Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-12-09

zfITilkinson's explanation TO 6e continued J
e ON G. RES S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MospAY, Nopensber 50.
DEBATE on the report q me committee on
oqpressions, recommending cbpropr'a7.-
tens for The defence of our sea.ports
CONTINUED
Mr.. Bacon called for the reading ofthe
report Of the secretaryof war which hsd
been received by the committee.
Mr.. Chandler said that paper did not
contain the particular sum, which could
no.b Be precisely asceitaiaed. lie would
an sw er 10 reply to the gentleman who en-
CURED why no sum bad been proposes, that
the secretary of war had informed the com
ni,,ee Of aggressiens, that the sum OF $50
or 500 600 dollars would be sufficiens tor
the expenditure Of one year, except 10 case
IT i,nme date war, when larger sum
would be necessary; and this reason had
Induced the COMMITTEE to wish that The
blank should not now be filed.
Mr. quincy said. if he had understood
the chairman of the committee correctly,
there was some reason against publishing
The paper Just alluded to; ifso -ae did not
wish TO trouble the house; bn; # tkrre were
not he hoped i, would be read.
Mr.. Blourt said he had before stated
that the secretary OF war had not been for
nally called upon for Information, but had
communicated ii verbally. Having done
so, The committee asked him &c make a
statement in general terms as they die
no. wish the enemy to know what par.icu'
lar species of forsl6ca, ;on might be con.
lemplated. fl, should be thought that
,.,e house should have Information from
the department Of war, Mr.. 3. hoped the
secretary would be called upoo to furnish
ii, tina, he mighs give il more formally than
was contane d 10 this paper. The commit
tee had adopted the course OF vesba! cenl'
smupics1ion, becasse i, had bsen pursued
by a similar committee alta former session
The statement contained 10 this paper
was very Informal, and he hoped it would
not be pointed 10 that state
Ms Cock was opposed % filing the blank
at,his timesfrom want OF Information He
wished TO see ssatemen. Of the sums thar
would be necessary 10 Put every part Of the
United States 10 such sstale ct defence as
that embraced by the resolution It gen
,lemen would give themselves the tro1ble
TO court their fingers, they would fed
that the sum Of $50 900 dollars was by no
me ans Sufficient. AS he ,hought IL psoba.
Bile they might ceive more informatioD::Le
/ fore twas necessary 10 fill ,h- blank in The
bill, be hoped no sum would be agreed 70
al this time.
Mr.. Masters ! am happy that this
| subject is before the committee OF The
whole house, which has beentoo often and
! too long neglected. Tho moved sha'
I the blank be filed with The sum Of fifteen
| hundred thousand dollars, yer think lha,
sum too saall TO fortify. efficiently, our
]ex,ended sea coast; but / suppose il is as
much as can be economically and advan;a
geousiy expended 10 one year.
believe the policy this nation has par
sued ought TO be abandoned. ! DO no'
mean to cfinsiua,e the administrator.
believe the government, and those whs
have administered il, kave dealt Justly
with all nations, expecting national justice
in return; am convinced that na,iona
Justice and oa.ional frieudship are idle q.
The wind that blows, and ,ha, there is NJ
! such thing as national justice 4, be expect
s. ed in times like these. We noas, Deepen,
on cur own strength and not on na,ioua
justice. Our government have calculate
on preserving peace BY pursuing q fair an
/ impartial neutrality, and that those diaicul