JANUARY, 1812.

Government Loans-Naval Establishment.

H. OF R.

W. Bibb, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, Wm. A. Bur-appropriations will, of course, be necessary for well, William Butler, James Cochran, John Clopton, their support, and to carry on the war in which William Crawford, Joseph Desha, Wm. Findley, Jas. we expect to be engaged, it becomes necessary Fisk, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson that Congress should devise the means by which Goodwyn, Edwin Gray, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, this war can be carried on with effect. The SecObed Hall, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, John M. retary of the Treasury has written à letter to the Hyneman, Richard M. Johnson, Abner Lacock, Joseph chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, Lefever, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Arunah Met- which that committee has laid before this House, calf, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Thomas New- enumerating the taxes to which it may be necesbold, Stephen Ormsby, Israel Pickens, William Piper, sary to resort for this purpose. And, by offering John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, William the present resolution, he wished not to be conRodman, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, Adam Sey-sidered as encroaching upon the duties of that 'bert, Samuel Shaw, John Smilie, Richard Stanford, committee. He confessed he was not prepared William Strong, John Taliaferro, Robert Whitehill,

and David R. Williams.

The next question was on agreeing with the Committee of the Whole to appropriate one hundred thousand dollars for providing a dock yard. Mr. RHEA moved to strike out the section; but this motion being decided to be out of order, Mr. D. R. WILLIAMS spoke against the propriety of appropriating money, without estimate, for an object not wanted until we went about building seventy-fours. The House adjourned, on motion of Mr. SMILIE, without taking the question.

TUESDAY, January 28.

to say that he could swallow the bitter bill presented in the letter of the Secretary. He had always entertained a great abhorrence for the stamp and excise laws; and he could scarcely conceive any consideration which could induce him to vote for taxes of this description. We ought, said Mr. A., to be careful, in entering upon this war, not to run foul of the prejudices of the people, prejudices highly laudable from the causes which produced them. Let it not be supposed, said he, I am not disposed to go as far as any person, in supporting the rights of the country, and in voting for the means to enforce their protection; but I wish those means to be such as will be palatable to the people; and, if practicable, it Mr. JACKSON presented a memorial and remon- would, in his opinion, be much better that this strance from certain inhabitants of East Green- war, for the first year, should be carried on by wich, Rhode Island, condemning, in strong terms, means of loans. And, for this purpose, he proa resolution some time ago introduced by a mem-posed the following resolution: ber from New York, offering a bounty to American seamen, on board British vessels, who should bring in any such vessel into the ports of the United States. This remonstrance was very long, and contained a number of severe reflections upon the measures of Government. After the reading had progressed for some time, the further reading of the paper was objected to, on the ground of being indecorous. This producing some debate, Mr. J. withdrew the memorial.

The SPEAKER declared that, in future, when he discovered that any paper presented to the House was couched in disrespectful and improper language, he should consider it his duty to take the sense of the House on the propriety of suffering the reading to progress.

Mr. RHEA presented to the House a resolution of the Legislature of the State of Tennessee, requesting their members in Congress to use their endeavors to get established a road to the Ohio, a little below the mouth of Great Water Creek. Mr. R. afterward introduced a resolution, directing an inquiry into the expediency of authorizing the laying out and opening the said road; which was referred.

GOVERNMENT LOANS.

Mr. ARCHER wished to offer a resolution to the House, calling upon the Secretary of the Treasury to give such information to this House as he may possess, relative to the practicability of obtaining such loans as Government may require, and at what rate of interest. As this body has determined upon raising a large army, and large

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to give this House such information as he may possess relative to the practicability of effecting loans for the Government of the United States, to what amount such loans may be obtained, and at what rate of interest."

After Mr. SMILIE had caused an extract from Mr. Gallatin's late letter, touching this subject, to be read, the resolution was agreed to.

NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.

The order of the day, viz: the bill concerning the Naval Establishment, was then taken up, and the question on agreeing to the report of the Committee of the Whole, to fill up the blank in the section providing a dock yard, with one hundred thousand dollars, being under consideration, Mr. CHEVES stated the grounds upon which the Committee had recommended this provision of the bill, and replied to some remarks of his colleague (Mr. WILLIAMS) made yesterday.

Mr. RHEA then moved to strike out the whole section in relation to the dock yard; which, after some little debate, was carried yeas 56, nays 52 as follows:

YEAS-William Anderson, Ezekiel Bacon, David Bard, William W. Bibb, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, James Cochran, William Crawford, Roger Davis, Joseph Desha, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Edwin Gray, Felix Grundy, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, John M. Hyneman, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lefever, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, Thomas

JANUARY, 1812.

Naval Establishment-Spoliations.

NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.

H. OF R.

ed by virtue of grants from the British GovernAn engrossed bill concerning the Naval Estab-ment of West Florida, in cases where the condilishment was read the third time; and, on the question that the same do pass? it was determined in the affirmative-yeas 65, nays 30, as follows:

tions precedent, in the grant, have not been complied with, and the claimant or claimants are not, at this time, citizens of the United States.

