The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-02-01
HOUSE OF REPREsENTAT1vEs:

TUESDAY, Jan. "a.
Mr. Trout, from the committee on Militia
- A fairs, reported = bill making provision
for subsisting the army of the United States
by authorizing the appointment of commits
saries of subsistence, which was twice read
and committed.
MT. also from the same committee re-
ported q bill to authorize the purchase of a
tract of land for the use of the u. S. (being
xhe land adjacent to the village of Platts-
burg, on which Fort Moreau & other bate
Yies are erected (Which was twice read
and ordered to be engrossed for third rea-
ding,
The Speaker laid before the House let
Ter from BENJAMIN w. Crowninshield, Sc
cretary of the Navy, transmitting the annu-
al report of the commissioners of the Navy
Pension Fund which was ordered to be
printed.
The engrossed bill to amend the act lay
ing duties on licenses to retailers of wines,
spirituous liquors, and foreign merchandise,
Was read the third time and passed.
The order ofthe day, on Mr.. Jackson's
croposition to amend the constitution, so as
Five to Congress power to establish a Matt
onai Bank, SC. having been called over, on
motion of Mr.. Jackson the further considera-
tion thereof was postponed indefinitely.
The bill to extend the time of Oliver E.
yars's patent for his Improvement on steam
engines, underwent considerable discussion,
IN committee of the whole, Mr.. Breckenridge
in the chair, and was, after long debate, "a
mended, and reported to the House.
Mr.. Lewis, moved further to amend the
hill. by adding thereto, the following proviso ::
q Ind troUiaed also, That the said Oliver
Evans shall not be entitled to any of the pri-
yileees granted by this act, but upon the ex-
press condition that he shall permit any per-
son or persons to use the improvements of
the said Oliver Evans in the machinery of
mills for the manufacture of -four during the
continuance of his extended patent therefor,
Upon the same terms as were demanded by
4he said Oliver Evans before the extension of
the said patent"
The motion was negatived, and the bill
-~as ordered to be cnsrOsSed and read third
sine tomorrow and
The house adjourned.
Hsdne8ddy, Jan. IS.
The House resumed the Con sidelation
nf MIR. Jacksons bill to amend the Militia
Law SO as To conform the organization of the
Militia of the several states, as far as regards
the officers thereof, to that of the military
force of the u. States.
A motion was made by MIR. Wright of
Md. to strike out the second section of the
bill.
That motion was superseded by q motion Of
MIR. TAYLOR of n. Y. 70 postpone the further
consideration Of the bill indefinitely
The object Of the bill was advocated by
Messrs. Jackson, Hawkins, Cannon, and O
Tiers. and opposed by Messrs. Wright, Fay
Tor. Pickering, Webster and others.
The arguments in favor Of the bill, were,
generally, the dissonnnCe arising from the
disimilarity ofthe provisions OF the state laws
for organizing the militia, to those OF the laws
directing the organization OF the Army Of the
II. States and, the confusion hence produ-
ced in the Militia Drafts, &c. The oppo-
nents Of the bill conteuded that it would be
highly inexpedient on the other hand to dis
tl1b the present organization Of the militia,
which it was also said, was by D9ny weil-in-
formed military men believed to be superior
20 the organization Of che army OF the United
States. Ste. sc.
The question on indefinite postponemcnt,
was decided IN the Affirmative, by the follow
ing vote
For the postpone1nsnt -
Againse u
% lie dill vas RET cte1