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

Il similar proposition WIS ~ III, regarding
the pay OF the officers ani soldiers of the ma
Iltary establishment for current expenses, and
Il bad beer met and acquirsced inby n ma
lority OF This house. On these questions no
doubi had arisen OF the eXpedlency of The dis
bursement but, when Il demand was Made
I Tor 100000 dollars for the Indian Department,
enquiry was naturally excited rs to the cause,
and extent, and object of the expenditure
Information was, therefore, sought bv the
committee Of Ways and Means but, before
an answer was received, second communica-
ton was made relative 10 the essential def
cheney of the appropriation that had been
made for The revolutionary pensioners. The
Dill was then OH IFS passage but the COM
mittee ct Ways and Means, in pursuance OF
what they thought their duty, arrested its fur
Their progress, obtained IFS re-commitment for
the purpose of reyisa and further provision,
ana reported the same again with that neces-
sary addition relating TO the revolutionary
pensioners. Tor was il until after this peri
cd that the committee of Ways and Means
learned for the iirst time, and in reply to their
first letter, that there was deficiency of TO-
600 dollars OF the last years appropriation ior
the Indian Department. 1t had been asked,
why we would not make the necessary appro-
puatIon to supply this deficit when there
was no doubt 1t was incurred in the public
service: He would reply, thar, however lust it
might be, yet, as 1t was the duty OF the r,pre-
sentatives ofthe people to demand, SO it was
the proper business OF the Secretary of War
To furnish, the proper evidence of the expedi-
ency and justice OF the requisition. Remarks
had been made, as if opposition to the full
amount asked for originated in disposition
To enOarrass the War Department. or in n
want OF confidence in lis integrity. lie did
not entertain the one, nor did he admit a wanr
oi The other. lie would carry the checks of
ordinary prudence from private into public
liie However great our confidence may Ia.
IN the integrity and huDor of a merchant. vet
who would hesitate To ask of him an accotnt
current OF the state of his mercantile dealings
| Not ON the ground that he would be unjust
unfair, or dishonest, but that mistakes n:iyhs
be inadvcrtcucies, and the various
contingencies ofhumln Grailty, examined. Drn-
Vid'd lur, and corrected Ia The present case
! Tue expenditure had been merely stated To e5
ISL; ana That II was greater 10y 10000 than The.
| appropriation provided 10 meet il. Buf In
wat way tina t surplus had Ecen expcn.t-tl--
Tor whai purpose or object, had been aliD-
S1iher unexplained. He was not dispos-
ed To doubt the correctness of the ey
pe,''!t.Te hnt ne would saga general
rule, and rule which, in his opinion. oughe
never 10 he departed from, that, where a de
hnlie appropriation was made for a clear. dec-
h'''' ana limited object, II the dishursng agent
Neht hcynnd the amount OF the apprnpra-
ton, the deficiency oughtnevcr 10 be s,,pbled.
but the agent should be held upon his pt.rs.,Dai
responsibility IL, ON the other hand, an an
preparation be matte, limited il its extent, bt,
! aPP"ea 10 purpose somewhat underlined ia
I rs hAitFc, hHd IA degree necessarily bound
rd ny tile discretion of tn, agent it might AZ
Pfoprr to supply the deficit Of the first appro-
prhilon, by subsequent act but uryer
should this BIZ done until the disbursing agent
!"u' ny Az account current, and clear exlibi-
uoh aud statement OF expenditures. proved
'hat me Subsequent appropriation was fai,I,
ca'icd Tor by lie demand OF Justice on the one
iiand' an" the dictates OF national policy on
NV o'hcF' Under these impressions, and sal
Iihtd as he was with the rule be had pre-
scribeo to himself as the MEASURE of his con
duct, he could not consent to vote for tb,
proposition before the committee He coult
not say mat S7O,O0G ought to be granted by
! thr House 10 supply deficiencies which had
bern ltif, not only unexplained, but even The
existence Of which had not been officially de
clarcd. lie should not consent TO MAKE. any
retrospective grants until TREY were askc.t
ior and, N relation 10 those which wer; ii
; prospect 30 Thought !; lie duty OF the Te1re-
sohtailFcs OF tie people to withhold tEem>
except 50 far as they might be necessYrv tn
meet current expenditures between the ar
preparations OF the last year and the passagr
oi me appropriation bill for the present IN
+ UNIFORM rite OF action was highly desirable
: ana Whatever degree cf confdence The tresen,
. @tcT"faTy of War was entitled to- vet other
SVcrttarr5 might arise that were less drsrr,
nag OF the confidence Oft the people. He tbo't
Il s'aic3lcnt Of the items was necessary II
was necessary TO satisfy the pcOp!e. and 20
itorin Srouad- work, on which they. rs the
representatives Nl the people, could Justify
themselves To their constituents i'm making The
appropriation. He was, therefore. di,n5tpS
10 Hinll me present appropriation 10 $50 .O0j
=" e might then wait week or two. In Tho
Intermediate space, should the items be mad.
out, and the expenditure shown To he iprof
ana proper, second bin for partial apprfar;
"iIon might be- offered for, however t,n,,s.i.
81 such course might be, he did not tjne
the Committee Of Ways and Means ryo,,Is b,.
deferred BY any false decacy from propos;,.-
II II they really thought TIE public interest re-
CURED It. lie would, therefore, suggest 10 tia,
p gentleman from Ohio, (Mr Chambers0 who
mao moved the propositions that, If he would
Withdraw The motion before The committee
J be ,hr. J.)would move that the blank b. GIL
cd with ihc sum Of $4,000 10 cover the future
Expenditure only, Instead Of the past deficit.
MI. CHASBEEs remarked that ne felt mo-
disposition whichever 10 embarras5 the opcra
tons nfthe government. lie wished thinrs Ia
be called ~ their proper names, but .7ss not
tenacious 0f the form, il the object was kerf
ia ylew. He had made the motion. On tbe he
lei, founded upon what he thought q pFetf,
clear expression Ofthe sentiment Of the 4,n,ss
that the sum Of 100000 was to be approz
: prlatrd to the Indian Department n obcdience
= to the call Of the Secretary at War. Yet II
| III was fhOuuhf thaf n could f.,,l,t.e. a.