Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-12
.Honday, J1eS, lao.
In SENATE


The following is the SeIec: Committee appointed by
the Vice President to whom the subject Of the bankrupt
bill referred:
Messrs Crittenden, Walker, Williams. Nicholas
Clayton, Huntington, Noryel
The following is the Select Committee which the
memorial Of citizens of this District WIS referred:
Messrs Norvell, King, Prentiss, Clay Of Ala
Pierce
PROJECT OF MR.. PoINsETT.
MIR. ROANE moved the printing of lOD00 extra CO.
pies of the report alrcady the table, OF the Commit
tee Military Affairs, the plan Of the Secretary
of War for astanding army Of 100000 militia.
Mir. NORNELL moved 10000 extra copies
Mr. WEBSTER moved the printing of the project
Of the Secretary OF War connerion with this report
Mr.. CLAY of Alabama, Tin reply 10 an inquiry of
Mr.. Preston) said this report was laid on the table
Friday night and noticed the Globe Of that day
MIR. PRESTON said II not every Senator who
the Globe, and now, at ths first time when this
port brought to the notice Of many of The Senator'S
they called TO vote for the printing of this
ira number. Mr. 7. could have wished for time
for he was not now prepared to make The animadver
sons which this most extraordinary document demand
ed It was most extraordinary. The object of the Sc
nitor to send this report abroad, especially in Nr
GINA order to vindcate the project Of the Secretary
of War for a standing army.
Mr.. ROANE Not TO rIndcate il, but to pass for as
much as it is worth
Mr. PRESTON. Unquestonably There had been
much controversy in Virginia this subject and the
Senator wished this document TO go forth TO meet that
of things and he wished it 20 without the pro-
ject Of the Secretary of War II that unparalleled
project could 70 with it, section by section, Mr.. i.
would object for it could not then blind the people
10 its true character. But the report not report
this point, but historical account of what had
been heretofore done and proposed this subject The
committee did not recommend this project they did
dare to do it; but they professcd to give history
of the progress of this matter the formation OF the
Government and it CT partc history which did
do Justice Gen. Knox, Q1920 still less did it do
justice TO Gen Harrison, and less than all did il do JUS
tice to the Secretary Of War The Senate could not
now act understandngly on this subject; was 1t
now FULL and Mr.. p. hoped the ect would lie over
till Tomorrow
Mr. P looked hastily at the report, noticed that the
committee asked TO be discharged from the further con-
sdcration of the project the alleged ground of the
financial condition of the country, without word on
its intrinsic merits, except that Gen. Knox and Gen.
Harrison brought forward Justify it. But why
drag them in at all in such report; What possible
use was there in it, but for eeconcerng purposes
Gen Harrison had proposed to give this Government
certain control the militia, for the purpose Of CIV
ing to all the youth of the country military cduca
ton. But he proposed to do it by amendment Of
the Constitution The project of Mr. Poinsct was
be carried by assumption Of power Mr.. ?. desired
that, if this antidote to be abroad The bane
which it meant to remedy should be sent with it,
Mr.. ROANE argued that the Senate had received
notice enough in regard to this document He would
consent TO printing the project of the Secretary Of
War with it, for copies of that had already gone 10
every of the country, and had there been
so vile electoneerng proceedings made out Of
that report of Mr. Ponsett. 1t permitted to lie
dead upon the table till the pril election in Virginia
approached, and It then sent forth as a horrible
scheme for standing army And this hue and cry of
standing army did much in Virginia. There not
black cockade there that not reused up TO join
standing army for electioneering purposes But Gen.
Harrison opposed TO the disbardng of Mr. Adams
real standing army and he had made three distinct pro-
positions tor organizing the militia into kind of stand
ing army
MIR. CLAY of Alabama, insisted that this report was
mere investigation OF the various reports and proceed
Ings on this subject, and Mr. e. repee the charge
thatt was an eectonecring document. MIR. Z. pro-
ceeded TO notice three propositions by Gisnerai Harr
son I'm reports as chairman of commtee) to give mi
tary education to the youth of this count y At first
General n. proposed TO carry It by an endment of
the Constitution, not, Mr. C. argued, on account of
his own constitutional scrupes but those of others
But, finding that this did not carry, Genera | H. ult-
matey proposed that the object should be attained by
the General Government, acting in concer with the
several States
Mr. G. was also understood to argue that General Fl.
proposed TO carry his project BY the power ofthe &C.
neral Government but this part Of his argu ment
not comPrehended by the Reporter Mr.. c. would not
consent that MI Poinsetts project should De printed
with this report, fer it had already been print ed in vast
quantities.
Mr.. PRESTON. But not one extra copy of it by
Congress.
vi Via was, nevertheless, uiWuIng that II shoulo
be printed with this report, thou Oh be willing that
zen Harrisons three reports (,l 1917, lS 49, should
be printed with it.
Mr KING was understood to express his willingness
Tor the printing of any docunen relating to this pro-
ec' on which gentlemen thought they would succeed
IN conJurng up arguments against it.
Mt PRESTON SAID it did not require the conjuring
up OF much argument tos ow that this probe both
unconstitutional and dang erous TO the country.
Mr.. WALKER profess ed his entire willn,!n mess that
II! the President and Secretary of War had said upon