Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-07
FC.TiFICATIONs

tC..IifiIAIlONS.
On motion OF Mr.. Smith of Md. the bill making
appropriations for certain Fortihca,ons. for the
year 1923, was taken up in Committee of the
Whoic--and the amendment offered by the Com
mi'tee ON Finance, appropriating $50 900 Tor the
erection OF Fertilization at the mouth OF the river
Darataila, near New Orleans, being under consde-
ration,
Several letters ana documents, in relation 10 the
proposed object OF appropriation, read, on mo-
ten OF MIR. Smith OF Md.
Mr.. Dickerson opposed the amendment observ-
Ing that, last year. ii was understood that the APP
populations were 10 decrease yearly. Instead OF
which, here was new project, not mentioned i'm
the former plans. He had observed, that the cs-
| Inmates had always fallen far short of the expen-
ditures the works; and, as he believed the sys-
TEN OF fertilization was going on to length, which
Congress had never, by any vote that il had Civ
en-, authorized, he wished to see those Fortified.
tons finished, which had been already commence
ed before he could vote for any new ones.
| Mr. Harrison in reply, contended that, when
the estimates had fallen short ofthc expenditures
it was from the impossibility of arriving at the
exact sum in advance which work would cost
As TO the Fertilization proposed, he con idercd
1t essential TO make valuable and efficient the va;-
Gus works which had already been completed Tor
| the defence of Now Orleans.
| The amendment was agreed to-
Mr. Dickerson moved TO amend the bill by strilS-
ing out the appropriation of 900 dollars FOR orti-
iicaton OF the harbor of Pensacola. AIR d. made =
4
reporter, previous to reading extract from the
report OF General Bernard on this subject. He OBJ
served, in conclusion, that he did not profess
TO have any recent information a. to this point
butif 1t was not explained, he could not vote for
| the appropriation.
1 Mr. Smith of Md. said tl,at this subject had
been fully Investigated in the other House 1t
was known that we had Navy Yard at Pensaco-
10, and that its position made it one of the most
important points in the Southern section of the
country Tor the protection OF our commerce. He
read the report made last year, OF the Chief Enci-
necr, in which was stated the necessity of FORTH
cations at this point, and observed that the present
appropriation only contemplated the purchase OF
| materials.
MIR. Cobb spoke at considerable length in oroo-
sition tot whole system. He considered The
late discovery of the point of Barrataria not lit
tie surprising. He said he laid down the ground
broadly, that Congress had been regularly deceiv-
ed by the Board of Engineers, lever since the late
war. He did not know when the expenditures
were to end, as every year they increased, and
new projects were continually starting up. When
one foriilcation was done, ii must be torn down
and another OF two hundred guns be put up in its
place. This was the constant course of the sys-
ten, which ought instead of systems to be called q
Udnpyre, which was feeding with Unsuitable appe.
tite on the blood of the Treasury. Mr.. c.. then
made some remarks on the tardy progress of some
OF our larger Observation-Disclosures Monroe in
particular. He considered the money expended
at the Rip Raps 50 much money thrown into the
ocean. He viewed the whole system 10 be nur.
turing the germ of standing Army--and DANCE.
rous to the liberties of the country. He wished tc
know, after the forts finished, how large the
! expenditures for their ornaments would be; & sup
posed 1t would be lucrative affair for the Ordnance
i department. In conclusion Mr.. Cobb declared
that, il he could procure vote of the Senate, he
would move TO refuse TO pass single appropria-
ton for this SYSTEM whether for finished or iinfi
| rlsied foritcationS-aad then he would vote Il
send the Engineers over the ground again, t.
profit by the errors that lad already been com
mittcd.
! Mr. Eaton then moved an adjournment. Tht
Senate divided on the motion, and the vote stand
ing % TO IS,
The Senate adjourned.