Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-24
I12 10 Gents Single

= IylVen them MS sanction, because tue courses
5 WAS obvious. Bat in the report OF the ccui-
b mittec OF investigation made 10 tie House
: in 1902, this proceeding had been declared
= irregular and the Secretary ot the Navy
? in his letter to that committee, ad~cx-
!pressly made representations OF various
errors in the Treasury Department, IN app
= IphCations of money. This being the case +
was IT not proper that the House should
understand the mode in which this had
been done Whether any money had 5eCn
Idrawn out of the Treasury, and how cot at
Mr.. Q. had meant to cast no imputa-
tion on the bill. There were two things 10
he considered; one. the correctness OF the.
lend, the other the oircctness OF thsa
means to that end. He believed it had
Ibeen proper, under all circumstance
| for the Executive to take measures tor
providing those means hut did 1T fellow
that the House shoeiu authorize them with
cut information on the subject They
should know the particulars /; they should
| ask for them. Did the House know any
thing about it No. The gentleman FROM
Maryland who had just spoke had stated
that no money had been actually paid and
yet the Secretary Of the Navy states expii-
city Z" we have consequs ntly EurchaSe6
all that has becn offered for sale at rea-
sonable price" What payment had been
made for the purchase he should like to
know.
Mr.. Q. said he had no objection to the
object Of the bill but wished to be enabled
20 give,his full and perfect approha tion TO-
the measure. At present lac could only
give half way assent; but could not say
the whole course had been correct. II any
reflection were cast on this occasion, il
should he on the committee who had repor-
ted the bill.
Mir. w. KLsToN said, the question was
as he understood it, wht ther the House.
would pass 4 law for deiraying the ezra
ordinary expenses which had been jncurs
red IN certain events. TO him the Ciiscus-
sion which had taken place was the NEST
extraordinary which he had ever witness
ScG. Instead Of coming forward and OPP
posing this measure; gentlemen employ
themselves in juStifying their conduct ofa
former occasions, and abusing the atrninis-
tration. Hthey wish to arraign the Exccu@
tive or any Of its acts, let them come ter
ward in manly manner, and lay a reso@
luton on the table for the purpose: and
not arraign their conduct, While tliey Sane
ton the measure. This was the proper.
way, and If he were displeaSed with tia
administration it was the course which lie
would pursue. Was it fair for gentlemen
who approved its conduct, to propose mea.
sures which would cast a censure upon G.
very step which had been taken He tho't
not.
The gentleman who had Just set down,
had said, that he wished 10 cOncealment,
ne wanted information. Surely that gen.
tleman had not read the estimate from the
Secretary Of the Treasury laid ON their la
bles for in that he might find ample in@
formation; 1t stated the very articles f,r
which these expenses had been incurred.
1t had been SAID there was no Law to coytT
this expense: no person denied that. T.a
it d question material TO the House whctper
they were paid for or not, or # paid for
whether ont OF any particular hppi cpriat.@
ous The prices given for the parteuiar
articles were shewn tn them there we've.
merchants in the House who knew what
the price of these articles should bc he
presumed that if any extraordinary price
had been given, some gentleman would
have said 81.
1t had been said hattie President should
have called Congress, and not have violate
cd the laws oi his country He thought this
the greatest emergency that had ever &C.
Cured and that We we're now better prc-
pared to decide on the important question
of peace or war, than at the monielt y h ~
the event had taken place which called
them together: The course winch had
been pursued would be sanctioned by ali
prudent men, and fly this course warhad
been averted, the voice of the nation V ou.d
approve Il. The cases which he had heard
cited did not apply, for in the present case
there had been no improper application IF
public money what contracts had Been
made it was not for him to enquire, but 10
appeared that rot a cent Of money had been
drawn from the Treasury without appro~
lpriation.
Mr.. CHANDLER remarked that The etn~
Ijiomen from Massachusetts and Vireirin
HAD argued much OH the subject Of this an
lrropriation. Their Whole argument had
gone TO shcw, that it was imtrcpei.t0 aDriy
lmcney toone Purpose which had been sporo-
llriated 70 another orat all 20 apply mou.y
(which had been appropriated. 1t appear.
led to him that the present case diftred
livery much from that Of applying moncY
lwilhout previous appropriation there had
lbeen no money applied. The exjgcucy of
ithe country, in the opinion Ct the EyCcu-
Tive, required these contracts TO- be made.
They had been made bur no money had
lbccn paid. The gentleman from NosFa-
Ichusetts wished 90 be told the difference
between paying for an artiols ard purcha-
.ls.ug It the distinction vas obyious an arti-
lce may be burcfaee9 to-day and ,iqid fy.
Tomorrow. lie must confess that ~ this
lease he could neither see misrepresentation
Tor nisapplication.
A. Lt.t. cold de b.J ,-,1...t.,,..t 49,,