The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-11-15

his privilege AS inembcr to abuse those
whom he would not dare 10 confront as a
man, might we'll fear. All the speakers in
the minority spoke, with fear and terror
strongly depicted in their countenapccs,
but is sad that when general Smith /,
whose phiz seems formed to give terror
all its effects took the C5or none but n
hear; petrifed with fear could refrain from
horse laugh. He is said TO have express
ed many frigh'fu things, and in so crude
and incoherent manner, that the speak
CIR alter several friendly admonilions reduc-
ed him TO his seat by the magic of de
cision. He had certain information tina,
the enemy were at hand. When silenc-
ed, he went TO the door, and presently re-
turned charged with something more
frightful still He said he had jus, got po-
sitive information that 1000 Of the enemy
were landed at Annapolis, and were march
ing on to the City. He was here as unior-
tupatc as ever, for the question being TO
lay the resolution on the table, the me-
rits Of the paper were not before the
house. BY this time. the secretary at war
having arrived at the fort, salute was
fired. Mr.. Stanford, and Others oil the mi
nority not engaged in the debate, were
hanging at the windows, with anxious
ears, to learn the approach of the Zoe, and
bulletins were sent III, from time to time.
announcing the number Of platoons and
great guns which broke upon their astound-
ed ears. The majority, however were
not to be moved they were iniiexible.
Mr.. Rhea, not wishing to act upon the re
solution, had moved that It he on the table.
This question was lost. /, was then moved
TO strike out the preamble (Which Mr. Stu
art was first requested to withdraw, and,
half asserting first, at length declined, 1t
the suggestion Of some Of his party iriends)
and carried without division. MIR. Bur-
we'll moved commitment OF the bill to
the milirarv committee, which, by ayes and
nays, va, carried by grea, majority.
The select committee reported the next
day that their enquiries, at the war, navy,
and ordnance departments, OF the com
mander oil the district and mayor OF the
city had resulted in conviction, on their
part, that the naval and military prepara-
ton mad, to receive the enemy, was In
every respect adequate to the emergency,
and that no measures on the part OF the
house were necessary 10 make il more COM
plete.
The report, by special motion, was IN
serted on the journal, and the injunction OF
secrecy removed from the proceedings,
without division, bu, not without mega
tive response from the minority. MIR.
Grosyenor wished to lay the report on the
table, seemingly from desire to close a
business that had taken a course little gra-
tifying 10 his feelings. He appesred to APP
prebend that resolution would be attach
ed to it tina, might embarrass him TO decide
upon. Ii happened, however, that he sus-
gested unknowingly the course the mayo,
rity were reconciled to follow. The mo-
ton to insert the report on the journal was
of nature, however, that if it could have
been opposed with any sort of grace, from
what he suggested, it would not have been
submitted to. The enquiry had proved the
defence of the district SO niucn mlscon-
ceived or msrepresentcd by the advocates
of the resolution, that they must indeed
have had an ample portion OF lnsensibiiity
not to have felt modification. When the
report vas ma9e, MIR Pearson said he kne"
facts ,hat went to contradict 1t /; that he had
learned from persons well informed, thai
the troops were badly armed; that express
es we're sent off TO Harper's ferry for sup
ply; that the artillery had no bail, oSs -
Col. Troup replied, he had ii from the
commander of the district hat the troops
were well armed, and from the commIssa-
nv of ordnance, that there were 1900 stands
remaining liz the arsenal, number amply
sufficient to arm every man in the territory
wanting arms. The artillery, he said, IN
marching, were not encumbered with am
munitions, when their destination was
place where supply could be had
too. said Colonel I have heard many
reports OF the bad state OF the arms,
Cd or Tho ,va,, of ammunition. In some