Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-02-01

we have not decided on ati3 o. 80. - - g. IS
Question. Bus if we had been N y session =,
twenty seven weeks, and were ohpIepal =,
! .hss,ld vote against coming 70 a decision !
s.v !. 4.t,on. however important. Is
-. reason. because We have been several
vasLs IN session, without acting upon TINS
subject, that we should now DECIDE oAn =.
toldly on "a question OF more hmPer'anee
,haa any Which, for considerable I'M. -
nas, has presen,ed itself for our conslds-
ra,;oa3 Shall we lii merely 10 ,grasfy q
fen gsnIs men., who are fol. huffylng US
into The adoption of preciPltaIe measures
i, is a piece Of respect due from one sen.'e.
man 90 another, who is not prepared 'ovo ,'
.nnderstandingly on any snbJeci, to indulge
him with a moderate allowance OF tame.
.nor. osn,lem has stated that the secresa-
~ of war made certain communications 70
~ committee. 1t he possesses any use
full knowledge on the subject, ! should
xv;sh & communicated Immediately to the
House, and printed; that every gentleman
MAY stand on equal ground. ! will ask
how many ports and harsours 1t is necessa.
~ 10 project? Where they lie! How ma,
nv men il will take to fortify them and the
number of guns necessary for them! Have.
we apy information on these points is a.
nv gentleman ON this floor ready TO say he
possesses 1t? Perhaps the secretary at war
IS acduain,edwi,h all these details; " is
! -.ss4.,. -F,,ssess, and nodoabs he does
possess them But / should be glad TO
have them laid before the legislature. II
is notnecessary for me at this time to .giIe
an opinion on the proposed measure. IL:
will depend on the Information shall re.
ceive whether / shall approve of the en-
penditure of a dollar. My vote will de
pend On this; Are the people prepared ts
expend millions, to guard against tia.
which may be bur an imaginary evil! L.
cur treasury in such situation, az to au.
thorise our appfopriating millions Tor the
protection of haibours whose situation we
know not? wish to see the estimates Ii
the thing can be effected by the eSpendl
ture of a moderate sum, may agree to it;
but if the sum required shall be so enor-:
NOUS as not only TO eat.up our existing re-
venue, but to require new burthens, ! will
not vote for dollar. We know that the
House has already appropriated consider
able sum; more than it will probably have
at its disposal; and that they have refuse .
to continue certain tax. Twill ask
Mr.. Macon, Speaker, was CORY to utter. !.
rupt the gentleman, bat he would submit
whether in the remarks he made, ne was IN I
order.
Mr. Nelson. I apprehend that in tks !.
remarks 4 have just made, I have not yet
been out OF order. If the committee or
or the chairman say SO, | will stand cor
rected.
The Chairman. The,gen.leman will pro-
ceed.. 4
Mr.. Nelson. / say thati, isincambent on
us, if we consider ourselves as the true
representatives of the people, before we
lay an enormous tax on them, to be sure
that it will be of some use. Suppose We
appropriate now five millions to the pro-
lection of our harbours, and shali be told
after these are expended, that ten millions
mere, are necessaryt TO complete their pro-
tec.ion. the people of he>unlssd
States in situation to pay fifteen millions
for this purpose? With the gentleman
from Georgia, | am for having correc. IN
formation before take q step in this, besi
ness. If sum no, burthenseme 10 the
people will do, n,ay vote for it;'hns it The
sum.necessary shall be soenormous as 10
subiecethem to-a heavybur.hsn, 1 wal not
vote dollar. The gentlemen from Con.
necticat has brough. forward powerful
argument by asking, as It we will NOT
do that which the president recommends
20 US? How long the honorable gentle.
man has felt this respect fer the Presi.
dsn,, il know not ;.but for myself j can an.
swer, would not vote for what / thoaght
wrong, though. recommended by the pre-
sident.--If the president should recon-