The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-01-23

whose name VIII De reverenCed when those
who now figure upon the scene of action shall
be sunk, deeper than the piummet ever sound
ed. in the unbelievable abyss of oblivion, was
Obliged to seek shelter under a protecting act,
for having been guilty of what he confessed to
be thirty days tyranny. The gentleman
from Va. (Mr. Smyth) had said hard things of
the former Secretary of War, CGen. Dearborn,)
and that his only memorable act was his send
ing the army to perish and die among the
marshes of New-Orleans. Now he would say,
and he would say it without fear, that the Sec
rotary of War was no more responsible for that
act of the commanding General, than the
Head OF the Department in the late war was
for any of the blunders of the commanding
Generals on the Niagara frontier. Mr.. S.
here called Mr.. r. 10 order. The Chairman
haring requested Mr.. r. 10 proceed, he rose and
Obserrsd hail neither his health nor his fond
ness for debate, or rather his aversion to it,
would permit him to extend his remarks to all
the subjects that the question presented. But
so long as his constituents looked to him with
so much Partially as to send him here to es.
pouse their rights, he should raise his voice
without fear against any principle that COM
promitted those rights. The law, he said, bad
not authorized the expenditure, and he here
read and commented upon the statute that
authorizes the distribution of rations to the
Indians. 1t was guarded and qualified per-
mission--not peremptory requirement.
The law of the land, therefore, stood violated,
and its supreme authority was disregarded by
an officer of the government.
You may be Viceroys, it is true,
But Wen be Viceroys over you
was now virtually the language held to this
House. 1t could not excite surprise that he
(Mr. r. should enlist under the banner of the
people. Although he had once a connexion
with the Court, it was not long enough to
estrange his feelings from their interest. His
bias leaned to the payers of taxes-not to the
consumers. Much had been said of dignity
but dignity had its seat in the mind. 1t
mis.t be found as often under patched coat,
as under Haunting robe, that might be bor-
roYed-or stolen. True dignity consists in
acting well in that situation in which it has
pleased God to place us-and in a Secretary
of War it consists in not exceeding his appro-
priations. The gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Buchanan had said that he did not
believe single cent was unnecessarily ex-
pended during the administration of Mr.. JEFF
ferson. He (Mr. r. could not go so far
There were too many hungry mouths to be
filled under all administrations too many
dogs that were ready TO eat dirty bread and
dirty pudding. But, in order to retain the
confidence of the nation, a watchful guard
should be placed over the peoples money
The honorable gentleman from Virginia,
(Mr. Smyth, under whose displeasure have
had the misfortune to fall, has spoken favour
ably of the employment of the troops in the
pursuits of agrculture-that their swords, or
the use of them, were converted into plough
shares. But can remember, said Mr.. R.
when that very proposition was hooted out of
the House.f The soldiers were hkened to
the barrow-men of Philadelphia. Their sta
lions and dignity were too high to be brought
down to the business of making roads, as were
the Roman legions. Dealing in perfumery
was regarded as a more suitable employment.
But they were not confined to making roads
they were sent up the Missouri as the bait
TO the trap for an Indian war. He had not
seen an account of the missing in that war;
nor the death-roll of the army sent to st.
Augustine. Mr.. R. expressed hope that
the dignity of the debate had not been inter-
rupted by him. His life was in that state of
obscurity-he would not say of prescription
in which it began. He could now see only
two members of the House (Messrs. Smith, Of
Md. and Newton,) who belonged to it at the
time he entered that body. In abiding to the
events, quorum pGrs FIJI. he could not but be
astonIshed that in so short space of time
principles were received as matters Of course.
which transcended, beyond measure, those,
for which an administration of that day was
put down, and, as he then thought, put down
forever. He feared, from the past, that who
IL will nd 4l,o
the horizon from the traveller. fy from before
him-that he would find it flying before erpe-
dieney and confidence. However the repub-
lican party should be divided or subdyided, it
would settle down into the parties Of the
court and country. For his part, the side of
the people was his side. He was identified
with them. and God forbid, said he, that we
should canselessly throw away that money
which they are perhaps at this moment labour-
ing to earn.
FRIDAY, JAN. IA Resolution submitted
some time ago, by Mr.. Walworth, directing
the Committee on Military affairs, to inquire
into the expectancy Of changing the compo-
nent parts Of the ration to the soldiers so as to
omit or to reduce the quantity Of spirituous
liquors it contains, was adopted.
Mr. Eustis offered for consideration the fol-
lowing Resolution -
Resolred, That the Committee Of WAYS
and Means be instructed to inquire into the
expedency Of making an appropriation at the
present session on account of the clothing of
the army for the year 1923.
In support of this motion, Mr.. f. made
Some observations, the object of which was
to show, that some measure was necessary to
enable the small manufacturing establishments
to contract with the government for cloth for
the army, which, under present regulations,
he said, they could not do, from IFS being re-