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alafuling in the navy ; that their meetings have
been held with apparent secrecy, anil the memu-
rial studiously withheld from their commanders'!
who could readily sanction v i.ny measure having
fee"Its object the good of the service.. [t cannol
be denied that it is the hounden duty of officers
more 'especially when on a foreign station, 'to'
cultivate towards each other the most perfect har
mony and good will; hut it is the opinion of the
‘undersigned that the conduct of the memorialists
is calculated to have a contrary effect. The uni
dersigned are therefore impelled by a sacred duty
we owe our country and ourselves, to request
that you will be pleased to remove all those offi
cers from under our respective commands, as
soon as the public service will admit of the same
as we cannot but consider the signers of the me
morial as having forfeited all claims to our con
fidence, aiul their example as endangering the
vessels entrusted to our charge.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully,
srtr, your ob*t servants.
(Signed) WM, M. CRANE.
J.V. OIIDK CREIGHTON,
GEO. W. RODGERS,
. 1 If OS. GAM RLE,
J. i. NICHOLSON,
EDM. I*. KENNEDY.
r,inmamlei* in chief ot*the naval
j Mediterranean, kc.
# To Isaac. Chauncry, Ivstj. t
ibices 4I the U. S. in tli
will be much greater than at any former period.
The furniture, in its kind ami extent is thought
to be an object not dess deserving attention than
the building fofwhifch it is intended* , Both being
national objects, each seem to have, an equal
claim to legislative sanction. Tlie disbursement
of tire-public money, too, ought it is presumed,
to be in like manner provided for by law. The
person who mav happen to be placed, by the suf
frage of his Icllow-citizens, in t,his high* trust,
having no personal interest in these concerns,
should be exempted from undue responsibility
respecting them.
For a building so extensive, intended for a
purpose exclusively national, in which, in the
furniture provided for it, a mingled regard is
due to the simplicity and purity of our institu
tions, and to the character of the people who
are represented in it, the sum already appropriat
ed has proved altogether inadequate. The pre
sent is, therefore, a proper time lor congress to
take the subject into consideration, with a view
to all the objects claiming attention, and to regu
late it by law. On a knowledge of the furniture
procured, and the sum expended for it, a just
estimate may be formed, regarding the extent
of the building, of what will still be wanting to
furnish the house. Many of the articles being of
a durableAiature, may be handed down through
a long series of service ; and b.ing of great va
lue, such as plate, ought not be left altogether,
and at all times, to the care of servants alone.
It seems to he advisable that a public agent should
be charged with it during the occasional absence
of the president, and have authority to transfer
it from one president to another, and likewise to
make reports of occasional deficiencies, as the
basis on which further provision should be made.
,lt may also merit consideration, whether il may
not be proper to commit the care of the public
buildings, particularly the president’s house and
the capital, with the grounds belonging to them,
including likewise the furniture of the latter, in
a more special manlier, to a public agent. Hith
erto the charge of this valuable property seems
to have been connected with the structure of the
buildings, and committed to those employed in it.
This guard- will necessarily cease when the build
ings are tin!-bed, at which time the interest in
them will be proportionably augmented. It is
presumed that this trust is, in a certain degree at
least incidental to the other duties of the super
intendent of the public buildings, but it may me
rit consideration whether it will not be proper
charge him with.it more explicitly, and to give
him authority to employ one or more persons un
der him, for these purposes.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, Feb. 10, 1818.
The message was read and referred to the com
mittee of the whole to whom is referred the bill
to provide for erecting additional buildings for
the accommodation of the several executive de
partments.
On motion of Mr. Hopkinson, it was “ resolv
ed, that the committee on the judiciary be direct
ed to enquire into the expediency of increasir_
the salaries of the judges of the sapreme court
of the United States.’’
Tensions to soldierF widows, «!§”c—The house
resolved it elf into a committee of the whole,
Mr. Smyth in the chair, on the bill “ concerning
half pay pensions, ike. and for .other purposes
The first section of the bill goes to equalize the
| pensions allowed for services in revolutionary'8T
. was advocated by Messrs.| | a { e war an j to assimilate the mode o-t paying
Goldsborough, Daggett, King,Mornl,( i itlcnden, (| icm
Ruggles, Leak, Frouientiii and l an Dyke, am.il A motion which was under consideration when
opposed by Messrs. Barbour, Macon and .Smith. | this 8ul) j e ,. t was b,.f ore the house on Friday last,
This motion for indefinite postponement, wasj | )avin „. been agreed to—Mr. Burwell moved to
finally negatived—ayes 30, lines 3. I strikeout the second section of the bill which is
in the following words : “ That in all cases where
proviso!! ha3 been made by law for five years
Tuesday, February 10.
