Exportation of Arms, &c.
The House took into consideration the amendments of the Committee of the Whole to the bill prohibiting, for a limited time, the exportation of arms and ammunition from the United States; in all of which they concurred.
Mr. Cook moved to substitute “five hundred dollars” in the room of “one hundred;” the sum for exporting prohibited articles beyond which is followed by the forfeiture of the vessel—under the impression that the provision was too rigorous.
This amendment was supported by Mr. Crowninshield, and opposed by Mr. Dawson, and lost—77 members concurring in the report of the Committee of the Whole.
On motion of Mr. Olin, “cannon balls and mortars” were added to the list of prohibited articles.
On motion of Mr. Dawson, an amendment was introduced, applying the penalties of the bill to the exportation of the prohibited articles by land.
On motion of Mr. Nicholson the provisions of the bill were extended to the Territories of the United States.
Mr. Gregg said he understood the bill under consideration was only a report in part. He had no disposition to oppose its passage. He only rose to express his hope that when the committee made a further report, they would lay before the House the information necessary to enable them to act intelligently. It had, from the commencement of the Government, been the practice of the House to call on the Secretary of War to state the amount of military stores on hand, accompanied by his opinion of the further supplies deemed necessary. No such thing had yet been done this session. The House neither knew the quantity of military stores on hand, nor could calculate the effects of the bill. They did not know what was the quantity of sulphur and saltpetre on hand, or whether there was a sufficiency of those important raw materials, in case we should be embroiled in a war—
The Speaker here interrupted Mr. Gregg by observing that there was no motion before the House.
After a few remarks from Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Gregg, on the details of the bill, it was ordered, on the motion of the former, to be recommitted to the committee who introduced it, for amendment.