The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-11-15
From the Democratic Press.
SECRET SESSIONS OF CONGRESS

ters connected herewith worthy TO be
known.
We have waited for months with pa
tlcnce Tor the publication of the secret de-
bate on Mr.. Stuart's resolution 10 arm
Congress as promised by the Cossac Edi-
tors OF the " Common Sewer" of the 10Th
July. Seeing however, no disposition to
iuihl the voluntary promise on their part,
we have taken some pains 10 " snatch some
portion OF these facts from fate''' Very
early on the morning of the 5 July IN
the present year, The military and militia
forces within the district oil Columbia were
every where pu, in motion, in consequence
Ut two expresses having arrived in the pre-
ceding night with the tidings that the enc
my's itoel were In the river and proceeding
up. The wind was then, and had been Tor
some time previously blowing a smart gale
from the south, quarter favorable for a.
scend!ng navigation. In this moment @!
alarm 1t was eXhilirating to see the alacri-
iy with which the men at arms assembled
and marchcd for proper points, at and in
the vicinity OF fort Warburton, situate a.
bout IL miles down the river, below the
capitol. In the course Of the day from 10
1000 men at arms were stationed in anu
near the forl. The alarm, such an occasion
would excite In some minds NAV be more
easily imagined titan described, and il las
unhappily become car duty 10 record that
the distress OF fearful apprehension was not
exclusively confined to the ladies', though
some were separating from their husbands,
some nom their sons, some from their To-
veis and some from their friends, whom
they had every reason to believe were go
ing TO doubtful battle. The two houses of
Congress assembled at the usual hour,
without seeming at all participant in the
public anxiety, and proceeded IN calm dc.
Liberation 10 the order Of the day, the tax
bills. Some time about or before O'Clock,
P NJ. motion was made by Col Stuart 10
clear the galleries, which was accordingly
done. The same gentleman then offered
resolution which: contrary to usage, was
preceded by preamble not only full of a.
| !atm but declaring the district, from its un-
prepared and deIencelcss state, 10 be in
imminent danger, if it should be attacked
that the enemy were understood to be
| within few hours sail OF the capitol, and
that they ought to be successfully repulsed
The non. mover stated he had been round
among the sodiery early in the morning.
and that he verify believed there would he
great danger of disaster if there should be
| an attack, which might be looked for he
tore IL o'clock the next day Of the an
proach ct the enemv he had no doubl. as
lie had received letter from gentleman
on whom he could rely, that The foe would
Certainly he upon them-The hon gentle
mans hrcjcct OF defence was moi less eff
| Gent than his approximations Of danger wa
very great. IL was no less than to dis, ri
butte arms to 50 ali able bodied men wilii,o
to DC embodied, liable perform mil,
tary duty, and also to such nceubers az
might be willing 10 receive them TO &C,
against the enemy in any manner not in
compatible with their public duties. -
Things had been so ordered CT the time of
submitting this motion) by the executIyc.
that The only effect it could have had would
nave been TO put arms Into the hands OF
men, who were not TO use them but il,
" any manner not Incompatible with their
pubic duties and which public duties
were utterly incompatible with the use OF
arms.
We have now arrived to a STAGE in our
narrative whcn II becomes proper TO vipdi.
cate the character Of the honorable mover
from any possible disadvantage his zeal
might have incurred He is a distinguish
ed veteran OF the revolution, and bears no.
norabie testimonials OF gallant spirit. By
those who know him best be is Esteemed a
man OF most fearless courage For such
man to come forward with such tale was
a circumstance well calculated to make a
serious impression -be resided for the time
being IN the city of Washington, and
might be supposed 10 possess good infor-
nation. But then the resolution was an
antedote for this. TO what, as de-
iensive measure did If amouni n,