SPOLIATIONS, &c.

for adoption, which was similar to one which the Mr. BIGELOW proposed the following resolution, House had refused to enter into some days ago :

YEAS-Willis Alston, jun., William Anderson, Burwell Bassett, William Blackledge, James Breckenridge, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C.Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, Martin Chittenden, Lewis Condit, John Davenport, junior, Roger Davis, Samuel Dins"Resolved, That the President of the United States moor, William Ely, James Emott, William Findley, be requested to cause to be laid before this House, such James Fisk, Asa Fitch, Meshack Franklin, Thomas information as he may possess in relation to the seizure, Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, John capture, and condemnation of the ships and merchanA. Harper, Aylett Hawes, John M. Hyneman, William dise of citizens of the United States, under the authorR. King, Peter Little, Robert Le Roy Livingston, Wil-ity of the Governments of Europe, or either of them, liam Lowndes, George C. Maxwell, Thomas Moore, which has not been heretofore communicated." Archibald McBryde, William McCoy, Alexander McKim, James Milnor, Samuel L. Mitchill, Hugh Nelson, Thomas Newton, Timothy Pitkin, jun., James Pleasants, junior, Benjamin Pond, Peter B. Porter, Elisha R. Potter, William M. Richardson, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, Adam Seybert, Daniel Sheffey, George Smith, John Smith, Philip Stuart, Silas Stow, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, John Taliaferro, Uri Tracy, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, junior, Pierre Van Cortlandt, junior, Laban Wheaton, Leon ard White, Thomas Wilson, Richard Winn, and Rob-on questions which would come before Congress; ert Wright.

NAYS-Ezekiel Bacon, William W. Bibb, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, James Cochran, William Crawford, Joseph Desha, Obed Hall, Jacob Hufty, Richard M. Johnson, Abner Lacock, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, Samuel McKee, Arunah Metcalf, James Morgan, Anthony New, Thomas Newbold, William Piper, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, William Rodman, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, Samuel Shaw, John Smilie, Richard Stanford, William Strong, Robert Whitehill, and David R. Williams.

Objections were made to this resolution, because the House had already decided against it; because it called for information on the subjects probably at present matters of negotiation; and because a similar resolution had been entered into at last session, which was probably still before the Executive. It was urged in favor of the resolution, that the information was necessary and important, in order to come to a correct decision that the President would communicate such things only as were proper to be known; that though a similar resolution had been passed at last session, and considerable progress made in collecting the information required; yet, if not again called for, no report would be made; as it was believed to be a rule with the Executive and the departments, when information was asked for at one session, which could not, from some circumstance or other, be furnished during the session, not to communicate the result of the inquiry at a future session, except it was expressly stated, in the resolution calling for the information, that the report might be made at the then present or a succeeding session of Congress. After an amendment, moved by Mr. BLACKLEDGE, to the following effect, the resolution was adopted: "accompanying the same with the regulation, order, and

The House then took up the bill for classifying and arming the militia; when Mr. D. R. WILLIAMS spoke at considerable length in its favor, explaining the objects of the bill, and Mr. MITCHILL against it, who concluded his observations by a motion to strike out the first section of the bill. He was followed by Mr. WRIGHT in favor of the bill. After Mr. W. had been speaking a consid-decree, under which the said captures were made, erable time, the SPEAKER observed that there was not a quorum of members present. A motion was made to adjourn, and carried.

THURSDAY, January 30.

On motion of Mr. PITKIN, a committee was appointed to inquire into the expediency of altering, by law, the times of holding the district courts within the districts of Connecticut and Virginia; with leave to report by bill, or otherwise.

Mr. PITKIN, Mr. NEWTON, and Mr. POND, were appointed the committee.

On motion of Mr. POINDEXTER,

6

and information, as far as may be, how far the said decree, order, or regulation, be abandoned or persevered in, by the nation making such capture."

The House then entered upon the order of the day, viz the bill for classifying and arming the Militia of the United States; when Mr. Wright finished his observations in favor of the bill. Messrs. STOW, MACON, LITTLE, and WILLIAMS, also spoke in favor of the bill, and Messrs. WIDGERY and MITCHILL against it. The question on Mr. MITCHILL'S motion to strike out the first section of the bill, was not taken. Adjourned.

FRIDAY, January 31.

Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing, by law, for the disposal of all Mr. BACON, from the Committee of Ways and such tracts of land, lying within the territories Means, presented a bill making appropriations for ceded to the United States south of the State of the support of the Military Establishment, for the Tennessee, and east of the river Mississippi, claim-year 1812; which was read twice and committed

H. OF R.

Selah Benton-The Militia.

JANUARY, 1812.

to the Committee of the Whole on the bill mak-side, nor continued in actual service for more ing appropriations for the expenses incident to the six companies of mounted rangers, during the year 1812.

Mr. BACON, from the same committee, presented a bill making appropriations for the support of an additional military force; which was twice read and committed to the Committee of the Whole last mentioned.

