Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-15

of the army, sc. for the year 1G2a The rea-
sons he assigned for this motion were, that re-
solutions had been passed calling upon the
Secretary OF War for certain informaton the
want OF which had given rise to a great deal
oil debate, and occasioned an unnecessa,W
consumption of time. 1t was no offence to-
the officer in question to have asked of him
further Information. Let it he received, said
he doubtless the Secretary eau fully Justify
his course 1t is very probable that he made
every effort within his power tn bring the ex-
penditure within the appropriation, and would
prove 1t by the facts which are To be reported
to the house. The debate, Mr.. B. said, had
involved the genius and character of that Off
Ger rather than the merits of the question be-
lore the house and all difficulty respecting it
might have been prevented by having the in
formation first, and debating the subject after
wards. He could not see any benefit that
could arise from pressing further discussion
at this moment, and therefore wished post
ponement, SC.
Mr.. GOLDEN supported the motion for post
ponement, because the further discussion of
II at present could lead to no beneficial pur-
pose. With regard to the debate which had
already taken place, MIR. G.. said, if any one
had heard 1t without knowing the subject, he
might have supposed the house was sitting in
caucus on the subject of the Presidential E!ec.
The whole and sole point of controversy for
several days had been, whether the Secretary
OF War had given to the house such nforma-
ion as will authorize it in the exercise of I.
sound discretion, III voting the appropriation
which has been asked. Ii this were the true
point, what need for travelling over our histo-
~, &c. and taking so wide ii range in this
'.ebate No member had questioned, during
THESE ten days debate, whether it was in the
Po'oer OF Congress to make an appropriation
OIL ti'S nature the only question had been as
10 thc proof oil lis necessity. Such being the
case, and the Information being now called for
why discuss it further until that information
was received lin all this business there was
any tauit-he used the word in no invidious
or lniUendly sense-it was in the organ of
ihIs house. Ii there was IL defect of informa-
ton, the Committee of Finance, he appre-
he1ded, rather than the Secretary of War.
had committed il. The committees of the
mouse, Mir. Z. said, are supposed to hold di-
rect communication with the Heads of De-
parimrns, and to be the medium communi
cation between them ami this house. Ii was
for this purpose, nc understood, that The com
mitice ol Ways and Means had been consttut-
cd Ii that committee had not been satisfied
OF the propricty of passing the bill now before
the committee of the Whole, it was TO be pre-
sumed they would not have reported it. But
that committee had not given such informa
ton on the subject as appeared to satisfy the
House The Secretary of War, however had
shewn every disposition To afford the house
all the information in his power and if this
bill were postponed, he presumed the house
would by Tuesday receive the information for
which it had asked.
Mr. BUCHANAN was opposed TO this post
ponement. For what purpose he asked, was
the subject to he postponed Ii was said, to
acquire additional information. What infor-
na'lon, said he, have you already? You have
precise information fIom the Secretary of War
as to ali the Objects Of the expenditure. and
he mas told you that ii is impossbr 10 give
you vouchers showing The special manner in
winch every sum ofcxpenditure is app,ied.---
IhIs, II would occur 10 every one. would bn
utterly impossible, because, unless the Secre.
tary was more fortunate than anv sodv else.
he could not have vouchers and receipts for
thr expenditure, hefore the expenditure was
inant IA general view, then, the House had
ali the information which could be expected
ana u could not have IL in detail until thr in
.pF"iat'o" was obtained by the Secretary. Mr..
y s4'd ne was opposed TO the postponemcnt
wi lnr ~; ther reason-that, az the gentlemen
on thls side Of Iii, house had occnnied The
lioor more than those who were opposed 70
them, and an honorable member from Virginia
'H'u Decn expected 10 address the House this
| Iilorhing, ne tHr. 81 was for extending Ia him
.le same Ilbcrailty which had been accorded
10 others He wanted for himself no further
Information aud lac thought, also, that cour-
'csy Ought To induce tie bouse now to oo on
WI TIE discussion of the bill.
M CAMBRELENG, was not so entirely sa.
,iensu WIN The Information before the House
as me gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA aDpear
ca 10 br. lie was persuaded that the Score
ar Nr.c ahl
TO give other information which mi,ht be'.,c'
ceplahie. Ii would, he thought, be decorous
IN 'hls House 10 iisclfas wen as to tie Secre-
,ary oil war to postpone this question until
ne should lay before the House the nforma
'ion called for BY its resolutions.
MI SMITH, of Maryland, reviewed the
course winch the bill now before the commit
ice vi me whole had taken in the committee
OF Ways and Means. no mention had becy
made, he said, to the committee of WAYS and
Means by the Secretary of War, of any deficit
III me l.dian Department for the last wear.
Ihey' therefore, could not be prepared to
give information respecting it
tlerc MIR. SPEAKER called the attention Of
inc mousse to the question-which was no
more Than question Of postponement, and
admitted, according TO the practice of the
House, ofno discussion on the merits of the
snDIect proposed to be postponed. During
thu whole of days proceeding, tie SpEAk2
FIR endeavored TO keep gentlemen within the
rule, but apparently in vain.
Mr.. SMITH, however, submitted TO the de-
cIsIon OF The chair, saying, as he sat down
that ne had supposed Tie gentleman from
New York lMr. COlden) would have been
Obliged to hIm to set him right as to facts.
Mr.. LITTLE thought there was sufficient
Information on the subject already before The
house and he was opposed TO the postpone,
ment, because fine would be saved. AZ he
THOUGHT. by GOING ON with lhe disc,,.s;n., m