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

years. In five yearss VIII it be obtained at any
one time before the whole system is executed? Ii
il comes then, it will not be wanted The very
object of asking Ter il'is information, is, that we
may Judge Of the propriety OF that whole system;
that we may know what are the work, commence
ed, and what are the works ntended, and what
proportion the one bears TO the other. We wish
10 the plan, corrected by the latest expert
enre OF the engineer department.
Sir, there has been great error in the manner
IN which this whole affair has been carried on The
engineers presented US with project, in which
tine Notifications proposed by them to be erected
were distributed by them into three classes, some
OF which were to be cSm,nencel immediately, others
not SO soon, and Others still lfer period. Sir,
was that project ever adopted! Was there ever
law passed by which it was sanconed, Nc, sir
no such thing. But certain appropriations
made in compliance with the iirs; part of the pro-
lect, and this was taken by these engineers as an
adoption of the whole; because some money was
expended in partial execution OF the SYSTEM they
took 1t for granted that Congress sanctioned it in
all its parts. Now, sir, have no idea Of this and
20 me 1t appears quite time that the error was cor
rceted. AS TO the information soughi by my COL
league, the first branch of his resolution could be
answered III two days. 1t asas for the scheme
OF defence contemplated TO be pursued in
the erection of ,hO.e forts. Sir, cannot that
document be got! Ssrely it is in the War De-
anxiety of the War Department 10 give inforrna-
'ion TO this House. They have given it to us this
Session by piece meal, in another instance. Why
have we had nothing in this case: But the pen-
tfen!an from Delaware and the gentleman from
Massachusetts, tells as that this scheme is alicady
tn our hands, and that the oaiect OF nv COL
league who desired 10 know how Georgia WA, to
he defended, is already ansyy cred by Tie scheme
which is before US, Sir, what is the scheme b..
'ore US! We have nakei list Of three classes
vi ioEis OF the places where they to nc erect
cd, and the sums OF money they are estimated 10
cost. Sir, Is this a scheme OF national deicnce7
ooes this tel us what they 10 be- how they are
20 Dear on each other, and what the PRINCIPLES
Upon which they have been resolved? No. sir. Now
IL IS most unfortunate that the gentleman from Mas
sachusctts should have referred tho Committee tn
TINS document. Ot these classes OF forts the fir, il
10 cost upwards of four millions; the second nm
wards OF i've i,illions; and the third nearly
ten millions. But not dollar is allotted IN the
state from whence come. No, sir. the military
resources OF the Government are employed in NV
State 10 repress the execution OF its laws II is by
measures Of this character alone that we know any
thing OF the military Protection of the General Cow
ernnien'' SIR, beg pardon; there is one excep-
ION, LOT our defence the enormous sums OF four
'housanu dollars has been expended on the repairs
OF one old Fort. For the good city of Boston is 10
De expended about a million OF do.lars; the good ci-
~ oil New York, after all the eaornous Sums that
nave already been expended in that harSor. some
oil them, as Tie gentleman admits are monument,
oil iol'y,) is 10 be benefited by further appropria
i!Sn OF more than half million.
me City OF Charleston is not on this list; Sa-
wahnaii mas 10 place on 1t look along the coasts OF
South Carolina, and Georgia, you find not single
tort proposed. Pass round 20 the Western Coast
o. ficrIda and there Is an immense work in Alaba
ma, and greater .tll the Mississippi in o,,i.
I az ~
IS right. care not w!'eie the forts are placed, j:
the great object OF the public defence is acconpl sh
ed. But i do hope that this House will nc, 90 on
apPioprlating money, year after year, wi,hou,
knowing what the scheme intended actua!lv;s. and
without being satisfied tina, it is proper one.
Mr.. Cook, Oh illinois, said tina, lie could per-
ceiye 10 ground for delay, SIC.
Mr. Whipple, OF New HAMPSHIRE. sail he
should submit, single rcmar!, to show thai there
should he no delay in passing this bill, &C.
Mr.. Pearce, OF Rhode Island, was in favor of /,
The bill. or his motives for being so, he could |
speak with great sincerity but he presumed. lie, !
him say what he would that il would be difficult /.
TO satisfy some gentlemen 1.-THE committee that he
was not actuated by sinister consideration. !
Ia the district he had the honor 10 rentssen, !
considerable iori!icaiion was now going on. bur he
considered the 100000, hch had been apnronri
S!ed tor 1t, not IN the light of gratuity 10 Rhode
Island. That money had been granted, not for |
the benefit of his constituents, bu, to promote and
secure the interests of the nation at large. lie |
viewed this and all the other Notifications " hicb
had been ordered, only parts Of great national
work, long IN contemplation, and nogv in progress
ioE Che benefit, not of any particular section Of
country, but of the whole Union Blt fnr I'm,
toFlihcaiions on the Eastern border, what ,yould
now be the condition OF the West Ilnot pre
pared TO NEE, and 10 repe the enemy at the points
whete he landed, how could we preserve the iote-
r.or from invasion, &c.
Mr.. Floyd did not think any thing he had sai,l
warranted the gentleman in saying that he was dis
posed 10 withhold the appropriation. He, how |
ever was not so much disposed favor it as that
gentleman seemed TO be. This system he was
told, had been adopted by tho government, and the
government was to find agents of the greatest a |
bilitieS in he country 10 carry it into effect For
MS own part he did not know any thing abou, this
system (; he bad heard of it for many years mas, !
but he had never seen it, and this was precisely the
point on which he wanted the bill TO be Laid nm
the table. He would take the gentlenan's word
as far as any other gentlensns word, but when he |
saw thing himself, he could Judge FOR himself !
He did not want the President or his officers to
Judge for him he was willing 10 pin his faith 10
no mans sleeve. He did not hold that the Pre-
aident was the government This Congress 1yas
the Government or at least the most effective
part OF the Government, and he hoped it would
know how 10 preserve its OWE power and its own
dignity.
MIR. y. said he had no sectional feelings: what
object was it to him whether Old Point Comfor,
or the Rip Raps were fortified at all /? We had
rad destructive war, yet Old Point Comfort and
the Rip Raps were net then fortified and from
the documents now in the library OF this House il
would be found tina. in that war Virginia had
2 1000 men on foot from nearly the beginning 10
the end Of it. He did not pretend 10 say that O!5
Point Comfort and the RIP Raps, as he must still