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

gress, and not of the War Department. Congress
ordsred the Department to go on with it, contrary
to its own views and those of the Engineers.
This, then, was not 70 be charged as fault, either
on that Board, or on the Committee of Ways and
Means. As to the item in this bill. tor work at
New Orleans, such work has been represented as
OF the utmost necessity. II is situated at the very
point where the British entered during rhe late war
and is indispensable TO the safety of that city,
MIR. Eors, tn replied. now, then, understand
that these " orks are included in the report, but
are placed in the second or third class, and
the bill removes them 10 the first class The work
81 North Carolina was last year ordered but if he
rightly informed. II is not yet begun The
sitehad been purchased, but not stone yet laid
The House. therefore, is not committed as TO the
point OF time when this fort shall be commenced
1t may appropriate for Tvs commencement now,
Or some years hence; 10 Injury TO the works can
be pleaded as All argument against delay
IL has, besdes, been suggested by a member in
his place that the system Of canals, along the
hoard, will render such fort perfectly useless
Ought we TO proceed until this point is settled,
The gentleman from Delaware has said, that if
had used due diligence in examining the documents,
might have saved myself from my present siua-
ton before the House. Sir, did inquire.
inquired sufficiently 10 satisfy myself, that the
scheme adopted by the Engineers is essentially de-
fective, and that, in pursuing 1t, the Government
is doing rank I'M ,sce the nation; that 1t is strong
ly for,iiying some points, and at vast expense,
while other points, OF greater importance, are
wholly neglected. The great object of the Gov
ernnent ought to be, 10 begin first with those OBJ
Jects which are of vital Importance; and do not
consider all the objects now presented 10 us,
20 Qe OF this description and / therefore thought
1t my duty to bring the subject before the House.
II the suggestion of particular States, or OF the
Hoard OF Engineers, is esteeaed sufficient reason
.,F 81.
third class 10 be removed into the hIst class,
by appropriation bill, think it is high time that
we inquire further. a large part of the coast of
,his country, and that part OF it which is most vuI
nerable, is left, by these measures, wholly IN
defended--no, a fort is proposed for its
pfo,ection.
We ask, what is the plan to be pursued: wish
10 examine il. Gentlemen say we have examined
Vie plan already. Sir, if il has been examined,
wish it re-examined. Why is the port of Boston
10 be defended III preference to the port OF Savan-
nah? Is il because it is weaker, anG more exposed?
Sir, we have been officially told that Boston Is able
10 take care Of itself aud we were told this, sir,
At time when the truth of the declaration liza
Die, every day, to be put to the test Yet the plan
proposes TO give more than million of dollars to
defend Boston; not dollar 10 protect Charleston
or Savannah. The defeaceless parts of the coun-
Try let out of the scheme---while vast sums
ilyshed on those which needed no further defence
IN the hour of danger
Mr.. Speaker, have been drawn into this discus
sion {: the unfortunate indisposition of my col
League has imposed task 10 which had
no previous inclination. He sought for inforina-
ton 10 guide his Judgment, but he sought il in VAIN
aud with me, sir, whether the information was
necessary or nos necessary, the mere fact that il
was withheld, would present sufficient reason for
putting our hands upon this bill
Bit here - another point, which demands expla-
nation These bills are out OF time they have
been pressed upon MS at period OF the session at
which they were never introduced before. The
gentlemen of the War Department say that the
service has entered from the delaying oil these bills
and this is taken for granted but, sir, lie, them
shew wha. injury has resulted from. 4: wha, is i,
Possibly some inconv enience may have been felt
but what Is this, when put in competition with the
character and dignity OF this House :? Sir, this is
not the first instance in which the calls of this
House have been utterly disreearded. We have
asked more than once before, for informaton and
I, has been withheld from us. Nay, sir, not so
much as poor apology has been returned to US
IN one Instance, we were told at there was not
Tine 10 answer the inquiry ye. at the succeeding
session, rot toe least notice taken Of the call!
ana 1t yet remains unanswered. In tie present
case we have had two calls disTcgardel. hope
we shall make stand upon the third.
Mr.. Stephenson, OF Pennsylvania, observed,
that he should nor have said one word on the pres
eht BILL bH Tor the, TO him at lest, most extraor-
binary doctrines which fell from the lips of tie
gentleman from Delaware, who in substance
says, II is not our business to deliberate or ask
Tor Information Oh this bill and who will not al
low one week, TO enable rs TO examine into the
vroprety Of the appropriation OF eight hundred
thousand dollars 10 be expended on Notifications
aud this because the Executive Department may be
put TO Inconvenience by delay, aud because the
Engineers nave SAID this sum will be wanted And
when we wish for information as TO the location.
progress, and plans I'll their works tells u il NAV
be found IN or books, documents, &c if we seek
u. That we ought to be already informed as lit
lie IS necessary To be known, the system havin.
been maured IN 1913, and that we hsye nothing to
do bus make good the measures Of former Con-
gress.
This IS the extraordinary doctrine indeed As
TO those gentlemen who have been members of this
4douse iOI several years, they may be informed on
all essential points; they may have kept pace with
the progress OF this system, az i, is called Though
they seem at iault when called upon TO jnpaft
lhiormauon;) but there are many members iamongst
which number he was ineluded,) who have this
year taken ier seats for the FIRST time upon this
floor. lie believed that there were between
seventy and eighty members who were in this
situation, and even ii the information on the sub
Ject before the House contained in its records
it spread through a mass of documents of great
extent, and fer a series OF years. New members
were net familiar with the eades mode of referring
10 II; YET they preferred the labor to blind com
pance with the views Of others. For hirns self
he made no professions OF remarkable industry; he
should, however, strive to acquire the necessary
information GA The various subjects that come before
The llouse and more particularly with regard bills
approprla'ing large sums OF money, which, after ALL
seems the main matter. The gentleman tells us
wei ypd - e..