Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-09

The yeas and nays were called on this mo-
ion. they were sake.,, and the question was
ost Sc 20 so. W
The order OIL day being called fer, the I
House took Up the amendments of the COM
mittcc of the whole 10 the bill sr6m the Sen |
ate for raising an additional military force
Having come to the amendment, which |
that the officers for eight regiments
only should be appointed, until three-fourths
of the mcn-werc enlisted.
Mr.. Burwcll moved to amend the amend
-meDt. by striking out the words, EIGHT regi-
n,cnts, and inserting sir.
Mr.. Wright hoped this amendment would
not prevail. He considered this as a war
measure; and if we were to economize in this
way at the commencement of the business;
he should not calculate upon our acting with
ELECT. Our country was tho important, and
our rights too sacred, to be frittering down
mea2uTes for their defence in the manner pro-
posed. In proportion, said he, as the COM
miss'oncd officers are appointed will the re-
crmtlnS otthe men progress. These officers
VIII inspire tho people, in the several par,s
OF The Country from which they may be taken
with military spirit. which will induce them
! TO mist into the service. He liked tile bill
Better before it had received its present limi-
taton as to the appointment of the officers
but as the committee had agreed thus to a
mend the bill. he did not wish to stir the sub
lJect again. He hoped, however, the reduc-
ton would rot be carried any farther
mr.. Burweii observed, that the gentleman
| from Maryland had called ipon the House
not to consent, from motives of economy. to
| hitter away our measures of defence If.
said MIR. b. the House should determine to
appoint all the officers, as at first proposed,
isha.i De found ready to SO with that gen.
,icnian and ot;icrs as far as practicable But
ne 'hought there was great difference be-
| tween expcnding the public money uselessIy
and expcnding it IN such a wav as to obtain
the object in view at the lea It cxpence. Bnt
the gentleman says, that if all the officers are
| appointed ut once, the ranks will be much
sooner filled, than in the way proposed BY
TINS amentiment. How, said Mr.. Burweli,
can this be shewn. 1t is well known. thai
these officers will do nothing towards raising
the men; and the President can at any time
appoint them when they may be wanted.
itc had not made this motion to diminish the
effect of the bill (for he believed tic men
would De Sottcnas soon without these officers
as with them) but iii order 70 make the bill
more palatable to many gentlemen who az
/ present object to it on the score OF eXDcnce
II the 5000 men could be raised by enact
ing the law, there would be proD,ictV in an
pointing the officers at once but no man can
| believe that 4 or 5e0S men will be enlisted
| IN foiir or five months and as the President
VIII nave the power TO appoiat the officers
| whenever they shall be wanted, no inconye-.
! nience can arise from deferring the appoint
ments till that time ; and it is besides proba-
Die that the Presidentwill have it IN his pow
er To make better appointments then than
nowi from having more TING in which 10
= make tn1 NrNnpr collection Nr r.
the purpose. 1t ought to be reco!lected, that
onc-shird OF the eXpcnce Of The support of this
army, goes to the payment of its officers; and
II thsy were 10 be appointed Immediately,
thls eXDcrce would DC incurYed without pro-
ducing any benefit to the country -;
'lh the subject .! economy, Mr.. y. said,
wnlie we took measures for raising force
adequate 20 the purposes we. had in view.
| care ought 10 be taken that no money is I'M
necessarily expended. The raising Of funds,
wonid put the country to some difficulty; but
he had no doubt the expcncc would bc-cheer-
idiiy mst oy tic people, when they see tha;
| no unnecessary eXpcpce is incurred.
A!tera few words from Mr.. Wright, the
amendment was carried, there being 81 mem
Gers in favor oft.
Mr. Nelson said, he did net wish to throw
any embarrassment in the way of raising the
army proposed ; but he believed that it would
De unnecessary at the commencement of the
business, to appoint all the officers now con-
tcmplatcd. twas well known, that the eff
cent officers in raising troops arc the cap
ttns and subalterns. The field officers being
OF 10 use until the men arc raised, it might
be well to defer their appointment until that
time. He moved, therefore, to amend the
DILL by adding the following provision:
That so many of the officers shall be
commissioned at first, and SO on from time to
time, as the executive may believe necessa
ry Tor raising the troops"
The Speaker declared this melton not in
order, at present; but that when the amend
ments were gone through, and the bill was
before the House, the gentleman from Viz
giDia would have an opportunity ofintroduc-
ing it.
Another motion was made TO adjourn, and
the yeas and nays called upon it-Lost by
larger majority than before
All the amendments having been consider
ed, and others introduced, the question re-
CURED on ordering the bill to be enerosscd
FOR third reading but several members ex-
| pressing desire to see the bill, p. amended,
printed, before they gave vote upon it, a
motion was carried for it to lie on the table.
N order to make way for nnothefto have il
| printed, which was accordingly made and
carred-Adjourncd.
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