Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-12-14

ing the pubic service, over otners OF equal
qualifications and merit, who are, or may be,
educated at their own expense, or that OF their
parents or friends, at the school, under the su
perintendence of Capt. Partridge, in the state
of Vermont, or at any other place in the United
States.
ResoIoed, That the Committee on Military
Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expe-
diencv of employing the regular army, or
part thereof, in the erection of Qualifications du-
ring state of peace, instead of having them
builtby contract in the way heretofore pur-
sued
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy
be directed to make statement to this House,
containing the names and grade of the officers
belonging TO the Naval Establishment OF the
United States, and the duties each officer IS
performing; also, the number Of officers OF
each different grade necessary to command in
active service the vessels of war, at this time
belonging to the Navy.
Mr.. &. said he did not mean 10 press
these resolutions 10 an immediate deCi.
sion. Being Of nuch importance in his
view, he wished them to lie on The ia bic
and be printed, with the expression OF
determination on bis part to call them up
on an early day.
The resolutions were ordered to lie up
en- the table accordingly.
On motion of Mr.. Walworth, it was or
dered that q committee of enrolled bills
be appointed on the part of this house.
On motion of Mr.. Kent, the committee
of the whole was discharged from the tu:-
ther consideration OF the bill, reported at
the last session, for the establishment OF
penitentiary in the District OF Columbia,
and it was re committed t9 the committee
on the judiciary.
On motion of Mr.. F. Johnson, of Ky.
it was
Resolved, That the committee on naval at
fairs be instructed to inquire into the expcdi-
ency of allowing to the widowed mother of
lieut. w. H. Allen, Of the United States navy,
4 half pay pension for five years
The speaker laid before the house two
messages frora the president. The first
transmitting a report of the commissioner
of the public buildings, upon the progress
which has been made in the public build
ings within The last year, which was or
dered to lie on the table the second,
plan for the peace establishment Of the ma
w OF the United States, and also Of the
marine corps.
The latter was referred 10 the commit
tee on naval affairs.
The eng~ossed bill, supplementary to
the act relating to The ransom Of Amerl-
can captives in the late war; was read the
third time, PASSED, and sent to the senate
for concurrence
CLOTHING THE MILITIA.
The house then, on motion OF MIR. Can
non, resolved itself into committee OF
the whole on the bill for clothing the mill
tia when in actual service Mr. COndiCt
in the chair
The bill was read through.
Mr. Cannon said, proposition of the
same nature, was before Congress, eig ut
years ago. 1t was introduced INTO the
house of representatives. during, the
late war with Great Britain and such was
then the conviction of the propriety Of the
measure, that bill embracing the same
objects passed the house OF representa-
tives by an unanimous vote, and was sent
TO the senate. 1t was then near the close
of the war, and, before the bill was taken
up in the senate, the news OF peace ar.
rived, in consequence of which the bill
was not acted on. In that period OF war,
the necessity Of the measure was seen and
felt: and MIR. Cannon expressed his hope,
Notwithstanding we were no" enjoying
the calm and tranquility of peace, that
we should look forward to the militia as
our great national defsDce in time OF need,
and adopt such measures as will make
them competent at all times, and under e.
very exigency, to The defence OF our coun-
try. As such he considered Them, and he
should make it always bis business, by
every means practicable, 10 give TO the
militia that improvement, which will qua
lfy it TO be what il was intended, by the
constitution of the u. S. that it should be.
He was aware, be said, in regard to this
bill, that many members had not copies
of ii before them but it had undergone
the deliberation of committee during the
last session, and, if the object was approx
ed by the house, was in as good form as
could be devised. 1t could not be expect
ed, he said, that the militia, when called
into seivice, would provide themselves
with the clothing necessary 10 render them
efficient soldiers, unless means were pro-
yded TO reimburse them the expense
TIC VII NchtS III SnOitS W pIdNc tHCuI' ."
regard to pay aud emolnments, on pre-
cisely the same footing as the SOLDIERS OF
the regular army. Those who bad eXpe-
rienCe m such service in the late war,
would acknowledge that this measure was
necessary during a state OF war, and, if
so, be believed the house would agree
| with him that now, in a state OF peace,
was the proper time to make the provision
| for it, -,
Mr.. FarreIIy rose, not to oppose the bill,