The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-25

Of the city Of Philadelphia, ami to the En-
6argo times, in order to shew that the arms
would be safer in the hands of the peo-
pie, than laid up in armories by the states.
Against tile reconsideration, it was con-
tended that the respective state Legisla-
lures might safely be trusted with the pow
Sr OF distributing these arms that they ne
yer could be supposed to become the OPP
pressers OF the people, since they were an
nually elected by the people that the pro- |
liability was they would distribute the arms |
amongst the citizens in such a manner as
each state would deem best calculated to
render the militia efficient. AS 1.-THE in
stances of improper conduct in a small num-
her of individuals, alluded to, no danger
could ever be apprehended from such mo-
Mentary decisions. 5e-
The question for reconsideration was ne
gatived, 90 to So.
Mr.. Williams moved to amend the bill,
by adding proviso to the amendment a.
bove alluded to: 4" Provided such directions
shQH NOT contravene the frovisions contain
ed in the first section Of this act" (which
directs chat every citizen arriving at the age
Of Is shall be put i'll possession or stand of
arms.]
This motion was negatived, SIS to54.
:. Mr.. Hall moved another amendment
" Prnrid1@, th~s rcSUtadon shut De a.
dotted 6y any state which shall extend FIR
fher than to cause the arms to BE- hroteriy
teken cgre Of"
Before question was taken on this "a
mendmeht, the House adjourned.
Inesddy, FEB. IS.
Mr. Summons presented n petition of Ja-
sob Snell, of Montgomery county, state OF
N. York, stating that the petitioner, at the
age of sixteen years and before, evinced a
lively interest in the cause of freedom and
independence. That the petitioners father
and only brother, under the command of the
late General Herkimer, at Oriskana, were
both slain by the British tories and Indian
savages, leaving their only son and brother
minor in deplorable situation that the
petitioner having been m frequent engage
ments with the enemy, in their ncursions &
murders, till under the command of Colonel
Brown, on the 18th of Oct. 1880, he received
wound by amusket ball which lodged near
the shoulder blade, of which he labored I'M
der much pain before it was extracted ;;
that all the petitioners property in buildings
and moveables was consumed by fire by the
British and their savage allies. That soon
alter the close OF the war, he made applica-
tion to the Legislature OF the state of New
York, who gave him some temporary relief
Tor his loss, wounds and disabilities that
afterwards he exhibited his evidence before
commissioners, appointed under act for
invalid pensioners, which evidence was acct
dcntally lost. He therefore prays Congress
20 remunerate him by a pension, Or as they
may think proper for his past services
Referred to the committee of Claims
Mr.. Nelson presented the petition of
Browns, Page and Burr, of Richmond, man
ufactuiers OF gun-powder, praying the aid
and patronage OF the general government in
their said manufacture.
PROVISIONAL FORCE.
Mr.. Porter agrccably to notice, offered to
the House the following resolution:
RrSoLped, That a committee be appoint
ed to prepare and report bill authorizing
the President of the ". :. to engage, commits
sion & organize provisional military force
of 90, 600 men, in addition to the force alrea-
dy authorised by law.
The House agreed 10 consider the resou-
ton.
Mr.. Porter spoke at some length in sup
port of his motion sketch Of his speech
will be given in our next.
When the question was taken without fur
ther debate, as follows
YEAS-Mcssrs. Anderson, Archer, Bard,
Bartlett, Blackledge, Burwell, Clay, Coch-
ran, Condit, Crawford, Davis, Dinsmoor,
Earle, Findley, Fisk, Gholson, y. Hall,
Halves. Kent, King, Lacock, Leftover, Little,
Lyle, Moore, NJ Coy, NJ Kee, M'Kim, Met
calf, Morrow, Nelson, Newton, Ormsby, PIC
kens, Piper, Peasants, Pond, Porter. Rich
aTdson, Rhea, Sage, SammoDs, Sewer, Sey-
bert, Shaw, c. Smith, Stow, Tracy, Turner,
Whitehill.--49.
NAYS-Messrs. Aston, Baker, Bassett,
BIB, .Bigelow, Blocker, Boyd, Brecken-
ridge Brigham, Butler, Champioh, Cheves,
Chittenden, Davenport, Desha, Ely, Emott,
Fitch, Franklin, Gold, Gray, Green, Gundy,
o. Hall, Eufty, Jackson, Law, Lewis, Liv-
ingston, Lowndes, Macon, Maxwell, NJ
Bryde, Milnor, Morgan, Moseley, New,
Newboid, Pearson, Pitkin, Potter, Quincy,
Ridgelcy, Roane, Roberts, Rodman, Smile,
j. Smith. Stanford, Stewart, Sturges, Tag
cart, Tallnadge, Troup, White, Widgery,
Wilson, Wright.-58
So the molten Of Mr.. Porter was negativ-
ed, So to 10.
On motion of M. .Ne.ytoH, the House re
solved itself into committee of the whole, |
air. SThNFo ORR in the Chair, OIL the bill au-
thorising the Secretary OF the Treasury un-
der the direction Of the President of the u I
S. to purchase OF Winslow Lewis, his patent |
right for new mode of Lighting Light-hous.
es'; which being amended, and an appropr |
alton of s 10000 made, the bill was reported
to the HouSc, agreed to, and ordered to be
engrosSed for & third reading.
ARMiNG THE MILITIA.
The Hause resumed the consideration Of !
the bill for arming the Militia when Mr. |
81. HaL'S amendment being under consdera-
ton, for limiting tie operation of the asend-
ment which gives 10 the respective state Lee |
gslatures the power of disposirg Of the arms