Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-13

I Stall DC the outy of the President 10 dis
| Charge such officers whenever their services
are no longer wanted. And that M general,
field or staff officer who may be appointed un
, der this act, shall be entitled to receive any
pay or emolument until called into actual
| Service, nor for any longer time than he shall
remain therein"
This amendment was carried, there beiiS,
50 members rose in favor of it.
Mr. 'N)1 moved further to amend the BILL
by adding, to the end of the first yect,on, TO
the words which provide that after three
fonrshs of the priva'es requisite to complete
six regiments have been enlisted, the COM
missioned officers for the remaining seven
regiments shall be appointed, 4" asless cir
cRmSiances shall, in the otiinion efthe Pre-
! sidezlt, render tire atfioinfmrnf u o6f-ers 10
The screen regiments, or any part fhe1-eef an
necessary; ~ which epenf. III shall defer
mine zyhGt hars shall be ahhsinfed ;"
Mr.. Smile said, that if this amendment
were agreed to, he would vote Tor the bill,
otherwise he could not. He had hinselfpre
pared an amendment to the same effect. He
had been in favor of raising 10000 men, la
conformity with the Recommendation OF the
Executive; but for the sake of unanimity, III
the Committee of Foreign Relations he had
consented, contrary to this judgment, to raise
$4,000. But there was a majority of Co.'s
gress, it appeared in favor Of raising $4,000
meA. Nor, until to-day, had there been any
disposition shewn to depart from that mum
Der. Now, an amendment is proposed, leay-
ing it discretionary with the President to
| raise the additional number of men, If cir
cumstances snail be such as to require them,
He was willing to conhde this power with the
President, but further than this, he was not
willing to go. ~
Mr. Bib would give a single reason only
| in favor of his amendment It is the pro-
vince of Congress to declare war and when
ever this body has agreed npoa the object for
which military force shall be employed, it
becomes their duty to call upon the Execu-l
tive, OF Secretary of War, for information as
to the number Of men requisite to be raised.
BY adopting the proposed amendment, six
regiments will be Immediately raised in addi-
ton to our present military force, and we
put it in the power of the Executive To raise
seven more regiments, if they deem it peces-
sary. He wished to place this responsibility
upon them, as being the best judges of the
quantity of men requisite for accomplishing
| the object III view.
| Mr.. Grundy had not intended to take any
part in this discussion but when I've saw an
attempt made which he thought went to sa-
ogifce the best interests of his country. he
could not help raising his voice against it
] and il he stood alone in the opposition. he
Il
stitution, said Mr.. G. has divided the powers
ofthc government into different departments,
| and each ought to perform. ,ise dltics alIot-
| ted 70 It. tits made the duty OF Congress TO
declare war and raise armies. But ii this g..
| mendment be agreed to-, the President Will !,
have the power of speaking armies into OK
istence, and again of speaking them out of 4,
! existence. The peace of the country will be
! placed in the power of an individual. We,
1 r,,ll - ~
| Chief N but the time may come.
when " s6uilliag to place this pow
er in Il Apffice of the Pres
/ sident ofShe S'fitee. "a te1VVe ought, there
fore, to be careful how we make prcccdcnts
OF 60 dangerous a nature. He had always
| thought it one of the strongest objections to-
| Mr.. Adams administration that so much
| power was constantly given to the Executive.
| Indeed, if he had any objection to our excel-
| lent Constitution, it was on account OF the
| very great powers placed in the Executive.
| MIR. G. said he was opposed to this amend
| ment on another ground. He was against
! throwing the responsibility which ought to
! remain with Congress upon the President.
! If war is to be made, we ought TO make l.
and if it be our business to make war, il is or
| business to raise armies. We are TIE best
| judges of the kind Of force which it is fitting
| to employ. But five SO on in this way, put
| ting, every thing on the Executive, wlatkind
| of a force shall we exhibit to the world! The
| Senate have thrown an army bill upon US,
| and we are about to throw it upon the Presi-
| dent, and then we shall be just where we be-
| gun. Conceiving that Congress is the pro-
| per power 20 act on this subject, he should
vote against all propositions which went to
shift the responsibility from those who ought
| to bear it; and that he might have an oppor-
| tunity of showing his vote OH this occasion, he
| called for the Yeas and Naysupon cheques
! ton. '-t., p
The Yeas and Nays were taken according
| ly, as follows: fs.i t.,l :. p
I YEAS--Messrs. Bacon. Bartlett, Bib,
| Blaekledge, Blocker, Blount, Boyd, Breck-
| enridge, Brown Butler Calhoun, Champion,
Clay, Condit, Crawford, Desha, Dinsfnoor,
| Findey, Franklin, Gold, Green, b. Hall, O.
| Hall, Harper Halves. Hufty, HyRsinan,
Jackson, Johnson, Kent, King, Llye, MAY !.
| we'll, Moore, M'Coy, M'Kee, Mctcalf, Nor
gan, New, Newbold, Ormsby, PauldiDg, PICK
| ems, Piper, Pond, Roberts, Sage, Seayer,
Shaw. Smile, G.. Smith. Strong TalhafcTro,
Tracy, Whitehall, Widgery, Wriglt--s7.
| Nays--MesSrs. Aston, Anderson, AJcher,
| Avery, Baker, Bard, Bassst, 3igeiow, Brigham,
Chittenden, CLeycs, Cochrn, Ciopton, Dayen-
port, Davis, Dawson, Fly, Eniott, Fisk, Fhch,
Cfholson, Grundy, Key, Lacock, Law, Leieyer,
| lewis, Little, LowHdes, Macon, RPBride,
| M'kim, Miiehhl, Morrow, MOseiy, Nelson,
Newton, Pearson, Pitkin, Porter, Potter, GSuin-
cy, Reed, RiRggold, Rhea, RoaHe kUdman,
Summons, SEWER, Seybert, Shefey, stanford.
Steward, STOW, Surge, Sullivan, Taggart,
Tsllinan, TroUp, TdrUer, Van Cor1lshdt, Whca-
ton, White Williams, Wilson, Winn--66.
Mr. Smile moved to add the following worda