The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-27
JAMES MADISON.
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

ware Canals, and of other projected canals
in the states of Pennsy lvania & New York,
made a repor,, in which, after stating that
the completion of these works is very dcsi-
>rable, and would be very beneficial 10 the
United States, they say, that owing TO the
state Of the public resources and the pre-
sent embarrassed situation OF the United
States, it is ineXpedent to make donations
of either land or money, towards these OBJ
jects.
Mrs r. moved that this report be com
mitted, printed, and made the order for
Monday.
Mr.. BnrzycN wished the sense of the house
TO be now taken upon this report-he disa :
greed with it entirely. lie had always been
i'll favor of a general system of navigation,
and thought portion of the public lands
might be we'll employed i'll this way. He
wished the vote to be taken now, because
if the report was disagreed to, the subject
might be re-committed and something eff
fected during the present session but if it
was put off, the probability was, that no.
thing would be dene on the subject.
~ After few observations from Mr.. Gold
and Mr.. RidEiry, expressing their wish to
have the report acted upon at an cary day,
1t was committed 49,. ...-,
The bill 70" arming the Militia of the U :
nited States was read the third time /; and
ZIG IuSstiO uSlhSo put tHS Dlll pass
to its third reading ? Messrs Calhoun &
.rallmadge spoke against the passage Of the
bill, and Messrs Nelson, Macon, Randolph
and Wright in favor OF it.
Mr.. Calhoun expressed himself friendly
&c the principle of the bill, and, until the a
mendment had been made placing the dis
tribution Of arms in the power of the state
governments, he intended 60 vote for it but
he thought 1t better not to pass the bill at
All, than to leave ii in the power OF the states
70 lock up these arms in arsenal. Mr.
IGHmadge disllked the bill in many re-
spects. He doubted the constitutional pow
er of Congress to put arms into the hands
ct the people of the United States, before
they are called into the service of the Uni
en-. The Militia, ne commended, is the army
OF the several states, and not of the United
States, and the state legislatures are the
proper judges when they ought to be armed.
The United States may furnish the arms,
cut the states ought to distribute them as
shey deem proper, and it could not be
doubted that in whatever way they might
dispose of them, it would be the best. He
said that the provisions of this bill would
eonfiict with the law of 1892 on this subec
and with the rules and practices of several
OF the states. He renewed the objections
which had before been urged to some details
OF the bill; expressed doubts whether the
arms could be procured if the bill passed, <
objected to the large appropriation of money
tor this object at this time.
Mr.. Nelson replied to the objections
made by Mr. Calhoun. He thought gentle
men who were in favor of the principle of
the bill. ought not to abandon it. because
they could not have all its provisions pre-
cisely in the form they wished them. He
did not think the amendment which had
been agreed to made any material differ
cnce in the BILL the first section provides
that the arms shall be .distributed-thc le-
gislatures can only direc. the manner in
which it shall lie done, and no one could
certainly object to their having this power
He thought it time thtLarms should be pro-
yided fer the militia, the government had
been In operation ID years without provi-
ding single mnsket for the militia, though
the Executive had constantly called upon
Congress to render the militia effective, from
the time OF Gen. Washington to the present
aay.--Mr. Giacon said this was an unfortri-
nate bill, for though all appear friendly to-
the object o. it, there were sufficient objec-l
tions to one part or other or the bill, lie fear
ed, to defeat it. He said five millions had
been voted for the army and navy, without
scruple; but now, when we are about to
put arms in the hands of the militia, gen.
tlemen begin TO talk about expence As to-
49, cCvsNtiNAS h'44I4i SdS DcCH an ST
the details of the bill, they were sack as
might be made against any bill that could
be drawn. The true question is, will the
bill arm the militia better than they arc at
present! He had no doubt that it would.
and he was therefore III favor of it.-Nr.
Ra7aolfh said, the gentleman from Conn.
viewed the alcformities OF the bill with more
Plsesurc than its beauties the bill was
somewhat objectionable in its details, but
principally froun its omissions. The fears
entertained that the state legislatures might
abuse tho power placed il them were GER
tainly groundlcss. After all the large APP
preparations made for the army and navy.
he said 1t was strange that objections should
be made to this pitiful appropri alton 4or
arms FOR our militia, which will remain
when our vessels and gun boats arc gone to
deray.-1Ir. Wright spoke at considerable
length in favor Of the general principle oe
armng and OF the reasonabcness Of pur-
chasing arms out of the common funds Of
the UnitedStates, rather than put tho rich
and poa: OH the same level, by requiring
each to purchase arms for themselves.
which was provision too unequal and un-
just to be countenanced by free govern
inent.
After BSr. Jtmghi had concluded his re-
marks
Mr.. LINE rose. He said that as nothing
which could bow be said coad affect the
sentiments Of the members Of the House
and as unnecessary Ge);tte only served to
the waste Of time and obstruction Of business.
hs. <ols -kxs. f.1