Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-04

p
be a deficiency OF money II BE treasury.
But the gentleman from Pennsylvania haa 9
opposed, at alitimes. any re uction OF the
military establishment. MOI only SO, but the
gentIem IA had opposed every attempt to re-
duce the expenditures apperiaining to the
army Even the Yellow Stone expedition,
condemned by the deliberate judgment OF
this house, as not only useless and expensive
but dangerous the gentleman supported "
his vote.
Mr.. w said it was source of some HUE
consolation atleast, that ifthe tariff bill went
into operation, the army would be reduced
as matter of course. It would. 10 tnaI
state of things, be less necessary than II nao
been. and lis most determined advocates 10
this house would not any longer be able TO
sustain it. In any difficulties we might cal
culate on with Spain, there appeared to be
no occasion for the army in its present SIZE.
But thinking the reduction OF the army
would ensue, as a matter of course, upon the
passage of the Tariff bill, he should not now
saw any thing more on the subjec nor had
he provided any resolution specifically for
that object. The next branch Of public ex-
penditure rendered wholly unnecessary, if
the bill should pass, was the appropriation
for the gradualinerease of the navy.
Sir, it lis proposed that we adopt Chinese
policy; that we shall always stay at home,
and never go abroad. OF what use, then,
can be your navy? The navy was created
to defend your maritime and commercial
rights. If you have no commerce OF what
use can be your navy, tu defend the very
rights which you have declared you will not
exercise9 Mr.. w. said he would never a.
gree to tax his constituents, in the first place,
to support manufacturing establishments !;
and then to support an army and navy, rem
dered wholly useless and unnecessary by
the policy proposed to be pursued.
Mr.. W. said, further, that, when the COM
mercial interest suffers when their rights
are invaded, petitions flow in upon US are
referred to the committee on commerce, and
by that committee, are duly considered. Ii
any law is necessary TO provide for the COM
mercial interests, the committee report bill,
and ii is passed into law. Thus, the COM
,nercial interest is guarded and defended.
At this session, we have, also, distinct CON-
mittee ON manufactures. The mass of petit
tons and documents laid on our ia bles and.
above all, the bills reported by the gentle
man from Pennsylvania, tend to shew the
great vigilance with which the manufactur-
ing interest is guarded. Gentlemen say that
there are in this country, three interests, the
agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing.
And how happens it, sir. that the agriculu-
raj, the great leading and substantial interest
in this country, has no distinct committee /;
no organized tribunal in this House, TO hear
and determine on their grievances If the
commercial or manufacturing interests are
affected, the cry resounds throughout the
country remonsrances flow in upon us !;
they are referred to committees appointed
for the purpose of guarding them, and ade-
quate remedies are provided. But, sir,when
agriculture is oppressed and makes COM
plant, what tribunal is in this House, to hear
and determine on the grievance?
Now, suppose agricultural petitions
could not be referred to the committee on
manufactures The policy pursued by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania. who is at the
head of that committee, shews you that "a
gricuture can get nothing from manufac-
lures. Let US then have distinct and sep
arate committee on agriculture, to hear and
determine on the grievances OF which that
interest may complain. Sir. wish to hear
the agricultural voice of the country let
the farmers and planters speak. They con-
stitute an interest which to all other inte-
rests is ten TO one, twenty TO one, or one
hundred to one. They are patient and
long suffering, they will bear great deal
without murmur or complaint. But there
is point beyond which they cannot bear.
Beyond that point fear we are about to
go. For the purpose therefore of having
some tribunal before whom the agricultural
interest may appear, shall submit reso-
luton to establish committee on that
subject. They are the majority, they have
right not only TO be heard but to CON-