Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1807-12-11
I. DEGRADE, II, 1907.

authority given TO him by the act OF 1906,
in preparing the gun boats for service !,
the sense Of the nation aud the exigeney
OF the times called upon him.to do 40.
Other expenses incident 70 calling Oh,
the marine corps and mauning gna-6oats,
were comprised under the different aI,i.
cles Of clothing, &c. These ertraordina.
ry expenses the president was authors
FED 10 incur /; the state of the country
Justified him ia exercising that authority,
and Mr.. M. was Of opinion that the hon
our Of the nationealled upon the house
70 make the appropriation. Then, as
10 these extraordinsry expenses which
nd ben Incurred, there could be no
difficulty ; their honour was nj stake for
the payment. There was another item
which he presdmed would meet with as
little difficulty as any other be was in.
structed To- say, As q member of the com.
mittee of wavs and means that the prosi-
sions speci6edin the bill were used BY.
the militia called out for the protection
Of the port most 10 dangers-Was there
any member in the house who would
hesitate to make N appropriation Of
3 1000 dollars for that purpose.
Al this important iuncture, when u
country was Id danger, the executive had
examined the !a,ate Of the several depart
ments j ia the war department there
were Sufficient sapplies ofmilitary stores:
10 the navy department there were none
excerpts few pounds Of powder. At this
alarming crisis, the country being threat
ened with war, the people looked op to
the president for energetick conduct. he
did not hesitate 70 make expenditures 10
supply these neeessaries for the depart
mrnt. OF the navy department there
was more required than Of the war de.
partment, because the outrage had been
committed ON the ocean. What more
prudent, nor correct conduct than that
of the president could be wished, or
what more could the people expect, than
that he should have made these necessa.
ry pregisionsef ordnsnce and military
stores and timber for gun. boats . The
presidsnt had Judged il e~xpedient 10
make PREPARATION; and the state of saf-
fairs had called for a warlike attitude :
fur, said Mr2M. we have learnt from
| our departed Washington, that to com.
mand peace wa mustbe prepared for war;;
the president had acted upon this princi.
! pie, which the house wouldn To- doubt an.
| prove. There was no law at that time,
nor had any law yet been passed, 20 au-
LdorlIe Inc purchase Of these articles
but the president Of the limited States,
when bis country was in danger, hesita.
ted not 70 take upon himself the credit
and proper responsibility Upon thesr
irens what was the language Of the presi-
deDt ofthe United States, contaia.d in
the message delivered 70 Us! Strong and
forcible, and clearly showing The neces-
sity D rincurringth these expenses |. 9 The
moment U peace was threatened. /
deeracd il Indispensable 20 secure
Egreaterproyision ofthose articles D fmili.
tary stores, with which our maeszines
were no. suf6ciently furnished. IA have
awaited previous and special sanction
by law, would have lost occasions which
might not be retrieved. I did not HEST.
tate therefore to authorize engagements
for such supplements 20 ouf existing
stock q. would render il adequate 10 the
emsfgencies threatening us ; and / trust
thatthe legislature feeling the same anx.
iety for the safety of our country 90 ma.
tsrially advancedb by this preoaution, win
approve when done, what they would
have seen 90 important to Be done, If
then assembled
Mr.. M hoped his trust was vel
founded that the Legislanre. feeling
the same anxiety foe the pu6lick safety 20
materially promoted BY this persecution.
would dsclare, that this Wa what they
would have done had they been in session.
He asked, had the President Of the Uni
ned States passed over this ereat emer-
geney. andtailedto make these prepare
tions, ought he not 10 have been csnsn-
red for = neglect of duty I As lhese Il.
ticles therefore had bsen purchased be-