Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-11-18
G O N 6 R E S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY,, November 10.
!. DEBATE on Mr.. 6. w. CAMpBELI's
motion flip the bill on ths napat esta g
Eskment.
(coNTINuEp.)
Mr.: Smile said, the gentleman from
Massachusetts, bad enquired, whether mo !.
ney had been actually paid for these speei-
hc articles, or contracts only made Tor
them: on this point they could not satisfy
the gentleman. Ie though. the only ques.
ton on the passage ofthis bull was, would
the house cover these expenditures. by an
appropriation, or Dot: They had right
TO answer this plain question 10 the at
hrmatiye or negative: bot it appeared
doubtful whether they would answer it at
all. He thought be perceived from the
questions of the gentleman from Msssa-
chusets an Intention TO cast some imputa-
zion Of criminal nature on the president
OF the u. S. or on the secretary OF tbs
navy; whether such .criminality existed or
not, was not The question before the house.
Ii bad been customary, whichever the Sc
cre.aTy of the navy or any other officer Of
the government had made disbursements
which were not authorised, to cover them
by 40 appropriation. This question, there.
tore, did not necessarily involve any en-.
quiry of the kind which had been made.
He did not mean to point Out the psopri.
ETY. or impropriety of the arguments which
gen,lemenhai used: Hthey believed that
the conduct of the executive had not been
correct, they would not vote for the ap.
preparation. II had been said that con.
giess snpuld have beer convened immedi
ateiy it was true the presidents had right
to call them sooner if he had thought the
interest Of .he country required il, but he
had postponed the meeting till The ferMen
,ation should have subsidized, and an an
swer might have been received from Grea;
Britain so the demand which hsd been
made for PREPARATION. If he had convened
| them so early in the season as The month 81
! August they could not have come here 70
legisla,e without danger 10 their health.
hIr. S. was 10 favor Of he specific sp,
preparations, and asains, the practice o!
! drawing money from th= treasury wi,hoe
appropriation previously made bu. every
| gentleman knew that there were cases il
which this form mus, be dispensed with,
andin this instance be ,haugh. the eircum
stances Of tbs case ja.iked The measures
adopted.
Mr.. Dana perceived i was nos 10 ihe
/ power of the chairman Of the committee
OF WAYS and meaDs &c answer the cnquiries
(which had been made, because he would
not PERM, himself 10 ndulge a slough
/ that he possessed the desired informatioa
aud vet wilhnstdis. He though, that the
wan,o this information might lead TO a
miss,ateme Of facts aud though he did
20. pretend 10 be 10 the secrets OF the ca
I binet, he was inclined 10 the OPINION tina;
q fall disclosure wouiG be more Satisfactory
! 90 rhe house, TO the execp i've, and TO the
people. III this were made, they would
4 be denied the liberty sfrcving at will, con,
iec,uring az they chose. But, said he, are
we DOT called upon TO grant money, and
4 shall we not enow for what purpose! Docs
she president call upon ns for 40 appropria
| ton, aud shall we no, have leave 10 co
quire what expencss ills intended 10 cover
The very act they were aboutso pas. was
deelaratory of their APPRECIATION Of III.
condns ofihe executive they were there
| fore entitled to Information on the sabisc,