The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-08-15

fest iHeo1siste nees ;---and ~ .an cxpianGi:c1
was, not afforded within the walls Of Cong ress
will give one out Of the walls. First let me
ask what was the estimates upon which the
appropriation law was passed IL was the es-
mate Of the 10th Feb. l8O9--that estimate
stated that there was required, and Congress
accordingly appropriated (see estimate and
laws u States, v. p. 29o) For pay and
subsistence Of the officers and pay of the sea-
men 1928, ,o77-and yet Mr.. Randolph states
that it was S2e6,ooo. This is very trifling
errour on the part of the Hon. Member to be
sure--it amounts only to 8 ,o27,O77, in one
item Of naval appropriation. Reader, remem-
ber that Mr.. Randolph was the chairman of
the Committee Of the House of Represents
tives of the u. States to bring in bill for the
reduction of the navy, and then ask yourself
whether you think him excusable for these
numerous palpable mi,tatements. To me it
appears that it was his duty-Yes, Sir, bis
bounden duty--to have possessed n mself OF
accurate Information, and to have given such
information to the House. This plain, farmer
like, honest mode OF proceeding did not how
ever suit the particular views of the Hon.
Member-he had his object, and appears to
have been determined to accomplish it with
out regarding the means.
When, Mr. Randolph stated that the esti-
mate for the pay and subsistence OF the off,
GERS and seamen for the year 1909 was only
S296,00o, he knew, or he ought TO have
known (the laws and the publick reports were
open to him) that he was referring not to the
estimate upon which the appropriation law
was passed, but TO an estimate prepared in
the fall OF the year, l8O8, and in which the
employment of 925 seamcn only was contem-
plated. lie knew or ought TO have known, that
after that estimate was prepared, Congress by
an act OF the list Jan. 1903, passed an act
authorizing the employment of an additional
naval force (see u 9. n. 2o6) directed that
the frigates President, United-States, Essex
and John Adams should be fitted out and
manned /; and that the same act authorized
and empowered the President to equip, man
and employ in actual service many of the
other publick armed vessels, then laid up in
ordinary, an1 gun-boats, in his Judgment
the publick service might require and that
by the 2d section of the said act the number
! OF midshiprnen was augmented 800, and
the number Of seamen $500. And Mr..
Randolph knew, or ought 10 have known
that upon the passage OF this law, new esti-
mate was prepared and transmitted TO Con-
gress under date Of the 10th Feb 1909 and
he knew or ought to have known that it was
upon this estimate that the appropriation law
OF 3rd of March, 1909, for the service of
that year, (sec . 9, n. 29l) was passed !; and
that by that estimate il was stated, that Tor
the pay and subsistence of the officers and
pay OF the seamen, the sum Of 81 ,323,077
was required, and that by the law above quo
ted that sum was accordingly appropriated
(scc b. 9, n. 29O)--and vet in the face of all
he knew, or Of all he ought to have known,
Mr. Randolph has permitted himself to say
that the sum estimated WIS only S2s6,ooo.
AMERICANUS.
(7o be continued