ft —' would oaly obfervs that the whole courle oi £fxoM the Tuvk AMkrican.] of reasoning against the loroier rclolution appear to him to apply with at Icatt equal GONGRE SS. I force ngainlf the prelum measure. A very - considerable expence would have been la vet] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. h >' 'di&»ndinf tlie army, and in that point of view alone, the inducement to that mea 'W iff en ss sdav, t x. 14. sure was rtrcng ; but it was contended on ■fe • -r ' 1 very good grounds he believed, that i: Mr. hand-j.po s Aotwn far discharging the would , udicatc a want of unlQrl ai ,d lability Supernumerary Officers, ir. tbc qddi- hl OU( . councilS) which ac this particular tiaftzl crifis it was so important to maintain. It 1 jtj Houle in appeared to him that the suspension of ewlift slr, Randolph laid, his ob]-fl in propo- ments by a law of congress was in efFeft the fiug tTiis amendment to the bill was to con- fame the fame thing is that point of view, as foliiMe the men already enliiied into as ma- a law to dilband the array ; it discovered ny regiments as they would make, and as the fame relaxation ot spirit, and indicated there could be no ule, but great expence in the lame flu&uating policy—And what Was maintaining the officers who remained, they the inducement to this measure ? The tirull might be difchargeu. He.believed it would additional expence of the few soldiers whw bi generally conceded that the number of may be in lifted for three' inonphs to come, men now eniifled were net moife than fulfi- This, he said, appeared to him to be a piti cient to 'ill fix regiments, but the whole of ful saving indeed j, and such as would not regiments, the officers were appointed and in. pay so the twelve regiments—as the recruiting would now oe (topped, he was not dilpofed to lee the public money Iquandere«.l Uway un it an invufion Ihou'id happen there would be need of a ranch greater quantity than the whole, and then u number adequate' to the exigency coiid be railed—without it, these officer? would be ufele'fs. To keep up an army ot officers without nien to command, would bj au expensive tolly. He could have withed the whole force disbanded, but not being able to obtain that, it became his duty to endeavor to reduce it to the narrowefl possible grounds. Upon the table wi3, to h;m, extreme, ly difa o'reeuble.—Com ing trbm that rcl'pettable quarter, the com mittee of ut.i;nge, and beinpj supported by v a number ot hia trieuds, he ffiould have been content with a bare vote hi oppoli tion to it, hid r.ot this prppofition come for ward. Ha conceived it would be fatal to this ccufitry to recede in any one measure ot def or t * ,rir •patriotism wouli peded it they were now discharged, because ' lmdufly, and he was th •r.-f.r.- lorry to I've ' ' J: ' mutabl.-iftdecd, ar.i unworthy i-l.t i they would not be induced to engage again | any attempt* made towards its deftruftio' ; ! tf™ IL :moii. •in the service. ! The gentleman who irad proposed the feftion Mr., Bayand conceived that a right viev He b:lieved the resources cf this country i had evinced his perfcA axcilk.n to any mi- c * ihisdul j'rft Bull convince the House tha were tar beyond what gentlemen had repre- | I'itt'ry cliabltflwieht whatever ; he did not "■ a M laving'to keep the officers fented in a late debate : he believed them 1 •••ill) to have a Angle officer or soldier, but From the report ot the secretary ot war i fully adequate t« the maiuuniaucc ol any j Mr. H.hoped his attempts towards it would would appear that the army referred to wen army whatever. It talking of our means, fail, for thong!; he liked the bill he ditliked at pre lent Rationed at great distances ; on it had been inlinuated that this was a perma- the amendment. part from 11>.• other. Agreeable to the re nent eftabliffinient. It was no such thing. 