received in their States, he could not but believe them, and was desirous of accommodating them. He, for one, wished to see these arms in the hands of those who were to use them; there were weighty reasons against placing them in arsenals in the Southern States; but he should be glad if the bill could be so arranged as to suit the views of all who were friendly to the measure. The question was taken and carried-yeas 70, nays 41, as follows. FEBRUARY, 1812. FRIDAY, February 14. Mr. GHOLSON, from the committee, made a report on the petition of Lieutenant Simeon Knight, which was read; when Mr. GHOLSON presented a bill for the relief of Lieutenant Simeon Knight, which was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next. Mr. MORROW, from the Committee on the Public Lands, made a report on the petition of Thomas Orr; which was read, and the resolution therein contained concurred in by the House, as follows: The Committee on the Public Lands were instructed to bring in a bill, pursuant to the said re YEAS-Willis Alston, William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, John Baker, David Bard, Abijah Bigelow, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam Boyd, James Breck- Resolved, That Thomas Orr, the assignee of enridge, Elijah Brigham, William Butler, Epaphro-Martin Andrews, be confirmed in the purchase of ditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, Matthew Clay, the southeast quarter of section number eleven, Lewis Condit, John Davenport, jun., Roger Davis, township number seven, and range second, in the Elias Earle, William Ely, James Emott, William Steubenville District, which purchase was made Findley, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Felix Grundy, on the fourth day of May, 1811, at the rate of four Obed Hall, John M. Hyneman, Richard Jackson, jun., dollars per acre. Abner Lacock, Lyman Law, Joseph Lefever, Joseph Lewis, jun., Robert Le Roy Livingston, Aaron Lyle, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Alexander McKim, James Milnor, Samuel L. Mitchill, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Jonathan O. Moseley, Thomas Newbold, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, William Piper, James Pleasants, jr., Benjamin Pond, Peter B. Porter, Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy, John Randolph, William Reed, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, William Rodman, John Sevier, Daniel Sheffey, Richard Stanford, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tallmadge, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, jun., Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, Robert Whitehill, William Widgery, and Thomas Wilson. solution. Mr. BURWELL moved that the petition of Peter Landais, presented some time ago, and at that time refused a reference to a select committee, be now referred to the Committee of Claims. This was objected to by Mr. GHOLSON, the chairman of that committee, who said this petition had been frequently before that committee, and reports made upon it. If it were referred at all, he hoped it would therefore go to a select committee. The motion to refer the petition to the Committee of Claims was negatived. A motion was then made to refer it to a select committee, and carried. CLAIM OF THOMAS WILSON. Mr. GHOLSON, from the Committee of Claims, made a report on the petition of Thomas Wilson ; which was read; when, Mr. GHOLSON presented a bill for the relief of Thomas Wilson; which was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next. The report is as follows: NAIS-Burwell Bassett, William Blackledge, John C. Calhoun, James Cochran, William Crawford, Jos. Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Edwin Gray, Isaiah L. Green, Bolling Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Peter Little, William Lowndes, Nathaniel Macon, George C. Maxwell, Thomas Moore, Archibald McBryde, Arunah Metcalf, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Joseph Pearson, Israel Pickens, William M. Richardson, Henry M. Ridgely, Samuel Ringgold, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, Samuel Shaw, George Smith, Philip Stuart, Silas Stow, William Strong, David R. Wil-rations furnished to the troops of the United States in That the petitioner claims an additional allowance for liams, and Robert Wright. Louisiana, pursuant to a contract with the Department of War, dated the 3d of August, 1803. When the demand of the petitioner for extra allowance was presented at the War Department, it appears his accounts had been transferred to the accounting officers of the Treasury; and the Secretary of War observes that, "having duly considered the claim before mentioned, with all the circumstances accompanying the same," he conceives he is "not authorized to make any further allowance;" but he recommended to the Comptroller a suspension of legal proceedings against Mr. Wilson, Upon the face of the contract there is nothing to supuntil he could make application to Congress for relief. port the demand of the petitioner. His claim is founded on two letters from General Dearborn, late Secretary