Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-21
FRIDAY. APRILl7.

Resolred. That the Secretary of The Navy be
instructed To lay before this honse, at an early
period OF the Bextsession OF Congress, state
ment OF the different places III the u. States In
which provision is made for the accommoda.
ton OF seamen, under tile several laws relating
10 navy and marine hospitals, the number OF
persons as nearly as IL can be ascertaiued, an
nnaly accommodated at each and the expence
attending the same also, an estimate OF the
costs which will attend the selectiOn'of naval
hospital at this place, sufficiently large for the
number of persons annually provided tor.
Mr. Irilt6le submitted the following re-
solutions;
ResoIred, That the Secretary of War be, and
he il hereby Instructed TO report TO this houce
al an early period OF the next session of con.
CESS, whether any, and if any, what, change
ought to he made III the ration established
by law and also report d system for the esta.
biIshment of commlssariat for the army.
ReS0iced, That The Secretary of War be, and
lie is hereby instructed TO report to this house,
1T AN early period of the next session of Con-
greSs, whether any aud # any, what reduction
may b9 made IN the military peace establish.
meut Of the United States, with safety TO the
pubic service.
Mr. 1rin,bie said that intending TO bring
This subject before the House AT this ses
sion, he had, with thai view paid some
attention TO the present peace establish
ment, but the bill from the Senate propos-
ing reduction in the medical and hospi-
tai staff had come up TOO late 10 hope for
a general reformation. From The discus.
sion which took place on that part of the
bill, pro posing change in tie law, touch
iRg the contractors, it was manifest, that
information WAS wanted on the subject of
d commissarIat- and, as that subject must
necessarily be acted Onat the nextsessiou.
it would probably be best to have a
report fron the War Department, made
out upon mature reflection, and which
would serve as proposition to act upon.
lie knew that it would be highly improper
TO consume lime By stating The princi-
pies upon which the military peace esta-
blishment Of the u. States ought to be
| predicatch, and still more improper TO 90
| lnio details Oh the subject lie would on
| ~ add, that Il saving OF half million, he
| might say seven hundred aud fifty thou
| sand dollars, could be made, and the ar
my he II as efficient, he wouldsay more
efficient, than it was at present. Indeed.
| il was impossible To say what sums could
| be saved by the establishment OF com
missaridi, properly organized, for our SER
| vice.
Mr. Smith q Md. opposed tile reyolu-
ton, and briefly referred TO HE vafiou.
| fOTlnicalIOBs and extensive frontiers IL
sbew that reduction would be ipcom
patblr with the public interest; anolhcl
objection was, that this resolution woult
leave many officers IN doubt as 10 ibi
length Of tllclr continuance ia service
He concluded by moving, that Tie word!
"ef the erPpces If" be inserted after The
| word &" redpctioR.'
Mr.. BMiams Of n. C.. opposed thii
amendment, and advocated The resoluil
1 90. ~, tho err,unJ ii.t tho ,.rcr.,.f a., IA
! iary establishment WAS more eNpeBsivi
than 1t ought to be, aud was larger thar
necessary u being his opinion, as dcclar
ed on aiOTmcT occasion, That an army o
COCO was amply sufficient Tor a peace Is
adjustment.
Mr.. Reed made some remarks Of ia,
| same character, in favor OF the resolu
lion; aud hoped ihs report would be &c