1 hefe officers were now at their posts : f ort ot the Secretary of war it appeared tha It Vtas an extraordinary army railed for an they have been feleftcd with the befl aid cur thek- twelve regiment* (>r what were cnlilte. extraordinary occasion, which bccalion was executive could have—fucb as could not be °* them) were stationed in the following not yet accomplished. Our children, who had again—the aid of t!ie wife Wellington: manner. had been referred to, wbuld never complain if they were difmifled, they would, many of 1 hree regiments in the vicinity t,f Provi of the debt which was left them to pay, them lelwfe to return if c,died for, and a new dence rivar, near Uxbndge, MifTr.chufetts when they confi.lered the occtliou there wis hut less complete f> lection mull be made. Three regiments :n the vicinity cf 13: unf to incur that debt : they would rather re- This would make tlie measure an efiential wick, N. Jersey, guru the attention paid to the permanent in- injury to the country. ■ Three regiments in the vicinity • f Potow terefts of the country, with-'gratitude. Mr. H. said he wished our citizens no n,ac ' near Harjjer's Fern-, Virginia. The military art, Mr. Kutiulgc cbfurved, morc 10 l)c above the falls »f Savannah, they wrrr continued in their Rations, could that recruiting would be suspended, but Were this amendment to pass, Mi. B be acquiring a more competent knowledge at present he thought it would he -vary im- said, it would become the executive to take in their science in this interim, and fit them- P ro P-'' 10 dilcharge the officers. On this immediate ftcps to oidcr their removal fro* selves for ufefulnefj, when they were to be ar « u ht he (hould vote against the proposed their present -jjofitions, in order to form then: caiied to action. As for the prejudice of fecMon, hut in favor of the bill without it. into complete The expti.ee ol rhe pe pie to the army—though it was true Mr. Cooper profefled himfelf against the removing from their present cantonments '• • '••* - iiij.fi the {landing army, and it amendment as well as again ft the whole bill. ' maruhin, (.•; a o e, Sec. mull be very confidei r was {tolliole tl 'V might be, in one ,'late, or Ht was convinced that the prosperity of the Again—lt the officers were to be rrdu in little corner of that state, gen- rally a-j United States was intimately connefted with could it be done in a .niniit; ? li..w gain it ail t'.n ! !..t ds of prepaiati.-u, but it , this army, and it mud be a weakness in the were the executive to determine who oi ti.c was not so aiiive.iHlly. He rather believed, | government to relax any part till the objeit otHceis to discharge, and win. t.. ret,,in. Jj in jtlpect to th.= mkilts from Franc*, that ! was obtained—if the ohjeft was not obtain- ' tlle )' were to draw lots.it mull take c. • - the ktitifiKOtS «f the public were far i.i acl- ; ed, how unwise, how undignified would this • r "ble time—thi*e or four months would not vance of the government, he knew it to be j measure then appear, and thus uncertain, I bc fofficienf. But on the other hand it was so ir. Sou tii Carolina : they thought the go- how ilitimed was this relaxing fyftero propo- pollible that the nei;ociation might be luclcH verrnuent tardy, and therefore proceeded to fed. It was not wisdom to do to day what ''d in on: month, .md if lb, they wc fit', ti. meai'urts ot defence theml'elves, tired of wait- must be undone tomorrow. The gentlemen I bc "ilcharg-.d l.y the law upon the bat wv ..... ifi-j for the government. who had proposed this uefenfive system, and ! to them tor the time they laved. B, : . He lamented that gentlemen, who had al- procured its "eftablilhment, in his opinion t^lc an)endment w;:s Calculated to theni ways expressed their desire for strong mea- j was P u "'ng down what they once with so a month's pay. Suitlv 1.-om theie confidera ftires, fliould be prevailed oil to take fkps mucl > wisdom reared, hy introducing the tions it would be an eientual laving to keep •which were receding from their former ones.- at all. _ tl.em until the fucci fs of the negotiation f* If this were entouraged, the evil would not Mr. C. went into the former debate of the known. But lupp..fe peace was not made flop here—every measure of defence would house on the motion tor disbanding the ar- w.th I'iance, unuld it be prud:ut in that be lucct llively attacked by others, who readi- ni Y : be confidercd it an inconfiflency in the event to difch.arge tlirm ! Mr. Bavaidcon ly caught at every opportunity. He believ- co "dust ofgentlemen who opposed that mo- ceived not, for Ik. had no doubt but they ed this from the progrels which was making t '" n to propcle this bill. would then tl.