Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-20
G0t1nre88.
TUESDAY. Novcnibe,' 10.
no USE or REPRESENTATIVES,.

The question being on the final passage of
the bill ard the yeas and NAY $ on the pas
sage being called for,
MIR MONTGOMERY said, that as the
yeas and nays had been required he
shou.d exercise the right al ass, gring rea-
sons FOR the vote he was about TO give.
This bill provided for extraordinary ex-
pcnscs incurred IN the navy department
since the 22d June last; these emtraortli-
nary expenses had resulted from che cow
ardiy attack COMMITTEE by the Leopard on
the Chesapeake. This act, marked with
such daring and atIocious circumstances
had excited the detestat,on o every Anne
ricln one sentiment on this subject per-
yaded the Union. The President o. the
UniCed States had adopted firm, energetic,
and digui1ed measures on the occasion
amongst others those which had accustomed
the expenses for which tn s bill provides.
He had heard no complaint that the con-
duct osthc Executive was defective ether
in prudence or energy. He was authoriz-
ed, aud he exercised the authority vested
in him by law, TO call out the marine corps
10 its full cunpleme ut. He had exercised
the authority gwen 10 him by the act OF 1906,
in preparing the gun boats for service the
sense. of the nation and the EFFICIENCY of the
times called upon him 10 DO so. Other ex
peuses incident to calling out the marine
corps and manning gun-boats, were con-
prIsed ulder the different articles of cloth
ing, &c. These extraordinary expenses
th President was authorized to incur tLe
sta.e o! the country justified him in eXer-
cis'ug that authority, and Mr. NJ was of
opinion that tbs honor of the nation called
upon the Il use 20 make the appropriation
Thtn, as - these extraordinary expenses
which had been Incurred, there could be
10 difficulty their honor was at stake for
the payment There was another item
which he presumed would meet with as
little GEicu,ty any other: he WIS in
structed ,oS3y, as 4 menber Of the commit
tee OF ways and means, that the troUisions
spec aed ~ the bill were used by the Mill
tia called out for the protection of The port
most IN danger. Was there any member
in Ihe House who would hes ta,e 80 make
an appropriation OF 81 600 dollars for that
purpose -
~ yhfs important juncture, when our
country was in danger, the Executive had
cXaniued the statc ~ the several depart
lnents in the war department there were
sufficient supplies af military stores; in the
navy department there were none, except
a few pounds ii powder. At this alarm
ing crizlS, the country being threatened
with war, the pco le looked up to the y e.
sident for c1ergc'iC conduct: lie did not no
state 10 make expenditures 70 supply these
neccssaries FOR the department. OF rhe
navy department there was more rcquwed
thnn Of the war department, because the
outrage had been cOmClt,ed on the oceau.
Wat more prudent, more correct conduct
than that of the President could be wished,
or what more could the people expect, than
that he should have made these necessary
provisions Of ordnance and military stores,
an ] timber for gun-boats The President
had judged 1t eXpcdient 10 make prcpara-
top and the state of affairs had called
for waVlike attitude for, said Mr.. NJ
We have learnt from our departed Wash
ingtOn, that to command tcaCe we must be
prepared for war; the President had act
ed upon this principle, which the House
would no doubt approve. There was no
law az that time, nor had any law yet been
passed, to authorize the purchase Of these
articles but the President of the United
States when his country was in danger,
hesitated not TO take upon himself the ere.
dit and proper responsibility. Upon these
items what was the language cf the Pre-
sident Of the United States, contained in the
message delivered to MS Strong and for
chile, and clearly showing the necessity
for mourning these expenses; " The mo-
ment our peace was threatened, deemed
iiindispcn5 .beto se,ure gre4jer prOvis o
OF those articles Of military stores, with
which our magazines were not sufficiently
furnished. To have awaited a previous
and special sanction by law, would have
lost occasions which M ght not be rctricv-
ti. lid not hesitate therefore 90 autHo-
rise engagements for such supplements to
oar existing stock as would render It ade-
qaatg 10 he emergencies threatening MS
and trust THAI The Legislature feeling the
same anxiety for the safety OF our ountry
80 materially advanced by this precaution,
VIII approve when done, what they would
have seen 50 importan. to be done, if then
assembled"
Nr. w. hoped his trust was we'll found
ed ; that tie legislature, feeling the same
anxiety ior The public safety so materially
prom I'D by THIS prccaution, would de-
clare that this was what they wonld have
done had they been in session. He asked. |
had the President Of the United States |
passed over this great emerrercy, and
allied % maze these preparations, ought