Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-04-17
Gn,lers ssi eMa}.
SPEECH OF MIR. MERt Err,
D1 I@ISNi1 Or NiIt NJ rsIt' En-,
II, reply to a motion Of Mr.. Rives Of PDgia'd
to strike from, the MILITARY .appropriati0n Bill


to strike from the Military appropriation Bill
| the foiio,oing clause
Fo dehsyns the expenses incidental 60 examinations
Z" 10000 dollars"
| Mr.. MERCER said he bad attentive!y listened,
but with equal surprise anu regret, TO the extra
ordinary speech which bad been pronounced. with
much apparent generalization, by his colleague. i'll
| support Of his motion.
| My surprise, however, said Mr.. NJ. arises in a
much greater degiee from the respect which en-
teftained for the candor of my honorable friend,
! than from any novelty whatever in the character
OF his argument, il argument that may be called,
which siferds throughout such undeniable evidence
OF his irresistible prejudices both against the pow
er, which the small appropriation that he propos.
TO strike from this bill, is designed execute,
and tue persons TO whom is execution will be
| conided
A. to the latter, l had hoped that topic which
has, of late, consumed many mornings of our
almost expired session, IN Improbable debate,
mieht be confined to that period of the day, as
| to allow some prospect of completing part, at
least, of that mass of unfinished business which
has been heared upon the tables Of the tw o Hous-
es by the preparatory labor of so many months.
! To the many political creeds, d:sclsimsrs. and
explanations, which have 40 remarkably disiin-
gui.bed the Nineteenth Congress, may be in
j1's-j, MIR Speaker, With adding one, before l
proceed farther in this debate While l differ
toto cGlo, from my colleague, az to the facs snd
! conclusions which he has so ingeniously pressed
into the support Of his motion, may l be allowed
10 say, that nave risen to mingle in this discus
| sion, not as he champion or the spo!ogst of an
man, or combination OF men, but as the steady
friend of benefcent, if not essential power of
| the Federal q ,vernmeut.
| While the Judiciary bill of the last session was
/ depending, an honorable meuber from Mary Hand
| (Mr Dorsey insinuaed that my opposition TO
II sqlnted at hostility TO the existing Admins
tration. Sir, most sincerely rejoice, whatever
| may have been the origin of that measure, that I
deal, TO it its first, aud, finally. its fatal blow. AS,
in what 1 am sb.ut 10 say. might encounter an
| opposite suspicion, shall be partoned, l trust,
tor stating hat is uuquestio1ably tue, that have
entered inio no political union with either of The
parties which have arisen in this House. ! am
not, and will not be, bound TO support any Adj
rninistration or any Opposition. The measures
which approve will main ain; those which my
I judgment Condemns, l will resist 10 the utmost
extent of my feeble power.
! II know myself, and have had time enough,
at least, 10 acquire even this difficult kncwedge,
! | had rather pass the residue oil a more han hall
spent life In the remotest obscurty, with some
hermitage for NY abode, and bread with wafer Tor
my sally food, than surrender my feelings, my
understanding, and my liberty of independent ac-
ton, TO the reseDtments opinions, and interests,
! ready to manifest to- be unseen.
For many individuals of both, cherish feelings
OF respect; Tor soHe, sentiments Of regard, which,
! hope, are mutual; towards none do / entertain
the slightest personal enmity; bu,, if the warfare
which IS begun Is 10 Re prosecuted, as has been
threatened. to the exclusion OF all neutrality, and
! this declaration OF roy fixed purpose shall rob me
| OF the society and friends now enjoy, am pre-
pared TO add even this sacrifice 10 the many |
have already been required to make on the altar
OF public and private duty.
TO return to the depending motion: 1t offers for
solution. the question, whether il be more expe-
dent to leave 10 the President of the United
States the application of the sum OF thirty thou
sand dollars the aid of the labor and skill of the
military corps OF the Typographical Engineers,
placed by the Constitution under his immediate
command, TO the survey Of The routes of such
roads and canals as he may deem of sufficient Ma
uona Importance TO merit inve,lisation; or dire,
that application ourselve-? In terms more brief
we are called upon 10 decide whether the power
involved in the expenditure OF this inconsderabIe
sum, be Legislative Executive.
! If IL has been the role end of the motion
OF my colleague TO demonstrate that this power
has been abused by the present Administration,
and should, therefore, bs withheld so large Dart
! OF his speech has been devoted to this purpose,
! that, before approach inquiry into The nature
OF the power itself, perceive the necessity of re-
I moving the numerous obs'Tuc ions w hich he ha.
thrown in my way. The materials of this inge-
nious labor, he has drawn from recent report of
the Department of War, which h. has correctly
traced TO resolution of the Committee on Roads
and Canals a resolution, prompte ed by a,ye7y to
/ The performance OF some OF the numerous duties
imposed on that Committee, by the various and
multiplied urders of The House
! The report in answer to this resolution has
thrown open, as was designated, 20 the view of
tie Committee, and by the order for its pubIica-
ton, at the instance of The Committed TO the
House, and 10 the gentleman himself, The entire
i operations Of the Board of Internal IMPROVEMENT
and the impulses by which it has been guided
from IFS institution, in 1924, pursuant TO the act
OF Congress which gave it biiib, down TO the pye =
1 sent period.
! 1t is upon the abuse of the power eonfJeJ. BY
that act, to the President, that my colleague has
founded the entire supersiructure OF his imposing.
though, as hope presently TO show, very fanciful
argument.
This power, he contends, has been welded for
/ the extension Of Executive influence, and there
lore, directed where II could most effectively sub
serve that purpose. To rropitiale the favor of
particular States, or districts of country with a
view to sustain the friends and TO put down the
enemies OF the Administration; and, thereby, TO
proiong its exisiance, through another Presidential
term. To multiply the proDfs of this charge he
has trayersed the United States in every direction
and inquired into the divisions Of its political par
Ties, and the personal attachments and connexions
OF the individual members of this Hou.e
AZ the act Of 1924 required that the SURVEYS.
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