Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-12-08
G ON G r E S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MoHDAY, Novembu so.

!; DEBATE on The yebsrt Of The committee Oh
/ ioggressions. Recommending abprobria-
tons for The defence of our sea1b0ris.5
(coNTINyED
! Mr.. Thomas said that the committee
q a declared ia their resolution, that they
would an.horise the presidents to erect such
fortiRca,ions as would preserve dse re-
snect 10 the national authority; and be
had 30 doubt, after having made this de-
claration, they would ell the blank with
any sum that might be sufficient 70 effect
| the object. He did not mistrust the in-
tena;ons of the committee; he believed
they would make liberal appropriation to
I this object, and was sorry that his colleague
t (Mr. Gardenier) had raised TO view SO
many visionary fabrics. Mr.. T. did not
think that either The legislature or exccu
tive had been dilatory, as that gentleman
seemed 20 think. II was known thatthere
had been last year 40 appropriation of
|! 500. 900 dollars for the contcmp plated pur.
pose; the secretary of war had employed
as many laborers as he had been able to
procure in the erection Of forts at New
York aud Other places, during the past
summer; and balance Of this money yer
remained unexprnded. The committee
had declared through their chairman that
some part of the appropriation called for
in case of war, would be expended in so
precipitate a manner, as no, to form per.
! ynsnent Notifications. He did not believe
that the position was correct. tina, they
ought TO make as large an appropriation for
peace as for war; because 10 case of war
tit would be absolutely necessary to rein.
force those fortifcations already erected
by considerable additions. He had no
objection now 70 Fill up the blank; but he
thought the pledge contained in the reso
luton was sufficient. as il declared posi-,
lively that they would etec. the desired
object.
Mr.: quincy merely rose to express his
wish tina, the chairman Of the committee
would make some proposition az to The
sum. He was Of opinion with the gentle.
man from New York, that to ascertain the
sun be appropriated was the object Of
Egoisg into committee Of the whole.
Mr.. Alston hoped thar 10 this stsge Of
the business no sum would be applied it
was enough for the house now 70 say whe.
Their they would or would not ajopt the
principle contained in The resolution. The
question Of how much monty was no., ia
his mind, the greas question for if they
passed law ease.uallyto protect our ports
and harbors, il followed Of course ,hatihey
would appropriate a saficien, sum 10 an.
swer the purpose. The sun, however,
had been spoken of, and the .g.ntlemau
from New York and Massa chusetts seem
ed 10 favor of filing the blank immediate
| ~; from what had fallen from The gen,le-
man from New York Mr. Gardenier) he
was Induced to belev~ that no member Of
the house could propose a sum suficen, 10
satisfy him. That gentleman appeared 10
be iul! Of inuec,ivet and abuse against the
government. Wasisto be expected that
the house you'd accommodate itself to the
wishes Of that gentleman when conveyed
10 such lsneuage. He hoped the house
! would pursue its usualcoufse. aud decide
FIRST ca The principle when the bill was
brough. 10, the blanks mightsbe filed, the
question being frs, taken on The larges,
sum, which would no doubt be proposed
by the gentIeman from New York. He
hoped other gentlemen 10 The house were
/ quite as well aisposed TO defend their conn.
Etr. as the gentleman from New York {;
they might rot, perhaps. talk 50 much. BIZ,
! would manifes, their dispositions by their
acts.
Mr.. Blou,af said the committee had con.
templaIed the eifec,ual protection of our
ports and harbors, and directed their atten.
ton particularly 20 that ubisc1. The in.
formation which had been gwen them did
not contemplate q system of Jsfence by for