Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-17

It's beiug found 4. o1Div "a ....s.....t 4.ee.s,
fsaa.e. lsaA22zss water; Eope ss Isisi.
!. and for the relief or sick ard disabled
seamen, or oil those DISCHARGED abroad
alter the sale o. theirvessels."
Attersome observations from lIr. S.a,;H
OF Md. respecting existing laws and usa
ses on this subject, and by MIR. Wide, the
resolution was agreed TO.
The engrossed bill tor the relief of Ma
'haniei Wiiiiams, vas read third time,
passed, and sent 10 the Senate
On Iuoton OF MIR. DPIean of Ky. the
committee 10 whom was referred the Act
ing Secretary OF Wars letter on the same
subject, were instructed to en1uire into
the expediency of opening road from
Reyno,dsborough, in the state of Tonnes
sec, 10 intersect the Natchez road. as view
ed AMI marked BY the commissioners APP
| pointed for that purpose.
On motion of MIR. I. III. Nelson of Va.
fesoloed, That the committee OH milf
tary affairs be instructed TO enquire into
the expectancy of making provision for
the payment of such arrearages of militia
~ clothing as may be due TO soldiers dis
charged from the army of the United
States.
Mr.. Bemctt offered for consideration
the following resolution
Resofred, That the committee of WAYS
and means be instructed TO enquire into
the expectancy of repeating or modifying
the act laying duties on retailers of wines,
spurious liquors, and foreign mcrchan-
die
MIR. Lownacs offs. C. remarked, that. as
member OF the committee of WAYS and
means, he certainly could have no obiec-
ton to any enquiry which the House might
dlrect; but, i'll his opinion, there never
had been moment when there was less
inducementt to repeal this tax:than now
ana stronger reasons might perhaps be
adduced for increasing than for reducing
IL. lie had risen only TO say, that be did
not wish those who, with him, would vote
Tor the enquiry, because requested bv a
member, to be considered as at all pledg-
ed to cooperate in the ultimate object of
the mover.
he resolve was agreed 10.
On motion of Mr.. Fletcher ofKy. the
committee of pensions were instructed TO
enquire into the expediency of placing Jo-
seph Wilkinson on the pension list, in con
sideration ofwounds received in the reyo-
lutionary war.
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
On motion of Mr.: IFendorer of n. Y.
the house proceeded to the constellation
OF his motion to appoint a commuta6 to
enquire into the cXpediency of altering the
flag of the u. States.
MIR. Wendorer said, he deemed il iHnpro-
per- IN the present stage of the business. to
discuss the merits Of the propositionto al
ter the flag, as the object of his motion
was enquiry only. As to any essential
alteration, he hoped no man in the House
would consent to change a har, under
which had been falsiiied the predictions
OF European orators and paragraphiSts.
when they said the Yankee cock boats
were to be speedily driven from the ocean.
Ills object, MIR. w. said, was TO make an
unesSential variation. When first ADOPT
Ell, the flag bore one star and one stripe
Tor every state: when two additional
states entered the Union, the flag had
been altered by "a special act, by the ad-
uition OF two stars and stripes, which made
the nag correspond to the fact Since
that alteration, four states have been ad-
ded, and the flag still remains the same
Conceivins this not TO be correct, and that
the. flag might be appropriately altered
he hoped that the House would consent
to the proposed enquiry.
MT. h96ertfon OF Lou. said, he had. for
ms part, no objection TO the proposed al
Eeration and suggested the expediency
OF some Senerallaw for altering the fag in
future, by proclamation of the Executive.
on The admission of new states into theJJ-
MON.
MIR. Taylor IN Y. was in favor Of the
enquiry, and for reason different from
that assigned by his colleague. He had
been informed by naval gentlemen, that
our flag could be seen and recognized
on the ocean at greater distance than
mat OF any other nation. If the stripes
ana stars were Increased, the flag would
become less distinct TO distant obserya-
Fation, which Mr.. Il. was desirou. 10 nre-
vent, and therefore was in favor of resto-
ring the flag to its original character of
fhi'teeT stars and stripes, and ESTABLISHING
II permanently the same
The motion of Mr.. Wendoyer was a.
greed to, and committee ordered TO he
appointed accordingly.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, &c.
Mr.. AMertOn of y. III. offered for con-
slderation a resolution embracing the |
proposition of an amendment to the con |
stltution of the U. States, in the following |
words
The Congress shall have power 10 es-
tabllsl National University"
And on the usual question, will the
House now proceed to tile consideration |
Of the resolution it was decided in th,
negative, thus
ForcOnsidering il 81
Against it az
On motion of Mr.. It. III. Nelson of
Va; (who suggested the great economy
md saving TO the I States, as well as be-