The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
5ueSdav. December Is.
l Mi INA DR E"HS

The House resumed the consideration of
the bill from the Senate, authorizing the
President to call into service, SO,45O militia
for the defence of the frontiers.
The motion of MIR. Wlieht to make the
term OF service seUen months after arriving
at the place of rendezvous, instead OF one
vrar as the bill now stands, being before the
House
Mr.. Nrsht supported this propoSiti-
on by few remarks. in the course of which,
he decidedly expressed the opinion that
no measure except providing money, was
necessary for fillin~ the ranks of the az
my.
Mr.. Horris Of Zen. assigned the reasons
which Influenced him to vote in the same
way, which were generally, that the long
term of service would be very inconvencnt
and oppressive on the people, without prudu
cing at last any force superior to six months
militia MIR. II. was in favor of authorizing
the drafting of 4 force of a different S mere
permanent character, the constitutionality of
which he argued at some length. in reply to
objections which had been made to it on the
other side.
After some explanatory remarks from Mr..
Lowndes in reply to Mr.. Harris, and in rcjon-
der by him
Mr.. Rhea of Ten. made short speech in
reply to Mr. Harris. He considered this as a
bill for relieving Tic militia from frequent Sl
harrassing calls OH them for occasional SER
vice.
The previous question was now required
|" Mr.. Yancey of n. G.. but was not sanction
ed by a sufficient number. The House
was equally divided, sc to CO. and the Speak
err, voting in the negative, quaslled tile mo-
ton.
Mr. Cannon spoke briefly against the re-
duceion of the term of service, as proposed,
and expressed some doubts of the exEeCliency
of the bill, as we'll az of the necessity Of any
measure of this character to fill the ranks of
the army.
Mr. Kl6osr7a of Ohio opposed the motion
to reduce the term of service, intending, if
that motion was rejected, to move to increase
the term of service to one year and eight
months.
The question was then taken, by Yeas and
Nays, on Mr.. Wright's mot.on, and produ-
ced the following result
For the motion II
Against it 81
So the house refused to reduce the term of
service below one year
Mr.. BapkieS of Mass. moved to amend the
bill by adding thereto the following as new
section
Sind be it further enacted That the militia called
forth virtue Of this act shall not be liable perur
any service except such may he necessary repeI
the Union"
This motion was negatived, by Yeas Sc Nays
LOS to So.
MIR. KiLbour,r of Ohio then moved to amend
the bill by adding eighteen months to the
present term of service, so as to make it one
year and eight months.
Mr.. King of n. G. from desire to preclude
these motions, and to come TO decision on
the bill at once. requested the previous ques-
., l.. ~
ticient namber, SO members who rose in sup
port OF it not constituting majority of the
house.
The question on Mr.. Kilbourn's motion was
then taken and decided in the negative by
the following vote
For the melton IS
Againstit o5
Mr.. Fisk of VT with the express view of
incorporating in the bill provisions which he
deemed necessary to give it efficacy, moved
to commit the bill to the committee on Nj
litary Affairs.
Mr.. Johnson of Ky. opposed this motion
with much zeal, and contentled for the efIica-
cy of the bill as it now stands, either TO afford
valuable militia force or body of recruits
for the regular army, which were much wan
ted, The bill was not as efficient as he
wished, but his opinion having been over1u-
led as to the details of the bill was no reason
for him to reject the bill altogether II was
high time, he added, that CONGRESS- should
rouse themselves from their lethargy. and 1T
length proceedto act.
Mr.. IngerSoN then with view to enable
the House to proceed without further DELAY
to the consideration Of other highly important
bills on the table Of the House again required
the previous question.
Ninety members supporting the demand,
the previous question was propounded in the
usual form. 80 Shall the main question be
now put ?" and decided in the affirmative by
the following vote
For the question I9t
Againstit 81
The main question, VIZ. on the entrossrg
Of the amendments and ordering the bill 20 be
read third time, was decided in the affirm
alive by the following vote: Yeas 81, Nays
II.
Ard the said bill was ordered to be read
third time tomorrow.
On motion Of Mr.. Eppes Of Va. the House
resolved itself into a committee of the whole.
Mr.. Nelson of Va. in the chair, on the bill TO
provide additional revenues for defrayinc the
expenses f government, and maintaining the
public credit, by laying duties on various goods,
wares AMI merchan ze which bill having
been read over, the Committee rose, report
ed progress and obtained leave 10 sit again.
The following motion was submitted FOR
consideration by Mr.. Wright:
RqsOrcd That the committee of WAYS 81 Mems
hc instructed enquire iuto the cxpedency nf proDib-
ing tire receipts the paper any bank in the United
q. - 10. .