Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

Congress of the United States.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, Oct. 27.

WAR MEASURES.

Mr. Troup of Geo. from the military committee, reported a bill making further provision for filling the ranks of the regular army by classifying the free male population of the United States.

[This bill proposes to provide for the division of the whole free male population of the United States, by the assessors, into classes of twenty-five men each; each class to be compelled, under a penalty of five hundred dollars, to furnish, within three days after the classification aforesaid, an able bodied recruit for the service of the United States. The bill is of some length, and contains very full provisions for carrying itself into effect.]

Mr. Troup also reported a bill "To authorise the President of the United States to accept the services of volunteers who may associate and organize themselves, and offer their services to the government of the United States."

The title of this bill sufficiently explains its object.

Mr. Troup also reported a bill "To provide for the further defense of the frontiers of the United States, by authorising the President to augment the present military establishment."

This proposes to provide, that "in addition to the present military establishment of the United States, there be immediately raised forty regiments, in such proportions of infantry, artillery, riflemen and cavalry, as the President of the United States may deem proper, to be enlisted to serve during the war, unless sooner discharged, and limited as to service to the defense of the frontiers of the United States, &c. &c.]

The three bills were severally twice read and referred to a committee of the whole.

Mr. Troup also laid before the house the following letter from the secretary at war to the military committee:

Department of War, October 17.

Sir--The great importance of the subject, and the other duties of the department, which could not fail to be very sensibly felt, at so interesting a period, by a person who had just taken charge of it, are my apology for not answering your letter of the 6th of September at an earlier day, on the defects of the present military establishment.

Due consideration has been bestowed on the subject matter of that letter, and I have now the honor to submit to the committee the following report:--

1. That the present military establishment, amounting to 62,448 men, be preserved and made complete, and that the most efficient means authorised by the constitution and consistent with the general rights of our fellow-citizens, be adopted, to fill the ranks, and with the least possible delay.

2. That a permanent force, consisting of at least 40,000 men, in addition to the present military establishment, be raised for the defense of our cities and frontiers, under an engagement by the executive with such corps that it shall be employed in that service within certain specified limits, and that a proportional augmentation of general officers of each grade, and other staff, be provided for.

3. That the corps of engineers be enlarged.

4. That the ordnance department be amended.

Respecting the enlargement of the corps of engineers, I shall submit hereafter a more detailed communication.

For the proposed amendment of the ordnance department, I submit a report from the senior officer of that department in this city, which is approved.

I shall be ready and happy to communicate such further details and particulars on these subjects as the committee may desire, and shall request permission to suggest hereafter the result of further attention to, and reflection on, our military establishment generally, should any thing occur which may be deemed worthy its attention.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JAS. MONROE.

Hon. G. M. Troup, Chairman Military Committee, House of Representatives.

(Accompanying this letter is an interesting paper of some length, from the pen of the Secretary, headed "Explanatory Remarks," which we shall publish as soon as we can lay our hands on it.)