Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-15
CONGRESS.

tReporfed for the National I,iteIIigencer :.

On additional appropriations fo, the support
Of the Nary for 1919.
Mr.. M ERcER SAID, as The remarks Of
the honorable Chairman OF the committee Of
ways aud means had been evidently designed
as reply TO the question which he had the
honor OF putting To- him a preceding day
II became him, Mr.. NJ. said, TO address, on his
part, some explanatory observations to the
committee.
1t had been no part of his intention, MIR. NJ.
said, to impnte blame to the Executive tor
what had been done in relation TO the slave
trade, but rather to complain of what had been
totally neglected, or too long delay ed-the
execution OF this act of the last Congress pro
vIding additional restraints upon thai detesta-
bic traffic. lie had been urged TO make that
complaint, by the fact which he well knew
that no squadron, not even all armed vessel.
had yet sailed for the coast of frica although
he had heard one of his honorable colleagues
declare il TO be his intention TO move the re-
peal OF the act of the last Congress on account
of the expense to which il had put the nation :;
aud a clause III "a late report of the Secretary
OF the Navy seemed to furnish some color for
such motion. He wished MIR. NJ. said, to
sustain, not TO condemn the expenditure
winch, II now seemed. has beeu incurred for
tins purpose TO prove that II was authorised
| by existing laws and that IT, in the application
of the public money the naval expenditure for
the current year has exceeded the general IT,
| preparations to That inStrRment OF national de-
fence. such excess Is imputdbiP to any oihe r
4
on which IL has been specifically charged in
| the course of The late debate.
In addition to the detailed history of the
| origin of this act, which had been given 10
| the house by bis honorable friend Mr. FlOyd
| on yesterday, Mr.. Nj. said lie had not forgot
| ten, and should ever take bride in remember r.
| ing, that, III the passage of that ACT through
| this house, he had, almost upaSsiSIed, to en-
| counter opposition from various quarters, and
| especially from the honorable member who
| now pTesides ~ this committee, MR.. NelsOA =
| and from another of his honorable colleagues
| i lie honorable member from Maryland had
| SAID, doubtless with tile intention OF embracing
| him, (" that the friends of this act had their
| Oh, ects IN view"
They were, sir, most palpahly expressed by
| the act itself-tO put down that detestable
irafhc, which, attracting TO its support the
most prOfiigaie adventures of our own colln-
| try,alOng with The outcasts OF the whole world
has borrowed, within The present wear, the
flags OF Portugal and Spain, to spread its raw
ages TO an almost unprecedented extent.
| do yet complain, said Mr.. NJ. that, since
the passage OF the act designed to terminate
for ever this abOminable commerce, nine eu.
tire months have been expended in inetieCtu
efforts TO FIT out small squadron TO sweep the
coast of Africa of these VOlatOTs of all human
rights. Bat, while do most positively den,
that SUFFICIENT, or indeed, any apology what.
soeveT, can be found for this delay in tie al
legged defects of the act III question, do cer
taiHly cOnteud that no reprOach can attach II
the Executive for the appropriation made Il
tile repairs of the squadron destined for th
service. 1.-THE honorable Chairman of th,
committee OF ways AID means will allow me,
will furnish what deem better defence 0
this application of the public money than h,
has himself supplied.
| The act of the last Congress placed tn
whole NAVY Of the United States al The dlspO
sal Of the President for the purpose of cap
turing every American vessel which might b
| found engaged in the African slave trade I
neither enlarged nor diminished the geuria
! appropriation 10 the maintenance OF the Navy O
the United States. The act, passing rs il did
with the support Of a large majority Of Til
Houte, and the almost unanimous voice Of ~
, Senate. certainly contained recommendation
/ TO the President, to employ part OF The nava
force OF the country in tie service pointed on
{ by The act itself Bnt the President of tie I
states IS, under the Constitution, and indepeT
dent OF our anth rity, Commander ~ Chief O
, the Navy as we'll as of the Army OF The Unite
: states, and bound to employ both ia eXeculio
OF tue laws. We have long had feet in th
Mediterranean but where Is the specific AZ
| PFoPiiauoa 10 the maintenance of that squad