June 13 1812: Senate's Sundry Amendments to WAR

On June 13, 1812, the Senate resumes its consideration of the House's war bill. It first dealt with the motion by Senator Lloyd for more information from the State Department on  Britain and France. The motion is defeated. Presumably all the correspondence and information had been provided. The Senate had been studying the diplomatic issues since June 1. 

Senator Gaillard is then requested to take the chair. The Senate next considers the war bill as a committee of the whole on a motion by Senator Anderson. The senators agree to  sundry amendments and the President resumes the chair. Senator Gaillard then reports the amendments to the war bill. These are considered and agreed to by the Senate. These amendments include the following: 

Third line, after the word "between," strike out to the end of the line, and insert, "the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof."

Line 4, after the word "states," where it first occurs, insert, "of America."

Line 9, after the word "Britain," strikeout to the end of the bill, and insert, "the said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the subjects thereof." 

Yesterday the Senate had added the word "and' after the word "Britain". The proposed changes (strikeouts in blue and inserts in red the word "and" in green) means the House's war bill reads: 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that war be, and the same is hereby, declared to exist between Great Britain and her dependencies   the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof, the United States of America and their territories; and that the President of the United States is hereby authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the United States to carry the same into effect; and to issue to private armed vessels of the United States, commissions, or letters of marque and general reprisal, in such form as he shall think proper, and under the seal of the United States, against the vessels, goods, and effects, of the government of Great Britain and, of its subjects, and of all persons inhabiting within any of its territories or possessions.the said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the subjects thereof." 

Having done such a great job the Senate decides to adjourn.