Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-07

Tor defence" were twice read and referred |
to committee OF the whole.
An engrossed bill authorizing the cutting
a canal around the west end OF the dam or
causeway from Mason's Island to the Virgi-
MIA shore and for other purposes. was read
the third time and passed.
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF WAR.
The House resolved itselfinto a committee
OF the whole, Mr. Nelson in the chair, on the
bill from the Senate supplementary to the
act to establish an Executive department, to
be denominated the Department of War;
After some time spent in committee, the
committee rose, and Mr.. Nelson reported
the bill with an amendment.
| A motion was made by Mr.. Rhea to strike
out the S1st section of the bill, giving autlio
rity to the Senior Assistant in cases of disa-
blity, ~. to perform the duties of Secretary
OF War; and the motion was negatived.
| A motion was made by Mr.. Davenport to
strike out from the first section of the bill
the words -" Assistant Secretaries" for the
purpose of inserting " Clerks" This mo
ton was also negatved.
| A motion was made by Mr. Williams to
strike out the first section of the bill and
negatived.
| On these several motions considerable
debate took place. on the merits of the bill.
1t was opposed as unnecessary, and involv-
| ing unnecessary eXpence; and was support
ell ON the ground Gifts necessity to carry on
| to good effect the multifarious and impor-
tant duties devolviag on the War Depart
ment,
The bill was eventually ordered to be en-
crossed for third reading,
And the House adjourned.
Fiiday, N1ay 1.
Mr.. Newton, from the committee of Com
merce and Manufactures, pursuant to or
der, reported bill for the relief of the CT
tizcns of Venezuela; which was twice read
and committed.
Mr.. Morrow, from the Committee of Pub
lie Lands, to whom it had been referred,
reported the bill from the Senate for desig-
mating and surveying the military bounty
&lands, without amendment; and it was or
Idered to be read a third time and was sub
| sequently reada third time and passed.
| Mr.. Poindexter, from the select committee
appointed on the subject, reported bill to
annex portion of West Florida to the Mis-
sissippi territory which was twice read.
1.-The bill proposes the annexation to the
territory of Mississippi of all that part of
West Florida which lies west of the Perdi.
do and east of Pearl river.]
MIR. p. remarked that the late territory of
| New Orleans became state on yesterday :;
| and that in consequence of its provisions the
territory embraced by the provisions of this
| bill was now totally without government.
| He therefore wished the bill forthwith to
| pass to third reading.
And the bill was ordered to be engrossed
for third reading tomorrow.
The bill supplementary to the act en-
| titled AN act TO establish an Executive
0y.fp ont hfa l1a1 ~
War;" was read a third time.
Mr.. Randolph opposed the passage of the
bill, and Mr.. M'Kim supported it.
Mr.. Tallmadge made speech against
the bill, and concluded with motion to re-
commit the same; which was negatived,
ayes thirty-nine.
The question on the passage of the bill
was then taken and determined in the AFR
NATIVE, by Yeas and Nays as follows:
YEAS-Mcssrs. Aston, Anderson, Ar
cher, Bard, Bassett, Bib, Brown, Butler.
| Calhoun, Cochran, Clopton, Condit, Craw-
ford, Davis, Dawson, Desha, Dinsmoor,
Earle, Fmdley, Fisk, Gholson, Green, Grun-
dy, Harper, Halves, Hyneman, Johnson,
| King, Lacock, Livingston, Lyle, Moore,
| MCoy, M'Kim, Morrow, Nelson, New,
| Newbold, Newton, Ormsby, Pickens, Piper,
| Peasants, Pond, Ringgold, Rhea, Roane.
Roberts, Sage, Sewer, Smile, G.. Smith. ].
Smith, Strong, Troup, Turner, Widgery,
| Wright.-58.
| NAYS-Messrs. Baker, Blocker, Bovd
Brigham, Champion, CLAW, Davenport, Ely.
Fitch, Goldsborough, b. Hall, O. Hall Huf,
| ty, Jackson, Kent, Leftover, Lewis, Macon.
Metcalf, Milnor, Mitchill, Morgan, Mosely,
Pearson, Pitkin, Potter, Randolph, Reed.
oammo"s, Seybert, Shaw, Stanford, Stuart,
1turges, Taggart, Tallmadge, Tracy, Van
| Cortlandt, Wheaton, White, Whitehill. Will
] iiams, Wilson'S.
ON motion of Mr.. Wright, the House re-
| solved itself into committee of the whole
Mr.. BaSSet in the chair. on the bill for the
better regulation of the ordnance. Some
discussion and amendment of the detail of
the bill took place; when the committee rose
and reported the bill; which was ordered
| to be engrosSed for third reading.
Mr.. Stow offered the following resolution
for consideration:
| " Resolved, That the Committee on Mi
| litary Affairs be instructed to enquire wbe.
Their any, and if any, what regulations are
necessary to prevent abuses growing ont of
the employment ofpersons as walters to the
officers ofthe army of the United States"
| Mr.. Clay objected to the resolution he
cause he believed the whole subject was al
| ready before the committee; and because
he had no disposition to prevent the officers
from having walters, as was usual in all ar
| les.
Mr.. Stow stated that as a member of a
committee he had seen papers going to shew
that great abuses in this respect had pre-
vailed; that in some cases one-third of the
privates were detached as walters that in
one instance, in corps of 40 or $50 stati-
oned at one place, sixty-three were employ
ed as waiters That this was in all armies
fruitful source of abuse, which the influ-