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

ton.
The proposal now before the committee was
pretty much after the manner of what said and
, done here some years ago. This Old Point Com
| fort and the Rip Raps, occasioned considerable
excitement and debate III this House nj that time
and it believed abroad, that is, the notion
was cast abroad, that those who were disposed for
an inquiry into these kind OF appropriations, were
disposed TO withhold the appropriation altogether.
That, MIR. +. said, never understood be the
fact, as far as he had any agency in it, II
his intention. lie had SAID that perhaps great good
would result to the country from the fortifying OF
| these points, but when injurious contract Mas
entered into in any mode, in any possible shape
and form, and presented 10 this House, he had
great doub, whether the House ought not 10 inter
pose, and refuse to sanction it.
10 tie appropriations OF money for fortifica-
lions Tor The service of the country ne had Oh
lecIop. But ill your call for information is an-
swered by the Department, he would propose 10
lay the bill the table. Such is the dignity of
the House OF Represent atives, that they set here
and pass law 20 create thing called Depart
i"eht, x when they sravcly send there resolution
OF the House oil Representatives othe People of the
u. States, is laid the table and treated with
silent contempt Yet, when want this iatoT-
nation, and insist receiving ii before consen,
10 appropriate, gentlemen tell US we are 10 trust 10
| the President aud Board OF Engineers. For his
own part. Mr.. +. said, he was disposed respect
them In their official capacity, Int he thought the
! House ought TO lay this bill the table till il
was shewn tina, system dill exist, and what that
s!stem was. But they ere " radicals" because
they wanted this in oi nation lie, for one thought
the " capitals lad made capital error il. not icr-
nisiins il.
Ihey had been told from high authority, that
liberty was power. He thought it had becn con-
ceded on all hands, that money was pow er ; and
as 1t seemed 10 be acqaiesced in, that liberty
| power, and held by all that money was power,
things that equal 10 the same being equal TO
each other, it follows that liberty is money.
! Mr. Cook observed, in reply to Mr.. Floyd that
SO lar as relates to these very Notifications The Go
vefnintnt, or, in the sense Of the gentleman, the
Congress, have already adopted them. The esti-
mates and the plans, with all the details relating 10
Them, have been laid before this House. The
tiouse has passed upon them: it ha. adopted thep
ana the gentleman himself will not deny that he
has voted for. and does still approve, the erection
Oh me fortress now unde. consideration. II, then,
t!Iat which tie gentleman says is the Government
/ u mean The Congress OF the United States) has
sanctioned this by FIVE years success sive
| appropriations, the gentleman stands committed
! " nave hiin now, for once, upon our side. AS
| 10 tue prticuar sum oil Sis, o0D, the Committee
o. W avs anu Means after careful examination OF
The SUBJECT are of opinion that tins can be expended
win Deter economy than less sum- IL y, i'll not
indeed complete the fortress, bu. it will go go far
! towardsi lis completion, hope, the gentleman will
ass no delay. What great system may he ia the
| contemplation Of the War Department does not
now Immediately concern u.s. This fort has been
submitted 10 our Judgment, and we have APPROX ed
IL we, who, the gentleman SAYS, are the Go
Eernnent have determined that this fort is proper
anu snail be buI; II, hereafter, other appIopIa-
uons shall be recommended for o.her fortresses not
now begun, tile Government will exercise its plea
auie' and adopt, ofItJect theni It mos, ad-
! visaole.
Mr.. Mitchell, of Tennessee, was ver,, far from
being satisfied that the course which was taken was
me correct one lie had heard 4 good deal Of
'his system, but he wanted 10 know where il
was TO DE seen: =; what poiU; in the Govern
meni was tito be found? Were they 10 look for il
IN the laws OF appropriation? Ii they " ere they
would only see that certain sums had been appro-
N!atec Tor carrying on certain improvements at
certain points. Where did this mighty system be-
GIN: Ar what point en- the wide extended coas,
OF t!Ie Atlantic even 10 the stong stream of the
Guil! Dad 1t begin in the State OF Maine, or at the
point called the Rip Raps, or in Delaware BAY. or
at Castle Williams: Gcnllslen, in their argument,
had NOT attempted TO say where ii began, nor To
where 1t extended. He wished 10 know if it was
KIND o eternity in itseli-an eternity in end as
well az IN besinuns' Was there no point on which
te mind could rest? AS far lie had heard IL was
me most Chaotic argument ever brought before the
human Judgment IL was darkness void, and with
out form; Tor yet, lie had seen and heard moth
ing TO tell about, Sc
as he understood the ma;ter-and, Mr. NJ said,
IL lie had been mistaken it was time he should be
coTected-it was Tor general increase OF FORTH
cations, then there WINS greater necessity for I
voting Tor the smaller and not the Larger III
inc larger sum were voted for, 1t would be on the
presumption that they 10 be completed direct
iy II they were TO be completed directly it would
not DE gradual Increase of for;lcatIons So Ions
as these works were gradually carrying on, the
mechanics who wee employed would take care of
uen; out The very moment they are finished il
WIZ be necessary TO have others there 10 sun
ply their places. If it is 10 be gradual Increase !,
would be right we should go into the matter bv |
Young ior the lesser sum instead of the greater
ana ilnIsh those which have been commenced !
lie dd not wish 10 lose all that had been expended.
Out he could not see, had he heard of any thing
when would be convincing TO his mind that there
was any necessity Tor voting for ihs very large |
sum HIT was 10 be done Immediately, TO what |
end was it; where was the necessity Tor II, NJ
gentleman had attempted urge the immediate ne
cessIty. We hear little rufnblinn at a distanc.
OF prospect IN view OF war, and hence the ne
cessIty OF having them. But, Mr.. NJ. said. he had
hea u oi no declaration or threats Of war; peace
anu eood VIII existed amongst all men, with some |
"hiins exceptions, over the habitable globe. Wei
ought not, them TO vote for the larger sum bu, f
he iessser one, so as TO keep within bounds Whilst
they are gradually carrying on, they will be ken,
]" repair; and gentlemen would perceive there was
great adherence between gradually increasing them
and letting them fall into state Of ruin
M NJ SAID he should vote for laying this bill on
tse table, and would give notice now, once for all
mat ne should vote for the least sum mentioned ~,
each' IN every Instance, till il came down to the
one that IS TO be constructed at Bienveuue. and |
FhOud Voie against every appropriation for such
cd and an 3D..