Mr. Ruggles submitted the following resolu
tion for consideration : “Resolved, that the com
mittee on military affairs be instructed to inquire
into the expediency of making provision by law
to compel a more prompt settlement of the ac
counts of the paymasters and quartermasters of
the late army.
Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Barbour intro
duced, by leave, a bill to promote the progress
of the useful arts, and to repeal all the acts
heretofore made for that purpose ; which was
read and passed to a second reading.
Thursday, February 19.
Mr. Wilson submitted the lollowing resolu
tion for consideration : “ Resolved, that the com
mittee on the public lands he instructed to en
quire into the expediency of extending, the time
allowed by the act to provide for designating,
surveying and granting the military bounty lands,
approved May 6, 1819, to non-commissioned of
ficers and soldiers of the United States, or their
representatives, to present their claims to the
’secretary of war for military bounty lairds.
On Wednesday last, the Senate were engaged
ju considering the proposition introduced by Mr.
Dickerson, for so amending the constitution,that
the several states should Ire districted for the
choice of electors of president and vice president,
and representatives to Congress. The amend
ment was advocated by Mr. Dickerson and Air.
Clacton, and opposed by Mr. Barbour and Mr.
Daggett. The question was finally postponed to
W ednesday next. The discussion was ably con
ducted on both sides,and the event is yet doubtful.
On Thursday the bill providing for the surviv
ing revolutionary officers and soldiers was resum
ed, when a motion was made by Mr. Barbour for
its indefinite postponement. The debate grow
ing out of this motion, and involving the prin
ciples and details of the bill, continued daring
the whole of that and Fiidny’s sittings ; and dis
played unusual powers of argument and elo
The bill for the relief of major-general Arthur j
8t. Clair was taken up and ordered to a third!
leading.
Monday, February l(i.
Mr. Sanford presented the memorial of the N.
York Irish emigrant association, praying that
a portion of unsold lands (in the Illinois territo
ry) may be granted to trustees, on an extended
term of credit, for the purpose of being settled
by emigrants from Ireland.
Mr. Wilson’s resolution, submitted on the
12th inst. was considered and agreed to.
Surviving revolutionary soldiers.—The ques
tion under consideration, was a motion made
some days ago, by Mr. King, to recommit the
bill, with instructions to the committee so to a-
ineiid it, as to confine its provisions to a grant of
Half pay for life to such ol the surviving officers
(alone) of the revolutionary ariny as sieved for
three years, or to the end of the war, including
those entitled to half pay for life by any resolve
of congress, the half pay to be ascertained ac
cording to rank by which the accounts of the of
ficers were finally settled.
The debate was resumed on this subject,' and
continued to a late hour ; in the coftrsc of which
Mr. King withdrew his motion to recommit the
bill.
• The question then recurred on the amendment
reported to the bill by the military committee, to
confine its application to those who served to the
end of the war ; wiien a motion was made by
Mr. Goldsborongh, and agreed to, to amend the
amendment, by inserting the words “ or those
ivhp served y.ears.”
Mr. Crittenden moved to strike nut tire v. ds
G on continental establishments,” so as to include
• the militia who served' the requisite period,
which motion was pending when tins senate ad
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Tuesday,■ February 10.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the U. S.
As the.house appropriated for the president ol
the United Stated will be finished this year, it is
thought to merit’ the attention of Congress in what
manner it shofrld be furnished, and what measure
Ought to be adopted for the safe keeping of the
furniture in future. All the publicfarnituie pro
half pay to the widows and children of officers
and soldiers who were killed in battle, or who
died of wounds received in battle, or who died
in the military service of thoUnitcd States, dur
ing the late war, the said provision shall he con
tinued for the additional term of five years, to
commence at tlte end’ of the first term of five
years in each ease respectively, making the pro-
vison equal to ten years half pay.”
This motion was opposed by Mr. Johnson of K.
