Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-26
REPORTED FOR THE sAriosAL IsrkLLIcEScER
Eighteenth Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, FEB. I9.


orders Of the day were suspended, and the
House went into committee of the whole, Mr..
Taylor, Of New York, in the chair, on the bill
making appropriations for the military service
OF the United States for the year 1894. The
bill was considered as reported in blank and
the first blank, which is for the pay of the ar
my, and subsistence Of officers, including the
pay and subsistence of the officers and cadets
belonging tn the Military Academy, at West
Point, was filled with S994,5OT O5.
The second blank, for subsistence, was filed
with Ss69,847.
The third blank, for forage for officers, was
filed with $50, 1873.
The fourth blank, for the recruiting service,
was filed with $4,000.
The fifth blank, for contingent expenses for
the recruiting service, WAS filed with $500.
The sixth blank, for the Purchasing Depart
ment, was filled with SI4l,i27 SO.
In answer to quere of Mr., Trimble, the
Chairman ofthe Committee of Ways and
Means Mr.. McLane) replied that, in The pur-
chases for the clothing Ofthe troops, n prefer
ence was always given to American manufac-
lures, tunless where the public inter est would
materially sufIer.)
Mr.. Trimble thought this rule ought univer-
sally to prevail. As we were soon To be call
ed on to Attend the funeral of our little army,
he wished to know whether its shroud was
to be made of American manufacture or for.
eign.
Mr.. McLa,e said, that many of our wool
len manufactures were sustained almost en-
tirely by purchases from the War Depart
menf.
Theseventh blank, for the purchase Of wool
lens, during the year l 1914, in advance for the
year 1895, was filled with $4,000.
Mr.. Cobb made some inquiries respecting
this item, and Mr.. Floyd moved to strike il
cut; but ITS propriety was explained and de-
Tended by Mr.. McLane, and the motion to
strike out was not agre ed To-.
The eighth blank, for the Medical and Hos
pital Department, was filed with $4,000.
Mr.. Cooke moved to strike il out. Mir. Whip
pie replied and advocated its necessity, and
the motion was lost.
The ninth blank, for the Quartermaster
Generals Department, was lilleu with $4,000
dollars.
The tenth blank, for the Military Academy,
including hospitals for cadets and troops, two
wings to be added to the Academy, for the
departments of philosophy and chemistry
double stone house, for accommodation oftwo
families OF professors; laboratory and green
house, out-hOuses for superintendent quartz
office fur the Professor Of Engineering; cast
iron pipes for supplying water; modeller,
and plate for diploma for graduates, was
filled with S33, 400.
For the purchase of Grdley's farm 81 0, 900.
On this sum, and especially one Of its couipO-
neni items, oi $40 900, for the purchase OF farm
adjoining ihe Academy, a desnitory debate arose,
which occupied the House I'LL after 4 O'clock. The
propreiy OF the purchase WAS advocated by Messus.
Cra,s, Waiheid Ponseu Strong, McLaae, Sharpe,
Archer, Wood, Mercer, Hamilton, and McDufiir-
aud opposedby MessTs. Cobb, Buck, Cooke, San
ford, Mccoy, aud Floyd. Ms Cooke proposed mn
amendment mak,rg the appropriation for The pnr-
a ~ n nn(
should be gwen for The land aud, I'd, that the con
sent OF the s'te OF New York should he given To the
SALE The former condi'Dn Prevailed but ti latter
ON motion OF Mr.. McDuffe, was stricken out and
the whole clause, rs amended, was carried, Ayes,
lO7.
In support of This measure, il appeared that part
OF tne small Isolated spot on which the Academy
STANDS, (sirrouDded on one side 10y deep river aud
on the other 10y steep and almost inaccessible mum
tains,) is occupied 10y farm, owned 10y MIR. Grid
icy, on which there stands a tavern, but few hun
oicu yards from the Academy. Every effort 20 re-
move so great nuisance, or to bring it under any
ehectual restraint, had proved unayang /; and lis
eBec IN commencing the saiuaty discipline of the
establishment, had long been source a painful re-
gret TO the experimenting officers. As the only Ell
ciesi remedy u was proposed buy the land Tor the
Unned Siales, and attach IL, TO the Academy to
which i"riher inIucement operated, as IL would
AFFORD p favorable site for Hospital and other OUT
buildings. The measure was opposed, as uonecessa-
ry, and AS insufficient for the eUd proposed Upne-
cessafy, because the cadets were supposed TO he
"A on
as tavern could afford il any OF Them were dispos-
ed TO become sos, they ought M once to be expelled
from the institution. Aud, besides, the discipline of
me establishment ought 10 be sufficient TO restrain i'm
morality among the students. Insufficient, because
81 The whole farm purchased, a tavern would he
erected little further of, and the danger rs erea,
as ever. Besides, there was'ydmily comnunication
WIN MewD9Tgh ana New Windsor, and also
sonaly with New York and young men disposed 10
dissipation could not he checked by putting .he means
ol qualification At iiltle greater distance Other es-
'bishmen's OF the same Kind, in the souh and IN the
wes, we're situated 40 tie midst of cities ar nonuious
towns, and yet IN a good conduion
10 this II was replied, that The officers on the spot
were the hest judges OF lie case and they were deem
Impressed WIN ne indispensable necessity Of hav.
ing that tavern pUt down. They had endesvored IN
effect ITS suppression by the authority Of the State
Legislature Of New Iks and some bilI ON thai ami
jec was now before that body. Distance was Ger.
tainiy = most important circumstances in o,essu,,,s
ihe strength OF any temptation the minds Of the
young. But the land ~ West Point WAS So s;,na,ed
that u ihs IIIile farm was held by the Uaed Stale.
'ht,e was no spot Tor miles round on which tavern
could possibly be erected. An affecting apneaI ,s,s
made by Nj. Mercer, ~ behalf Of parental aux;efv
AID on youthful accessibility 20 the approaches 81
temptation the warnest encomiums were pronounce
Ell upon The stale Of discipline aud the systeo, NJ 10;
siructon in The Academy, It's order resUlar;,v and
exact police. Mr.. PoHsett bad visited The rUronesn
MILITARY Schools, aud pronounced tins 10 be equal ~
any oil them, u not superIor.-Mr. Archer testified
with enthusiasm 10 The same point and wished ,la,
the Secretary Of War, iu selecting from Congress
Visiting Committee 10 examine the Institution, would
always compose u Of its most decided enemies they
needed only one visit to them uto its warm
est advocates
Mr.. Wood valued IL as the hest substitute for a
standing army, by supplying, annually quota OF ac-
compi'shed military men, capable Of organizing the
militia OF TIE county, and giving immediate eficien
cy 10 our constitutional defence
Mr. Foot was = friend TO the Iestuiion and 10 The
measure now proposed bat had IN objection to SIS
INTRODUCTION INTO ~ appropriation bill
MI LivermOre also friend 10 Inc Acadeu,v
but feared The insisting lhs purchase might increass
We objections Of ns opponents and he d,sked this