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

the principal works in this bill, that it contanet
not only an account of the various fortifcaton.
proposed, but all the mnutest angles of each one Of
those notifications. The points they were intend
ed to defend, with the extent of the defence
they would afford, were infinitely pointed out
ut the report showed, besides, how military force
drawn from the neighborhood of each of these for
tresses, could readily be concentrated. so as
tot act in unison with them and with each other
This report was thought by Congress to be a
document of such vital importance, that its pub
LEGATION would be highly preudcial TO the interests
and safety of the country They therefore suppress
sed the publication dfhe greater part of tina, report
but the report itself remains entire on the archve.
oi THIS House, If the gentleman from Georgia had
consulted this document, he would get more infor-
NATION, ten-fod, than all which has been called oI
10y the resolution of his honorable colleague. Will
the House delay the bill week, that the gentle
man may have time to consult Documents which
nave been so long within his reach? i hold in my
hand printed document, containing nor e than all
the information he now asks. When this system
was projected, and these reports we're rendered
not a stone was laid of any of these works. They
presented full and complete view of the plan OF
system OF Notifications, by which, in the opinion
Vi 'he Engineers, the country could be best defend
ea' and were submitted TO the deliberations of Con-
SresS Congress was then asked to commence appro-
prating Tor the gradual accomplishment of this plan
Sr' what did Congress doo Did it call for new sur
Veys! Did 1t order fresh estimates! Did il ask
for more reports? No, sir, it eyamined-it con-
s'dered-it discussed the sys,eIE presented 10 i, (;
ana IL then deliberately began to appropriate money
70 commence IT. And what is Congress now ask
Ell TO do! 1t is not asked 10 begin new works. but,
IN tile best and most economical manner, 10 carry
on those winch are already begun What is the
OBJECT OF resolution OF the gent sman from cor
ga! (that OF the gentleman from Tennessee has a
Is mi |. IL
me government were not bound by the plan, 10
oeEia their 6efences IN some particular places to
winch others have been preferreds / do not now
mean 10 say sir, that the state OF Georgia has or
DIS not had her proper proportion Of these proposed
works. will not be drawn into any such discus
SION. do not look Il will not look, at the parts
oil this plan, but at the plan az whole Sir. as to
"e necessity OF selecting some great points first to
DE deiehded, we have received some lessons from
experience The plan proposes, as one of these
points, to defend New Orleans; and why, sir , Be-
cause IL Is one OF the keys of the country and the
enemy, II In possession of New Orleans is in pos-
session Ola very large portion OF the country 1t
~ proposed again, TO place Notification at the
harbour OF Boston, and at Newport, r. l. because
,nose harhors are inets to the whole Eastern Sec
IONS oil The Union, even to New York. 1t is pro-
posed to toriify the Chesapeake for similar rea
son, the delaware, for similar reason, and we
io''Hy ihese points, as well 10 keep them out of the
possession OF the enemy, TO guard our commerce
ana afford protection to our own flee.s. when
oioekaued by superior naval force. Now, sir
what Is the question before the committeel Is il a
question OF system or of plan? Not at all, sir.
The House is not called upon TO ADOPT this whole
plan The Houseis called on 10 defend Boston
10 ueiend The Ckesapeake-to defend New Orleans
among the most important parts of the plan Is
there any gentleman who will stand up in the face
OF lhe american people, and say, shall no, de-
,ehu Boston! Ii there be, let him come forward
Is there any man here who will saw we shall not
aetehd the Chesapeake? If there be, where is he !,
mere does he come from? Sir, l repeat it, the
question before US is not question of plan: il il
question oil the works of defence included in this
OH. we have begun these works, and the point
10 be decided is shall we go on with them, or shall
we stop them' And, Mr. Chairman, / would ask.
whstner It Is respectful to the American PeonIe
mus 10 hesitate, and thus to deliberate, on such
e'''oh. DR. IS there any gentleman here who
VIII say that we ought 10 abandon the system. ar
give up these works? VIII any gentleman go home
ana tell ms constituents - have abandoned the
defence OF New York; have given up the defence
OF New Orleans these great keys of the country
And when they ask him, "Why have YOU done
so who will reply" Because an honorable men,
Der OF The House called for certain information
rom one OF the Departments, in relation TO other
matters, and he did not get it, Sir, that ia the
must give, unless, indeed, he should tell them
IL was because gentleman from Georgia said in
desate there was no spring water on Old Point Com
Tort Sir IL may be that there is no spring water on
Old Point Comfort. know that this is the case viii
one OF our Notifications in the Delaware and for this
pam reason, that the fort stands on an island re-
Gently formed in the midst OF water that is sal,
But if Old Point Comfort happens TO be go stitya,cd
as to furnish the spot from which an eaemv can he
most successfully resisted, would Tie gentleman
rom georgia abandon it, and leave the whole
country open TO the enemy, because he can't gel
water, unless he carries it there?
In these few remarks, said Mr.. McLane have
confined myself simply TO the question of post
ponement; have not now entered on the general
merits oil the bill. have endeavored 10 shey thar
no good purpore can possibly be answered by de-
lay, and that all the information called for is all
ready before us, and much more. The bill was
reported this year, al earlier period in the ses
sion, than had hitherto been customary. and the
committee had been induced TO take this step. from
having learned that the service bad suffered ve,v
materially, and the national expenditure been in
some Instances greatly Increased, by the DELAYING
OF these bills TO so late period of the session
The necessity for earlier appropriation, arises
from the TACT that many OF the works have 10 be
carried on at remote points of the Union Oyine
to the climate and other causes, the execution nj
the Contracts begins earlier at some OF these ro;uts
than al others; II was very desirable that the an
preparation should be made in time to precede the
commencement Of the works. SC
Mr.. Forsyth rose in reioinder. and orserv 81 ,bs,
the honorable Chairman of the Committee If Nyays
and Means had with marked emphasis. denon,ias-
ted Tie resolution offered by his colleague, "
Georgia resolution and had said that il related
only to the defence Of the coast of Georgia. He
knew well, and Lad felt for the last two or three
years, that there a strong prejudice either al