Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-07-03

tia, The President in accepting the overtime as to an ar
bilramen, had stated that the action Of Congress was
not Ia be thereby suspended Yet, practically suct
seemed 10 be- lis effect Mr. B found fault with this
but was Obvious that whilst matters remained snc
n position any Guickcning impulse to the negotiation
must come from this House. lie had understood, ina
the time had than passed within which tInal and
definite reply ought have been received from Mexico
Under such circumstances the claimants could no; pu
feel the dcepps, uneasiness at the approaching Use oil
Congress Nlr b. wished to learn what grounds the
committee frbore 10 act especially az the language
of the President led the Mexican authorities 10 look WIN
anxiety 10 nothing hut movement III Congress Aiei
the aGipurnuen the arbitration might be suffered by
Mexico fall through without any Just complaint, on
our part, Of evasion trfng, inasmnch the Pres!
Dent had expressly and nnSously reserved the right 10
act as il no overture had been made.
Mr.. Howard begged to settle preliminary question
with the gentleman from Pennsylvania before replying
to the nerrogaory. lie wished 10 know whether It was
put rs a matter OF right, or of courtesy.
hlr BiLde said entirely Of courtesy
Mr. Howard said That he migh,have feit be duty
resist claim of right; but would answer the question
with crca, pleasure as it stood. The gentleman
from PENNSYLVANIA must be aware that the aspect of
relations wit, Mexico had been changed more than
since the commencement OF The session. IL was
chan ged b. the official communication OF the decree OF tie
Government; of Mexico, upon the subj ect If abIlra
ton of the matters in dispute between the two nations,
which decree before the President when he n,
his opening message. 1t was changed again by pro.
position founded upon that decree 10 appoint an arbter,
which had been accepted by the President. Now, al
though The gentleman from Pennsylvania was perfectly
right saving that the President had expressly refused
10 Withdraw The subject from Congress, in whose charge
he had placed IT, yet it would occur to him, that 1t q
contention were 10 be executed between The two Go.
yernmpns, appointing an arber, the question before
Congress would be essentially varied According the
best Of bis (Alr II. 50 information, The Mexican Minis.
ter found not 10 be in possession OF The necessary
powers for the execution Of such convention, and
obliged TO apply TO his Government for additional pow
The answer Of Mexico to this deHsnd not
known to the Government of the United States. The
Mexican Minister had not been in Washington during
the whole winter, and il lime that should know
whether Mexico intended 10 proceed in this matter or
not
As far his individual opinion went he MIR II !
thought still he always had thought since his aten.
ton had been directed 10 relations with Mexico that
should never have Justice done to o Government
people, unit! manifested determination 10 en-.
force IT, and he moreover thought ta. the recent move
ment by Mexico, only intended ails the pro.
ceedngS OF Congress, by holding nut prospect OF ami.
cable settlement, which he feared would prove usory.
Of the opinion Of The committee foreign affairs, he
had right 10 speak, but they would soon be obliged
consider the question: whether the continued delay Of
Mexico in clothing her Minister with The necessary
power TO execute convention, ought ought not 10 be
considered evidence Of her rspoSition 10 prosecute
The arbitration
Before the session Of Congress terminated, he hoped
the committee would express te!r opinion upon this
point.
Mr.. Bitde. Then may anticipate repor, from
the committee.
Mr. Howard Certainly.
The conversation then drOpprd
ELL.
The House then took up the ''bll to increase the pre-
sent military establishment Of the United States and for
other purposes" reported last night from the committee
OF the whole, with amendments; and The question
concurring therein.
The first amendment was the following substitute Cor
the first section Of The Senate's bill!
"Ihat there shall be added to each Of the four regi
mens Of artillery, company, to be organized in the
same manner authorized By existing laws with the
exceptions hereafter menlionrd that there be added 10
every company of artillery sixteen prva,es and 10 every
company OF infantry sergeant and thirty eight pr
Yates and that the number OF second ieutenaDis O
company OF artillery be reduced To one, and that this
ducnn be made, IN connection with the appointment
Of officers 10 the four additional companies authorized
aforesaid and the transfer 10 the ordnance department,
hereafter directed that all the present second leu,en
ants shall BE- retained IN service and there shall be ras
ed and organized, under the direction Of the President
Of the u. S, regiment Of infantry, TO be composed
Of the number md rank of officers, commits
stoned officers, MUSICIANS and privales, composing the
regiments Ut infantry IN the service u the u. 5,
shall receive the pay and allowances. and De
subject 10 the rules and regulations which nov
apply 10 other regiments Of Infantry, provided for in
this act
nlF llniTiSOn moved u strike out lne WORD '" ln!an
try, in the sd line, and insert, in lieu thereof the
word 'rIiemen;' and warmly advocated that PROPOSE.
ton.
Af:er some discussion, in which Messrs. Haynes,
Pope, Fillmore, Gascock, Thompson, and Coles, pa.
uiyatrd, tho amendment disagreed to-ayes ~,
not counted.
Mr.. Briggs moved to strike cut all after the word
sservice. 10 the 3O,h line.
hr Miller Of Missouri asked for the yeas and nays on
this motion, which ordered.
Mr.. PetrIkin gave the reasons which would induce
him vote for increase OF the muskcry account
OF the apprehension Of hostiies; BIZ, he should oppose
both augme naiion Of the number of officers and Of
their salaries, and if those propositions engraed
the BILL he should be compelled 10 against i, al
together. Mr.. p. said in substance that representing
rs he did, constituency opposed 10 establishing stand.
ing army in time of peace, It bchooved him briefly to
state the reasons for The votes he shoud give the
amendments offered TO tie bill then before the House.
Although his constituents opposed 10 n standing
army time OF peace, they always ready and Will
ing tn enable the Government 10 defend the distant and
weaker parts Of the frontier when threatened by hostile
INVASION as was the case at present the Western ard
Southwestern frontier Of the States Of Arkansas, Ais
souri, and Louisiana; but they opposed creating
largcr number of unnecessary officers and they
opposed to raising the salaries .. officers whote salaries
we're already quite large enough 10 pay them well Tor all
the services they rendered 10 the country.
lie would vote for the first section OF the BILL filling
up the skeleton Of the present army and also for the ad
dlIona regiment proposed to BE- raised for the defence
of the Northern frontier, believing that the present ext
gences ot the country required this addition 10 the regu
lar army and which added hut small number tie
officers already in commission under the present army
establishments but he should not vote for the amendments
increasing the number of officers in The staff and other
departments, would he increase the salaries
Of officers who lounged about the cities already enjoying
very high salaries much larger in proportion than those
who did duty in the army, and endured the hardshps of
field and fort Ii those amendments should be adopted
he should be compelled to vote against The whole bill -
Al this late period OF the session. time precious and
c should close having given all the views necessary TO
defend him from the charge Of inconsistency voting
as he should do on this bill
Mr.. Mason Of Ohio addressed the House at length in
opposition 10 the bill, unnecessary and uncapd-for
since there ea! grounds Of war; and if there
WERE present force ample to repress them at
The outset though he avowed himself desrcus and will
ing TO do all that proper for the protection of the
Mes,ern lrnnnr The Eanlt ihere he nLad l...