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

an anxious desire have a system of fertilization,
properly executed. lie knows it's importance, and
every one VINO hears will allow that he is as
anxious to have system of permanent defence,
iJudciously planned and executed, as any member
oil this House. But how is it to lie determined
whether the system is properly executed: Year
after year, the House is called upon for appropra-
tons of Tmoney for system of defence, of which
we have none OF the details Last year " ap-
propriated half million of dollars for this object
the year before, God knows how much: end this
year we are called upon 10 appropriate for the same
purpose eight hundred thousand dollars Is so
large an appropriation necessary, i am not pre-
pared 10 say it is impossible that any man can
be, without having tie details before him. After
tins bill leaves the. committee, and such amend
meats may be made IN 1t as the House shall APP
prove, hope it will be ordered TO lie on the table,
and wait for the Information which mas been called
Tor. This i the Only way in which the House can
compel those, who possess the information 10 give
it TO is.
Mr.. Hamilton, Chairman of the Committee on
, Military Afairs,) then said that the honorable
gentleman from Georgia cei tanIy mistaken in
pom; ot fact. Mr.. IT, admitted that the Committee
WAS not possessed OF full sareia.n of particulars
respecting all the works which are now, or may
hereafter be contemplated FOR the public de-
fence but they haze full, particular, and min
ute Information TO all The works proposed to be
provided for la the bill now before them. A gem
eral Plan Tor terrifying the country was reported
/ ny three gentlemen, re al whom ds,in--
2uishea foreigner well known ai,d admired as well
IN Europe as in this country Tor his great science
and ability in his profession, aGd another OF whom
had received, and deserved to wear, npe.ishable
! 'aurc!s Tor ms pitlic services. Thse gentlemen
accompanied thai plan with estimates and details,
Containing all That necessary to he known 10
enable ongress TO act OH tie subject. Genile men
knew that he alluded 10 the report OF Gen Ber-
nard, Col. McRae, and Col. Touen; and there is
not one work provided FOR by this bill, concerning
winch Tie gentleman viii not find ample informa-
tion IN that report.
! As to what the gentleman from, GEORGIA had
stated in relation to calls made on TIE War De-
rartineh by his colleague. concerning whose merit
he entirely accorded with HE gentleman-one OF
those calls, Mr.. H. sail, was in It's relations so
various and extensive, that the Department. though
they had Immediately applied TO the various parts
oil the country from which the details must be
drawn, had not yet been able to receive all the re-
turns which would enable them to presen, an aggre-
gate containing all the information ,!elnande,l-
ihnes were IN this situation wlen the call OF the
gentleman iron Georgia, Mr.. Tattnall} had been
made AZ an early stage o. the present had
remained as yet unanswered, because it was as vet
impossible 10 answer il. The question, was whe-
Their, on this account, the House will stop tie
works already in progress? Ii gentlemen wish il
suit the public docurRents, and they will find il.
] Thy, then, should we pauseo He hoped tine gem
uemah would not persist in his intention TO make
a motion so embarrassing To the public service as
that which he had announced lis intention to NAL
AIR. FLOYD, remarked, rising again. that at
the last session, an appropriation was asked for
arIn'tS his fortress, and the House was told hat;
unless armed, it was useless TO have built it, lie
wished 10 know, seeing that last year tnoHey " a.
asked to arm the ioricaion, how il happened that
more none was waited row TO go on to build IL,
lie was not himself opposed, as he had here oore
mad occasion 10 declare on this floor to Tie forth
tcaion OF the points of coast which require il.
tie was OF opinion that where great capital and a
dense population were collected, Notifications ne
cessnry to protect their waters from INVASION ought
To be erected BIT, In some cases, he thought Curi-
hcations utterly useless. The fort below tits place
! Tor example, he thought as utterly useless arainst
vessels coming up the river j.! il had been placed
on the top OF the Allegheny mountain Did any
one believe that the vessels Of England should w.
ever again come in conflict with her, were couinp
up this river to attack forts' Experience had
shewn that they could land a mile two balo;v our
| torts and march up III the OF them or out of
| their reach. Ii was useless waste OF money
and an imposition upon common sense 10 sHnDose
that no one could judge of such matters as this but
persons who have the disbursement Of pubic mo
ney. Eleven twelve years ago. Mr. T. said
/ Ia 8,
tie Clinton he had walk down Broad way 10 tho
| River, and there he a great castle and eyer,
body was telling him, if the British should chime
there, fifteen out OF the eighty OK nne:y guns conf.
! be brought 10 bear upon any given point OF their
approach. Ii never entered into their leads t,,,
whenever any gun could reach the British vessels
from the fortress, the guns OF the British vessels
would he within rake to DESTROY tie whole CITY
Afterwards, he believed here beiag more ,cienti!i,
men in the army they tore down that Cnrtrn.s
and he Iecollecled gentleman from tha civ Inok
ing us long speech here, TO prove to Us tina, i
was the wrong place for fori--ihe end of which
was, that it receded with The site of H. 20 the
! City Of New York
! From all he coald see, Mr. T. said, ,here were
no ponis ia the United Siacs, from the foriific,
ton OF which greater benefits would flow. than
those ofOld Point Comfort and the Rip Reps -
he spoke Of them by the names ivy were known
by Ia the history Of the country. A great interior
country was lobe protected by them, and an inland
sea within them. But, he wished more definite in
4 formation IN reg TO these expenditures and Inc
wished also 20 know whether in every instance
the expenditure objects Of this description lat
not Oyerrun the estimates. lie knew that this la,
often been the case, in regard 10 expenditures fo
buildings OF one sort Or o Ter. He inslancrl IN,
case Of the poruco to the Presidents house ,ybe,
! fifty thOr~and dollars were asked for b,ild;ng
North Portlco. which was wanted by Pr.sijeo
/ Monroe, who was magnificent gentleman. AMI
liked things to be done ON a great scale. Jb,
! House, being then menaced with the necessity o
/ borrowing money, was unwilling 10 give this fifty
/ thousand dollars. The next year ten tbousant
dollars were asked for to build the Southern porch
and, when 1t was expended, the sun Of o 600 dol.
lars more was asked. to finish the porch, SC. Mr.
! +. said lac knew very well that nothing was more
dIsasreeable TO certain part Of " the Govern