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


arrclo- before he conld give this bill his
fall assent. AT present he was in Egypu-
an dHrkness; IN obscurjty SO great as to he
tarri',ie tbs being his sitoaiion, it was
doubt'ul whether any ray Of iisht ref S'ed
by reason, could reach his optical nerve
there could be no doubt but ais mind was
ciouded. for had he read three lines more
Ut the letter Of the Secretary o. the Navy |
70 the committee, a part III winch he had
Just read, hc'wouid have found the very /
Inform ttion he wanted: " we have cpnse-
quently purchased ali that has been offered |
for sale at a reasonable price. For that |
stated IN the estimate We have given DIFF !
ferent prices, the lowest OF which has been
is, and the highest Is cents per 10. For
powder, cannon, cannon bali, copper, CAM
vas aud cordage, we have contracted at the
ordinary market prices"
Here they found the prices which were
given for salt-petre the other articles
w're purchased at the market price. Did
the gentleman wish the House TO return
the le:ter % the Secretary, ia ask what the
market prices were Sut ely not Mr. y
conceived the cniy question now As wac
Their 1t was eXpCdient to make the apnro-
pration, ct was at their op,inn) or with
hold Il, The money had not been paid
pncha3G on his own responsibility yet the
gentleman from Massachusetts Thought the
money WIS actually paid bee use purchase
implied payment; the gentleman might,
as professional man, have found very
plain distinction between purchase and
p 'yHent The same gentleman had said,
thnt the Executive III the present instance
had exceeded the powers delegated by the
Constitution much more than had been done
by his tavorite adm niStratioB IN the case
c.,cd ny the gentleman from Virginia Mr..
Nbdnioipn). Mr. thought very Gliler-
entiY. In Chat case money appropriated
FOX one object was taken from it and an
piled 20 another: in the present case No
money had been drawn from tie Treasury
no money had been paid.
The gentleman from Virginia had re-
minded them Of the me lsures 5dopted the
hrst session OF the 9th Congress, to which
he attributed the late outrage committed
by British ship on ono of our public arm
ell vessels. MIR. +. called upon the Hcues
70 decide whether the measures then pur
sued pr0sckcd, or the conduct of the then
NJ noity IN Congress invited this outrage
that minority which enleavorcd to distract
and weaken the counscls Of cur government.
vAo detained against al! oppasti-
;ae British navy was the only barrier be-
twsan us and universal desp1tism. These
things circulated and were read with avn
d'ty in that country, and no doubt Induced
thHr ntioN to believe that there was a
strCnS plrty N this country in her favor.
and that She might insult rs with ;mDunity.
Bat, thank God said Mr. : the ndIrr4-
t!pn expressed ny the country on the late
outrage vii! Convince them of the error III
10 which they had fallen.
Mr.. U?HAI asked the patience Of the
committee, while he maize few remark
Hc believed thatthere was a general con-
curre0cc II opinion, that the Executive
had no right 70 appropriate money Tor any
OBJECT not authorized by the legislature;
tie legislature had aot authorized III. ma
King contracts az purchases bat as the
general priac'cle or Apr priation was nor
CONTESTED, It became a question whether
more gocd II evil would nave resulted from
Calling Congress tcgct: r previous to ma
kiaS these preparations. Upon whole
we" O the subject, and as it WAS necessary
e. send . vessel Win dispatches to England
ana ALLOW time for is return, IT was per
h5Ls better foT the President 70 act as he
hei done.
lie believed that it vas unanimously a
2 80 W Ni4t l!tN.'L4y tN.L " tle ENT!isl -~-
vcranfnt had cirec5cd he search 81 na-
t0hdi ship. IL was cause Tor war; there
WAS no question but sn aggression had be 81,
committed by searching a national saip BY
ia-~e aud IL appeared from the letter
fron admira! Berkeley 20 captain Hum
phTeFs, that il was done by order Thi.I
beng an erCroaChmert on the avs and uSs
gcs ut nations, he DID not wish il 70 be I'M
terstovu tina, ae though: it improper 70
MAKE these preparations to resent il. But
If they permitted thciroiiCers tomake con-
tracts unauthorized, 1.-THE Legislature were
net @ eXa mnc into and scyutinizc these
things, they might conceive they had p
rieSit TO act ~ this manner, aud it would
become a matter Of course for them To do
SO rs to the genera! principle ;hCn ,hcre
could be no que Licn but lie believed with
the gentleman from Virginia, that there
might De case where 1t would be Deces-
sary to make preparations before the legis- |
iaiurs could &c called aud in chat case
theie should be 30 sort Of reluctance 10 !
sauction su h measures; at the same time. !
were 1t possible, Il might be safer TO cali |
Congress together.
U6"er every Circumstance Of tbe case.
however, he was inclined n believe that |
tLe Executive had acted correctly in this /
case; al the same time that he thought |
t"erc Was no improperly IN making tnouj
res ~ to particulars. He concluded bv
ols'"S uhat ne should vote for tile bill.
(DebIte 70 be continued }
TR1R5oAr %avember u.