Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-12

rect which had alreauy 10 sAc1S 49, !,
been carried into execution, and which
was Of great national Importance, he was
in favor Of insisting on the amendment. -
He was opposed to stopping the expedition
at the Bluffs approving the policy OF It,
as originally projected by the executive, ne
wished the expedition prosecuted 10 the
Mandan Villages, At least. This would
cost but little more and, if not granted.
that which had been already expended
would be almost thrown away, as the util-
ity ofthe expedition would be attained but
in small degree.
Mr.. King. of Alabama, did not think this
was question between the Council Bluffs
and the Mandan Vllages-that he thought
settled. But the question was, whether the
Senate should insist, and thus come to an
explanation with the other house, and see if
some intermediate sum betReen45o, 900 and
BOO, 900 dollars was not necessary to fulfil
contracts entered into by the government,
and in part performed by the contractors.
The expedition had been sanctioned by
congress in the appropriations OF :helast ses-
sion, and the executive bad made arrange
ments and engagements for carrying it into
execution, and Congress were bound in
good faith to make the appropriations neces-
sary to fulfil these engagements. He was
opposed to carrying the expedition further
than the Council Bluffs, and had he been
here when the appropriation was before
Congress at the last session, should proba-
bly, have been against the expedition alto
gether. But, having been authorised. he
wished all the contracts entered into in
consequence thereof, to be performed in
good faith by the government,
MIR. Eaton thought MIR. King mis-
taken as to contracts to be fulfilled by
the government. Mr.. E. remarked
that it was admitted, that if the expe-
dition proceeded no further than the
Council Bluffs, $4,000 dollars more
than the other House had appropriated
would be necessary for the Quarter
Master Generals departmental would
require but 10000 more to carry it as
far as the Mandan villages, as contem-
plated by the War Department. 1t had
been deemed proper by the committee
to grant this inconsiderable sum to the
Executive, to carry into effect IN impcr
tant political purpose. Mr.. f. thought
Congress ought to act on the principle,
not in immaterial matters to thwart the
arrangements intended by the Execu
tive for the public good. Whether the
object of tie executive would be attain
ed by this expedition, he could not say;
but he was willing. at SO small an ad
dltional expense TO afford the opportu-
nifty. He hoped the Senate would in
,ist m the amendment.
Mr.. Dana observed that the readi
ness with which the Senate had receded
from one of their amendments, gave
abundant eyiden that no pertinacify
of opinion operated here; and that a
refusal to give way on this point was
induced by firm conviction that this
amendment was essential to the public
good. MIR. ID. knew not that reduce
ton of the army would be the conse-
quence of the limited appropriation for
tie recruiting ser ice but if that was
the view in fixing the appropriation,
let the Senate come at once to the con
clusion that the army could be cut down
by Withholding appropriations, and con
form their practice to this new mode of
proceeding. &c.
The ques ion was then taken on in
sisting on the amendment, and was
deciGed in the affirmatiye-ayes 81,
noes l3.
On motion Of MIR. Otis conference
was asked of the other House, on the
disagreeing vote and Messrs. Sanford
Otis, and Dana were appointed mana
gers Of the conference on the part Of
the Senate.
The Senate then took up the disa-
greement of the other House to the "a
mendments of the Senate to the bill ma
king appropria ions to the civiflist, fer
the current year-and, on motion, re-
coded theretrom.
The bill to establish an eighth Cir
cult Court, to comprehend the state OF
Tennessee, was read the third time
and
On motion of Mr.. Williams, Of Ten.