of War, which are exhibited as evidence of an understanding between the Secretary and the petitioner at the time of the contract. In one of these letters, General Dearborn says to Mr. Wilson, "that it was undoubtedly intended to make you reasonable allowances for any unforeseen and unavoidable expenses that After some objections by Mr. MILNOR to the details of the bill, particularly as to the fines and imprisonments imposed, and some debate upon an amendment which he proposed, but afterwards withdrew, the bill was amended at the instance of Mr. MILNOR, by adding to it the following proviso: "Provided. That no imprisonment directed by this act, shall, in any instance, endure for a longer term than three months." The question was then put, "Shall the bill be ordered to be engrossed for a third reading ?" when Mr. MACON wished the decision of that question might be postponed till to-morrow; for, friendly as he was, and always had been, to the arming of the militia, an amendment had taken place which he disliked so much that he wished time to consider whether he ought now to vote for the bill. And on motion, the House adjourned until to morrow. FEBRUARY, 1812. Arming the Militia-Increase of Revenue. might become necessary for carrying into effect such parts of your contract as related to new posts that might be established within the limits of your contract in Louisiana." This letter is dated the 26th of April, 1811. In the other letter General Dearborn informs Mr. Eustis" that each of the posts in Louisiana, including New Orleans, might be considered as new posts." Thus the petitioner claims extra compensation for the supplies furnished by him at all the military posts in Louisiana, upon the allegation that, in furnishing them, he encountered "unforeseen and unavoidable expenses." To sustain this allegation, the petitioner has adduced a variety of documents which satisfy the committee, that, in executing his contract, he was subjected to inconveniences, and must have incurred expenses not foreseen at the date of the contract. Supplies, in advance, for a much longer period than that mentioned in the contract were required, and, as the petitioner asserts, without the stipulated notice. The petitioner, it appears, was consequently compelled to procure the supplies at high prices in the neighborhood of the places where they were wanted, whilst, in a regular course of supply, he would have had time to have got provisions from the Western country, where they were cheap. The sudden augmentations and diminutions of the detachments for Orleans Territory, are, moreover, affirmed by the petitioner to have been causes of embarrassment and unforeseen expense. Your committee, after a full examination of the subject, are of opinion that the petitioner is entitled to some additional compensation, to be adjusted by the accounting officers of the Department of War, upon such evidence as may be produced by the petitioner. They, therefore, ask leave to report a bill for his relief. ARMING THE MILITIA. The House resumed the consideration of the bill for arming the militia; when, on motion of Mr. MILNOR, an amendment was made to that section of the bill which inflicts a penalty on the representative of any deceased militiaman improperly witthholding his arms. Mr. M. CLAY stated that he yesterday voted in favor of an amendment to the bill, leaving it with the respective States or Territories to distribute the arms provided by this bill, in such manner as they may direct. He now wished to have that vote reconsidered, and moved to that effect.-The yeas and nays were called upon the question. Mr. LACOCK observed, that as this was an important question, upon which, perhaps, the fate of the bill depended, he could wish to have it decided in a fuller House; there being barely a quorum of members present. He, therefore, moved that the House adjourn.-Carried. MONDAY, February 17. Mr. MORROW, from the Committee on the Public Lands, presented a bill giving a further time for registering claims to lands in the western district of the Territory of Orleans; which was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Thursday next. Mr. KING, from the committee appointed the 7th instant, presented a bill to authorize John Rutherford, of the State of North Carolina, to H. of R. bring into the United States certain slaves therein named; which was read twice and committed to a Committee on the Whole to-morrow. INCREASE OF REVENUE. Mr. BACON, from the Committee of Ways and Means, made a report in relation to the revenue necessary for the present and two succeeding years, accompanied with a plan for raising the same; which was read, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next. The report is as follows: The Committee of Ways and Means having taken into consideration the subject of the revenue and expenditure of the United States for the present and two succeeding years, in particular reference to a state of contemplated war during a greater portion of that period, ask leave to report That the ordinary expenses during the present year, grounded on the estimates already laid