-.uh of 'nv .ding this country, towards it. These fold it rs were to be dif- Mr. Otis vindicated himfelf' from the in- and havtng.tjtst apjirejiciil'.c t lie fhulub banded: now the officers wire to be dif- eonfiftency charged. As for himfelf, he ''-'"yto It e the . our. try left linprot-• i-.-d ; charged : befidts this there was a motion 'aid, he was only the humble organ of the luwiy retamir.g these officers would.nmch laying on the table to recede from another committee of define' for whom he reported facilitate enliftmcnts, if they (hould be re jneafure of defence (the Sedition Bill) next the bill. But however, it wes his own 4 u ' vec l t0 go on. it wo old be moved to flop the building of opinion that the bill was proper. Mr. Claiborne did rot k. ow what th the 74's and when or where would tt end, As to the amendment he opposed it. The «P«n« of removing the army could I e until the total lubverfioß of the whole ? If question the other day was to difbandthe ar- more than transporting the baggage. He this kind of proceeding was encouraged, it my. That w.,s negatived. Now the motion was not of opinion that it would have ai.v would be impossible fay to what a Hate of istodifband a part of it—the officers. If dcla y about whicb gentlemen talked so much' prostration our nation would be brought, the officers were to be lent home and the If 'here (hould be ,a treaty, they would be He therefore thought his duty called upon ftaff pulled down and annihilated, he con- discharged by the law—if there (hould not liiin to vote againfl every innovation upon ceived it would be equivalent to disbanding and there was no use for them, this u.eafure' the fyflcm, until the occasion was removsd. two thirds of the whole army, because the would certainly facilitate their difcharjre Mr. Piatt said he had voted against the recruiting could not go on as soon as becaufe it did not follctv of course that thev late rcfolution to clilband the army : the j bafcly might be wanted. There was no ar- i would be wanted, although no treaty miVht reaterns whicii »vere urged against that 1110- • gumetit, in his opinion, which was uled be formed. lion, made a strong impression on his mind; against disbanding the whole army, that Mr. C. did not conceive it necef ind although nearly a week had elapled, he could not with equal propriety be applicable keep these men merelv that r!.,„ fl, 'IT l ° ItU retained that tmpreffion. It was unnc _to th« prcleut motion. He therefore hoped quire a of the^military art'. The i r : : ■ ( : i' 1 *<• •* • * r - f juftifv the government in abandoning tlia system of measures whick had hitherto beei To fuccefsful, and which blid made so ft r diu s:id i'o favorable an inipicillon 011 our cue my. We Ih.ili probably know the refill of the pending negotiation within three months—if f eace and security (hall be restor ed, the army in question would cease witli roena wi!l not be necclTary. There was one point of view he said, in which this fubjed was not before conlidered. The President of the United States had in formed the n that in his judgment, found policy dilated the renewal of negociation with Franc?, but that in order to give effect t;i :bct negotiation, our whole lyftem of our delenfue measures ought to be firmly main taxied—.l eur answer to his speech we ex plicitly approve of the conduct and views ot the Pretidcnt with rey;..rd to the million, and we concur with hint in opinion that no relaxation ought to he made in dc fen five measures—he therefore thought they owed it ta the executive, they flood pledged to maihtrdn the ground on which ths negotia tion was commenced : they were bound he said to afford every advantage in their pow er to enable frefide ' *ij?i M>~r iioii the dignity of the house would not be so im paired, as it m.-lit be by enlarging" the difcuf iion of the pre (but motion, but that the que'flion would be taken immediately. Mr. Harper opposed the proportion, be cause of the conliderable delay luch a mo tion mutt make if the lieccffity Ihnuld return for railing this army. A new ieU ction nt officers nuift be made, for he pretumed very few of thoCe difchargpd would serve Again. It was true there were plenty of applications for ccmmij'iions, but a long time would be necessary to procure ttie information lieceffa ry to make -a wife' felc&ion. He did not think it an economical measure, for the de lay an.' vxp'i'i-'c which would at cure in ma king the Swiitfeineiits would equal the pay of the officers ft)r'the lliort time they would probably be howui the service. Mr. Mui.nu .