The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-12

The question pending on adjournment, to
strike out the I'd section (restricting the |
number of seamen on board the said YES. |
sells. and prohibiting the transportation of
passengers. other than the owner, super.
cargo for the same, oc for the cxrgo)-was
again~put.
MIR. Pickering of Mass. supported, and
MIR. Gundy opposed the amendment
which was rejected by yeas and nays.
Other amendments OF a minor character
were proposed by MIR. Bradbury Of Mass
Mr.. Vose of n. II. Mr.. J. Reed of Mass.
Mr.. Pitkin Of Cont. and MIR. Ward of
Mass. going to ex end the provisions of the
bill. or relax its restrictions. SO as TO permit
the vessels permitted SO to return. to carry
passengers. To carry provisions and naval
stores Onterdic,ed by the bilD &c. &c.
These amendments, which gave rise to
display OF more desultory argument and de
clamation than the subject would appear
calculated to excite, were supported by the
movers, aided by Messrs. Baylies, Grosve
nor and others, and opposed by Messrs.
lof N. York. 'Ehey were all negatived. two
or three of them having been decided by
yeas and nays.
Mr.. King OF n. c. also proposed an amend
ment authorising the President to Instruct
the collector Of Wilmington in N. c. to au-
thorse certain individuals engaged in the e.
reotion of salt ks to transport by water
the lumber necessary for the same. This
motion was amended, on motion of Mr..
Wood of Mass. so as to include q provision
applicable to the importation of lumber for
like purposes, from any port of Maine to
lany port OF Massachusetts. Thus amend
ed, Nj. Kings motion was rejected, 81 to
i6l. =
! After the rejection of all these amend
Iments- $
| Mr.. Wilson of Mass. rose to propose an
amendment to. the bill, of more general
charac' yer than the several amendments
which had so far been proposed to the bill.
He wisaed to Try the principle whether the
House was disposed TO continue the inter-
diction OF trade from one port 90 a. her of
the same state. Wfh this view he moved
to add the following as new section to the
bill: t
! lind be IL further enacted, That the
! y esident be and he is hereby authorised to
instruct the Collectors aforesaid to clear out
al vessels with their cargoes from any port
in any state to another port 10 the same
STATE
On motion of Mr. Oakley OF N. Y. the
House adjourned-68 to IS.
T'uesday, FEB. 8.
THE RIFLE REGIMENTS.
The bill which passed this House few
days ago for the conversion of five regiments
of infantry into rihemen, was returned frona
the Senate with an amendment, striking out
che IN aterial part OF thi bill, and substitu
ting provision 70 raise three regim ents Of
Rifemen in addition to the military force
now authorised by law.
! And the question having been stated on
concurrirg in said amendment
MIR. Troup' of Geo. advocated the adop
ton of the Senate's s:endment. He reca-
ptulated the arguments which had been ur.
ged in this House when the subject was be
| fore under consideration and drew con
clusion that IL would be best. upon tle
whole. 20 accept the amendment If the Sen
ate. In reply to the argument then urged
that the bill proposed an augmentation of
the expences of our military establishment,
which u.sght to be avoided, Mr.. L. said that
| four re Siments of volunteers last year in
service having now passed out Of service,
the addition OF three new regiments, as
proposed by the Senate, would still leave
elimination of the total of our authorized
military force. 1t was, he understood, in
contemplation co introduce bill to autho-
rice reconsideration of all the regiments !;
and II such proposition should succeed, no
doub the President would, as soon as practi
lcabIc consoidaIe all the force actually in
service. and rid the public of the burthen of
4
sh uld appear to be supernumerary. On
this consideration he conceived it would be
advisable to adopt the amendment Ii was
also known that the fortunes Of Europe
have changed If the result should be
general Continental peace, TO which G.. b.
would now be party, a vast British force
now on the continent would be liberated
from that service, and some part OF it at
least might during ne next snmmer be EN-
| ployed on our tcoatier-anG, in that event
| it might be matter of painful regret to the
! Legislature that there had been an omission
of vision of hi, aracter for the gen
eral defence The responsibility for the
proper prosecution of the war rested with
t e executive departmen of the governm ent,
by whom call had been made for these 3
regiments in addition to the present militia
ry establishment. There would be a great
advan age, he added, in the opportunity af-
forded BY the proposed amendment of Sc
| lecting the officers and mep to compose these
regiments from the parts of TIE country
most accustomed to the uss of the rifle. &
| 1t ou,d not be easy from the officers nov
! in service TO make such selection & here
| 1ppeared to be a confidence that they would
be easily raised Such was the popularity Of
| his description Of force, that regiments Of
riilemsn could be more expeditiously raised
than one of infantry. The effect of this
| measure. therefore. would be at once to
place at theriisp osition of the government
U