Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-08

Il oeotCS' nc SdlQ " WOGlu dieO Dc IT,
collected that we had now bill lying
on our tables, reported by the military
committee, supplementary to the afore-
said act, appropriating the additional an
nual sam of four hundred thousand dol
lars, for the same object To enable the
House to Judge correctly as to the pro-
priety of passing the bill now lying on
our tables, he wished information on the
subjec, of the law of 1908, and presum-
ed the House would be glad olthe same.
For this purpose he had drawn Rcso-
luton calling for information from the
proper department of the government,
which he would now submit for the con-
sldcration of the House:
I" Resolved, That the Secretary Of
War be directed to lay before this house
statement, exhibiting the expenditure
ofthe annual appropriation of fzro hun
drea thousand dollars, made under the
law entitled San act making provision
for a;ming and eauiping the whole DO
DIV of the militia Of the United States"
passed the 2sd day of April, 1903, with
information as TO the number of arms
and military equipments that have been
purchased or made, and the manner and
proportions in which they have been
transmitted and distributed to the seve-
raj states and territories, in pursuance
of the provisions and acquisitions of the
aforesaid act.''
The House having determined to con-
slider the Resolution
Mr.. Harper moved that it be refer
red to The committee on military affairs.
He said that he thought it would not be
proper at this time to publish to the
werld the exact number and state of the
arms in the United States. Mega.
lived.
Mr.! Tallmadge remarked, that he
could hardly believe the gentleman from
New Hampshire had attended to the
veybage and scope of the resolution now
before the house, by the novel course
Which he had proposed to give it.
Why said Mr.. T. should the resolution
70 to the military committee Have they
any means which the house do not pos
ssss, from which the information re-
CURED could b. drawn? He presumed
rot, The question then returns, does
rot the house need the information re-
CURED by the resolution, before they
proceed to the consideration Of the bill,
SUPPLEMENTARY to the act, for armihg the
whole body Of the militia of the United
States? Most assuredly it must be se-
cessary.
What, said Mr.. T. does the resolution
call ter? II calls upon the proper organ
of the executive department to lay be-
fore this house information relative to
a subject committed exclusively to that
department. The law was Imperative,
and it was the duty of :hs house to en-.
ouirc how far the law had been compli-
ed with, before any farther appToprie-
lions snoud be made.--As for the re-
ference proposed by the gentleman from
N.Hatspshire Mr.. I. said be felt no dis
position 20 ask leave to make the enqul-
ry through the channel proposed. The
house were entitled to the inforraatioi!,
& the course proposed by the resolution,
was the proper one, in his judgment,
and he hoped the House would adopt 1t.
The question va, then taken on Mi.
Harpes's motion, ard lost
Tie resolution was then adopted as
nropesed BY the muvcr--Ayes "A, noes
81.
The house in committee of the whole
AGAIN resumed the consideration OF the
merchao" bords
Mir. Richardson delivered his senti~
ments il opposition 10 the report of the
committee Of ways and means, and III
favor OF tic remission of the bonda
Mr.. Clay (SpeaArr) spoke at length
on the su6jec, lis was IN favor OF
granting re!-i to thpse who had pur-
chased end sh'ppcdgoods prior TO the
first Of August, 1872, when the othclsi
accounts OF the declaration OF war was
received il England, and in favor of ex
acting TIC pena'ty from all such as pur-
chased and shipped goods posterior to
that time.
MIR M,Kim followed in favor OF the
remission of the bonds. Before Mr..
M,Kim hsd finished his observations, on
motion Of Mr.. Rhca the committee rose,
reported progress and had leave to sit
again, and the House adjourned.