(,'ouIJ not agree with the gentleman [Mr. *Ru.tl.-dge)- that officers were hard to Le |f<)t_— .during the war there \yere plenty of fate officers to be obtained. ,Indeed the tiie Secretary of War aeed t . repoit C- ,e Secretary <- ;qiifinned the truth of this opinion ; then Hit the whole of the officers were appointed It was an unneceflary life of njonVjr. lth»< -bren said to be a frail expence—That ar gument could not warrant the iil uft of it Take care of the pence ; the pounds wauh take care of tbenifelves' was an old but tru 1 adage. Tii: refori no Hiving whatever wa ' pitiful' or 1 paltry.' The genmumn from S. Carolina [Mr Rutledgt] had laid it was not a Handing arniv. Mr. Macon did not know wliai then to call it. It mud be a militia arm) or a regular armv : the word regniar, appli ed to the army, had always been toaliJc.vU lynoninious with a (landing army. They certainly eonl 1 not be called militia : than they Hiuft be regulars, and il' regulars, a (landing army. ! The I'relident, in Vis opening address to I ought tu> examine and fee where any lavings could be made : no doubt lie meant to e; i miue intoevery iu-m of the expenditure. It [ only the of one officer could be I'avid it would oe prudent to 'do it. He liked the ' amendment for the principle of it, becaafe | it went to lrfi'en the public expenditure : 1 and hr.vi". failed in the attempt to get the men tiiibandedj he conCJered it his duty to came the Ufa re ft j. iflible ta it rnd vote for difcti'itrcing the iupertiumery (.flicers. As the enliflments writ 'to be (Vopped, the offi cers couGI oe of So life ; then why uot d.f- science of war ciuld only be ohtained in war. . The theory of that art could be a* well known out of th«tarmy as in it. Nor could he conceive it to be so difficult to procure officers, if they should hereafter be wanred, as had been, represented. The Secretary of war had plenty of applicants; and their cha afters were always pourtrayed by their friends when they applied for the appoint ment. It could rot therefore be difficult or tedious to make a proper feleftion, when all the materials were continually in polkf fion of the department. Mr- Mar (lull (aid this was pre. ifcly the fame queftiop, as had taken up (o much time in the HniiiV; and had been maturely difcitffed, aid on which a majority of the House had exprefled an opinion hy rejt&iug the motion to dilband the army. He would call *he attention of the House to the particular principle upon which that deciiion was grounded. It was this. The lla e of the country at the present moment wasfuch as to leave it abfplutely uncertain whether the twelve regiments would or would not be neceffsry for vur defence, but tljat the peiivd would Toon arrive wheu that uncertainty would lie removed- On these grounds it was the determination of the House not to recede from any measure they had ordered, nor to progress, and agreeable to that principle, a bill was reported to fufpeud the enliflments. Mr; M. called to t,he recolle&ion of the House some of the arguments which were used against the motion to disband the army, and applied them to the present amendment. A large majority he laid then decided* in fa vor of maintaining exaftly the fame ground at present, and he presumed nocircuuflauce had appeared to change the opinions of the House on that p&int. The adoption of the motian would certainly very materially de range the system. Gentlenitn fnppofej the President could re-create the ofhcer>. He could not do it without a law to enable him. The original law would have been fully ex ecuted, acid nothing would remain to do in it, the executive could not therefore create an oificer. Betides there would be a great inconsistency ; the bill pointed to au event when recruiting nsuft recommence, but the amendment removed that pou er by taking away the officers who were to execute that service, belides