Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-20
"a dollars per annum.]


the spirit or Recommendations CROUCH, IN W.
ting for raising greater number OF men thkn
he thought necessary at present. lie would be
one of the last men in the House, 10 bring MAO
question the rights of the Senate, or TO excite
feelings OF warEitk between the two liouses--
both had the same country TO serve, and doubt
less had the same objects in view He rdgrcl-
cd dist the passage 0fthis bill should be proi
crastinated and if there were a majority IN
favor of recediug from the amendments, f.ls re-
marks should defer the question but iof = few
moments. lie would advert TO the course which
this subject had taken, i'll order to justly thoae
who are il favor of raising smaller plumber
OK men than is contemplated by this bill. 1t
was not only the opinion of the committee OF
Foreign Relations, but CT every department OF
the government, that 10000 regular troops, in
addition TO Filing up the. present military es-
t2e,iShment, and the contemplated tolunteci'
corps, would be sufficient for the Grst moments
OF the war. After the first blow was struck, IL
was believed there would be no difficulty in
raising regular force to any extent that might
be wanted. Those, however, in favor of 10000,
out OF a spirit OF accommodation consented u
the raising OF $4,000, and afterwards, with tbs
restrictions i'll relation to the appointment ct
officers, to 100000 men.
Mr.. J. said, it would be impossible to get a
long with this business, if members did not act
with an accommodating spirit Resi- ought
to De paid to the opinions of men who have had
an experience Of ten, fifteen or twenty years ~
the government. lin case like the present, no
member would vote for raising any but the pre-
else number lac ned N his own mind fixed NO.
on, the House would be able to pass no bill
upon the subject. Whilst Mis- House WAS en-
gagged in discussing the resolution for raising
an additional military force, bill on the sub
Ject was received from the Senate. The House
Immediately laid aside their own propositions
and took up the bill The Senate cannot but
see that the House gave way TO their wishes on
the SUBJECT; but they ought to consider that
this House stands upon the same ground with
them, ana that respect is due t. their decisions
lie had no doubt that many were induced to
vote for this billy from the amendments to
which the Senate have disagreed. When APP
preparations for this army are wanted, this
House viii have 10 originate a bill for the pur-
pose; and we shall have TO account TO the peo-
pic for the economical expenditure OF the pub
lie money In the prosecution OF this war Be-
fore he would lose the bin, he would to be sure
rccedc from these amendments but he hoped
| the House would, in the first instance, adhere
| to their amendments, which woulI bring on a
| conference between the two Houses, that might
either induce the Senate TO accept of the amend
ments, or to give such reasons for the rejecting
! them as might induce this House more Wiling
| ly to rccede from them.
| Mr.. Wright was III favor of reccdiug from the
| amendments, rather than that the passage of
| the hill should be DELAYED lie believed, tho
| the government would incur greater expence,
by the course proposed, the men would sooner
| be raised as every officer who entered tho
service would find it his duty to promote the
enlistment of the men; and the object was
| fmagnitude, we ought not to regard the ex-
pence.
Mr.. Little wished to make few observations
| on this question. The subject of difference be-
tween the two Houses was mere matter Of
expence. If We recedc from these amendments,
all The officers for the thirteenth regiments will
have to be at once appointed. The advantages
of this course ought TO be compared with the
ezpence, in order to see which will preponder-
ate. In his opinion, the filing up of the ranks
would depend very much on the character Of
the officers appointed five are Immediately
| to go to war, he thought the advantages to be
derived from an carly appointment of the 81
GERS would be of more consequence than the
cxpence. Much had been said about the opini-
on OF the Executive as TO the number OF rnea
necessary to be raised he thought this branch
of the government as well able to Judge Of ths
proper force to be raised the Executive, be-
ing acquainted with the different parts Of tho
country, and the most vulnerable parts Of il.
lie WAS il favor Of receding from the amend
mcnts.
Mr.. Maxwell was in favor Of raj * an ad.
dtionaI force; but could not agree 10 abandon
these amendments. When this subject was
first agitatcd, it appeared that the Executive
was in favor Of raising 10000 men only, lie
was therefore in favor Of the number reported
by the committee on Foreign Relations find
ing there wasa great variety OF opinion, howev-
err he consented 10 vote for $4,000 men, by way
Of accommodation. The Senate outstripped
this House In their movements IN this business,
and sent down a bill proposing 10 rsise $4,000
men. He was opposed to this number, nc
count Of its being so much larger than had been
asked for by the Executive, and he believed this
was the opinion fmany others however when
the proposition made by the Speaker for limi-
ting the number o! officers to be appointed, was
agreed to, he voted for the bill, as be conceived
many others had done so, that the bill might
pass by as large a majority as possible. What
has been the conduct of the Senate on this oc-
casion Have they acted in any thing ike 2
spirit Of Cancellation! They say pass the bill
in tic shape in which we send il 90 YOU, or not
at all He, for one. would not agree t. pass it
in this way. he had made as great a sacrifice
of opinion ~ he was willing 20 DO. There is q
point beyond which, he trusted, this House
could not be driven. lie had no desire TO see
an army of officers, without soldiers to com
mand, which would be tic case, It these amend
mcnts were struck dut Of thc BIZ.
Nj Bibb said, # in the commandment Of a
war with England, We are TO be regardless %
cxpence, the war VIII terminate, either before
its commencement, or soon after. Whether
deposition to produce such an effect had given
rise TO this difference between The two Houses,
was not his province to determine but in the
very set OF making against England for az.
gressions he was unwilling TO submit TO the IL
suFpatiohs Of any other body. lie found, by the
constitution, that all money bilismust originate
with the House of Representatives yet the
Senate has passed bill mourning an expence
ofeieht, nine or ten millions Of dolars, which
we have amended but which they send back