The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-14


Means, had for some time delayed making
report upon these petitions, waiting to SCI
the course which Congress would take il
relation TO our differences with G.. Britain
Finding the u. States are about to take q
manly attitude and to maintain their nation
al rights with firnuess and spirit, they con-
ccive that all goods, wares and nerch Antlizc
that were purchased CIR contracted for by
oar merchants in the British donnicns, an
terror TO the I'd of February last, ought to
be permitted to be imported into the y. S.
and therefore directed their chairman to re-
port tins bill. ~
The above bills were several,y twice read
and committed. 49,
MUNITIONS OF WAR.
Mr.. Sey6ert called for the order Of the
day on the bill authoiising the purchase of
ordnance and ordnance stores, camp equip
age and other (quarter-,paster's stores and
small arms.
The House having agreed to take up this
bill, 1t resolved itself into committee of the
whole, Mr.. breckenridge in the chair, up
on it /; when, the bill having been read
through, and the question being upon filing
the first blank, MIR. Scybert spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. ChairMan-'Hheb bill which have cal
led before the committee, is one Of the first
Importance. a general repor- was hereto
fore made to the House, founded on state
ments and facts which were communicated
20 the committee by the Secretaries of the
War and Navy Departments; every posi-
ton therein assumed, can be maintained
by iucontrovertible facts Much had been
said about expence /; in ny opinion, when u
nation has decided upon the great question
OF war, every minor question is thereby alb
sorbed and cbliterated-his question ANAL
gamates every succeedint one-War should
only be entered into whei considerations of
cXpence can have no influence on the deci-
sion. Such appears to bethe present con-
ditlon OF this nation. Wehave determined
in favor of resistance to Ne unwarrantable
and unjust aggressions of Grcat-Britain on
cur sovereign rights-we cannot stop, we
cannot draw black, unle$ she recedes and
repeats her hostile edict$ When the war
Is commenced, it must be viewed as an ap-
Pendage to the war for irtleDendence You
have already taken tho previous ques-
ton on the subject I; you have voted a regu-
lar army of $4,000 men, n addition to your
peace stablishment-the cannot be kept
idle; id eness is the bane pf the honorable
soldier T. make themefficient, you must sup
ply them with arms. ] have heard it said
OH this floor, that part of your militia, the
of the nation, is supplied with
cornstaiks instead of .f,t-iocks. IF this be
a truth, o for Heavens sake, apply
speedy remedy, you hate the means within
your reach at any rate make your regu-
lars as efficient as possible. On this sub
]ect there can be no difference of sentiment
in this House. 1t gives me peculiar pleasure,
when compare our present means with
those which were deemed competent TO COM
mence the war for American Independence
At that period, our fathers needed every
thing, but bold and intrepid spirit to lead
them to freedom. They determined on the
contest, and were triumphant. Can we
hesitate Surely not, sir, when we have all
the necessary materials within our reach
nay, they are our national resources. Need
l detail to you again, that we possess $50
operative FORCES, furnaces and bloomcrics
207 powder mills; that the iron which is
manufactured is incalculable in "a
mount that your lead mines offer SUI
perfluity of that article that our resources
for saltpetre in the western states are ex-
tensively known, and that the supplies may
be made AS abundant as the article is all
important. For sulphur, sir, in common
with most other nations, we are now de-
{ endent on foreign supplies still do not
despond : and shall it he hereafter neces-
airy, from circumstances, to seek for add
ions to the quantity at present at our COM
mand, anticipate the aid of science, Of
che meal science, to point out the mode to
eparatc this article from its combinations,
which abound IN the II. States.
Sir, to some the amount which shall re-
9uire may seem enormous. 1t will be well
applied and to gentlemen who feel unea-
sincss on the subject, let them rest easy
when they are told, that the greater part of
the articles for which the expenditures are
are such as are imherfShabEc
rom their nature 50 that if Great Britain
shall proceed to do us Justice, and hope to
God She viii without forcing us to arms.
these Supplies will form stock Tor the ma
ton in eases of future emergency.
One word; sir, on the subject Of arms.
purposes-our public establishments, and
such as are furnished by individuals, will en-
able us to crafty the most sanguine expec-
tations on this subject.
Sir, will read you the estimates which
have been furnished by the proper depart
rncnts, and will then submit 70 the commit
q e the several sums which are necessary 20
ne voted by the bill.
Mr.. S. having read the estimates to
which he alluded, moved to fill the first
blank with one million five hundred thous-
and dollars, and the second with four hun
dred thousand dollars, which motions were
agreed to without division. The two sec
tons of the bill then read as follows
"BeH enacted, &c. That the sum OF
one million FIVE hundred thousand dollars BE,
and the same is hereby appropriated for the
purchase, under the direction Of the Presi-
cent Of the u. States. of ordnance and ORD