The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-09-19


is the tendency of this charge made by ,bi
member Admit it, and you seal your owl
character for those very qusiitics-for no par
of the nation displayed more Of that kind O
prodigaliiy and waste than you did. Yo,
were prompt to enrol yourselves into miitar,
corps you were the first 10 take up arms il
defence OF opr sovereignty. Noble, patriot
ick volunteers, how prodigal and wastefu
were ye and what prodigai wastefuI gov
ernmenl, 10 purchase arms to put into you
hands to defend your principal city ther
threatened with bombardment.
Cold, calculating men may say--these pur.
ehases were made without the previous au.
thority of law. True but where they there.
fore unjusti6able !! Where they therefore i'm.
proper !--Improper to incur expence, in dc
fence of our property, our lives, and our Sow
ereignty, because Congress, not foreseeine
the ncncssity, had voted no money for that
purpose / do humbly trust in Heaven, iha,
there is not one American who touid for q
moment harbour a sentiment SO debartng.
Whatever Mr.. Randolph may .hink oil
these purchases, there was, thank Heaven,
large majority of Congress that approved
them may they went further, for before
the session Of ] 8o7--s closed, they voted
100000 dollars for the purchase of an addi-
tional quantity of salt petre.
For the year 1903, Congress made such
provision for the Navy service, as they, H.
their wisdom, deemed expedient for the pub
lick good and the Navy Department execu-
ted their will.
The expenditures did not, it is believed,
exceed the appropriations. Of the expendi-
lures of the year 1909 enough has already
been said.
Before close my observations, allow me
brie Ny to notice the expenditures under the
head of contingencies. Al one time Mr.
Randolph charged the late Secretary of the
Navy with prodigality and waste in his expen-
dlturcs under that head (; and he caused q cali
of Congress upon the Department, for info,-
nation az TO these expenditures, calculating
no doubt, that such information would enable
HIM to prove the charge beyond ali doubt.
The Information was given IN all it's detaiis
from accounts actually settled and yet M.
Randolph in his Speech never once referred
to 1t ! He took occasion to thank Heaven that
he mad the whole subject before him. Why
did he not refer 10 that information, upon
which he had previously So much relied He
had calculated, that he would thence be ena-
Dled to furnish key TO the popularity of the
late Secretary OF the navy, and that il woulu
be found in indulgcncies and extravagant pc-
cuniary allowances to the officers. Gentlemen
will tell you why he did not notice this in
formation, He found, to his as,onshment,
that the whole amount expended, for officers
travelling expenses, their attendance at the
office on the publick business, and for every
nf he. al a
fcers, was, tor period exceeding eight years
46.796 dis. al cts ony--.-or less than 5000
dollars annually. Hence it would not nave
suited his purpose to have adyer,ed 20 that
subject. He suddenly shifted his ground,
ana as we have seen, got entaDgIed in sub
lects, which he did not understand, and in
ne discussion OF which he committed the
blunders which it has fallen to nv
ot TO expose. Mr.. Randolph, you now know
hat 1t was not by pecupiary indulgences and
'xtravagant allowances, thar the late Secre-
airy OF the Navy rendered himself 50 unive,-
sally esteemed and beloved by the officers OF
he navy 1t was by acting on all occasions
n spirit which you profess to be dear 70
our heart" The true and genuine spiri, OF
genteman"--a spirit, which the officers OF
ur navy, than whom you profess none to be
more worthy OF you esteem, knew and felt |
ow to appreciate
have now done with the speech of Mr.. !
randolph upon the question OF reducing the |!
Savy oi the United States. Many of his err
ours are exposed to you, In performing this |
npleasant task, | may, | trust, without yan,-
7, be permitted to say, that my only mofive
AS the fu6hck good.