before Congress, are estimated as follows, viz Expenses of a civil nature both foreign and domestic Army-exclusive of the additional mili tary force authorized by the act of the present session, and including $32,800 for the service of the militia in the years 1809, 1810, and 1811 Naval Department, including the Marine Corps Arsenals, arms, ordnance, repairs of fortifications, &c., including $200,000 permanent appropriations for the purchase and manufacture of arms Indian Department Interest on the public debt Total ordinary expenses That the actual receipts into the Treasury during the same year are estimated at Leaving a deficit in the receipts of $1,260,000 2,581,000 2,500,000 614,000 220,000 2,225,000 $9,400,000 $8,200,000 $1,200,000 cordingly proposed, to raise by loan, conformable to the bill herewith reported by the committee. That the amount of the principal of the public debt which is reimburseable during the same year, consisting of six per cent., deferred and exchanged stocks, is $2,135,000 And in the event of stocks falling below par (thereby imposing upon the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund an obligation to purchase in order to satisfy the annual appropriation of eight millions of dollars for the reduction of the public debt) may amount to the further sum of Total amount of the principal of the public debt which may become reimbursable during the present year FEBRUARY, 1812. Under this prospective view of the financial situation of the Government, it became in the judgment of the committee their imperious duty, as well in reference to the obligations incumbent upon them from the general trust with which they were clothed, as also in deference to that portion of the Message of the President of the United States which had been specially referred to their consideration, to enter as early as possible upon a system of ways and means calculated to provide a 3,640,000 revenue, "sufficient at least to defray the ordinary expenses of Government, and to pay the interest on the public debt, including that on new loans which may be authorized." $5,775,000 Which sum it is also proposed to authorize the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund to borrow, conformable to such bill as may hereafter be reported. That the ordinary expenses of Govern ment for the year 1813, may be estimated as for the present year, at about To which must be added the interest then accruing on the loan proposed to be authorized for the service of the present year, estimating the same at six per cent., and amounting to Making the revenue necessary to be provided, for paying the ordinary expenses, and interest on loans for that year (and leaving the extraordinary expenses of the year also to be provi ded for by loans), That the receipts into the Treasury from the present sources of revenue during that year, calculating on a state of war during a greater portion of the present year, are estimated (conjecturally) at Any provision falling short of this requisition, would, in the opinion of the committee, betray an im providence in the Government, tending to impair its general character, to sap the foundations of its credit, and to enfeeble its energies in the prosecution of the contest into which it may soon be driven in defence of its unquestionable rights, and for the repulsion of long I continued and most aggravated aggressions. Should $9,000,000 the ruinous system of relying altogether upon the aid of loans, for defraying not only the extraordinary expenditures of the present and succeeding years, but also a large portion both of the ordinary expenses of the Government, and the interest on the public debt, in660,000 cluding that on new loans, be suffered to prevail, and no additional revenues be seasonably provided, it will result, that the loans which it may be necessary to authorize during the year 1813, must amount to at least $17,560,000, and for 1814, to $18,220,000; an operation which by throwing into the market so large 9,660,000 an amount of stock, accompanied with no adequate provision for paying even the interest accruing on such as may be created, but relying altogether upon the decreasing ability to borrow for the purpose of paying such interest, must have a most unfavorable effect upon the general price of public stocks, and the consequent 3,100,000 terms of the loans themselves. It may be added, that a system of that sort would, it is believed, be found to be altogether unprecedented in the financial history of any wise and regular Government, and must, if yielded 6,560,000 to, produce, at no distant period, that general state of public discredit which attended the national finances during the war of the Revolution, and which nothing 9,000,000 but the peculiar circumstances of the country, and the want of a well organized and efficient Government 660,000 during the period of that Revolution, could at all justify. To have withheld from the public view a fair exposi tion of the probable state of the fiscal concerns of the Government, under the very first pressure of active war, or to have deferred submitting to the House such