Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-15
CONGRE ss.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
1Eondau. INN. 3

DIonday, June g.
Mr.. Cults. from Massachusetts, appear
cd, (for the first time this SESSION. was quail.
fed aud took his seat.
Mr. Wheaton presented the petition of
1865 citizens OF New Bedford, praying for
a repeal of the embargo ana other restric
tive measures, and deprecating war. Read
and ordered to lie on the table.
M. Chittcnden presented similar pcti-
ton trom suudiy inhabitants of Halifax, VT.
Read and ordered 70 lie OF the table.
MIR. Mitchili presented a petition of sun
dry persons concerned in the importation of
| watches and other jewellery, demonstrating
against the imposition of additional duties
on imported watches. Read and referred.
Mr.. Crawford presentedthc petition cfsun
| dry citizens of Yorktown, Penn. remonstra-
ting against the embargo and restrictive mea-
| slircs. and deprcca,;itg war. Read and or
6erea TO lie on the table.
| Mr.. Minor presented memorials from be-
tween seven and eight hundred citizens of
Philadelphia, praying of Congress to repxai
their restrictive measures, and deprecatine a
war with England.
Mr.. Wright presented sundry resolutions
| adopted by the citizens of Annapolis, ap-
predatory of the measures Of government
which were read and ordered to lie on the
table
Certain resolutions adopted at a meeting
OF the citizens of Fredericksburg approving
the course aud measures Of government.
were read and ordered to lie Gu the table.
Mr.. Lewis reported bill author,sng The
REIMBURSEMENT by the U. States of forfeited
recognizancc iii the district os Columbia in
certain cases-wh;ch was twice read and
ordered tobe engrossed fora third reading.
Mr.. Gholson reported bill concerning
invalid pensioners. Twice read and COM
United.
ON motion of Mr.. Obed Hall, the petition
OF benJ. Conner Prospecting portable bridges
was taken from the select committee to
which it had been referred, and transmitted
TO the Secretary of War.
MIR. ID. II. Williams offered a resolution
to amend the standing joint rules of pro-
ccedins, so as that, during the transaction Of
Legislative proceedings, the Members of
one House should be admitted in the other,
although the subject of their deliberations
should be OF secret nature, subject to the
injunction OF secrecy imposed by the two
Houses respectively.
The resolution lies one day for considerati-
on as the rules require.
Mr. Johnson offered the following resolu-
ton for consideration:
ResoiUcG, That the Committee on Military
Affairs be instructed to enquire into the ex-
pediency of authorship the President of the
Y. States TO organize additional COM
panies Of rangers; and that they have leave
to report by bill or otherwise.
Mr.. ]. said he would not dctain the House
with that detailed information which he had
received as to the extent OF tile Calamity
which had fallen upon the people OH the from
tier settlements & which would be more dis
astrous, II not arrested by greater force.
lie wouid only refer gentlemen to the pub
Tic prints fer that general information which
would justly his motion and would give
some idea ct the extent of danger to be an.
pretended by the number Of the murders
and the vide range in which they were com
mtted, branching from the Wabash in the
West TO the North and TO the South. He also
stated that, SUCH WAS the patriotism of the
people in the Western Country, CT SEQ
! volunteers, meu of the first rcspcctabilty
and character from Kentucky, had ernbo-
died themselves and had marched to the
Indiana territory to relieve the people in
| their great danger, and that these volun-
| teers had gone at their own suggestion with
out reward or the wish or prospect of COM
pensation.
The resolution was agreed to.
| The resolution requesting the assent of the
state ct Georgia to the erection of two states
in the Mississippi territory was taken up and
ordered to be engrossed for a third read
| ing.
Phe bill for the relief of Col. Jonathan
| Williams; the bill for the relief Of Clement
b. Penrose the bill concerning claims to
lands in the Mississippi territory founded on
warrants Of survey granted by the Spanish
government, and the bill for the relief of
LIT Col. VIM. ID. Beall, were severally read
third time and passed.
| The bill from the Senate to amend the
militia laws within the District of Column
bia, was read twice and committed.
| NV Pearson rose to make motion. lie
said 1t was an opinion prevalent with ma
| ny persons in this House and out of II, and
the laws passed at the present session of
Congress fer putting the nation in posture
OF defence by no means rendered such ain
event improbable, that Congress might, at
no distant day, direct an application Of the
force thus raised, and the nation be involved
IN serious conflict with foreign power. A
one stion, therefore, naturally arose, Mr.. p.
said, what progress had been made in carry
ing into effect the laws which had been pas
sed. 10 questions were more commonly
asked, and there we're none which he was
| more unable toaHswcr thanthese What's
the state OF our military preparations How
many men are enlisted How many volun-
teers have offered their services1 and what
is the state of our fortifcstionss There
fore. for the purpose Of obtaining this infor-
nation, for himself and others, AIR. p. said
he would offer the following resolution, bare
| ly observing that il there should be an OBJ
lection to making the result of this enquiry
public, it might be communicated TO the
House conhdentially:
ReSoiped, That the Secretary of War be
directed to lay before the House state