Mr. Walker ill - N. C. and Mr. Southard, and was
supported by Mr. Livermore. It was negatived,
ultimately by a considerable majority.
Mr. Hitchcock moved to amend the section so
as to extend the continuation of the pension to
motherless children of deceased soldiers- uidler
sixteen years of age, as well as to the widows.
Negatived.
The third section is in the following words :—
That in all cases where any soldier of the rc
gular army shall have died while in the service of
the United States, in the late war, or in return
ing home from said service, leaving a widow,such
widow shall be entitled to receive the sum of li
ty eight dollais^annu'atly, for the term of five
years, as a half pay pension ; and in case of the
death or intermarriage of said widow, before the
expiration of the term of five years .from the
death of her husband aforesaid, the half pay for
j the remainder of the term shall cease.”
j Mr. Pindall moved to strike out of this section
| the words “or intermarriage t” which motion
was supported by the mover and Mr. Taylor,and
opposed by Mr. Johnson, Mr. Harrison, and Mr.
T. M. Nelson. Mr. Smith of Mil, also joined in
the debate on the general merits of the bill, to
which he was opposed.
Mr. T. M. Nelsou moved tq amend' this sec-
lion so as that the pensions to be granted by if
should take date from the 4th day of March last.
Negatived.
Mr. Cobh moved to strike out the above section
from the bill ; which motion was supported by
himself, and opposed by Mr. Harrison, and was
negatived by a very small majority! ’
The fourth section is in the following words:
, , “That in all cases of half pay pensions embraced
vided before 1814, having been destroyed with by this act, and all other actsofcongressmak-
the public building in that year, and little alter- ing provision for half pay pensions, the same
wards procured, owing to the inadequacy of the*shall extend to all casts where the party died
appropriation, it has become necessary to pro-j within six months after his return home,.
Vide almost every article requisite for such an of diseases contracted in the service durin
^tablishnijmt; whence the sum tq be expendedilgte. war with G. Britain.”
Mr. Linn moved to strike out this section 3
which motion was opposed by Mr. Barbour, amt
Mr. Comstock, and was negatived by a large ma-
Qther amendments were proposed and various
ly decided, on which, as well as those already
noted, considerable desultory debate took pace.
The filth section of the bill provides that tlie
.widow of any officer or soldier killed in battle or
who died in service during the revolutionary war
shall have a pension, if of a soldier, id 48 iloh
'ars pCT animin, if of an officer, ol 100 dollars
per annum.
The sixth section provides that 111 all cases
where an indigent mother has lost her son in bat
tle, if he has left no widow or children, she shall
receive a pension of 48 dollars per annum loi
five years, After having gone through the de
tails, the committee rose and reported tne bill to
tlie bouse.
Wednesday, February 11
The House took up the report ol the committee
of the whole on the bill concerning hall pay pen
sions, &c. and agreed successively to all the a-
mendineuts thereto reported by the committee
Mr Harrison then moved to strike out the li
section of the bill, which provides, “ that ill all
cases where any soldier of the regular army shall
have died while in the service ol the United
States, in the late war, or in returning home Iroin
said service, leaving a widow, such widow shall
he entitled to receive the sum ol forty eight dol
lars annuajly, for the term of five years, as a
half pay pension 3 and in case ol the d: ath or in
termarriage of said widow, before (he expiration
of the term of five veais from (he death ol the
husband aforesaid, the half pay for the remainder
of the term shall cease,” which motion Mr. H.
subsequently withdrew; when
Mr. Colson renewed the motion to expunge
the Section ; on which considerable debate took
place. The motion was supported by Messrs.
Moore of Pa. and Colson, ami opposed by Messrs.
Taylor of N. Y. Holmes of Mas. Spencer, Coitl-
stock, Ogle. Walker of N. C. T. M. Nelson,
Johnson of li. and Harrison; and finally nega
tived.
Mr. Hanison then moved to amend the section
by making the pension commence from the first
of March, 181T, instead of from the death ol her
husband; on the ground that it would be more
beneficial to the widow and more convenient jto
the treasury to pay the five years’ pension grauu-
ally, than in a gross sum, which would be paya
ble under the section as it stood. This motion
was negatived—ayes 44.
Mr. Hitchcock proposed so to amend the bill,
as to confine the pensions to the widows of such
soldiers ns enlisted prior to the 10th December,
1814; which motion was agreed to without op
position.
