Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-02

abroad, if others well qualified could he got to
acceptit, has been taken literally, and regard
ed as an expression not only of our personal
views but of those Of the Executive on that
point. The first would be mistake OF our
opinions on the subject; but the latter would
be mistake more serious. We have no know
ledge of the views of the Executive on that
subject; and our occasional speculations, ON
this or any other subject, are regarded as of
vastly too much weight, if they supposed
to be impressed with the executive sanction.
Nothing would be more wide of the fact than
such supposition.
Our own views of this matter of appoint
ments have been often seriously expressed, but
shall be briefly repeated. As "a general
rule, we do not like 10 see Members of Con
gress accepting Offices of inferior dignity,
either under the federal or state governments.
But there are appointments for which, by
their experience in public affairs, Members
of CODgress-Old members particularly, are
better qualified than other citizens in general
can possibly be. To the appointment Of a
Member of Congress to he Minister abroad,
for example, or TO preside over one of the
great departments at home, we do not know
that the most squeamish would take excep-
ton We certainly should not. Nat. Int
We invite the attention of our readers TO the
Message of the President, on the preceding
FdSP, Wnicn mas Deen transmitted TO DOtn
Houses of Congress.
We do not know whether we were critically
correct in speaking Of the Notifications having
been stopped, In consequence of Congress
having refused, Mt the last session, TO appro-
PIRATE money for carrying them ON. The
fact was, that the Secretary of War asked for
an appropriation Of 200 dollars for fortifi
cations. The House thought this amount too
large to be expended in one year on the forti-
fcations now going on. After long contest
ON this subject, which had like to have caused
the total loss of the appropriation bill, the
amount actually appropriated was $4,000
dollars, which the law specially directed to be
applied as follows:
Fort Delaware, fiiy-Gyc thousand dollars, 10 CON-
pete the same.
Fort Washington, twenty-five thousand dollars.
Fort Monroe, sixty five thousand dollars.
Fort Calhoun, fii, thousand dollars.
Rigolets, sixty thousand dollars.
Mobile Point, thirty thousand dollars.
Repairs and conIiugt ncies, twenty thousand dolls
The Only point for which they refused APP
preparations was Duuphine Island and that
was withheld from doubt in the House of
Representatives, whether a fertilization at that
point would be Of any service. We presum.
that, on the removal of that doubt, appropri-
ations will continue to be made for the work,
at Dauphine Island. 10.
March e9.-Tbe question respecting The ac-
acknowledgement of the independence OF the ma
lions of South America, has been deter mined
IN the affirmative in the House of Representa-
fives, by vote of unprecedented unanimiiy
We do not know that the same unanimity will
be found III the Senate, bnt there is no doubt
that the vote in that body will be Lecisivey
favorable TO the measure.
We rioice that, in this case, the earnest re-
communication oftle President, understood 10
Zoe with the unanimous assent of his official
counsellors, has been sustained by "A vote in
the popular branch of the Legislature, so
nearly unanimous, as to be almost without Il
dissenting voice. The aspect of :, govern
ment thus identified with the people of this
nation, in support of the cause of freedom, is
delightful to the patriot and philanthropist, as
1T must be imposing in the eyes Of the foreign
world
Let it not be supposed we would cast cen
sure the individual who on this occasion
voted singy in the negative. Far he the
thought from us. Not agreeing with him in
opinion, we yet feel ourselves bound TO res
pect the frmness and independence which
enabled him to give such vote in opposition
To the general current of opinion-as, from our
Knowledge of him, we know his motives To be
beyond the reach even OF suspicion GB.
The sale of the French Minister'S furniture
took place Yesterday. That of the Spanish
Minister has been announced 10 take place :
and to-day the Furniture Of the Russian: Min
lister is advertised for sale. We are sorry To
learn that we are going TO lose Mr.. De Ncu-
vile and Mr.. Poetca. These two gentlemen
have been long enough among us 10 have ac-
CURED large circle of friends, who feel per-
sondl interest in them, and .egret the necessity
for their returning home or visiting any other
governments. Their return herein their pre-
sent capacities would be generally hailed with
satisfaction though, in the ordinary routine of
diplomatic life, it is hardly to be expected T u.
.Hdrch 30.-As the session Of Congress adj
yances, its business becomes important. There
was Yesterday introduced by the Naval Com
mittee in the House of Representatives, "A bill
for permanently fixing the Naval Peace Es-
Establishment, embracing provisions highly in
teresling to that branch of the public service.
The bill proposes that the number and de-
scrlpiion of the principal officers shall be as
follows:
One Rear Admiral
Five COMMODITIES
Ninei Captains
Twenty-thrcc Masters CommandaBt
One hundred and forty Lieuenants, &c
Intending To publish the whole of this bin
shortly, we will not attempt to follow IFS de-
tails. The effect of it, we believe, will be to
discharge from service considerable number
@ftile officers now on the Naval Establish
SneDt I'M
The report Of select committee, on two
reports from the Secretary of the Treasury,
respecting The examination of land Offices, was
laid before congress to-day. Mr.. Secretary
Crawford's official conduct on the occasion is
approved though we think With Mr.. Cook,