The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-11-27


1H.'rSdsv. Nov. 10. 1912.
Mr.. biaehM presented petition Of the
Highland Turnpike Road Conpany in the
state OF New York, praying a grant of twcn-
~ thousand dollars, "a be applied towards
completing the said Turnpike Road which
was referred to select committee
Ihr. EMfams, from the committee APP
pointed OIL that part OF the Presidents mes
sage relating to the subject of his report, re-
ported in part 4 bill concerning the pay of
the non commissioned officers, musicians,
and privates and olhers OF the army Of the
y. States which Was twice read and COM
mitted.
PRIZE LAW.
The House resolved itself into commit
tee of the whole, Mr.. baEcxNNRIncE in
the chair, On the bin in addition to ,he &C,
concerning Prizes and Prize Goods.
IN'. B0sSStt. as Chairman ~ the COM nit
tee who reported the bill. explained its
provisions, and inforced the necessity of
its adoption. He took occasion To advert to
the numerous captures made By our Dri-
vate armed vessels, and their utility as n
system OF annoyance to the enemy. In
every case in which they had come in con.
hict, they had acquitted themselves in a
manner that redoundcd to their credit.
Alter some further conversation on the
details OF the bill, the following section was,
on motion of Mr.. Bcccu, subs titutcd for the
fourth section of the bill.
- Sec. a. Ind be IL fit,fher enacted, That
in cases of sale of prize property by the
marshaiot any district, or wherever the
proceeds thereof has been or shall be depo.
sitcd 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
OF the owners of the private armed vessel by
which the capture shall have been made, or
OF their agents, be paid over to them, TO be by
them distributed agreeable to the provisions
OF law PROVIDED, That all fees, costs and
charges arising on condemnation be first
PAID, and all duties accruing on such prize
property, as also the tive per cent. fund ac-
cIuing on such proceeds, be first paid, or
secured to be paid, to the collector of the
district intowhich such prize may be brought,
tor condemnation, and that the marshal &
Clerk shall be allowed for their services res
pecuveiy, in selling, receiving and paying
over as aforesaid, commission of one per
cent and no more, on the net proceeds of
such prize property, after deducting the
duties, the two per cent. and charges afore-
said: Provided also, That such commission
shall not exceed, upon any property includ-
ed In one condemnation, the sum of one
thousand dollars"
The bill as amended was then ordered to
be engrossed for third reading.
LEX I.fLIONIS.
The engrossed bill "vesting the power of
retaliation in the President of the u. S. in
certain cases." was read third time.
A debate of more than an hour took place
on the question of its passage, which was
finally determined in the Negative, by yeas
and nays, 81 to 81. The grounds of reiec-
ton will be explained by the debate which
We shall publish in q day or two.
The House then adjourned.
Friday. -Nop. 90.
INCREASE OF ARMY PAY.
On motion of Mr.. Williams, the House
resolved itself into a COMMITTEES of the
whole, Mr. Nelson in the chair, on the bill
hcers, musicians, privates and others of the
army, and for other purposes.
The following is the bill:
Be ii enacted, &c. That from and after
the passing of this act, the monthly pay of
non commissioned officers, musicians. pri-
Yates, drivers, bombardiers, mattresses, sap
pers, miners, artihcers, saddlers, farriers
and blacksmiths, who have or shall here
alter enlist in the service of the u. States,
be as follows, to wit TO each serjeant-ma-
jor and quarter-master-s erjeant, dol
lars; to each serjeant and teacher of mu-
SIC, dollars to each corporal,
dollars to each musician, dollars to
each private, driver, bombarder, matross,
sapper and miner, doiiars (; to each
saddle, farrier and blacksmith,
dollars.
Sec. 2. md be il further enacted, That
during the continuance of the war with G.
Britain, no non commissioned officer, musi-
clan, private, driver, bombardjer matro,s
sapper, miner, artihcer, saddler, farrier OF
enlisted i'll the service of the
United Statee, shall be arrested, or subject
to arrest, or TO be taken in execution for
any debt contracted before or after enlist
ment.
Sec. 8. ind be IL further enacted, That
during the said war, every person above
the age of eighteen years, who shall be en-
listed by any officer, shall be held in the ar
my of the United States duringthe period Of
such enlistment any thing i'll any act to
the contrary notwithstanding.
Sec. 4. Ind be IL further enacted, That
every commissioned officer, musician
and private, who shall, after the promnlga-
ton of this act, be recruited in the regular
army OF the United States, may, at his op.
ton. to be made at the time of enlistment,
engage to serve during the present war with
G.. Britain instead Of the term of five years
and SHALL in case lie makes such option,
be entitled to the same bounty in money
:. nd land, and to- all other allowances, and
be subject to the same rules and reeula-
tons, as IT he had enlisted for the term of FIVE
years"
Various motions were made, but without
success, to amend the bill tor which we
cann0t to day fud room, but which shall be