Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-20

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Of duty! AS these articles therefore had
been purchased because the interest and
safety of the country required them, and
the expenses had been incurred for the
public safety, tue House could not hest
tate to give their sanction 10 the appro-
priation.
1t had been asked by gentleman from
Massachusetts, whether these articles we're
actually paid for; if paid for oct of what
monies had the payment been made. AS
member of the committee of ways and
means, lie could declare that not one cent
had been actually paid. Il he President
mad said, that he had authorised engage
:nents for these articles the government
was pledged for them; and the House
were as strongly called on by faith and ho-
nor TO make an appropriation for them as
they We're bound to do IN the case of the ma
rine corps.
Mr. NJ. said it had been asked by ano-
cher gentleman, perhaps from Connecticut.
whether the timber mentioned was for gc-
neral navy purposes, ~ tor gun boats only !:
At thiS important crisis, when hostilities
were menaled, it had been Thought pru-
dent t. lay az stock of timber for buli-
ding gun bnats and u was accordingly done !;
but in having il up. it had been contracted
u
answer any naval purposes. II our differ
ences should be amicab.y settled, and il
was not required that gun-b rats should be
erected, IA" materials wuu,d still be on
hand for The use of The navy.
ii had been stated, he believed, by 4
gentleman from Virginia, that &ppropri-
atoms had been anticipated; chat this was
not the language he'd BY the President of
the United States or these the principles
defended ny. him in his FIRST communicate
az mad 20 Congress in 1901 Mr. NJ. said
he admired the principle laid down 10y the
/ gentleman appropriations shcnld never
b. anticipated but in extreme cases.
! The principle was in general correct; but
he would ask The gentleman from Virginia,
who bad taken this ground yesterday, a
case could not occur IN which it III sht be
! departed from? He would ask any gentle
man, need there exist a stronger case than
the present to justify such a departure I?
He believed not.
They had BEEN told by gentleman from
Connecticut, that in the manner in which
they were now acting, IN making appro-
priations, they were Iustilying the mea-
sure upon arguments rCsorted 10 by the
former administration. God forbid, said
he, that we should take any Of the princi-
! pies nf the former administration for our
rule OF conduct The present measure
stood on firm ground the exigeuccs Of the
times had JUSTIFIED the anticipate and
not the example OF che former ad sinistra-
| ton.
| They had been to d bya gentleman yes
terday, tiat our navy had been q sgraCetl
| 10y this outrage. 1 rue, if the officer of
the degraded vessel, instead ola verbal an-
Swer from the mouth Of his trumpet, had
sent metal one from the mouth OF his cam
non, the honor OF tue navy of the Unteo
! States would have been preserved That
officer and his conduct were now uGcer
investigation but from the courage, cha
ac,er, and patriotism Vi the othe ole, RI
OF our navy, the country might be assured,
that IT occasion offered, they wou.L retrieve
It's reputation.
| 1t had been said that the govcrumcn,
had received two marked insults from TO-
lreign powers; h p. esumed re case al
luded to was thar of he Spanish minister +;
| 1t he WAS wrong III this idea, ne W shed tu
be corrected. Tn minister Ueg4 n TO shew
ms Spanish airs TO Oh homlspun govern
ment he was informed that demand
would be made for his recall Vt 1t should
iDc thought thar ] am incorrect in this,
said jr VI. resort to the DtpAr ment Of
! = ate, where the facts may be obtained.
| " hat was tie conduct Of tn S ex minister ?
DID he dare 10 persist IN his inselence
! s"; he neamly soho ted cur government
Ia 20 write on or represent b conduct to
! the Spanish government Cur government
! gr@nted MS solicitations if they got rid
| OF him, II WAS immaterial in what manner.
! After he nad thus Obtained his point, what
! was his conduct He Came within the ci-
| ~ OF Washington, contrary TO the under
$ and ng VIII en- had taken piace Did the
government then put up with his behavi-
or! Tie reCe we'd, on the contrary, an m
'imsuon that s company would be dis
psuSed with. In the course OF a few DAYS
ne stu K off to Philade phia. Under such
circumstances, he presumed no American
would feel the dignity of the Nauon i1jur-
ed III this case
In the other case, it had been said we
had received blow and blow onb /!
No; murder had been commItted. The
reekinG blood or our fellow citizeus and the
insu.ted dignity Oft the nation called icr Sal
tIsfactory retribution, or speedy retalial, on.
Ii retribution is refused, then the consti IL
ton did not vest the power in the p esidcnt
Of the United States to resent the injury :;
it did vest it in the Congress Of the u
States II sucha crisis should take place,
they would meet II with energy and firm
ness, and use every eXeTtion to ehcce the
insult.
The present measure now under consi-
Iteration, said Mr. NJ. is the first defensive
y,,.oervo f,w0rarfpI f,,. rt,t. r,t.wr.;.. -.