Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-25

ana apprentices. OnQsf tnOSe iaHn
clear obligations is created uhon the an
prentice TO ser-ve till Of age and IN some
states, to compensate for absence or de-
.ertion during the stipulated appren-
ticeship for faithful performance, the
the parent or guardian becomes respon.
sible, and for non performance liable for
damages to the master. Can the au-
thers of this bill Imagine that those IS
Tenn obligations contained in indentures
Of apprenticeship, will dissolve and va
nish under the charm OF the bill Can
the fundamental principles Of the con-
slitution, rendering contracts sacred, be
thus uprooted and destroyed Can this
bill deprive the master othis action, Sc
cured to him by the laws of the state,
against the master or guardian for alb
senee or desertion Of the spprenuce !
Here is most serious bearing upon tH
laws of the states, regulating this in.
portrait relation.
But gentlemen alledgs necessity; the
army must be filled up (; officers are
imposed on by fraudulent minors, who
receive the bounty, and then claim re-
lease upon the plea of non age. In an
swer, let gentlemen beware how they
Weld to this fancied plea ofnesessits-
ell history a,tests the danger OF yielding
essential triHclhies 20 sfate necessif'fs )
to temporary pressure and Impulses,
such preccdcnts become infinitely ms
chievous in socisty. No fancied benefit
can compensate for tbs evil oil such ex'
amnlcs. How easy is it to remove much
eff the complaints, by providing that the
minor, who shall impose upon tbs re-
cruiting officer shall refund this bounty
he received before he shall receive his
discharge. Such provision would DC
iast, and not violate general principles
There is certainly no new ditticulty IN
the subiect-no new exigency, or un-
foresecn embarrassment.
How far this act will be carried IN
practice, cannot say, but the letter Of
the bill extends to all persons whatever
any former law to the contrary notwlth-
standing. The provision reaches slaOes'
who, on enlisting, may be retained oy
the recruiting officer.
Mr.. TROUP argued in favor OF the
section-it had been said that the tender
wears Of those whom it embraced, put
it cst of their power TO become ethcicnt
soldiers. In France the youth were
called into service at the age oil sixteen;
and he believed the young men in this
country are as we'll made at 10, and as
vigurorous, as are the youth in Europe
at IL.
Mr.. Troup thought the necessity ct
the case was so strong, as imperioasiy
to demand the passage of the bill.
Mr.. LITTLE took general view OF
the consequences Of passing the bill in
its present shape. He concurred with
the honorable gentleman from PennsPl-
yaaia (Mr. Milnor) in tbe eSsct which
must result to mechanics ard ,nanutac-
turers there could be no doubt but the
services of the apprentices were the
property Of the master, and you could
no, by any constitutional method deprive
him of it. Mr.. Little moved the follow
ing amendment, that the words " by ana
with the consent Of their guardians" be
inserted in the Sd line of the Sd section.
On the question being put, MIR. Little
demanded the ayes and noes. The a
mendment was rejected-Ayes 80, Noes
so.
Mr.. CLAY (he Spsaksr) observed,
that if the ranks Of the army were TO be
filed, it appeared to him as necessary
TO increase the stimulus of the officer in
the discharge of his duties, as the incen-
tire to the private to enlist As the
law now was, .be officer was frequently
a severe sufferer: if he, Though mis-
take, or, in consequence Of fraud, en-
listed person under 81 years old, he
not only lost the bounty, and cloathing
be might have advanced, but also rem
dered himself liable 10 on action for da-
images: if he, agreeably to this bill,
should enlist one OF the age OF seventeen
instead of eighteen, the same loss and
embarrassment must ensue. He would,
therefore, move a new section to the
bill to come in at the end OF the I'd sec.
ton. The section provided for raising
the pay of recruiting officers.
10 The question being taken By ayes and
noes. was negativcd-44 voting in favor
Of Mr. Clay's motion, and 50 against 1t.
Mr.. LITTLE rose TO move another
amendment, that tbs bounty paid in lands
should be paid in money. He thought
this would encourage cnlissment--a
few dollars rafting on drum head, had
more powerful charms, tnan the hope
Of possessing distant lands. The mo-
tion was rejected.
Ga leave being obtained, the COM
matee rose, reported the bill as amend
cd, aud the house conCurred.
(Dsbafe to 6scontinaed