Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-16
MUNITIONS OF WAR.

Mr.. Seybert called for the order of the dav
on the bill authorising the purchase or ord
nance stores, camp equipagc and other Quar-
ter-master's~s stores and small arms.
The House having agreed. 10 take Up th;5
bIii, it resolved itself into a committee Of the
whole, MIR. breckenridge in the chair, upon
it; when, the bill having been read through.
and the question being upon filing the first
blank, Mr. Seybert spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman-
Thebill which have called before the o,n-
nittee, is one of the first importance. A ee4
neral report was heretofore made TO the
House, founded on the statements and fact
which were communicated TO the committed
By the Secretaries of the War and NAVY De-
partments every position therein assumed.
can be maintained by incoHtroyertibie facts.
Much had been said about experce: II, NV
opinion, when nation has decided upon the
great question ofwar, every minor question: is
thereby absorbed and obliterated- this cues,
ton amalgamates every succeeding one
War should only be entered into when con-
siderations of expence can have no influence
on the decision. Such appears to be the pre-
sent condition of this nation We have de-
termined in favor of resistance to the unvar-
rantable and unjust aggressions of G. Britain
on our sovereign rights-we cannot stop, we
caiipet draw back, unless she recedes and re.
pcals her hostile edicts. When the war is
commenced, it must be viewed as ar appen.
dage to the war for independence. You have
already taken the previous question on the
SUBJECT; yoA have voted a regular army of
25, 900 men, IN addition to your peace esta-
blshment-they cannot be kept idle; idleness
is the bane of the honorable soldier to make
them efficient, you must supply them with
arms. have heardit said on this floor, that
a part of your militia, the bljwark of the ma
ton. is supplied with eo71-8t6iks instead Of
fire locks. If this be truth, Oh! for Hea-
ven's sake, apply speedy remedy, YOU have
the means within your reach (: at any rate.
make your regulars as eEciert as possible.
On this subject there can be M difference Of
sentiment in this House. 1t giv9s me pecuIi.
ar pleasure, when ! compare our present
means with those which we're 6.etred cornpc-
tent to commence the war for American in
dependence. At that period, o,ir fathers
needed every thing, but a bold and intrcpid
spirit to lead them to freedom They deter
mined on the contest, aud were triumphant.
Can we hesitates surely not, sir, when we
have all the necessary materials within our.
reach nay, they are our national resources.
Need detail to you again, that we possess
$50 operative FORCES, furnacesand bloom cries
--S07 powder mills that the iron which ia
4 niAfNdby iNfRhetNSAuiN0 N tUNdttNl9DiC IN n
mount; that your lead mines offer a SUPER
| fluffy Of that article that cur resources for
saltpetFc in the western states are extensive
| " known, and that the supplies may be made
as abundant as the article is AL important.
| For sulphur, sir, IN common with NOS. 0ther
nations, we arenow dependent ON foreign sup
plies; still Go not despcnd: and should IL be
thereafter necessary, from circumstances, IL.
| seek for additions to the quantity at present.
at our command, anticipate the aid If SOL
| ence, Of chemical science, to point ont the
mode to separate this arFcle from its eomEA
| nations, which abound in the U. States.
.5jr, to some the amount which shall re-
| oUire may seem enormous 1t viii be va.
! applied and 20 gentlemen WIS feel ureasj<
| ness on the subject, let them rest easy whVn
ihsy arc told, that the greater part e tie A.