Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-12

Fioie amount oi appropriations that they had
seen called upon to make. He was opposed
- The granting by anticipation, and leaving
debts unpaid that were incurred upon the
pledge ofthe national faith. He adverted to
the documents already in possession of the
House and cOuteDded, that, if any confidence
WAS To be placed in the allegation of the Sc
tretary Of War, the money had been fairly
hid out. II had been expended in carrying in
To effect existing treaties, which il was not in
the power of the Secretary of War TO annul
or Impair. lie was in tins respect an Execu-
tive officer. His duties were executory. He
was bound 10 see that the Indian treaties
were complied with, that the faith of govern
ment was redeeh,ed, while, at the same time,
Il was proposed 10 withhold the very means
by winch that redemption could be effected.
lie knew ofuO evidence that could be- given
why confidence should not lie reposed in that
valuable public officer Although the money
had not been paid out yet the debt was i'll
CURED, and ne thought that Congress were
bound To make the appropriation. 1t was
duty we owed not ouly to the principle of
sacred and imniutable justice, hut to the re-
poseand tranquility of our frontier settlements.
How could the Secretary of War go on To
make new arrangements and new contracts,
so long as the old ones were not complied
with by the government In carrying the laws
relating To the Indian Department into effect
IL was Impossible to furesee the incidental cx-
penScs that must necessarily accrue-the eX-
penses OF transportation of the goods provided
Tor by the respective treatieS--the pay of in
terpreters, of agents, Of sub agents, Sc.
&c. &c. and all the expenses necessarily de-
voirlng upon an Intercourse SO unfrequent and
remote Ii was evident that IA system of e.
economy has been Introduced by the present
Secretary, and that to no unimportant extcnt !;
nor, although our relations with the Indians
have extended, and our intercourse with them
increased within the last few years To- an extent
not before thought Of although the nations,
once cur frontier deprrdators, are emhosomcd
among us-anI The Council Bluffs and Vet
low Stone, only knnwn till lately as "a fury
land, or The exterior boundary of geographical
speculation, IRE now brought under our sDr-
cial cosnizlnce and within the circuit Of our
immediate communication; yet we find that by
the introduction OF system of wholesome
Tctrenchrnent, our expenditures in relation To
the Indian Department have rather diminish
ed than increased, within the last few wears.
Intercourse, unknown in the earlier periods OF
our government had taken placc-new agen-
cies had been cstablished-the outskirts of ci-
yilizaIion had been pushed back to the Rocky
MouAtains-and Indian Chiefs, representing
nations within whose borders, until few
years past the foot of white man had never
trod,now visited our capital, and the principal CT
ties of our nation. And yet, with all these
facts, the statute books and journals would
shew that, by an mneyampled economy our
expenditures had been checked within the
narrowest bounds. He therefore, cherished
the hope that the motion would be negatived,
and the original sum, as asked for, would be
restored.
MIR. HILL was in favor of the general prin-
ciples that had been advanced in regard TO
pecuniary appropriations. He was not in ia
Tor ofmaking disbursements from the public
treasury, without knowing distinctly to what
objects they were to be applied. He thought,
however, that these principles, though correct
III the abstract, were inappcable to the qucs-
ton before the committee. The Secretary
of War had asked for a definite sum, for a
definite purpose. To that purpose he must
be confined in the expenditure. He had act
ed upon his sponsibility-and he Mr.. H.
thought IT lneXpedient, on such call, To ask
for items. When the general appropriation
bill should be on the tapis, it would be un-
dOubtedly correct and proper to inquire and
examine, chapter and verse, into all the vari-
GUS items ofeXpenditure that had been made
under the sanction of the Secretary of War
Al present he thought ii premature, and as
tending To cmbarrass the operations ofgOvern-
ment. without producing single solitary add
vantage.
Mr.. MALLARY was aware that more time
might probably be consumed in deciding the
question before the committee, than the value
Of the amount that was now in question, un-
der the motion of the gentleman from Ten
Ressee, Mr. JOnes.) Yet, inasmuch as il in
volyed AN important principle, he could not
regard the time as being uselessly wasted that
was spent in settling question of vital inn
pOrtance. Whether it should result in the APP
preparation of a cent or a million, might posi-
bly, be of less concern to the ultimate interests
of the nation, than the decision of a point in
which not only the resources of the nation,
but the character of the popular branch of the
government was deeply, and he feared most
materially concerned. No matter il il is the
Var, or any other department, that makes
the cal-when he was satisfied that it was
made in pursuance of law and Oft the cOnstitu-
ton ofhis country; he should not hesitate to
lend his aid in supporting the grant. But
rs here is the evidence of the fact ? Where is
tbe testimony to support IN the face OF my
constituents a vote TO appropriate their mo-
ney TO an unknown object Mr.. Nj. was will
ling to vote for the sum now proposed by the
gentleman from Tenn. Mr.. JOncs,) but he
could extend no farther. This sum was adj
cquate, in his opinion, TO the fair and proper
disbursements that might take place prior to
he general appropriation bill. To look be-
hind, and make appropriations in the dark,
where not even feeble ray was lent us from
the department where The requisiion issued,
was as repugrant to congressional practice,
and to the spirit aud genius of our govern
mcnt as it was to the express letter of the
constitution. That instrument provides that
no appropriations shall be allowed unless spe
cialiy authorized 10y law. And where is the
Jaw rOr Tho disbursement Where the law
TO justify an appropriation TO cover deficit
Inrdr ceriainlV Mitliomt Inv. and be lnd al