leaving the men recruited (if it were poflible) without officers ! Thus though the time was appointed, the means «ce taken away until at a future meeting of Congrcfs an aft feould be palled to ena ble him to appoiut officers If the number of men never to be increcfed, then indeed the arguments in fa. vor of discharging the officers would be uu aiifwerable, but.in the profpeit of such an event as an increase, th.ife arguments mud fall—lt was fend with propriety, thought prndent to retain the Ikeleton of an army to enable the President in cafe of irivafion, ut aftual war, to recommence the recruiting service. It was obfervcd that the fame patriotism which called forth the fpint of our citizens to accept' of conjiiiiffians would excite them again to enter into fervlce. Mr. Marfh.ll believed it to be a fad ; he believed they would again enter the public service if re quired : ao doubt but they did estimate love of country fufStient to obey the ordtr» of their country, at a time or in any way, but would it be right and proper to call gentlemen from their occupations and fami lies, and difmili tbcra before the service was performed to which their patriotism called them out, merely because their zeal could be deptrded on ? He hoped the na tional spirt would never yield to that falfe policy. He hoped the now existing Ration would be maintained, and no nuafure at present be rrceded from, on which the Country had pLiced their confidence for de fence. Mr. Nicholas did not think, with gen tlemen who had spoken against the present amendment, that the fame reasons which were used in opposition to the other motion, were also applicable on the present ohc But what would be the operation of the present motion if adopted. 1 lie Huuir had determined that no more men ihonld be railed, if the negocia tiofi with France Ihould tall, unless the fail ure was foil owe.) by afiual war or threaten ed invafim : if therefore the present motion was rejected, there would be three times the pu.T.btr of officers in the pay of the owißtry, and they mud in cafe the negoci ation fail, remain until the rext feffi ,n of Congress, at lealft neceffary # for the men. How would this contribute to the flrength of the count'y, or how to another object gentlemen had mentioned, military disci* plme. Thefr men would alwr.yi f>e at their homes, and acquire habits not ufeful either to themselves or to the country. It was said that if discharged before the accomplishment of the fetviefcs for which their patriotism brought them away from their homes, they would be unwilling to return when wanted, and that, when the neceimy was most urgent, there would be great delay in procuring others. The rem tit man who ufedthis argument has answer ed it by telling you that the war department madc previfian for officering an eventual army of 50,000 men. If s O , it cou dbe n6 cimculty to procure officers at any time, it these officers might not all find it conve nient to return, others could be appointed without any trouble or delay, whenever it rnigkt be ucccffary to augment the army. It is weil known that a much more nu merous class of citizens were willing to go into the eventual army, (as it is called) pro v for time of real danger than into the one now under cor.f.deration-thenfore, the probability would be in favour of a better telethon, for there could b:; a larger field to chcofe from. Agairt-Moft of the office, likely tried their efforts at enlistment Was .c Mt probable that new officers would be likely to draw into the fcrvice men might be attached to them, bat wh Vouid not have entered. " * T If thtfe were found arguments, the arti. :Ie of expence was not ihe only conlidera. inn, but the a&ual power «f the country would be encreafed in the event o£ danger. ihe gentleman irora Delaware, Mr. Ni. :hoks said, lifed an argument which ap. peareH to him extremely weak. He had said ihe arrangement now proposed would probably be more expense than the law as it now Hand*, for in all likelihood the arm/ will be difbauded by the terms of its enlilt mt'"t before this law could be executed How tkis wjs to be, he could not conceive. If the occsfun for this army should cease before the dil'miflal of the officers, they w.-wld be dif Vir. tjp 4 dtf.