Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-15

\ IN the nature of regulars. II the whole
number authorized of the two latter, could
be commanded together with the so 600
| regulars Composing the ranks to be fred)
1t would give an effective force of 10000
men. and might be reasonably expected to
produce 100000. AS great number. per-
maps as under present circums, ances, the
finances Of the country would bear. Even
at tins late dav Of the session, however, Mr..
L. SAID, ne was willing to resort to the on.
| y certain and effectual mode of augmen-
| ting the regular army to an hundred thou
men, to the support of which the finances
OF the country might, before adjournment,
be made adequate. He hoped at least the
house would so decide on this question, as
to make the vote on it decisive of their re-
al views in regard TO it.
Mr.. Aston remarked in reoIy To the oh.
lection derived from the existing pledge Of
the direct tax. that that pledge applied only
to the continuance of that tax until a. cer>
| tam part OF the principal and interest
OF the debt should be redeemed but the
proceeds OF the tax might be applied to this
or any other purpose the government should
| see fit:
Mr.. Macon was o. opinion that the mo.
ton proposed nc violation of the public faith.
1t the army could be flied by the regular
mode ot enlistment. as was now said, how
/ q
nature were offered The reliance on
volunteers and state troops was uncertain
| and Congress ought to devise some mode by
which the ranks of the army cou d be pose
| itively hlled- If it could be done without
| violating the public faith, Mr.. M said it
was his opinion that the direct tax could be
more easily paid in this way than in money.
and he should therefore favor the plan.
At length, after other desultory debate,
| the resolves were, on notionof Mr.. Fisk of
VT. believing, he said. they would not pass
| on their present shape, referred to COM
m'ttee OF the whole houss, SO to 81, and
ordered to be printed, So 10 SO.
Mr.. Webster obtained leave Of absence
| for the remainder of the session.
| On motion of Mr.. Eppes, the bill autho.
rizing the issue of Treasury Notes for the
year 1915, was recommitted to the commit.
| tee of WAYS and Means.
I The engrossed bill for the relief of the
! Anacosta Bridge Com nany, and the eneros..
sed bill for the relief of the heirs of David
Darden, deceased, were read third time.
passed AMI sent to the Senate.
| The bill to compel the Clerk of the
| House OF Representatives tn give bond SIC,
having passed through ommittee of the
whole, Mr. Jackson of Va. in the chair.
was re-commiited to the commi tee of Ac.
counts
The bill for the relief of George S. Wise,
passed through committee of the whole.
and was ordered to lie on the table.
The Dill for subsisting the army of the u,
States. by authorizing the appointment OF
commissioners of supplies, passed through
committee of the whole h)use, and was
ordered to be engrossed for third reading.
! And the House adjourned.
| Tuesday Fe5ruary7.
| On motion of Mr.. Easton, a COMMITTEES
was ordered to be appointed to enquire into
the expediency of better regulating by law
| the mode of leasing the lead mines beloninq
4 to the United States in the territory of Mis-,
souri,. in such manner as to secure the les
sees in the quiet enjoyment of their leases.
| and to secure to the u States the due colr
lection of their rents therefor, aud to report
| by bill or otherwise
| PAY OF THE MEMBERS
Mr.. Shipderd of n. Z. submitted for con-
| sheraton the following resolution
ReSofUed, That a committee be appoins
| ted to enquire into the expeaiency of pro-
| viding for the making a reasonable com
pensation to the members of both Houses of
Congress for travelling to and from Con.
gress, and attendance thereon respectively
that they report thereon by bill or other
wise and that the committee embrace in
such enquiry the present session.
Mr.. Pearson enquired the object of this
motion, and the grounds for il.
Mr.. Shipherd said he should have sun.
posed his honorable friend understood his
own interest sufficiently not to have reoui,
red any explanation on this head. Congress-
having the right to regulate their own paw
In the same manner as the compensation
OF other officers of the government, they
ought to render to themselves tn at Justice
which they feel bound to do TO other off,
Gers OF the government. He need not he
said, tell the House that the paw now re-,
celved by the members was no. half what
its value was when that pay was 6xed-.
more particularly when it was considered
that the paper with which the members
were paid was full IS per cent. below bar
or the value of specie. His object was so
to augment the pay Of the members as q,
make II equal to six dollars of that medium
IN which members formerly received their
pay
Mr.. Rhea Of Tenn said he did not con-
ceive this the proper time to enter into the
: consideration of this subject. He thougif
. gentlemen shsuld let the nation get throvyb
: the war, before they escreased their nav
MIR. FarrOW was oDpoSed IN the ,,,o,;.-