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WASHINGTON CITY.
CONGRESS
OF THE UNITED STJtES.
JlouSE CF RcFftEBEKTATIVtS.
Tuejday , Dec. 15,
In committee ot the whole,
on the (late of the union, Mr.
'Morris in the chair.
The following refolution un
der confuleration ;
ReJJved , That it is expedient
that tiie Prefident be authorized
by law, further and more effre
-11 ai 1 v to pro ten: the commerce
of the United States againll the
Barbary powers.
Mr. NichoUbn faid, that when
this refolution was yeflerda\
laid on the table, he had moved
for reafons that he had alfigned,
to (trike out the words “ fur
ther and mere.” Me was, on
reflection, more and more per
fuaded of the accuracy of his
objections to the unqualified
terms of the original motion.
If wc adopt it, we pledge our
felves to increafe the naval
foi ce at pfhfent at the difpofition
of the jpiefkient. But if his
modification were agreed to,
every gentleman would remain at
libi rty to put his own conllruc
tion on the words “ effectual
force.'* Uninformed as wc
were as to the ncceffiiy ofin
creafing tiie force, it would he
highly improper to commit our
fel ves by any precipitate cleci- 1
fl-m. He therefore moved to
ftnke out the words “ further
and more.”
Mr. Giles oppofed the fink
ing out the words, w hich, in his
opinion, t\u\ nrvr r**isvt« to t]>o
c|uantum of force placed under
exei utivc difpofition, bur to the
ineafurcs proper to be taken by
the executive. Tlelhould vote
for the motion unamended,
though he had been, and full
was, as averfe as any gentleman
in that houfe to an improper
augmentation of the army or
navy. With refpect to the
navy, he v/as fr.endly to it as it
now (food, or to an augme na
tion of it to meet any particular
emergence.
Mr. S. Smith faid, that as he
Underllood the refolution, it
went not to pledge any man to
augment the navy, but to au
thorize the prefident with the
prefent force to take meafurcs
for the defence of our trade.
We are at war with Tripoli.
Agamft that power, therefore,
the prefident felt himlclf at li
berty to ad efficiently. But
gentlemen fbould advert to our
lunation with regard to Algiers
and I unis. 1 hole powers may
become holtile. They may
become fo in the recefs (if 1
congrefs. It may be necefiary
without delay to pro ted our
trade againfl them. Will you
then confine the Prefident. in
relation to thefe powers, to a
peace efiablilhment ? Certainly
when thefe circumfiances were
duly weighed, no gentleman will
retufe the power which this re
folution is intended to confer.
Mr. SmiJie was in favour of
the amendment for one rpafon.
jic was ready at all times to
grant commerce every* rtfccfla
ry protection. But by adopting
this refolution we pledge our
fclves, without enquiring into
the neceflicy, to extend further
protection. No doubt, further
protection will be required.
But he thought it premature to
make any pledge until all the
documents conntded with the
lubject were before the houfe.
Mr. Mitchell fuggdlcd the
propriety of amending die ori
ginal refolution, by infercing
after the word law” “ if ne
cellary.” 1 his would render
the refolution conditional. To
the refolution he was a friend.
For when cue afpect and extent
of die United btates were con
fidered, it mull be evident to
every man that we were a com
mercial people. The bulk
and extenlivenels ofour produce
required vclleis to cany it to
foreign countries. The car
riage required protection. The
government mud of coudc give
this protection. With rcfpeCl
to the Mediterranean expedition
no plan under the government
been better deviled; and
lie had no helication to fay that
it the Mediterranean required
lurcher protection, he would be
lor making further appn pna
tions of the public monies.
Mr. Nicholion faid he could
not agree to the fuggeltion of
the gentleman from New- York,
as by adopting it we Ihoukl do
noting. JJovv decs the matter
now Band? Congrefs his put
into the hands of die Prefident
fix frigates, which he had tiled
lor the public fervice in the
Mediterranean. This was not
a fit time to exprels his opinion
on the propriety of the me a
\ I I !“<-* C <•> t ti*. ** % i»v vv.rtivc» Dul
w hen a fitoccofion did offer, he
IhoLiid have no liefitation to lay
the Tresident had done right.
lo return to the point, the
Prefident has now fix frga.es,
xi we ague 10 the refolution,
do we nut pledge ouricives to
mereale this face ?
One iquadron had been fent
to the Mediterranean ; anoihei
was m preparation to go there,
at undci flood. '1 his was all
light. But there followed no
neeeliity Irom thele circumflan
ecs, to pledge ourfelves to 111-
ertak tiie 101 ce.
V\ e were not acquainted
with the lentiments of the pre
fident on thfi> point. His com
munications did not inforn us
that he dclired a larger force. If
he diu defile it, he would fay
<o. Me had, on the contrary,
recommended a reduction ot
tne army and navy ; and to de
lire an augmentation of the lat
ter, Would be, in the fame
breach, to fay one thing and
mean another.
Mr. Euftis—The Prefident
in his communications, has in
formed us that he has hitherto
adted on the defenfivc.—The
Ample quellion now is, whethci
he fbali be empowered to take
, ( (Nnlive Heps. T his has no
j relation, therefore, to an increafe
1 t be force, nor ihall wc, by
; it, pledge ouricives to
fuch effeCl.
