The recorder, or, Lady's and gentleman's miscellany. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1801-1802, 1802-05-26

S'N"''iS3 iNAAISoAN All ti'C navy, diil W
cauie the proper meafures to be taken
TO have the fame preierved for the flu
ture uies OF the navy. Under this au-
thority, only, the then fecretary of the
navy expended the fun of / IS, S46 dol
lars and ninety-two cents, in the pur-
chaie of fix navy yards at Portsmouth,
Charletton, Mas. Newly ork, Phila-
deiphia, Goiport. [ Virg. and the CITY
oil Wilmington. For this expenditure
the committee conceive that no aurho-
rity was given by law, nor any appro.
priation made except for the two docks
above mentioned, as the fun ofone MIL
lion of dollars was appropriated by the
act of 1899, for building or purchaiine
rhe thips only, and the fun of 400, 900
dollars for the purChafc of timber. As
public fhips of war had been, before,
bwlr under firnilar authority for the
nle of the United States, at private yards
and as Congrefs did, at the fame time
rhat they authorized the building or pur-
chaiing the ihips provide for the cree
ton OF two docks only, the committee
are ofopinion thar four of the navy
yards were purchafed without authority
and the money mifapplied, which was
paid for them.
In the war department there Iikcwifc
appears TO have been tranfaeion
equally unauthorized, In the year
pile of buildings was commenced
under the directions of the then fecre-
tary OF war, on the banks Of the Schuiy-
kill near the city of Philadelphia,
which have fince been carried on in a
manner highly expeniive Thefe build
lngs have been called Lo6orntory, and
although yet in an unhnilhed ftate, have
already colt the United States Is2, Sos
dollars and five Gents, which fun has
been paid out of the appropriations
heretofore made for the quarter-nafter'
department. The committee are OF
opinion that this expenditure of money
could not be juttihed at any time, bur
more particularly at q moment when
the United States were borrowing mo-
ney at high rate of inrereit TO meet OBJ
Je6ts which the Legislature confdered as
ncceifary, and had lan6tioned by law,
ItaPpears, from a document herewith
exhibited and marked P. shat Mr.. Ira
cy, was appointed 'sto Wifi and exa-
mine into the actual fate ofthe qarri.
ions, Indian trading houfes, factories
&c. in the North Weftern Territory,
or the Miliil1ippi and on The frontiers
OF Tennef1ee and Georgia" and that
Mr., Tracy received for this fcrvice the
fun OF one thouiand hire hundred and
eighty five dollars and five cents, 7ss
dollars and i've cents being for travel
ling and OTHER incidental expenies, ana
twelve hundred and thirty two dollars
Tor his compensation, from the fixteenth
Of June to the Fifteenth CT November,
IN the year one thoufand eight hundred,
at eight dollars per day. From the &C
count exhibited by Mr.. Tracy for his
expenfes, it will be feen that during
theie five months he vifited Pittlburg,
Presque lie, Niagara, Detroir aud Nj
challlmachinack, but did NOT fulfil the
other objects of his milton.
The committee cannot forbear 70 re
marx that MIR 1racy's acceptance Of
this appointment has the appearance az
leaft OF inconliftency with that part &c
the contribution which provides thar
no perfon holding an office under the
United States fhall be a member Of ei-
ther houic of Congrcfs." Mr.. Tracy
wfs at the time of receiving the ap~
pointment, during the whole of It's con-
tInuancc, and has ever fince been q
member Of the fenate of the United
States and from an infpe6tion Of the
rnnr, I'll II IL G.nnAo l.