a system as in the opinion of the committee was in660,000 dispensable to place the revenues of the country upon a basis commensurate with the public exigencies, would, in their judgment, at once have evinced in the eyes of foreign nations an imbecility of action and of design, the effects of which must be too obvious to be mistaken. And as it regards our own country, would have indicated a policy as feeble and short-sighted as 10,320,000 it must have been considered deceptive and disingenuous as unworthy the rulers of a free and enlightened nation, as in its result it would have been found fatal 3,100,000 to its interests, and paralyzing to all its efforts. It is obvious that the whole amount which it is necessary to raise in order to meet the anticipated deficit of revenue for the ensuing years, is indeed "moderate when compared either with the population and wealth of the United States or with the burdens laid on European nations by their Governments." To doubt either the "will or the ability" of the people of the United States to bear such burdens as are indispensable to this end, would be, to doubt their dispositions to meet seriously the contest which is presented to them, and would go far to prove that it had better not have been attempted. To doubt the readiness of the Government to bring "promptly and efficiently" into action the necessary resources of the nation, would be to cast a distrust over the sincerity of those pledges which they have so recently and distinctly given to the world in that respect, and would imply a suspicion of their firmness or forecast not for a moment to be entertained. For a more full and distinct elucidation of the general subject which it has become the duty of the committee to present to the House, they beg leave to refer to the letter of the Secretary of the Treasury, in answer to the several inquiries made of him by their order, and which has heretofore been laid before the House; concurring as they most fully do in the general opinion expressed by him, "That what appears to be of vital importance is, that the crisis should at once be met by the adoption of efficient measures, which will with certainty provide means commensurate with the expense, and by preserving unimpaired instead of abusing that public credit on which the public resources so eminently depend, will enable the United States to persevere in the contest, until an honorable peace shall have been obtained." It is then proposed by the committee, that the additional revenue which will be necessary "to defray the ordinary expense of Government, and to pay the interest on the public debt, including that on new loans which may be authorized," should be immediately provided for in the following modes, viz: 1st. Additional duties of imposts and tonnage. 1st. An increase of the duties now payable by law on imported merchandise calculated to yield a net revenue of 2d. A further retention on the amount of all drawbacks allowed by law on the exportation of goods, wares, and merchandise, calculated to yield a net revenue of $2,500,000 100,000 200,000 H. OF R. $150,000 200,000 150,000 450,000 1,725,000 3,000,000 4,725,000 $700,000 4,025,000 7,225,000 650,000 6,575,000 And for this purpose the Committee recommend to the House the adoption of the following resolutions, viz: 1. Resolved, That an addition of one hundred per cent. be made to the several rates of permanent duties now imposed by law on all goods, wares, and merchandise, imported into the United States. 2. Resolved, That twenty-five per centum be retained on all the drawbacks allowed by law on the exportation of goods, wares, and merchandise, exported from the United States. 3. Resolved, That additional tonnage duties be laid at the following rates, viz: 1st. On all vessels licensed for the coasting trade or 3,200,000 fisheries, twenty cents per ton a year. 1st. A duty on licenses to distil spirits from foreign and domestic materials, calculated to yield a gross $275,000 revenue of 2d. On all other vessels owned by citizens of the United States, twenty-five cents per ton on the entry of the vessel. 3d. On all foreign vessels, one dollar and twentyfive cents per ton on the entry of the vessel. 4. Resolved, That a duty of twenty cents per bushel be laid upon all salt imported into the United States. 5. Resolved, That duties be laid on licenses to distil spirits, at the following rates, viz: 1st. On stills employed in distilling spirits from foreign materials, at the rate of seventy-five cents per gallon on the capacity of such stills. 2d. On stills solely employed in distilling spirits from domestic materials, at any distillery at which there are one or more stills of more capacity together than one hundred and fifty gallons, at the rate of fifty cents per gallon on the capacity of such stills. 3d. On other stills solely employed in distilling spirits from fruit, at the rate of five dollars on each still a year. 4th. On other stills solely employed in distilling spirits from any domestic materials, at the rate of fifteen dollars on each still a year. FEBRUARY, 1812. several States agreeably to the rule prescribed by the Constitution. 