The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-02-15


applied. The only question then was. whe-
Their such army was wantngs Of that |
lie Thought there could be no doubt; and hc |
therefore hoped the House would seriously |
enter on this subject.
Mr.. Fisk, of Va opposed a proposed post
ponement OF this motion, not that he approx
&c It entirei-, bt. because it was susceptible |
OF modification, ard that, in his opinion, it
would become Congress, before they parted,
to take some efficient and certain measures
to FIJI the ranks OF the Regular Army. A
combination ri this proposition, with that
made by the WAX Department at the com
mencement. e the session, would prcdece
such system as he should approve--and
such as he believed, from the want of money.
the government would at least be compelled
toresort to. What answer, he asked, could
they give TO theic constituents, if they return
ell home and left tue country comparatively
deIenceleSs It was tins, he said, that
they should act, and act efficiently.
Mr.. Stanford 5aade motion to lay the
resolves on the table ; which was negati'-
cd 81
Mr.. Lo7ynors objected to the enquiry into
the propriety Of divertinjS the Direct I X Al
ready laid, or part OF it, to the purposes Ct
raising men. After that Tx had been soemp-
" PLEDGED by law to n specific purpose, TO
ent-ri . discussion Of the proprety of l-
vertpg it TO any other purphss, while it would
be imprscticable for amy useful end. might
be- Seriously luxurious to the finances and
credit OF the country. He had no objection.
however, to enquire into the Froprety of
INCREASING the Direct Tax to shis end,
&c. ~.
Mr. 7'-oRh Che Chairman Of the Military
committse) said, that, being a MEMBER Gf
the committee to whom It was proposed 90
refer tbs Subject, it did not become him Co
express any decided opinion on it. Ali he
81. -
the conc'ittee On this head, unless determin-
4 esl 20 perfect the proposition into the shape
Z OF a law--iaasfnnch as tbs coGlmttse, in its
ministerial capaciry, had already cognizance
over tins sueject and could report on 1T with
ots.i1s' ruction, If deemed by them eXpedient.
With respect u the military subjects at the
present session, the House could rot fail to
rscollect that the rePort of the Secretary Of
SVar hid stated what force We had, and what
addition 70 It was desirable for the further
desence of the country. lthad been prOpos-
ed to Congress TO augment the REGULAR force
10 ono hundred thousand rnen, TO which pur-
p,se il w;.s proposed to resort to the most en-
getic means. 1t was necessary for the com
Inittee ofths house said Mr.. T. to enteavor
to ascertain the opinion of both branches of
the Legislature, to the different modes of
raising men. We did 50 and found that
no efficacious 5neasure, calculated certainly
and promptly 70 tll the regular army, could
be effectualy resortedt to. Measures We're
maturcd ana proposed by the committee, but
were not pressed Oh the house. from the So
leDu conviction tlas there was no disposition
in the Legislature to act finally on the sub
ject. Tfis being ascertained, other measures
we're adopted, TO improve the recruiting SER
v;,e, to authorise the acceptance into the
service cf volunteers and state troops in the
nature Of rtg,tlaTs. If the whole number au-
thoiised of the two latter, could be COM
-. "a M
(suaposing the ranks TO be filed it would
give an effective force of 40 600 men, and
might be reasonably expected to produce
100, geo, as great number, perhaps, as un-
der present circumstances, the finances Of the
oouDtrg~ would bear. Even at this late day
of the session, however, Mr.. /. said, he was
willing to resort to the only certain and eff
ectasl mode OF augInenting the regular army
30 an hundred thousand nen, to the support
ST which the fnaRces of the Country might,
before adjournment, he made adequate. lie
hoped at least the house would so decide
on this question, rs to make the vote on it
decisive of their real views IN reg.Ta to
it.
Mr.. .llston remarked, in reply to the OBJ
5ection derived from the existing pledge Of
the direct tax, that Chat pledge applied only
to the Continuance If that tax until certain
part Of the principal and interest of the debt
should be redeemed but the proceeds Of
the ok might be applied to this or any
ether purpose the government shou!d see
fit.
Mr.. DEicon was of opinion that the motion
ps10osed 10 violation Of the public faiti.--H
the army conld be filed by The regular de
of 'nlistment, as was now said, how happen-
ed It that so many projects OF this nature were
offered The reliance on volunteers and
state troops was uncertain and Congress
ought to devise some mole by which the
ranks of tie army could be positively filed.
il it could be done without violating the pub
lie faith, Mr.. VI. said il was his opinion that
the ect tax could be more caslypaG in
this way chan in money, and he should there
lore favor the plan.
At length, after some other dosultory de
bite, the resolves were, On motion Of Mr..
Fiek ofYt. believing, he san, they would
not pass IN their present shape, rofrred 10
q committee Of thc Whole house, 50 to 81, &
ordered 20 be printed, SO 70 20.
Mr.. Gcbste1' obtained leave OF absence for
the remainder IF the sSss'ou.
On motion of NIr. Ehhc8. tc Ill autaori-
zing the issue of Treasury Nots tor &c year
1915. was rec5nmittcd to the Commit e. of
WAYS {. Means
The engrossed bill for The relief Of the m
scosta Bridge ComP aug, and t',e enssossed