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

$50
frtahton for the suffiort ofthe Navy.
(coN7TNUED.
Mr.. RANDOLPH hoped the time would
come; and that very soon; when we should
have an opportunity of going into a regular
discussion ~ the points touched upon by
the gentleman from Maryland, and OF some
others. He trusted that, in the first place,
the question would be regularly brought
before the House +; and the late experiment
had thrown considerable light upon the
Subject; whether the ". S. ought to main
tain navy, and TO what extent? Whether
an establishment which for years had pro
we'd moth in the public purse, and which,
when the exigency of the moment called
for its last exertions, had proved only a
conductor .oe dishonor to the nation, deser-
we'd IN be cherished with the tenderness
and supported at the expense, which had
hitherto been lavished upon it. He hoped
this question would be fairly met and as
fairly decided for strange rs it might APP
pear, this great point had never been di-
irectly settled, since the present adtIinis-
'tration came into Office, but had heretofore
been determined in an obiique, collateral
way. He hoped too the question would be
discussed how far the present state of our
political relations abroad, bad grown out
ot the proceedings OF the memorable ses-
sion of 1866, and how far (perhars this
might prove the only opportunity for such
ia discussiOn) the measures taken by the
Executive upon the capture OF the Chesa-
peaSe comportcd with the wishes and eX-
Ipectations of the people and with the max
inns of sound, dignified and enlightened
policy.
The gentleman from Maryland, who had
met
Icontended for Yesterday in opposition to the
practice of contracting public debts or eX.
pending public money Illegally, were in the
general good, but seemed TO consider them
liable to many and great exceptions. On
his subject he wonld produce an authori-
ty which would shew what had been the
opinion of ihe republican party, when they
were out of power. and how far it support
ed the doctrine which gentlemen had now
undertaken 20 defend. Here Mr. Z. quoted
IGallotn On the Finances of the IS. page
Isl. " Another irreguiarity has once Ia
ken place upon an extraordinary occasion.
Although the President of the y. S. was au-
Ithorised to call out the militia 10 suppress
Iinsurrectious, no nlonieS were appropriated
for that service. When the western in.
lsurrection took place, until COngsess had
covered the expenditures of that eXpedi-
Itlon by an appropriation made only on the
S1st Of Dec. 1894, the expenses were de-
srayed Out of the monies appropriated for
the military establishment. Yet even the
principle, by which the specific sppropri-
laticns for the several objects OF the militia
ry establishments have been considered as
4 general grant for the whole, could not
autnoriae The application OF = part OF that
grant to the expenses Of that expedition.
! No farther discretion had been claimed by
Virtue Of that principle than that Of indis.
tiBctiy applying the whole sum appropria.
ted by law TO any of the ob .ecls enumera
ted and specified under distinct heads il
the law itself. But, rs the militia calleC
cut to suppress AN insurrcction make NJ
part of the military establishment, the ex
\ penses attending such call were not a
4 nrong the various objects enumerated II
I the law making appropriations for the mi
llitary establishment. The monies draw
from the treasury on that occasion wert
paid out of a fund appropriated for otheI
end distinct purposes; they we're not drGsU,
ldgreer6Ly TO me constructor, in cohSc
iquenCe OF any appropri ton made by law
IL might be deject iH Hc iGU, authori
ling the expense, not t. have provided
the means 6Ht nat detect ahouid haU
been remedied ty fhe only comHcfeut az
lfhotftg, BIZ cD1fUen,Hg Congress. The ne
J Iccssity Of the measure, may, in the mine
r OF the executive have superseded every O
Their consideration. 1He HQfuidrify Ct III
! transacti0H'' (and lie might have adde,
, Iof the agent } :. may hare Mro7UH a pei
oUer itS iHegaify, bit ii shOHfd by no
mea,iS BE- drawn hereafter into precedent
Mr. Randolph believed thar the op.nin
{ which nc had Just read would bear hiu
: fully out IN the principles which he ha
= laid down yesterday as those Oh which tn
D old wnig or republican minority in Con
- gress had acted, on which they had spe
6 cifCally as well as virtually pledged them
j selves TO the nation to continue TO act, AM
which when they deserted they deserve
the depreciation Of every honest mind. :
. Can any mao pretend TO say that the ives
. tern in.lrrection, IN the very infancy q
. this government, presented case OF les
= public exigency than the capture Of th
d chesapeake? And yet the then PTesIden
{ of the u. $. for having illegally defFoyet
? the expense OF that expeditions, instead {
81 convoking the legislature and acting unde
= its authority, had deservedly received tn
+ censure not of the multitude, for the
were with him but of the thinking few
lie was condemned by the rejecting par
of the community and the system on whic
he acted, and which his successor had sub
scCucnuy pushed 60 the most eXtravagan
: lengths, was finally arrested by the publ
voice.