The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-22

ferent from Notifications as he understood.
If indeed it were the real object of the gem
tlenan 60 repair old Notifications only, and
not to erect new ones, the bill would now an
swer bis purpose fully. fit were otherwise,
he conceived the language was not correct.
Mr.. Blounf said, he felt very little solicit
tude asto the fate Of his motion. His inten-
tiot was to given greater latitude to the dis
erection OF the President. He would not how
ever undertake to dispute with the gentleman
from Massachusetts on tie precise meaning
OF words for he had not spent his carlv life
within the walls OF College as that gentle
man had, bat in the field fighting for the IL
berties of his country Under the belief that
the word srorks did include Notifications, lie
had made his motion for amendment. 1t was
the intention Of the committee both to erect
new works and to repair old ones. If the
gentlemen from New-York and Massachu-
setts were determined to restrain the Presi-
dent from giving that protection to the port
OF New-furk which the people of that state
should think proper, he was content He did
not wish to waste the time of the House un-
necessarily, especially on a subject which re-
9uired so much expedition.
Mr. Cook said he lived in port in which
there was sufficient depth of water for any
British man of war, and he thought he should
feel as indignant at any proposition for de.
stroying the harhor as the gentleman from N.
York. He hoped the feelings of other gen.
tlemen i'll the House would be in unison with
his. 1t they were arrived at such a point of
degradation, that in case of attack, they must
retreat to or beyond the mountains and if iu-
stead OF defending they must abandon the
coast its fate, they bad better adopt this
measure, and block up their ports altogether
Alter such a proposition us this, he should
not be surprised at any one which could be
made 1t appeared to him that the spirit of
our forefathers was departing the country.
He was alarmed when lie heard such pro-
position as this, and he hoped there would be
sufficient maCnanimity in the House to give
the amendment decided negative.
Mr.. Chandler said this proposition had its
origin In memorial from the mavor, alder
men, and citizens of the city of Ncw-York !;
and that those works were not contemplated
to be erected, except with the consent of the
legislature of the state
Mr.. Bfount said the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts had pretended to understand the
proposition tohave forts object the stopping
up the harbor of New-York ; he said Ire-
tended, because it would be but poor COM
pliment to the gentlemans understanding to
suppose that he really thought such propo-
sitlon would everbe made on this floor. The
water at the mouth Of the river Hudson WI as
90 feet in depth it was contemplated to sink
piers in the river, and to extend immense
chains from pier to pier, which were to be
connectcdb by lecks. so that they Could be at
times unlocked This could not be a new
project to the gentleman who appeared so
nach alarmed att. : iic had a plan now be-
fore him, which he did not obtain from the
president OF the u. S. in which a course was
delineated for a chain of blocks, and which
would not o5struct the tide, so as to produce
shoals IN the North river. There seemed to
be many different opinions on the subject a.
mong the citizens Of New-york; in conse-
quence Of which the President had deter
ahmed not to attempt any measure of this
Kind without the consent of the legislature of
New-fork, VINO it was expected would dis
cuss the subject at an early day.
Mr.. Thomas said, that he thought it very
proper to make this amendment, so as to
embrace the plan of sinking blocks in the
harbor Of Ncw-York. He considered that
the Executive or the secretary of war, had
acted correctly in recommending to the
chairman OF the committee TO have this
ttude given in the specification OF the objects
OF this appropriation. Ii was s. truth, Mr..
I said, that the corporation of the civ of
New-Yor& had recommended that mode of
defence, and the persons composing that DO
dy ought certainlgto be supposed, to be more
competent judges of the best mode of defend
a.
bic to judge whether this mode of shalowins,
the channel, so As not to admit large sbins
OF war to approach the city, would materially
nyure the commerce of that place, than any
ether class of citizens; they were certainly
more Immediately interested THAN any other
And since the corporation Of that city had
adopted the plan Of sinking blocks in the
channel, rs part of the system Of defence.
and submitted that proposition TO the Presi-
dent, 1t was undoubtedly proper in the House
to allow that object to be embraced in the APP
preparation.
Mr. 7. could rot see that any alarm oue;,t
70 be eZcitcd b. this Tie secretary Of war.
he understood, had wrote to the governor of
that state on the subjcce The determination
you'd be submitted II the legislature. IF
they withheld their assent, ~ refusing to
make the cessioh, the thug was at an end,
bet at this stage Of the business. he conceiv-
ell 1t was the duty of that House to give such
latitude to the objects Of the appropriation
IS to embrace that mode of defence, IL l.
should be ultimately adopted. Mr.. L. said it
was mode Of which he did not know that
he should himself approve tmt nc confessed
he was not Competent Judge, and therefore
wished the subject to be so left that it could
be adopted or not by the President and con-
stituted authorities Of the state Of New-York
- hp copeepf Of l,nst, -,.o..t1