The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-05
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Saturday, Nov. 81.
DEBATE ON THE ARMY BILL,
(CONTINUED d.

(CoNTINUED,) |
MIR. WHEATON said, that being now sa-
tisfied that the bill would receive the sane
ton of majority Of the members present,
he would tot dctain the House but for a
single moment, in adding to the remarks
that had already been made. He regretted
extremely that the amendments that had
been proposed could not have been received,
as without them he could no. /. in good CON-
science, give his vote for its becoming a law.
He said he had never been AN advocate for
commencing the war, the difficulties and
calamities of which the country now felt,
and that were he now to profess friend
ship for its continuance, his sincerity might
he doubted, It least by somes he had there
fore no such professions to make; bu. he
presumed it would not be doubted when he
declared, that he had no objection to any
reasonable remuneration for the services of
those unfortunate men who, either volunta-
rly OF by compulsioD, had entered the ranks
OF our armies; and that he did not think the
sums, as annexed to the several grades men.
toned in the FIRST section of the bill, were,
under every equitable consideration, too
high. He doubted, however, whether such
AN increase If pay were the dictate of pub
lie policy. Pinching want may give courage
and resolution to those whom fu,iness
would render inactive or disorderly. Be-
sides, as this war must undoubtedly CONT
nue. at least half century before any valu-
able object can probably be obtained by it,
1T may be worth consideration whether we
arc not entailing too heavy a burthen upon
those that are TO come after us. Regard is
TO be had to those that are to pay. as well as
TO those that are to receive & it has always
been attended with more difficulty to reduce
than to raise the wages of those employed
in the public service. But to this additional
pay, however reasonable in itself, there is
another objection, and perhaps more forci-
BILE than any, that is, that it is ill-timed.-
For, said Mr. w. if it be fact, and that
it is, as an honorable man, am not at IL
6erty TO doubt, as it is supported by no less
authority than that of the President of the
u. States, " that the national spirit rises
according to the pressure on it, and that the
late partial calamities We have experienced
have been converted into a source OF invigo-
rated efforts, so as to render 1t necessary to
limit rather than to excite the patriotic zeal
OF the people," would it not be q dictate of
prudence to postpone this new encourage
ment to enlistments TO those. duller days,
which, in the course of another season, we
are taught to expect, and whicn we fondly
anticipate; when our arms in the hands OF
our present soldiers shall be more prosper
Gus, anc our success more complete, and
when consequently the ardor and patriotism
Of our people distinguished by their poisi-
cal stations" shall abate! And further he
observed, as applicable to the provisions in
she bill for freeing those that might enlist
from arrests in civil causes, that 10 justifia-
Bile reason Could be assigned why one set of
men should be thus privileged, and placed
in situation where they might acquiresa
right in the burying grounds of a foreign
country, while another are thereby GcpTiv-
ed OF their honest dues. He also thought it
irreconcilable TO conscience il legislators
who are the guardians Of the lives, as well
as property Of the people, when they will
rot suffer the conveyance of the smallest
parcel OF property, made by minors, to be
valid, to legalize a contract made by such
an one, without the solemnities required
from persons of full age, in cases much less
important, apd perhaps entered into a
tboughtless moment, by which, Ii he should
fail in the performances. he might become
liable to be shot.ss On the whole, he said,
that II the war were popular, as many gen.
tlemeD affirm, il might be well worth lit
tie consideration how far it Will 80 in snip
port of that idea abroad, when it is found
that to carry it on, the government fad it
necessary 10 call to their aid bankrupts
without principle, and boys without discrc-
tion. 4,
Mr.. WIDcERY. Mr.: Speaker-This
question has been ably Investigated by seve-
raj gentemen, especially the gentleman
from South Carolina, who is Chairman of
the Military Committee. But there are two
points stated by the gentleman from Boston,
which have not been answered by any. In
one he charges the government with being
under French influence. The otheri is, that
the will Of the Executive is the law of the
land. And to elucidate his French influ
ence, he gives you a caricature, shelving
that we acted as in France. | will answe
by another--it is of crowd standing by a
shop keepers door in London the shop
keeper, missing piece of goods, cries sfoh
thief; the thief, finding himself likely to be
discovered, rushed through the crowd, cry
ing louder than all the rest, stoh Mief!-
This will apply to the gentlemen who are
continually crying out French influence, for
no other reason but to hide the English in
huence in our country! This is an artifice
which has no foundation. / have often
heard of French influence at home but
never could discover where it was; nor
have | ever heard of he French minister of
state applaudng his friends in Congress
Where is this French influence to be found ?
is it in the runners, with British guinea
from one end Of the Union To the other p
Sir. there is an old Spanish proverb that a
cover was never big enough to hide ITSELF
The gentlemen are seen through much
palmer than they imagine. The gentleman
from Massachusetts is very careful to state
that lie means nothing personal Bot when
he says the viii Of the Executive is the law
of this nation, is it not direct reflection on
she msjority Of this House, charging them