The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-01
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
Wednesday, january 90.
ADDITIONAL RIFLE CORPS.
On motion of Mr.. Troup of Georgia, the
House resolved itself into a committee of
the whole, Mr.. Kennedy in the chair, ON
| the bill aJthorising the raising Of three adj :
ditional rife regiments.
| MIR. Troup explained his views in relation
to this bill. rs objec: was TO raise an add /.
lonal number OF description of troops of
lpeceiar utility in certain situations. Of the
utility, indeed necessity, of additional troop.
10 tn character, there was. he believed
no difference of opinion, The only question
tor the. decision of the House was, in what
manner this force should he raised yhe
ther, as proposed in this bill by raising AID.
dluonal men. or, by converting three of
the regiments of infantry, now authorised
by law, int o rifle regiments /, or by attaching
TO each OF 80 regiments of infantry now in
service, flank company of rifiemen or
Thelh her, discretion should be vested in
the President, 20 raise them, as might by
MN be deemed cXpedient, in one wav or
the other Ot these, Mr.. I. appeared to
prefer the mode proposed by the bill, prin
cpaiiy because it would afford an opportu
| NIFTY tor selecting officers, and enlisting men
in those parts of the Union most familiar
with the use OF this weapon, &c. Mr.. T.
took occasion to say, that there were un :
PROFESSIONALLY many Supernumerary officers
IN the present state of the army and he
acknowledged, If its ranks were not Iikelr
20 be h'ied, the regiments ought to be conso
noated, and the supernumerares disbanded.
But, 1t was hoped, and believed, the mea
sures taken by Congress would have the eff
iect TO NH the ranks. and render such
measure unnecessary, &c,
Mr.. aYior ct New York, delivered We
~ abe speech of more than an hour IN
support OF the war, and in reply 20 several
gentlemen in opposition. his colleagues part
cularly, who addressed the House the other
day. he declared himself also IN favor Of
this bill "
Mr.. Grosvenor Of New York, followed
IN a spirited reply, point to point, to the
speech of his colleague who preceded him !
Mr.. u. spoke nearly an hour.
Mr.. Shipherd of New York NEXT took the
floor, and made speech of rather greater
length than Mar. Grosvenor, in which he
neither spared the administrator, the ma
Jorlty IN Congress, the war, or the speech of
ms colleague, Mr.. Taylor. He did not men
tioh the bill before the House.
Mr.. Rhea of Tennessee, in a shor, and
pointed speech, expressed his sentiments IN
support OF the war, and III reply TO few of
the Observations made on the other side of
the House.
+ A motion was Their made that the com
mittee rise and report progress. This mo-
ton vas opposed BY Mr. Troup, on the
ground of unnecessary delay, and advocaf-
ed by Messrs. Ward of Massachusetts,
CASTOR OF North Carolina, from desire 70
obtain that opportunity for fnlly debating the
ahalrs or the patton, which the majority had
pledged themselves 70 afford
The question 10 rise was decided IN ~
affirmative, and leave waS given to ait again
by close vote.
For leave 50
Against il s8
And the House adjourned
r,-,. 49,. Ilur5day, Jan1ary OF.
RULES AND PRIVILEGES OF THE.
HOUSE.
On motion of MIR. Roberts of Pa.
ResofU0d, That a CON mittcc be appoi7t
ed to revise the standing rules and orders of
proceeding. and report such alterations and
amendments as they may think proper and
necessary 1t IN their opinion any be re-
Mr. King Of Massachusetts said he had
minated tew days ago am intention. ,f
submitting a motion to add to the rifles If
the HoIse---he now rose to execute that in
tention. Ills OBJECT was two fold. The FIRST
member / ms motion RETIRED to original
motlods and resolutions to be offered bv
members of the House and the second n
the manner in which they shall be d;suosgd
OF. lie was DESTROYS to give to every mem
Der OF the House, = fair opportunity to offer
propositions to the House, and to prevent
unpleasant competition for the Aoor. His
second object, relating 10 the subseouent
disposition OF such motions, was more i'm
portant IN its nature. lie had been induced
to move It at E. is time, from a review of
what took place IN relation to certain reso-
Iutons which he had thought it his duty TO
oher respecting the coasting trade. lie had
looked to the constitution, the law and 20
the rules OF the house, 10 see bv what au-
thority majority in this house could saw
they would or would no. consider any mo-
ton offered by any member. He never could
conceive that i cosid depend on the will or
pleasure 81 q majority Of this house. or If
any other legislative BODY, whether the re-
presentallves Of the people should be heard
or not. The right was too important 70 be
held at the viii Of any majority and with
that power and the power Of stopping de-
bate by the previous question, Justice and
right we're exciudei from the House. Yet
This was tne house Whieh some affected to