The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-04-21

by the United States might now he detained
by the e,abargo; that SUCH cas,. bad &C.
cmred III relation 70 a vessel chartered h,
the Unitcd States and Bound ~ Algiers. ToI
such cases this bill would apply a remedy.
The bin was ordered to be eugrossed for a
third reading t M
On motion of Mr. fright. the house went
INFO :, committee of the whole, Mr.. Desha in
the chair, on the bill to establish an ordnance
Department. In the course of the readiAg
oI the bill ~
di;'. lPrigh stated to the Committee of tic
whole that ,he bill was drafted iii pursuance
OF project transmitted from the war de-
partncnt, and drawn up, he believed, after
consultation with the commander in chief,
General Dearborn. The utility of such !.
department ne said was demonstrable, and
1t had been proved by experience 10 be ne.
cessary.
Mr.. ID. X. lPiiHan,s, moved To strike out
the first section of the bill, urging in support
of the motion that the object did not warrant
the expenditure attendant ON the establish
ment of a new department; that the duties
assigned to this department. We're such as
peculiarly attached to the quarter masters
department and that it was establishing,
without occasion, new Offices, and creating q
department where no necessity existed. 1t
would be, he said, quite as rational to make
the door-keeper of this house the head of a
department.
M. fright replied; impressing on the
house the necessity of the proposed esta-
blishment, and the propriety of according
assent to such. an organization of the army,
as the proper officers had recommended,
unless very strong reasons could be adduced
! against them. @
mr.. Iaiimadge concurred in the motion
i to strike out the first section of the bill, and
spoke at leuSth In support IF it. He admit
ted the necessity of some such officer as n
superintendent of ordnance, to whom returns
should be made, and at whose hands the
state OF the ordnance might be at any time
| required; but it would UNNECESSARILY en-
cumber the operations of the army, sc. to
burthen it with such an establishment as
this: MIR. I. stated the practice of the reyo-
lutionary army in this respect, &c.
| The question OH striking out the first sec
ton was; decided in the affirmative by a
large majority ; and
| ne committee rose and reported the bill
| Il motion was made by Mr.. d. X. Vii
dams. to recomfnit the bill to the committee
who reported it, with a view to changing
the nature of the arrang Anents proposed.
! The bill was so recommitted.
On motion of Mr., Calhoun, tile house re-
1 while
Mr.. breckenridge in the chair, on the bill
making further provision for the army of the
United States.
! An Intellectual attempt was made by DT..
Wright, TO procure an amendment to the bill
going to place all the military officers of the
U. States OF the same grade on equal footing
az to pay and emoluments. The mover
stated that at present the brigatlier- general
OF the old army, the Oldest brigadier Gen.
IWilkinson) received much less pay thar,
those on the two additional establishments.
The amendment was rejected on the ground
LOT its inapplicability and irrclevance to the
present bill, being properly a subject of dis
tinct consideration.
Further amendments were made to the
bill which was then reported to the house
Mr.. Virgin renewed in substance the a
mendment he had proposed in committee
which was again negativcd.
| Mr. Shetey moved to strike out that sec
ition of the bill which authorizes the an,oint.
and j.. four additional Observation-Disclosures
whenever in the presidents opinion the
public service shall require it.
! L ms question was widely debated. L.
support OF the provision, it was said that th,.
NUMBER OF oihcers now authorised was not
SIea.er man was absolutely necessary to
conn and the troops; and cases might occur
In the progress of a war, in which the rep,,.
lars under an inferior command might he
embodied with the militia or volunteers, and
1t might be necessary to appoint an officer to
take the command. Separate detachments
might also be made from the main army
requiring more general officers than at pre-
sent belong to the army. On the other hand
1t was contended that the militia mnst be
commanded by their own officers that thew
o oa constltutionaily be superseded by any
officer to be appointed over them, and there,
fore this clause could not be defended by the
| argument urged to support it that moreover
IL was not proper to vest so great discre-
tionary power in the executive, &c.
| Alter much debate and some warmth;
On motion of Mr.. Lacoek the bill was or
dered to lie on the table.
The bill this day ordered to be engrossed,
was read third time and passed
And the house adjourned to Monday, ii
to al, the Speaker declaring himself in the
! affirmative.