Mr. Giles w'as happy that the
difcuffion was one more of
words tlian ol principles. Tic
pcrfc&ly coincided wltii dhe gen
tleman from Maryland, who
had moved the amendment, in
his general fentiments. It would
be wrong in this houfe prema
turely to pledge itfeif for an in
creale of naval force. But the
words of the refolution do not
relate to the quantum of force,
but entirely to the rneafures to
be taken with any force. When
the Frelident is authorized for
mer and more effectually to
protect our trade, it was not
laid than vve will give him 4 or
6 additional frigates; but mere
ly that he is to have means,
more or le ( s, which fnall be
adequate to make offenfive ope
rations agamlt thole w ho ihail
make offenfive operations aga nff
us.
It was well underflood that
lie wa> for keeping the navy
within proper bounds; but it
ever there was a cafe where it
wa»required this was the cafe;
and lie acknowledged that he
was for empowering the i rcfl
dent to authorize not merely a
( limanticment ot a vclkl, but
ner capture.
Mr. S. Smith fald it was tine
that fix frigates had been given
me prtfidem, but it was Ufo
true iliac, when given, they were
co mem plated cine fly as a nur
iery for our Teamen, in which
view they were only two-thirds
manned. Would gent emcn
contend that it was fit they
fhould go out in tins int fficient
ftate. By the prefcriptions of
the law, the Fi t fluent deemed
hindeif bound. Already the
whole number of Teamen audio
nzed by law are employed on
board ot four frigates; and for
the want of hands the lecond
/Ijuaviron cannot be lilted cut.
1 he time of the firfl would ex
pire in one year from their de
parture. It was therefore ab
lolutely neceffary that there
Jhould be more Teamen.
The qi eftion was then taken
cm. Mr. Nicholas’s amendment,
and loft.
When the original motion of
General Smith was carried.
IVednefday , December 15.
The Speaker laid before the
houfe a letter from the feerctary
of Hate, accompanying an an
nual return, ending the 9th infl.
containing an abftraCt ot all the
returns made to him by the
Colk&ors for the different ports
in the United States, purluant
to the aCt for the relief and pro
tection of American ieamen ;
aifo extracts from the commu
nications received bom the
agents in foreign countries for
O O
the rei ef of American leamen.
Ordered to lie on the table.
The committee of elections
made a further report, Hating
certain members to be only e
iccted ; and further fra ed, that
in confequence of the erection
of the Miffiffippi Territory, un
der the ordinance of Congrefs,
that Tenitory was entitled to a
Delegate, when the Territory
was entitled to a legiQature.
This period having arrived, the
committee report an opinion
that Narfworthy Hunter be con
fidered as a Delegate, with the
. * O
right of deliberating but not of
voting.
Mr. Milkdge could not agree
to die report, as by to cToirg 1 £
would vote lor a meafure that
would attest the fovereignty o f
Georgia, lie thcredore moved
a reference to a committee of the
whole, in order to have the
fnbjeCt dilcldied. Agreed to,,
and made the order for f ndav.
Ratio if Refrejentation,
The houfe then took, up the
following rclblucion, reported
by the committee of the whole*
on the Hate ot the union.
Refused, i hat the appoint-*
mem of reprefentatives, amt'i
tt.e leveral Hates, according to
w)
the fecond enumeration of the
people, ought to be in a ratio of
one representative for every
th rt>- three thouland pcilbns m
each Hate.
Mi. Grifwoid remarked, tl.at
the died of adopting this rtfo
iucion would be an incieafe of
members in that houfe ; that the.
number would amount to nearly
150. lie was ol opim n that
the prdent houfe was luff ciently
numerous for every coned pur*,
pefe, as well of leg (laden as for
obtaining alludnabie informa
tion from the people. Shomd
an a. gmemadon be made, the
ccnlcquences would be an m
creak of expence, and bufincls
w ould inevitably be protracted,
lie moved, therefore, to lb.he
out the words “ thirty-thru, I'* 1 '*
mt«mr.g il they were (incktn
out, to j .ropo'lc the fubflitution
of a iargei number. On d.kft
motion a defuitcry debate en
lued, in winch Mefifs. Grifwoid,
S. Smith, iMcholfon, Giles,
Bayard, AlHon, Elmer, Euftis*
Spr gg>, and otner geniiemea
took part.
Mr. Grifwoid Hood alone in
advocating an apportionment of
cue nu lubei to every 40,000
perlons.
Mdfrs. Giles and Bayard were
for one member tor every thirty
thou fund.
Meins. S. Smith, Nicholfon,
and EuHis, were lor one mem
ber for 33,000.
Mr. Aifton was in favor of
one reprclentativc for every
31,000
Ihe preferences avowed by
the leveral fpeakers, appeared
to ante from the application of
that diviibr, to the Hate from
which each member came, whkl>
left the icaft tradion.
Some gentlemen, however,
declared, and particularly Mr.
Giles, that he had made no cal
culation, and that his preference
el the Imallelt ratio propefed.
was the preference ot principle.
Thole in favour ofalmall
ratio argued, that though the
expence attending the compen
lauonot the members might be
lomewhat incieafcd; yet thaS
it would be trifling compared
with the great advantages that
would re lult from a larger re
prefentation , that Inch a repre
lentation would be productive
ot true economy as it would op
pole all extravagant expenditure
of money; that the weight of
expence incurred by the go
vernment did not arife from the
expitnee of the civil LH, which
formed but a fpeck in the mals
of expenditure. That it was
important to this government
to adopt thofc meafures which
would infure the relied and the.