The question was then taken on ordering the
bill to be engrossed and read a third time, and de
cided in the negative—yeas 05, nays 72. So the
bill was rejected.
Mr. Stores, under a belief that the bill had
been rejected from a dislike to the 3d section, or
some other feature, and that, divested of the ob
jectionable provisions the bill would pass, moved
to reconsider the vote just taken, that the bill
might he modified and rendered acceptable to the
Jiouse. This motion after some discussion, was
negatived-—ayes 53, noes 80.
Friday, February 13
General bankrupt bill.—The house on motion
of Mr. Hopkinson, resolved itself into a commit
tee of the whole, Air. Smith of Md. in the chair
on the bill to establish an uniform system of
bankruptcy throughout the V'. States.
The reading of tlie bill (which contains fifty
four printed folio pages) occupied the greater
part of this day’s sitting.
.Monday, February 1G.
On motion of Mr- Bloomfield, the committee
on foreign relations were instructed to enquire
into the expediency of establishing the residence
of a Consul at Magadore, in the Empire of Mo
rocco. Mr. B. assigned as a reason for this mo
il the advantages which would result from a
vice of the United Stales; anil the authority of
training them belonging to the state governuirni.
the committee have not deemed it proper th r
Congress should prescribe the time to he j
voted to training, or the manner in which that
object will be best ell acted. It is the duty of the
state legislatures to enact the necessary h W3 j-"
that purpose. The committee deem it a slli 5
cient exercise of the power to provide for discinl
lining the militia to direct the appointment of
the necessary officers, to prescribe their duties •
and to provide a system of discipline, compre
hending the camp duties, instruction, field excr.
cise, and field service of the militia.
4. The committee are of opinion, that the r prr
ulations for calling forth the militia may remau
substantially as at present existing : That ih„
President should, in all cases, address his orders
immediately to some officer of the militia, am * 1 ,
not to the executive of any Itate. Thegovfeniur
of a state is not a militia officer, bound to execute
the orders of the President; he cannot he tried
for disobedience, and punished by the sentence
of a court martial.
5. In'providing for governing the militia in t| le
service of the United States, it has appeared tu
yuur committee, that the senior class might be
exempted from being inarcbcd out of the state p>
which they belong ; that the junior class, coin,
posed of ardent and vigorous mpu, the efficient
force of the nation, should, w hen called intij 8cr .
vice, continue therein some time after liaviu"ac
quired the knowledge and habits of soldiers;
that the officers should by their own consent be
continued still longer in service, as military
knowledge, principles and habits, are must essen
tial to the officers, who are the soul of an army,
It has also appeared to your committee, that
those principles would be best acquired by the
officers of the militia, in Serving with officers of
the regular troops on courts martial, for the trial
of offenders either of the regular troops or militia.
6. The compensation to the militia for.their
services, consisting of pay and allowance i’ j
clothing and of pensions in case of disability by
wounds received in the service, the committee
would allow to remain nearly as theretofore fix
ed by law.
The committee, acting according to the fore
going principles, report a bill to provide for or-
ganizing, arming and disciplining the militiaj
for calling them into the service of the United
States ; for governing them therein ; and fur
compensating them for their services
the
consulate there, <kc. and particularly from the
opportunity it would afford of redeeming from
captivity our ship-wrecked mariners and other
citizens, who might be unfortunate enough to fall
into the hands of the Arabs, Ike.
bands of the militia, when not necessary. That
mode would expose the arms to be lost and de
stroyed. They conceive that Congress should
provide arsenals, from which the militia of every
part of the United States could draw arms when
necessary, which would be a sufficient exercise of
the power to provide for arming the militia.
FOREIGN.
MILITIA OF THE UNIT’ ) STATES.
The followiir is the Report oi tire Committee
of the House of Representatives on so much of
the President’s Message as relates to the Militia.
The Constitution grants to Congress the follow
ing powers in relation to the militia, to-wit:—
To provide for organizing the militia ; for arm
ing them ; for disciplining them ; for calling them
into the service of the United States ; for go
verning them therein ; and for compensating
them for their services ; which powers the com
mittee have considered separately.
