Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-14

NIT. Cay sun thought tisc SoNSiunicul
paid more money and got less military
services than any other country m the
world, and his object was 10 know IL any
proper examination had been made 10
ascertain whether the extraordinary ex-
pen,liture of the military department,
might not be reirenched, &c.
Mr.. Randolph expressed his pleasure at
hearing i'm this House the long exploded
word economy, and al witnessing the most
distant ray of promise of a return to old
democratic principles and then went IN
To a pretty general view of what he term
ed 'lie extraordinary expenditures of our
military establishments. which, III the ar
my, amounted 10 about 900 dollars AMMAN,
and in the navy tn nearly 1000 dollars
per man He referred TO his motion al
| The las, session to- reduce the army, and
| lis failure, and the resolution he had taken
tomakc, duringtII remainder of his public
life, no further attempt 20 reform public a.
buses. Recommended on the enormous
amount Of tl,ecivi expenditures of the 70
| vernment, which arose not from exorbi-
tam salaries. (tor, hc said, many Of tl'er
officers were absolutely starving,) but
from the great numberot officers, greater
! than IN any other country, underthe gen.
eral and state governments. Having, az
tins House had no patronage whatever,
hut only the Odium of every obnoxious
public measure, they ought still 10 feel
the necessity of scrutinizing into the pub
lie expenditures; andasi it was impossible,
in the nature of legislation, divided into
opposite parties, for member Of the mi
nority 10 make any ehectual attempts TO
correct abuses. he called on the members
of the majority 10 perform that duty, and
expressed his pleasure at hearing those
gentlemen (Mcssrs. CLAW and Johnson IL
sing the almost unparliamentary word e.
economy, and talking about retrenchment,
&c. To the bill under consideration,
however. he had no sort of objection.
MIR. Clay, in reply, said, that if he had
been alluded to, his opinions had under
gone no change, since he had voted on
Mr.. RandolpliS motion at the last session
that he did not vet think the military es-
Establishment ought to be DESTROYED, but
that now, as always, he desired to know
whether the expenditures were requisite
whether appropriations were necessary
and properly applied, and in what way
the public money could be economised,
&c.
Mr.. LowNdes also replied to Mr. Ran
do.ph, as 10 theeXtraordinary eXpence al
lodged TO be incurred by the government,
for each man liz the military service. The
military force might be so mall the num-
Der SO few, that i'll dividing amongstthem
the whole expence Of all The branches Of
the establshment, il might swell The cost
OF each man TO what had been stated
but il would be NEST extraordinary
mode ofestimatiDg the expcnce of the ar
my-and he offered facts and arguments:
that the expence Of each man had not ex-
ceedcd 400 that The amount of tie ar
my greatly exceeded the number of 1000.
as surmised in the debate, and tlc lessrea-
son there consequently was TO suspect
wastetul expenditure Or excessive anpro-
prlations heretofore.
The committee of the whole then rose
aud reported the bill as amended, in which
the House concurred and the bill was
ordered TO be ensrossed for third read
ing.
Mr.. Pichens made anunsuccessfnl mott
onto call up his resolution to amend the
constitution.
TIE CLAIMS LAW, &c.
The House then resumed the consider
alton Of the unfinished business of yester
day, being the bill TO amend the act TO
make payment for lost property, &c. Mr..
ingliam's motion TO amend the bill by in
sertInga new secfiGu, declaring that the
''i'i SC' tiuIi SlOulu not lie construed 10
extend to houses occupied by the militia
~ forces Of the United States, except the
same shall have been occupied by authori
~ ct an officer or agent of the United
States, as place of deposit fOrmunitions
OF war-being still under considerati
on.
After some remarks from Mr.. Harrison.
IN opposition TO the motion,
The question was taken, and the amend
mont adOpted-aves 81, noes co.
Mr.. AhertOn, after remarking on the ne
cessity OF preventing the testimony, as bv
the act 1t row was, from being cxparte and
unfair, and The necessity of providing a.
galnst fraud and imposition, moved an a
mendmeni, which was, substantially, that
III all cases where the claim exceeded the
sum of $500, the testimony should be ia
ken before commission for that purpose
appointed.
Theamendment was received without
opposition.
MIR. Wright, then, after some inirohuc-
tory remarks, moved to add new secti-
on to fire bill, providing that in all cases
where destruction of houses, by the enc
my shall have been consistent with the
practice Of civilized warfare, The same
shall be paid for in the same manner as is
provided for by The 9Th sect. f;hc act of
last session.
Mr.. Wright supported very warmly and
at some length the justice of his PROPOSE
ton, III which he was joined by Mr.. Ro-
beTtson, who argued against the policy of
NeurIViup distant ,.ifizCue hxr rec..I;,,,. ..