Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-27

<NlvinS the question ct expectancy only. II
This being the case, I need add nothing t.
the arguments eouailvurged on both sides, /
in support Of the propriety oe the eXpcmdi-
ture from the highly aggravating Cause 81
II. Whether indeed, the former measures
of this government have had the effect of
prnducing the causes of the great national |
excitement we have witnessed, as some
gentlemen seem to suppose; or whether |
the conduct of g. Britain has its origin III
a determined spirit of hostility towards |
this country, is in che present discussion en- |
t,rely unimpors3nt whether the uneHam-
Med outrage she has committed on Den
mark. or the unprovoSed attack on the YES
sells of Spain, have been invited by the pu-
Asiilanimity of those countries, as is sug-
sested was The case with us, are questions
which shall NOT now discuss.
MrCooK expressed his full appreciation
Of the conduct of the Executive, and the
officers of the departments. There had
bee no wrong application of public money,
for none had been drawn out of the trea-
sugv. Il was merely question of eXpedi,
eucy wiki the Fouse whether they would
sanction the measures which had been a
doptcd the President had nCt bound them
10 do it, and they were ut liberty TO act is
they chose. Approving as he did tie course
putSued, lie should vote in favor of the bill.
Mr. LYON would not occupy the House
long or a subject of SO little Importance. -
On The score of consistency lie should vote
as lie had always dcnc. When appropriate
lions were ,aade without authority, if he
liked them he had voted for them; if he
did not, he had voted against them. He
thanked the President for the promptitudc
which ne had manifested by his conduct on
this occasion, and could sec no harm which
4 ~.
we'd the measures, they would vote for
them; it would he immaterisl to them
whether the bargain were made to day or
to-mcrrcw. And as he did kc them and
the House liked them, he would vote for
the BIZ without OBTAINING them a minute
LONGER or the su,iec,,
GARDINER hid been much pleas
ed with the debate which had taken place
on ;h;s subject in the c1ur o. which gen
tlcMen had an Opportunity o. expressing
their opinion not only on his particular
subject, bat generally. The at. OK on the
Chesapeake made on the ed Of June lat,
had called from the nation one universal.
expression 6 adherence one burst of ex-
ecration at tt2t daring assault, had re-
sounded from every part Of the union -
TWAS Tire voice Of powerful nation, Cal
ling for sat sfection for her nsulted rights !;
IT, no part OF the community had this eX-
PRESS on been more sincere than nthc city
in which he resided IN York y that city
which would endure, if any part o, the
country suffered, the most dreadful Gala
mites Of war; that city, detenceless, I'M
provided. and exposed, whose inhabitants
had been told by gentlemen on the floor of
that House, that they must fy to the noun
tains for protection III that city the same
sentiments prevailed which existed in eve
~ part of our country.
At this period the President, feeling
vithtut doubt the same sentiments as had
been unanimously manifested by the people,
had thought proper to go into the expen-
asked. Mr. G. said, it could not be doubt
cd, tn: the President, when he pledged the
faith OF the gcSGrnDent for the purchases
which we're made, had violated that arti-
Gle Of the constitution which lodged in that
House the only power OF appropriation
He was nor, however, one of those who
thought such conduct could not he justified;
he thought IL could, not because he would
encourage liberties TO be taken with the
constitution, not because ne held the con-
sttution less sacred than any gentleman on
the fcor Of that House but because the
safety of the nation is The supreme Law.
While he expressed himselfpleased with
the debate, Mr. CT could not agree with
the gentleman from n. &. who thought it
an extraordinary opc for, whatever were
the object, if any officer of the government
had transcended his powers as limited by
the constitution, it was not proper that The
procedure should be treated with levity.
As such conduct might encourage viola
TORS Of the constitution, he was glad that
no expenditure could take place without
exciting the attention OF the HOUSE thnt
Thta exercising its pTerOsatve, the Ex-
ecr'ive would not be encouraged in putting
it3 hands into the treasury IL would shew
70 The PIE sidcnt or any other officer, that
The Huuse were jealous # their constitu-
,ional rights. Hr .. could not say with
soTOc gentlemen that it would have been
i,aprudcnt, or ~ any degree improper to
have convened Congress earlier than the
day on which they had met and though
re would permit the President TO do these
Things, he would only permit 1t when Con-
Trvss coud not be convened in sufficient
time. Four months had elapsed since the
outrage had been committed during what
portion Of this interval, tho expenses of
the Navy DEPARTMENT had been incurred
was not known but in allprobability Con-
gress might have been convened in sufi
cient time to have made a previous appro-
pration
The gentleman from Pennsylvania had
ted them that it was the custom of an an
cieut nation 10 deliberate on a question