1. The committee are of opinion, that in or
ganizing the militia, it would be a great improve
ment to divide them into two classes, with a view
to train diligently, and to provide to arm imme
diately, the young men, and exempt the elderly
men from that sacrifice of time which effectual
training would require—the organization of the
militia might remain in all other respects nearly
as heretofore established.
2. The constitution having made it the duty
ot congress to provide for arming the militia, this
power is not duly exercised by merely enactin;
that %,e militia snail arm themselves. A law to
that effect, unsanctioned by penalties, will be
disregarded, and, if thus sanctioned, w ill be un
just for it will operate as a capitation tax, which
tlie opulent and the needy will pay equally, and
which will not be borne by the states in the pro
portion fixed by the constitution.The committee,
do not approve of putting publifc anno into tfi?" , ’ ai:x lieutenants Lenis de Madrid, Sancho Par-,
BLOODY BATTLE
The following particulars are taken from a Ja
maica paper of the 14th ult. copied from a Curia
coa paper of the sffth of December.
Accounts had reached La Uitvra that general
Mina and the whole of his staff, being the rem
nant of his army, had been taken prisoners and
escorted to Mexico, which place they were tube
put to death.
. A Carracas gazette of the Iftli inst. contains
an official dispatch from general M01 illo to the
captain-general of Venezuela, don Juan Bapti-te
Pardo, dated head-quarters, Guadarrama, rth De
cember, from which it appears that gen. Paez,ot
the independent army was in AcTiaguas, and
commenced his retreat on the Arauca, with the
emigration, and all his forces, having at the same
time ordered those in Nutias to cross back tU
A pure ; in consequence of which all gen. Morii
lo's endeavors to meet him were frustrated.
General Murillo being at Ualaboze, aiidJiaving
received accounts from colonel La TorvtV fruia
which he learned that the latter was deterred
from attacking the enemy by a false rcpoit that
Bolivar and Aristnendi were coming up the river
with great forces, marched with several corps to
reinforce him, and arrived at Guadarrama the ve
ry day his despatches arc dated, where he re
ceived another letter from La Torre, mentioning
that he had foiled the rebels commanded by Zu-
razain the field of Hogaza.
The official dispatch of Col.-La' Torre, is dated
Calwrio, 8th December, and coirtaans the follow--
ing in substance :
That on the 2d Dee. he attacked the imlepen
dent army, posted on n height in the Hatoof Hue
gaza, to the number of 1500 men, with two pie
ces of artillery : his army (composed Hut of 300
cavalry and 900 infantry )advaucing . with un
daunted courage, amidst tlie cries of “ long live
the king.” His cavalry under Arrogoncs, bein'
attacked by that of the enemy's left, he ni-dere
his officer to charge them, which he executed i
such a gallant manner as immediately to repulrt
and disperse them at a great distance”in the rear
oi their line. Colonel Juez was then assail
ed by tlie enemy’s cavalry of the right reinforced
by the squadrons of reserve, but he routed them
also ; that this event, added to the gallantry with
which the infantry charged with the bayonet,"threw
the enemy into such complete disorder, that they
took to flight, leaving every thing behind them
Pursued by the infantry,and having their retreat
cut offby major Aragones, notone of their infan
try escaped, having all perished or been taken
prisoners ; their cavalry met very nearly a sim
ilar late. *
The loss of the independents is stated at 120tf
slain, 2 brass 3-pounders, 1200 muskets, 4 colors,
18 drums, 50,000 musket catridgcs, 1 loud of
flints, a printing machine, and all their cquip-
page. 'The loss of the royalists amounted to
onfy 11 killed, 82 slightly and 16 severely
wounded.
Among the wounded Is col. La Torre himself,
in the thigh, by a musket shot, which lie received
in charging at the head of the infantry; also
cij. D. Pedro Gonzettes Villa, the adjutant of
the second battalion of Navarra, Don Jose Nur-
do, Domingo Augustin, Ventura Salgado, Pedro
Fernandez, Angel Lone the captains of grena
diers don Juan de Luno, and don Juan "Fran
cisco Gimcncs, wounded by a cannon shot.
That in consequence of a conflagration in tlie
bushes, a great number of the wounded wen
consumed, and among them some of the royal
3. Congress having power to provide for gov- whom it was impossible to rescue trom the
-erning the militia only when tiny aro hi tire s-er- ( " ame8, tires accident the bodies were so’Ji»<