Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-11
MONDAY, NOVEMBER so.
Debate on Forfifcafion..
(coNcLUDED.

NIr HOMAS said that the committee
mad declared in their resolution, that they
would authorize the President TO erect such
Qualifications as would preserve due re-
spect to the national authority and he
had no doubt, after having made the de-
clarstion, they would FIJI the Blank with a.
ny sum that might be sufficient to effect the
object. He did not mistrust the intentions
ut the committee; he believed they would
make liberal appropriation to this OBJ
ject, and was sorry that his colleague (Mr
lTardenicr) mad raised to view SO many VIZ
sionary fabrics. MIR T. did not think that
either the legislature or executive had
been dilatory, rs that gentleman seemed
to THINK. lie was known that there had
been last year an appropriation of SC0,000
dnliars for the contemplated purpose; the
secretary of war had employed as Ioany
la5orers as he bad been able to procure,
in the erection of forts at Eew-Ynrk and
other places, during the past sumner !;
and a balance of this money yet remained
The committee had dccla-
red through their chairman that some art
ot the appropriation called for in case cf
var, would be expended in 50 precipitate
a manner, az not to form perm anent for
He did not believe that the
P'"hNiOll vas GtIIEGts litOL lhfJ buknI 10
make as large an appropriation for peace
as Tor war; because in case Of war il would
be absolutely necessary to reinforce those
Qualifications already erected nv consille-
rablc additions. He had no objection now
to fill up the blank; but he tho't the pledge
contained in the resolution was sufficient,
"a it declared positively, that they would
effect the desired object.
Mr.. (NrTTrCy rpavol,y ,,cct. 20 s<r,,rogc u g
wish that the chairman oe the committee
would make some proposition as to tho
sum. He was of opinion with the gentle
man from New-York, that TO ascertain the
sum to be appropriated was the object OF
going into committee Of the whole.
Mr. ALsToN hoped that in this stage Of
the business no sum would be applied il
was enough f0rthe House TO say whether
they would or would not adopt the princi-
pie contained in the resolution The ques-
ton of how much money was not in his
mind the great question for if they pas
sed law eifectually TO protect our ports
and har5ors, itfall0wed OF course that they
would appropriate . sufficient sum 80 an
swcr tic purpose. The sum, however. had
been spoken Of, and the gentlemen from
&cw-York and Massachusetts seemed in
favor cf the filing the blink Immediately
from what had fallen from the gentleman
from New-YOrk, Mr. Cardenier) he was
induced 10 believe that no mernliCr OF the
House could propose sum sufficient To ga
tjsfy him. That gentleman appeared to he
'ut Of iuvective and abuse against the
government. Was it to be expected that
the House would accommodate itself to the
wishes Of that gentleman when conveyed
! ~ such language. lie hoped the House
would pursue is usual course. and decide
hrst on the principle when the bill was
5rough, in, the blanks might be filed, the
question being first taken on the largest
sum, which would no doubt I've proposed BY
the gentleman from Ecw-York. He no.
ped other gentlemen in the House were
quite IS well disposed 20 defend their coun.
Try as the gentleman from New-York
they might not perhaps talk 50 much, bu
would manifest their dispositions by theii
Ilc:S.
Mr. BLouET said the committee haC
contemplated rhe efectual protection Of oul
lpOrts and harbors, and directed their At.
tcntion particularly 60 that object. The
| information which had 1egn Siveu .hem die
not contemplate n system Of defence b.
! Notifications alone, which would cost 874,
O0O dollars but with the aid Of gun-boats
which would cost perhaps = much large
sum. lie moved, 20 try the sense of th'
icommittec, that the blank be filled will
l7jO, 900 dollars, which, with aI uncXpend
led sum Of perhaps 123,0OO, would sax,
the aggregate proposed.
Mr. MASTERS moved that it be flleC
with 5000 dollars.
Mr. BACON called for the reading oftht
report of the secretary Of war which hat
lbCcn received by the committee.
/ Mr. CVAEsLER said that paper did no
contain the particular sum, which ecu,