Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-21

Mr.. Pitkin Oh ectcd to this amendment. The
roposed enquiry regarded the construction of
law, and not any thing relating to the present
var IL had therefore no connection with mill
AIRY affairs, and would be improperly referred
% that committee.
Mr.. Fisk replied, that the amendment which
he had proposed still appeared to him perfect
ly proper. The subject of enquiry was the dis |
tributlon of arms and if arms had no relation |
TO Military Affairs, he did know the use OF
them.
The amendment proposed by Mr.. F was a
dopted, Ayes 80.
Mr.. Fisk (of Verm.) said that the resolution
he was sorry to say, presented itself ut time
and under circumstances, which, however dis.
posed, would prevent him for voting for it, as
it would in his view imply censure on the
Executive. a part Of the arms had been as
signed to the state in which he lived; but not
to Massachusetts and Connecticut--and why
Because they were not exposed Co danger, and
needed not defence at that moment as other
states did. IL may believe the official com.
municaiions OF their Executives, those states
were IN the first place, i'll no danger whatever
OF mas on; and in the next place, If they were
IN danger, they were in such high state OF
discipline and so well competent at any mo-
| ment to repulse an invading foe. The state of
New Hampshire, however, took a different
ground. Perhaps her militia were not so well
| armed; know it was the case in Vermont,
where the militia were very lily armed Now
l think sir, that the Executive of the U. States
proceeded on perfectly just grounds nj tina,
] moment OF peril. The government thought
proper to distribute arms TO those states which
were III danger, and not to those whose COVER
aors had officially Informed it that they thought
| their respective states perfectly secure. Mr..
+. then quoted the letter recently published
from the Secretary of war TO the Governor of
Il afa hat H.,
! would receive her due proportion OF arms
whenever the state of things would justify it
| There was no fear therefore Of her being de-
prived OF her right. He thought it proper to
| say what little lie had, because it appeared 20
him that the letters of the Governors of Massa-
| chusetts and Connecticut furnished compl lie
| aud ample reply to the complaint that they hau
not been furnished with arms.
Mr.. Pitkin said in reply to Mr.. Fisher, that
| this distribution OF arms had been made previ-
| ously and not subsequently to the declaration
| OF war. Since that time the state of things had
| materially changed. with respect to
Massachusetts and Connecticut. il they chose
o defend themselves, ought they not, if on that
| account Only, to have the arms to which they
were entitled Because they had done some.
| thing which it seemed the gentleman did not
| ike, they were not to have their arms.-If
however, they were to defend themselves at
their own expence, the least that could be done
was TO give them the arms necessary for thai
| purpose o.
Mr.. Fisk said that the gentleman was mi.ta.
i ken IN the distribution of the arms before the
i war Some might have been distributed before
| 1T was actually declared, but with view to tha
event. He had no where said, nor had any ore
| else, that Massachusetts and Connecticut were
not ultimately to have their proportion of arms
| but that the Executive had acted wisely i'm gi
wing them first to those who WAX ed the IN
! more, when those states had declared them.
| selves fully prepared:
| MIR b BIZ said that for himself he could see
| no possible objection to the resolution. The
| object of 1T was not TO enquire whether the
president had or had not done s duty, bur
/ whether AN act repaired amen mch; or not
Mr. Wright rose TO ask the gentleman from
| Connecticut, whether, il he had beeE TIE $
| cretary or War, and certain parts OF ,he UNION
had been exposed, and the arms had been Pie
ed at ms disposition, whether he would MT frs
| have supplied the exposed points, How couit.
| the Secretary of war be tue to his trust and
| acted differently Mfr w. WAS not friendly L.
the resolution, because he thought it went tu
| lmpIicate the executive. Could il be that In
state which the gentleman presented, or any
other state, wished the rms distributed u,
not to contribute to the general good. Mr.. "
! sail lac thought the arms had been distributed
| rs "A patrol ought 10 have disposed of them, 5
so ~ TO contribute 10 the best interests OF i,e
cou try.
| Mr.. Webster said that the difficulty on this
question appeared to lin to arise from cons
| dering the act of 1903 40 a war measure. (,
was peace measure, passed in tme OI
peace, and not designed 10 place in the c0ntro
. the Executive great quantity of arms, lC
| De disposed OF at his discretion. The act die
OF relate particularly to state of war, but as
| UGH To a state OF peace as OF war 1T was part
| OF tne permanent establishment of the country
II on inquiry 1t should lppe that ne amend
| ment 10 the law WIS necessary, he people
| concerned might be satisfied he would 10,
| say that they would or ough, to be satisfied
| with refusal TO enquire. The law expressly
4 provides for a dist ibution of the arms amCng
/ ne several states and territories according &c
| he numbers of their effective militia Upon
| what ground, then, could arms be lurnisLe ia
| some states aud refused to Otheisl The act oil
| 1908 did not indeed provide when or how often
| this distribution should take place, or there
| could b. no hesitation IN saying that the law
| bad been positively violated The enquiry il
| ibis case appeared reasonable and necessary
| and ought TO be granted, TO ascertain and fix
| die construction Of TIE law
Nj Calhoun said he could not conceive that
he Executive had acted wrongly in consider
| ing the object OF the law to be, the defence OF
| The country. Even The peace establishments,
| upon which the gentleman last up has placed
! a., had for it's ultimate object state OF war,
| aud looks to sucn an eyeut.---Tbe Executive
| therefore could not be considered blanc able,
| ", regarding the ultimate object of the law,
| they bad put arms into the hands Of those most
| exposed 20 foreign assault. Mr.. g. was per-
/ kCtiy willing, however that Am enquiry sbouid