Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-14

| tor fatigue duty of those soldiers engage
ed in making military roads. With re-
speci 10 the expenditure, then, which bad
| taken place under Executive authority, il
had been authorized by appropriations
| made forthat purpose, OF willihe distinct
understanding that they were to br 20 ap
Piled. II amy mcmher would compare
the present estimate with The former APP
preparations Tor contingencies. he wossid
lind very considerable dtminulion. Ap-
preparations Tor contingencies, however,
wee only intended Ia expenditures
mol previously authorized by law, and
Which could mol be ioreseen SO as TO be
provided FOR: but, where an expenditure,
like HAT on reads, for example, can be
anticipated, The object shoulit he distinct
i stated III ihr appropriation. When,
hnwever, ii sum has been appropriated,
in,der an esilmaie that one branch of il is
made necessary by the extra expenses oil
The dtiaciimeuis OF the army employed
IN making roads, Mr.. l.. SAID lie could
not conceive that amy censure could al
tar 10 The Executive for applying tn.
money So appropriated TO that object. 1t
Was AN usual practice for committees,
particularly for those Which had an undue
portion OF labor 10 perform, TO include
under one head. or ~ one bill, provisions
MtiCh ought 10 be divided INTO several
Tins coarse. loo, frequently was proper,
AZ conducting 10 mcviiy aud convent
euce. Whist lie thought the committee
not censurahle for moi having Introduced
separate appropriation IN the former
lans for this object, i, MAS fair 10 say that
he should consider II perfectly proper
now 10 make II d distinct item, because
il,c principle was important, and because
there Is avery great difference OF opinion
with respect 10 the coBsiiiuionalit, OF
the power. He did moi see thai there
VAS any particular urgency requiring HE
House toaci upon the biIi forthwith, and
lie therefore hoped time would he given
10 obtain The requisite information on Tie
subject.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Virginia, said, as
reasons had been Offered why tie com
niitlee should not now &C, or this srrb-
jeci, he desired leave 10 submit 10 the
House some of The reasons which would
influence his vote. He WAS IN favor Of
cnGuiring, by a distinct call on the pro-
per Department, whether the Executive
continues 10 TO tlia, which he has denied
tia, The Congress OF the United States
has Tie power 10 do. 1; he had no other
reason, he would vote for Ike commiitee's
rising, Ia get al lhls iaci. Mr.. J was dis
posru to protest, loo, against ot1ey doc
irlncs he had heard to-day. Wcare told,
SAID he, that we lave right TO impeach,
bui Thai we have no right 10 censufe the
President. For one, | claim the right.
This is The grand inquest OF Tie nation
aDd tins House has tie right Ia censure
any and every officer, from the President
ol The Un,icd States down-to the most
snbcrd'nalcinp public employ. He claim
ID The right, lie repeated; he represented
portion at the people oi ,i'is country
aud whatsoever, IN lis Judgment, any
officer OF this ernmet should do
wrong, il lie wrong amounted not 10 an
aci Tor which he would be i,aiil, 10 legal
prosecutions. if lie (alr j helieyei him to
he wrong, he claimed thciigh,. and would
exercise lie right, of consuming him. IL
is important, said he, that we should en-
ercise il: we represent The people we
speak their voice; their v0lrc Shall be
heard; that voice shall ard will be obey
ed. Mir. J. went OH 10 show other rea
Sous Why the committee should rise, found
cd on Ike defect of Information before
tie Euuse, particularly as 10 The expen-
diiurcs for making roads. Whai did
these roads COS! last year? What have
they coSi since you began them I These
were questions Ia which answers were re-
CURED bciore he gave his consent, &c.
lie Was sufpi'> ed that such information,
as welt as at The amount expected 10 Dc
applied Ia that object during tie ensuing
year, was rot in pcSstssion oil the com
0'riec OF ways and means. lie laid il
doTn as a sound axiom IN government,
never 10 render that contingent, which
can lie made certain. If, he SAID, we could
iOresee all The expences Of the govern
neni, and provide specifically for each,
II would he best. Some objects ofexpen-
diiure were SO uncertain as not 10 admit
Of That course. But, il was seen al a
glance that there was no reason why the
appropriation for making roads should
be included in The contingent fund. His
honorable colleague was in favor of in
creaslng the appropriation when made
specific. Mir. J. ON the contrary, desired
| II TO be made specific, that l,e might vote
| 10 strike ii out altogether. There should
mol BIZ appropriated 10 thai object, by his
vote, one dollar. nor fraction of a dol.
lar. He had, al The aSiscssion, perform
ed v"ry humsle par, in enGeavorin9 10
| assign the reasons why he thought the
constitution had not given The power 10
Congress 10 make reads. Having given
that vote, he could not now give a vote
10 sanction an appropriation which he
believed would be a violation of that in.
s'Fllment which gave 10 Congress iheir
being, aud conferred on them their pow
ers.
Mr.. SMITH said lie was much bound
10 The poliieness Of The honorable Speak
or, fos ile notice yesterday gwen him, as
The gentlemen had to-day informed lle
House, thai he should call for certain in
formation respecting one o! NE items of
| appropriation in lie bill. Inconscluencc
ofihai iniimaiion, Mr. 5. said, l'c had adj
dressed Il letter TO The Secretary OF War,
iowbicli lic had just received an answer,
4. :. L. Il