Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-01-16
Congressional Proceedings
From the National Intsligeacsr.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Continuation Of tie proceedings Of
Congress Of

~
Mr.. Floyd was always willing to en-
counter responsibility; but he was glad
to hear that the Secretary of War was
willing to condescend so far as to i'm
part the information which this house
should require from him. He could not
say, however, that it.would be valuable
to the house after it was obtained; for,
if he had understood the gentleman,
(Mr. McDuffie) the other day, he told
us that we should not be abls to UNDER
stand it if it were obtained. Here Mr..
Med. rose to explain. but the floor was
not yielded ! Perhaps his (Mr. Fs.)
mind was so angular that it could not
comprehend the completely ofthe com
munications from the Departments. He
was ready to vote for the appropriation
when the accounts were shewn that
could support it. He had heard no i'm
putations upon the Secretary of War,
except from those who seemed to con-
slider themselves as his advocates Yet
it was singular that when Indians and
agents had come from vast distance
and visited our galleries-when dele
gate from Michigan, on our extreme
border, had come here in | 6 days from
Detroit, that the accounts ofexpenditure
should require such vast length oftime
in their transmission. The vouchers Of
the disbursement ought to travel with
an expedition equal to that of the drafts
for the money. He would not doubt
that the expenditure had been fair, but
he had right to demand the evidence
of it. He was glad to hear from the
friends of the Secretary that the infor.
nation might be had if asked for, but he
felt some degradation that it was deem
ed necessary by gentlemen to give that
assurance where the house had right
% demand it, He had too much conf
dence in the Secretary of War to sup
pose he desired TO withhold it: and Mr.
f said he had no doubt the money was
expended according to the Secretary's
best ideas of propriety-but, he repeat
ed, he wished to know how it was ex-
pended, and he would not be satisfied
without this information.
Mr. Stevenson observed, that, altbo'
the committee bad yesterday agreed to
rise and report on his suggestion, yet
he was disposed TO wave the right which
the politeness Of the house had given
him, in favor of the motion now before
that body. The reasons assigned by the
gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Nelson)
were sufficient in his mind to evince the
ezpediency of postponement He wish
ed for iRforma ion on the subject, not
partially, butte it's full extent. While on
the one hand, we hear that the conduct
of the distinguished gentleman who fills
the Office of secretary of War with SO
much honor, has been arraigned, & that
his reputation is involved in the issue
of this question--wheD, on the other, we
arc told that it is matter Of etiquette:
and again when it is said that the sys-
tenn OF Policyin The Indian Department
is in question-anong this discordance
of opinion, it must surely be important
to pause and reflect. and to obtain all
that information OH the subject which
it is in our power to collect. Admitting
that it was not important in its begin
ming, yet 1t has certainly become so by
the course which the discussion has ia
ken, and he fully agreed with his col.
league that it was question, not as be
tween coordinate powers, but between
ST. coordinate department, and the peo-
pie who created it, Yet he would NOT
say, nor would he be understood to in
sinuate, that the Secretary of War had
not acted with integrity and Justice. |
am not disposed, said Mr. S. to cloud
the lustre of his reputation, nor pluck
a leaf from the wreath, with which in
telligence and genius have adorned his
brow | would as soon demoIish the al.
tar where | worship. admire and an
preciate the qualities of young man
VINO gives Us the fa;rest promise o Fl :
ling at some time the highest councils
OF his country. isreputation regard
as the common property Of his country.
and wish, not to thicken, but to dis
perse the obscurities that surround him
and which now hang like the pettv
mists which fret themselves at the base
OF mighty mountain. Mr.. S. would
trouble the house with but one further
remark, You have, by a resolution.
called upon the Secretary of the War
Department for information ON this yerv
subject. The resolution has gone forth
IL Is probably under consideration. and
knrt&e