Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-03-17

W.
on consulting the documents on the Ia
Die, that already contract had been made
by The War Department for Notifications,
which would involve the expenditure OF
1900 0O. II was time, he said, 10 deter
mine whether confracts made by agents
oi TIE government, AT all times, for all
purposes. aud To amy amount, should be
considered as binding on the govern
neni.
MIR. Siorrs made some remarks on The
relative responsibility of this House and
at public officers, and OH The ease with
which II was sometimes evaded. For ex-
| ample, In the case of the public gun
powder loaned TO certain persons, the
Head of the Ordnance Department said
he had nothing TO do with il, but remou-
sifaled against il. Another officer in that
Department says il was done with the ap
probation OF the Secretary Of War-and
aiiunite IN saying that some part of the res
ponsbiiity for The transaction properly he
| iongea 10 an officer of the army who had
since been dismissed the service. MIR.
,. then proceeded 10 quote the senti-
men's contained IN the Inaugural Speech
ot The present President of the Uniird
States, on the ssbject of responsibility
and the duty Of the Executive I'm this res
pecf. With respect To the present House.
he said, II there had been any irregulari-
| tyor excess II the expenditure OF public
money, II was not TO blame for neglect in
preventing II; for no House he had ever
seen or read ofhad been so faithful in the
performance OF this part OF its duty as
ESQ tar) this House had been.
Mr.. BdldDin said he was in favor Of
tie sum proposed, because the faith Of
the governMentiwas pledged torso much,
and the state OF the Treasury was not
such as to require il 10 be violated. He was
| not disposed, lie said, to protect any Ex-
ecutive ofhcer in the abuse efpower: but
IN relation TO this subject OF fortified.
tions 1t is no more thanjust that the state OF
II should be fairly understood. He then
proceeded TO take review of the course
OF the government on This subject, from
the instrus'ions TO the board of Engi-
netrs 10 survey the coast, and their re-
port, TO the laying OF the same beforeCon.
gress, with all the plans of the for,itica-
flts,s and estimates of their probable ex
pense after which the sum required for
the then ensuing year, CSl9) was de-
hberaiely appropriated by Congress-
There are, Mr.. b. said, two ways in
which the sanction of Congress NAV be
given to any measure by passing a spe-
ciai law directing a thing 10 be done, or,
bS an appropriation for the purpose of
doing IL. With all the information ON
til subject before ,lem, and with "a full
know Wedge Of The extent of the plan for
The foriIfication of The Coast, the three
bran, hes OF Congress had passed an
| appropriation 10 commence the work,
| thereby raiiiying The plan. Previous %
tins act, no contracts had been made
alter It's passage, ii became the duty Of
| the Executive 10 60 OF 10 execute the
| work. Wit respect 10 the de ticlcney
IN the Revenue, Mr.. B. minated, Thai
that might be supplied, without r-suriing
10 elmer eli The three alternatives of the
Honorable Speaker. We own seven
millions OF stock III the Bank of The Unit
| ed States. Ii yields no dividend tlis
year, AMI bu, lille in the last. II we
| want money, said he, let us take fund
! OF no use 10 us, which brings us i'm no.
thing, ant which may be sold al nearly
l. par value. He was, he said. as other
gentlemen protested to he, friend 10
economy but true economy. He would
leave untouched every thing necessary
to The usual and regular operations of the
| SoveTnm' nj, and every thing which was
c0nBecied with ibe common defence and
| general welfare.
Mr. Butler, of Lou. made some further
remarks ~ favor Of The appropriation of
an adequate sum for the object now nnder
consideration. He again dwelt OH the
importance OF the foriificaiion on Dau-
piiin island. With regard to The sugyes
non OF the Speaker on this head, MIR. b.
SAID The port OF Pensacola, when In our
possession, will no more protect The bay
OF Mobile than the Notifications al New
York will protect the Delaware.
a. Ii.
favor OF an adequate appropriation for
Notifications. He enlarged on their inn
portance TO the protection OF our sea norris.
TO the interests of commerce-and. as
connected with them, to the interest, of
agriculture. A few millions, exp, nded for
the permanent and perfect projection of
SUCH interests, ought TO be no object. He
dwelt particularly on the importance of
the Notifications al Old Point Comfort
DC. at The mouth of the Chesapeake. ana
said t1at true ecOnOi y required the pros
ecu,ion OF all which are commenced IN
completion as speedily as practicable.
MIR. 1rimbie spoke at some length in
explanation aud confirmation ofwIat had
been sald by other gentlemen as 10 The
authority by Which the Executive had
entered into contracts for the erect,su nj
Notifications. The sum proposed by HE
conlmIiteeiof ways and means, he iLoi.
ought TO be granted, as not being more
than necessary TO pay for work done and
IN course of performance.
MIR. Clay repeated the idea, that the
money appropriated ought to be consid-
cred The limitation of The power of The
Executive to make contracts. With res.
pect 10 The deficiency IN the revenue, so
far from taking hold OF the stock OF the
Bank the United States, he had been
IN hopes, as there seemed 10 be great
difficulty What 10 do with The Sinking