Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-01-22

Sec. 4. That every non commissioned off
Ger, musician and private. who has been re
cruited in the regular army ofthc U. States
under the authority of the act of the eighth
April, 1912. entitled. &c. may be re-enlsted
for the term of five years or during the war
and that every non commissioned officer,
musicians and private, recruited Under au
thority OF the act of twenty -ninth January,
1918. entitled, &c. may be re>enlisted for
five years or during the war.
Sec. S. That the non commissioned off
Gers. musicians and priya,es. re enlisted un.
der the authority of the preceding section,
shall be entitled to the bounty allowed BY
this act to recruits for five years or for the
war.
Mr.. Troup of Geo. explained at length the
views OF the military committee in reporting
the bill: The necessity of the vigorous pro-
secutiomBf the war. and the consequent ne
cessity OF filling the ranks, were among the
points which he enforced NEST strongly. A.
mong the various plans Offering themselves
to accomplish Ills cater ot;css. the cem
mit:ee had selected system which to them
appeared the best, but which was of course
subject to the Judgment of the house. He
took occasion to observe, that though the
military COMMITTEES had received reformation
OF the autual state and strength ofour. army,
II Gid not appear proper 20 state it in the
house, as publicity, by Informing the enemy
OF ourImilitary strength, would prejudice the
public service.
Mr.. Pearson of N. C. recognized the pro-
prieYlof not making pubic the actual a.
mount of our military force--but, decn,ine
1t essential to pe informed of il, ,aoyed that
the commi,tee OF the whole rise, in order to
have the galleries cleare d. that the gentle.
man might communicate the information he
possessed for The benefit of the house.
Mr.. Pitkin of CT, supported the motion of
Mr.. Pearson, from a desire of having that
information before the house, which he deem
ed necessary to intelligent Legislation en- the
subject before them.
Mr.. Wrigh, Of Md. opposed the motion on
the ground of the extreme difficulty, if not
impossibility of keeping secret any matters
trans acted in closed doors. Whatever the
reduction Of numbers in our army may be. he
had no doubt it had been equally great in that
OF the enemy, ard quoted paper in his hand
to show that single regiment of the enemy
had been reduced in the last campaign from
11Q0to 500 men.
Mr.. Rhea of Tenn. opposed the motion
for the rising of the committee. For his
part, he had no objection that the whole ma
ton should know the actual state of the ar
my.
Mr.. Pearson's motion was negatived, 81
oniy rising in the affirmative.
Mr.. Farrow of s. G.. opposed the manner
in which the bounty To be given was to be
divided between different periods of pay
ment, and suggested an amendmeilr having
Tor MS Offices to pay gre.-tes portion of the
bounty IN advance: which ne subsequently,
withdrew to make room for an amendment
proposed by Mr.. Lowndes.
Mr.. Coms,ock of n. Y. expressed his con-.
viction of the vital necessity of a vigorous
prosecution of the war. True economy, he
believed, dictated the offer OF liberal pecuni-
airy inducements to secure the necessary en-
!istments. He was therefore in favor of this
bill, bu. he was not able TO discover that the
nifty dollars. to be paid at the expiration Of
the term OF service, would not offer quite as
great an inducement TO the recruit, as if the
whole amount of bounty were given him on
his entering the service.
Mr.. Lowndcs of s. c. in rising to propose
Change, in the species of inducement held
forth to enlistment, entered into an argu
ment to shew that presest bounty would in
all cases be found to possess advantages o.
yer prospective one. The conversation he
had held with every military man to whom
he had mentioned the subject, confirmed him
III the opinion that an increase of pay would
have much less effect in procuring enlist
ments than comparatively small amount
advanced by way of bounty. He proposed
to retain the fay at its present rate, and en-.
creasiDg the bounty to 124 dollars. The ex-
Penditure OF the government, ii the war last
ed only one year longer, would not be grear
ter than as proposed by the bill; whilst if it
continued five years, it would be much less,
at the same time that it would hold out grea-
ter inducements 10 enlistments. This posi-
ton Mr.. l.. supported by variety of state
nients; and concluded by moving an amend
ment to the bill, going to attain his object,
which was afterwards modified on the sug-
gestion of M Ingersoll of Penn. so as to
make the whole bounty 1914 dollars !; fifty on
enlistment, fifty on joining the regiment,
and "a on the expiration of the term of SER
vice.
MIR. Calhoun of S. G.. enforced the pro-
priety OF the amendment proposed by his
colleague, which, whilst it afforded strong
er Inducements to every class Of the commu.
nifty, would be less oppressive on the com
munity generally, because it would require
less expense to meet 1t. An increase of pay
he added, generally produced disorders in
camp, and introduced habits of lcentious
ness and intemperance. He was therefore
averse to increasing the pay as proposed by
the bill.
Mr. Comstock was opposed to the amend
ment. As the objection that increased
pay would produce increased RIGHTEOUSNESS
in camp, he was of opinion that increased
bounty, as proposed, would be much more
likely to produce that effect.
Mr.. Troup conceived it not very material
whether the proposed amendment took
place or not ; but it ought to be taken into
consideration, in estimating the opinion OF
military men. that the description of persons
who from European armies, and armies in