Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-01-10
December so

the left arm for one month, in testimony of
the national respect and sorrow for those I'M
fortunate persons who persisted in the fire at
the City of Richmond, Virginia, on the night
of the goth of the present month.
lMr Lsacis moved to adjourn, as usual on
such occasions Lost
Mr.. CheeUes presented memorial from
the owners of the ship Golden Fleece, cap
tured under the orders in council on her way
TO France, praying indemniiication for their
loss, on the ground that the voyage was au-
thoriscd by the Presidents proclamation BE
ferred to the Secretary Of State.
1Nr. 4H0rro1D, from the committee on pub
lie lands, reported a bill to settle the western
boundary Of the land reserved as bounty to
the officers and soldiers of the Virginia mill
tary line, sc. Referred to a committee of
the whole on Monday.
Mr. tViAiGmS, from the committee on the
subject reported a bill supplementary to the
act more effectually to provide for the national
defence, by establishing uniform system of
militia throughout the u. S. and to the act
making appropriations for arming the whole
body Of the militia Of the IT, s. This bill
makes an additional appropriation of 100000
dollars per annum for the purchase of arms.l
Referred to committee of the whole on
Monday
Dir. Wright offered the following resolution,
which was ordered to lie ON the table Re-
solved, that committee be appointed to bring
in bill for the protection, recovery and in
Identification of American seamen
The house went into committee of the
whole, Mr. Macon in the chair, on the bill
authorising the president to accept and orga-
niZe volunteer corps 10000 men.l
4Ur. Williams objected to the title of this
force. They ought to be called either regu-
lar troops or militia.
Mr.. Seybert moved that the committee rise
and report progress, for the purpose of taking
up the bill from the senate for raising regu-
lar force.
Mr., Clay supported this motion He was
not opposed to volunteers, but the bill from
the senate contemplated more efficient force
and could be acted on in much less time than
the bill now under consideration.
Messrs Johnson and Smile opposed the
motion for the committees rising ON the
ground that the present bill was as important
as that from the senate
Mr.. Little supported the motion, for the
purpose OF deciding first on the senate's bill
Wr. Porter opposed it. lie asserted that
this volunteer force was more efficient than
regular army, and could be raised in half the
tlAtiSt a Aho "oo Iii toIelNSId'ion5
when it was reeolected that it was the deter
rnination OF every branch OF the government
to assert our rights by force, and TO make a
descent as speedily as possible upon the Bri-
tish possessions.
Mr.. Clay contended that 1000 volunteers
enlisted for months were by no means so eff
ticent force as $4,000 regulars enlisted for
five years The latter was the only force
which we could properly calculate on for the
conquest of Canada.
The motion for the committees rising was
agreed to, after which the house went into
committee of the whole, MIR Breckenridge
in the chair, on the amendment proposed by
the committee of foreign relations to the bill
from the Senate for raising an additional mil
itary force above referred toy The object
OF the amendment is to reduce the number of
troops proposed by the bill as it passed the
Senate,
ar Fisk was opposed to the amendment.
He said the number proposed by the senate
$4,000 men, so far from being too great
would be scarcely sufficient in case of war.
Dir. Wright followed on the same side
We might not only have British enemy to
contend WITH but an Indian enemy on our
frontiers.
The question was then taken on the amend
ment reported by the committee of foreign re-
lations and it was rejected yeas az, nays. 65
Nh Porter moved to strike out of the first
section the words " one regiment of light ar
uilery." That species of force was of little
use. lie had understood that this part of the
bill had creptin by mistake Agreed to-
motion was then made and carried to
change the words Z" ono regiment of artillery"
10 tIro regiments of artillery, so as TO pre-
serve the number of men originally proposed
by the senate.
Various other amendments, generally of
little consequence, were offered to this bill
which were under discussion when our letter