Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-30
HOUSE OFREPRESE.NT.4TIVES S.

November 10.
Mr.. Mitchill presented a petition of the
Highland Turnpike Road Company in he
state of New York, praying a grant of TWEEN
ty thousand dollars, to be applied towards
completing the said Turnpike Road which
was referred to a select committee.
Mr.. HRiiQms, from the committee ap-
pointed on that part of the Presidents mes
sage relating to the subject of his report, re-
ported in part a bill concerning the pay of
the non-commissioned officers, musicians. e
privatcs and others of the army of the Uni
ted States. which was twice read and com
mittcd.
PRIZE LAW.
The House resolved itself into commit
tee OF the whole, MIR. Breckenridge in me
chair, on the bill in addition to the act Con
Corning Prizes and Prize Goods
Mr.. Bassett, as Chairman of the commit
tee who reported the bill. explained its pro
visions, and inforced the necessity of its
doptiCn. He took occasion to advert TO the
numerous captures made by our private
armed vessels, and their utility as a systeu
I of annoyance to the enemy In every cas-,
IN which they had Come in conflict, they had
| acquitted themselves in manner that re
bounded TO their credit
After some further conversation on the
details of the bill, the following section was,
on motion of Mr.. Bacon, substituted for the
fourth section of the bill Gas published in our
last.)
Sec. 4. Ind be il further enacted, Tha'
i'll cases OF sale of prize property bv the
marshal of any district, or wherever the
proceeds thereof has been or shall lie depo-
sited with the clerk of any District Court
pursuant to the orders of said court upon
condemnation, the same shall, by the said
marshal or clerk respectively, at the request
| CT the owners, of the private armed vesscl
| by which the capture shall have been made,
| or OF their agents, be paid over to them. tc
| be by them distributed agreeable to the pro.
visions of law: ProUided, That all fees.
costs and charges arising on condemnation
| be FIRST paid, and all duties aecruing on such
! prize property, as also the two per cent
| fund accrujng on such proceeds, be first paid
or secured to be paiG, to the collector of the
! district into which such prize may be bro'i
| for condemnation, and that the marshal 8,
! clerk shall be allowed for their service:
respectively, in selling, receiving and pay
ing over rs aforesaid. commission of one
! per cent. and no more, on the net proceed,
! OF such prize property, after dcducting the
| duties, the two per cent. and charges afore.
sum, 'DOHnCh ut0OJ AHdb SuCh COlhUllS-
sion shalln exceed, upon any property in
cluded in one condemnation, the sum of one
| thousand dollars"
The bill as amended was then ordered &c
be engrosscd for third reading.
LEX TALIONIS.
The engrossed bill vesting the power
of retaliation in the President of the u. $
in certain cases." was read a third time.
a debate of more than an hour took
place Oh the question of its passage. which
was finally determined, in the negatiye, by
yeas and nays, 81 TO 81. The grounds oil
rejection will be explained by the debate
which we shall publish in day or two.
The House then adjourned
November 90.
Mr.. PoiHde.rter reported bill 20 COM
pei the territorial judges to reside in their
respective districts which was twice read
and committed.
INCREASE OF ARMY PAY.
On motion of Mr.. TtHiiajps, the House re-
solved itself into a committee Of the whole,
MIR. Nelson IN the chair, on The bill concern
ing the pay Of non-commissoned officers,
musicians, priyates and others Of the army,
and for other purposes.
The following is the bill:
BE IL enacfed, &c. That from and af-
ter the passing oe this act, the monthly pay
OF tie non-commissioncd officers, musici-
ans, privates, drivers, bombardicrs, matros-
ses, sappers, miners, artifcers, saddlers,
farricrs and biacksmiths, who have or shall
hereafter enlist in the service of tho United
States, DC as follows, TO wit: To each serie-
ant-maior g puarte,.- ~, a efer-ee riear,f