Mr. Randolph thought it would be proper,
before vote was, taken on this resolution, to
know for what purpose these additional troops
were wanted. TIE house ought not to com
NIT itself upon question ofs9,u magnitude,
without detailed information, He was as much
opposed to raising Standing armies now, as he
had been during tic reign Of terror. Eo had
seen too much Of the exemptions attendant or
these establishments, IL the course OF zee In
yestigation in which be was er.xc r;ed, rot to
disclaim all share :. nc creation of them.
The peopls o. Tue Uuted States could defend
themselves, if necessary, and h;.d no idea OF
resting their defence on mero enarcs, picked
up from brothcls and tipping houses,-plek-
pockets who had escaped from NewSate, &c.
and sought refuge in this asylum OF Cypress
ed humanity He contendel that this resolu-
ton contained an unconstitutional! proposition,
aud that the standing army now in the service
OF the u. States WAS maintained in the very
teeth of that part ofthc constitution which de-
cIares that no money for the support of a
standing army should be appropriated for
more than two years.-He again Called tor in
formation as to the object of the army now
proposed to be raised; declaring, that If the
President should say they were necessary tor
the protection of New-Orleans, to be employ
ed against the Fndians, or to repei hcursions
from Canada, (a,ho this seemed not to be
much thought 90 he should not refuse to
grant them.
MIR. Grundy expires scd his surprize that he
gentleman (Mr. Randolph should have asked
for such information, as be was himseifa mem
Der of the committee of fnrcign relations. and
had heard all The arguments offered in favor
of the report, lie cautioned the republicans
in the house rot to be too hasty IN adopting
measures before they knew thcir consequent
res; for if tbs, assumed wariike attitude,
and afterwards pvay f,int-hearted, they
would lose the Confidence of the nation. He