12. Resolved, That each State be authorized to pay the amount of its quota to the United States, with a deduction of fifteen per cent, if paid before the assessment is commenced, and of seven and a half per cent. if paid before the tax becomes due. 13. Resolved, That all the duties above enumerated, and the tax aforesaid, shall be laid and become payable only after the United States shall have become engaged in a war with a foreign European nation, or shall have authorized the issuing of letters of marque and reprisal against the subjects of such nation. 14. Resolved, That the said duties and tax shall in-continue until one year after the conclusion of peace with such foreign nation and no longer. 6. Resolved, That duties be laid on licenses to retailers of wines, spirits, and foreign merchandise, cluding tavern keepers, at the following rates, viz: If in cities, towns, or villages, containing more than one hundred families 1st. On retailers of foreign merchandise, including wines and spirits, twenty-five dollars. 2d. On retailers of wines alone, twenty dollars. 3d. On retailers of spirits alone, twenty dollars. 4th. On retailers of domestic spirits alone, fifteen dollars. 5th. On retailers of foreign merchandise other than wines or spirits, fifteen dollars. If in any other place than cities, towns, or villages, containing more than one hundred families1st. On retailers of foreign merchandise, including wines and spirits, fifteen dollars. 2d. On retailers of wines and spirits, fifteen dollars. 3d. On retailers of domestic spirits alone, ten dol lars. 4th. On retailers of foreign merchandise other than wines and spirits, ten dollars. 7. Resolved, That duties be laid on sales at auction of foreign merchandise, for every hundred dollars of the purchase money, two dollars; and on sales at auction of ships or vessels, for every hundred dollars of the purchase money, twenty-five cents. Mr. BACON, from the committee, then presented a bill authorizing a loan for a sum not exceeding millions of dollars; which was twice read, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday. THE MILITIA. The House resumed the consideration of the bill for arming the militia of the United States, when Mr. CLAY's motion, made to reconsider the amendment which had been agreed to, putting it in the power of the respective States to distribute the arms as they thought proper, came under discussion. It was supported by Messrs. MACON, SMILIE, STOW, FISK, and LITTLE, and opposed by Messrs. ROBERTS, TALLMADGE, WIDGERY, RHEA, and McCoy. It was argued in favor of a reconsideration, that this amendment might defeat the object of the bill, which was to put arms into the hands of every young man when he attained the age of eighteen; that this amendment placed it in the power of the State Legislatures to lay up the 8. Resolved, That a duty of four cents per pound of a favored party; instead of arming the nation, arms in an armory, or to put them into the hands be laid on all sugars refined in the United States, al-the arms might be locked up from the people; it lowing a drawback on the exportation of the same. 9. Resolved, That duties be laid on carriages used for the conveyance of persons, at the following rates: 1st. On every coach, chariot, and postchaise, twenty-five dollars. would be arming the Government against the people, and not placing the people in a situation to defend themselves against any oppression with which they might be menaced from whatever 2d. On every phaeton, and on every coachee, hav-quarter it might come. Allusions were made to ing panel work in the upper division thereof, fifteen dollars. 10. Resolved, That stamp duties be laid on the following instruments of writing, viz: 1st. On all notes payable to bearer or order, issued by any bank or bankers, at rates on an average of one dollar for every hundred dollars, with an option to pay, in lieu thereof, 23 per centum on their dividends. 2d. On all notes of hand, above fifty dollars, payable to bearer or order, having one or more endorsers, at an average of five cents for every hundred dollars. 11. Resolved, That three millions of dollars be raised by a direct tax, to be apportioned among the the period when McPherson's Blues threatened the peace of the city of Philadelphia, and to the Embargo times, in order to show that the arms would be safer in the hands of the people than laid up in armories by the States. Against the reconsideration it was contended, that the respective State Legislatures might these arms; that they never could be supposed to safely be trusted with the power of distributing become the oppressors of the people, since they were annually elected by the people; that the probability was, that they would distribute the arms among the citizens in such a manner as each State would deem best calculated to render the militia efficient. As to the instances of improper conduct in a small number of individuals, alluded to, no danger could ever be apprehended from such momentary delusions. The question for reconsideration was negatived-yeas 52, nays 62, as follows: |