Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-04

all. Surely, gentlemen might have read few re-
ports before this time, &c.
Mr.. S,orrs Of n. Y. said that it could not be ne
cessary for a member who had had seat in Con-
gress for six seven years. to say any thing 10 re-
COMMUNICATION of the appropriations in this bill
|, would tell very sngularly that the Congress OF
the United States were called 10 decide upon, the
question of Notifications, and the system 'hatthey
themselves had adopted six years ago, after the bill
had been laid upon the table for month, and alter
the fullest reports upon the subject, mad been
printed for the House. We are desired to post
pone the consideration of the subject in order to
enable the new members OF this House 10 study the
documents. But, surely, sir, every gentleman who
offers himself as candidate for the station OF Re
preventative upon this fiosr, is TO be presumed TO
have some little knowledge OF public affairs, anu
is expected in the course OF two months (the time
we have been bere) and one months reflection,
he time this bill has laid the table be able
TO understand something relating to this NATTER
Sir, what will be tho reason given by the gentle
man from Pennsylvania, when the question is ask
ed him hereafter by his constituents, " How hap
pens il that these Notifications suffered 10 80
into decay and ruin?" He will have TO say, g |
. asked time TO study the documents" BY and by
the enemy comes, and finds these forresses broken
down aud in ruins, and sneeringly asks, . How
came this!" The answer must be given, e" the
new members wanted time 10 study the documents.
And ii an, asked, i'll voted Tor the postponenent,
withou, shame reply, that WAS indiced 10y
such reason:
There are here, some new members from my
own State but trust need not add .s any thing
10 them, 10 prove the importance OF iortifyins New
York; and tina, need address any thing 10 tie
House 10 prove that the forificaton OF the harbog
OF New York il not local otject but that II Is as
! national, far relates to the interior OF that
State, az any other of these works OF de!erce
I no Iba fort, ~ Nprl- il iunn
tant to Utica, or Whi,esown, as j; is TO Broad
way, and the Notification or Boston is as i'm
porant 10 Berkshire, II is to State street. Sir
the argument is unsound and superficial; these
works not erected for local purposes, and the
question is not local question.
am surprised a, the objection OF the gentleman
from Georgia. that it is improper to for,ity Boston,
because Boston is able 20 take care OF itself, &C.
Mr.. Buchanan OF Pa. said he should vote in ia
vor OF the postponement, for entii ely diff
ferent from those which had been urged by any
other gentleman. He would, therefore, take leave
to state them in tie House. Before he did this,
however, he felt himself bound to notice the
marks which had been made by the gentleman from
New York, (Mr. SoTrs) upon the observations
which had been made by his colleague, (AIr. Sc
venson.)
The gentleman from New York, Mr.. Storrs)
thinks it wonderful that my colleague should ask
for more time TO make himself acquainted with the
subject. Sii, said Mr.. B., would ask how
members could have obtained information! Must
it not have been by intuition! II was impossible
that they should have procured it in any other man
ner. The Chairman OF the Committee Of Ways and
Means has informed US this day that the system Of
Notifications, about which we have heard so much
and which we are now called upon TO carry into
execution, published, but remains filed
among the private archives Of this House. Did
the members know this fact' Certainly not
How then were they to obtain the information !
Mr. M'l-ane here explained, and stated, he had
said that only so mach OF the plan, ii was deem
ed polite to conceal among the private papers
ofthe House.
MIR. Il. said, that he had understood the gentle
man perfectly. That part of the plan which was
all important, which il was deemed necessary 10
conceal from foreign nations, lest they might take
advantage OF the information which it impaired, had
not only not been exhibited to the members but
they had not before this day, been informed of its
existence. This was the case as it regarded him
self, a. well as most of the old members of the
House. Sr,. said Mr.. b., has the gentleman from
New York himself Mr.. Storrs) read all the reports
which have been presented 10 this House at differ
ent periods upon the subject OF iortfcations' Is he
well acquainted with their whole contents? will
venture TO hazard the assertion, much respect as
feel for his talents and his industry that can pro-
pound to him twenty questions OF importance, hav
ing immediate relation TO the Notifications provid-
ed for b. this bill, no. Of which he can answer,
SC.
Mr.. Bay!ies, of Massachusetts,. said, that as the
gentleman from New York, (Mr. Woody had
travelled out of his course, as far as Oregon, to
aude to him, he ra.red he should be excused if he
took the liberty to allude to that gentleman
Mr.. Wood explained He had not had tn.
slightes, intention of rejecting upon the gentleman
The Oregon Territory, having been mentioned b,
him. the only place to which we could with
safety fee, when our homes were left defenceless;
he had casually advered to the honorable gentle
man, the chairman of the Oregon Committee
He had the highest respect for the member, and in
relation 10 such migration TO Oregon, he felt in
clined to exclam
" MI dcsperandum, Teucro
duce, ct auspice, Teucro"I
Mr.. Baylies resumed. The gentleman has said
that there is no excuse for understanding this
subject Are we, sir, TO come here and be cen
sured like school-boys because we have not learn
cd our lessons! He had been in Congress FIVE
years. and yet he had not been able 10 understand
this subject ia all its parts, neither could he zee his
way clear, TO vote for this bill. Why? Because
this general system, as it is called, l. constantly
varying. For four years, we received annually a
schedule OF the works, which were contemplated.
divided into three classes this year we have another
schedule presented to US. Is it the same? No sir,
eight new works added to the first class; eight
to the second, and three to the third If we cannot
comprehend system, which is constantly chang.
ing, the fault is not ours; and if the Department, of
War cannot keep steady TO its own system, are we
to be blamed for pausing for week 10 consider il
lie had, heretofore, voted all the appropriations
which were asked; lie had done so because, he then
thought that our confidence ought to be given.
to those whose duty it was, 10 plan these works,
and TO estimate the necessary expenditures IL
was worthy of remark that sums anpusll, .si,o1