Mr. PITKIN, from the committee appointed the 13th instant, reported, in part, a bill to alter the time of holding the district courts within and for the district of Connecticut; which was read twice and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time to-day.

SELAH BENTON.

Mr. GHOLSON, from the Committee of Claims, made a report on the petition of Selah Benton; which was read: when, Mr. GHOLSON, presented a bill for the relief of Selah Benton; which was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next. The report is as follows: That the petitioner claims a pension in consequence of bodily disabilities incurred during his service in the Revolutionary war. The committee are of opinion that the petitioner is not strictly entitled to a pension according to the rigid provisions of the existing law upon this subject, inasmuch as he was not actually wounded in the war. They are, nevertheless, from an examination of all the testimony accompanying the petition, fully convinced that the present application is embraced by the spirit in which the statute providing for the invalid soldiers of the Revolution was conceived, and that it ought to be allowed. The petitioner, who, it appears, served with honor and bravery in all the various offices of first sergeant, ensign, first and second lieutenants, and captain, from the commencement until almost the close of the war, when he became disabled, has established two positions entirely to the satisfaction of the committee: 1st. That his disability arose from disease contracted by exposure in the service of his country, and terminating in scorbutic ulcers; and 2dly. That his disability, thus sustained, has disqualified him from acquiring a maintenance by bodily labor. Your committee, therefore, beg leave to report a bill for the petitioner's relief.

THE MILITIA.

than three months at any one time;" was again stated, and being taken, was determined in the negative-yeas 38, nays 64, as follows:

YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., Stevenson Archer, Ezekiel Bacon, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, William Butler, Epaphroditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, John Davenport, jr., William Ely, James Emott, Asa Fitch,. Thomas Gholson, Thomas R. Gold, Peterson Goodwyn, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, John M. Hyneman, Richard Jackson, jr., Lyman Law, Robert Le Roy Livingston, Alexander McKim, Arunah Metcalf, Samuel L. Mitchill, Jonathan O. Moseley, Timothy Pitkin, jun., James Pleasants, jun., Benjamin Pond, Peter B. Porter, William Rodman, George Smith, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Pierre Van Cortlandt, jun., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, William Widgery, and Thomas Wilson.

NAYS-William Anderson, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, James Breckenridge, William A. Burwell, John C. Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, James Cochran, William Crawford, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, William Findley, James Fisk, Meshack Franklin, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Obed Hall, Jacob Hufty, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lewis jun., Peter Little, William Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Jas. Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Joseph Pearson, Israel PickMorgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Thomas Newbold, Thomas Richardson, Henry M. Ridgely, John Rhea, John ens, William Piper, John Randolph, William M. Roane, Jonathan Roberts, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer John Smith, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart, Silas Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, Samuel Shaw, Stow, William Strong, John Taliaferro, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, jun., Robert Whitehill, David R. Williams, Richard Winn, and Robert Wright.

Mr. LACOCK objected to the mode of distributing arms amongst the militia, adopted in the bill, by putting them in the hands of every citizen arriving at the age of eighteen years; and proposed an amendment, which went to put it in the power of the State Legislatures to deliver the arms to the citizens, or preserve them for their use in depots. This amendment produced considerable debate, and was finally negatived-yeas 48, nays 67, as follows:

The House resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday; and the question depending, at the time of adjournment, to strike out the first section of the bill supplementary to "An act more effectually to provide for the national defence by establishing an uniform militia throughout the United States," and to "An act making provision for arming and equipping the whole body of the militia of the United States," which section is in the following words: Section 1. "That all the militia of the United States lia'ble to do duty, over eighteen, and under twen'ty-one years of age, shall be called the minor เ class of militia; and the President of the United 'States shall be, and he hereby is, authorized to ' order out the same, or any part thereof, when-Troup, Laban Wheaton, and Leonard White. ' ever detachments of militia are authorized; but 'they shall not be compelled to do duty out of the 'State or Territory in which they severally re

YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., Ezekiel Bacon, John Baker, Abijah Bigelow, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam Boyd, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, William A. Burwell, William Butler, Epaphroditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, Lewis Condit, John Davenport, jr., Roger liam Findley, Asa Fitch, Thomas Gholson, Thomas R. Davis, Elias Earle, William Ely, James Emott, WilGold, Aylett Hawes, John M. Hyneman, Richard JackLivingston, James Milnor, Jonathan O. Moseley, Thos. son, jun., Abner Lacock, Lyman Law, Robert Le Roy Newbold, Thomas Newton, William Piper, Timothy Pitkin, jun., Benjamin Pond, Peter B. Porter, Elisha R. Potter, William Reed, Jonathan Roberts, William Rodman, Thomas Sammons, Adam Seybert, Richard Stanford, Lewis B. Sturges, Uri Tracy, George M.

NAYS--William Anderson, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Robert Brown, John C. Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, James Cochran,

The Militia-Appropriation Bill.