Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-29

one respect, as the gentleman last up, being very
imperiecty informed upon the general subject but,
he drew from thds fact conclusion directly the |
reverse from that which was drawn by the gentle I
man isom Vermont. That gentleman it seemed, |
had concluded, because he knew little of the sub
ject that he would vote TO destroy Til. Office
Mr. A. viewed his want of information as q strong
reason why he should not destroy il. Since he
was cast into a situation in which he must decide
whether TO act OF not he preferred not TO act since
, he was IN great measure in the dark The cues
ton before the House was one which turned upon
matters OF professional knowledge. Having no
such knowledge OF his own, he had consulted mill
tary men, and they all, without exception decIar-
cd not equvocally but in the strongest terms that
the measure proposed would be productive OF great
INJURY These gentlemen were certainly capable
! oil forming an enlightened opinion, and on that
opinion, he inclined 10 RELY. One lcadiup
reason which induced him to oppose the resolution
was remark which had fallen from his honorable
| friend at the head OF the Military Committee
/ Mr. Hamilton. That gentleman had remarked
that, in our Naval establishment, we had organic
ed a Board Independent of the Secretary of the
Navy,who were charged with the technical details
oil that Department. Was there any gentleman
who would say that such Board was an unneces-
| sary appendage! He believed there was none.-
/ Now, the Major General constituted, with res.
poetic the Army, an organ OF precisely the same
character and the same necessity. Nay, even of
greater necessity; because the Army was a more
complex machIse, involving more details, and at
tended with greater expense to the nation While
the law had wisely decided that such an organ was
Indispensable TO the Naval service, the House was
about TO abolish, and annihilate the corresponding
organ in our military defence. As to the expense
oil salary; IN the Navy we had Board Of three Off
GERS; In the Army but one; while more duty was
actually done in the latter case than in the former
besldes,on general principles it was impossible that
any establishment could go prosperously without
| some practical head. Such head there would
be, legiSate as they might. They might declare
that there should be no officer called Maj Gen
eral, but the only result would be, that the same
duty would have 10 be performed by some bodv
else. You must make Brigadier General the
Major dc fdct0 and where was the uttv where
the common sense of abolishing an Office and
which must exist from the nature Of things? Could
IL be from regard 10 the amount of salary? Bri
gacier General. with brevet rank would receive
pay & emolumeDts which amounted so nearly 60
those oil Major General, that the difference would
not be more than some 1880, or 81, 900 at most
and when gentlemen remembered that the ex
pense oil the Army was nearly half the expense of
The Government, would they consent TO destroy its
symmetry, or impair its organization or efficiency.
Tor the ptiiul saving of S 500 year?
MIR. Marvin opposed the adoption of the resolu-
uon al some length-contending that, for the due
government OF the Army, as well in peace as in
war, common head was indispensable.
MIR. Sterigere, with view 10 meet the obiec-
tons which had been advanced ON the score OF de-
ranging the regularity ofthe Army, moved the fol-
lowing amendment TO the resolution:
strike out all al!er ReSOiCed and insert
hat the Committee on Military Affairs be di-
rected TO bitng in bill aholishing the office of
Mai. Cen, and making such alteration in the laws
relating 10 the Military Peace Establishment as
may become necessary, in consequence of abolish
ing said office"
| Mr.. Williams accepted the amendment as a mn
dihcation of his resolution.
Mr.. Hamilton said, that such an amendment
offered at this late period of the session. furnished
III ITSELF sufficient argument TO shew the inexDe-
diency OF entering into this subject at the present
he amor ftftra.- ~
II the Office of Major General was abolished our
whole Peace Establishment must be re-organized
For that purpose, the Military Committee raust
go INTO revision Of the whole subject and, after a
iaborious examination Gifts nultifarious details
would have TO submit aPfojet TO the House, which
could not fad OF exciting prolonged discussion I'm
der such circumstances, it was hopeless TO EXPECT
any action OF the House upon it, before Congress
should rise.
The question then recurring on the resolution
follows:
Yeas %, Nayss5.
So the llouse resolved 10 instruct The Commit
zee 10 report IN favor OF the abolition of the Office of
mayor General. and making such other alteratera-
uons IN the organization of the Army as that abo-
/ it!on may render necessary.
INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL.
/ Inc Dill making appropriations for the Indian
department ior the year eighteen hundred & TWEEN
! weight, was read third time, and the question
being, Shall the bill pass?
Mr.. Woods, of Ohio, addressed the House at
great length, IN opposition 10 some of lis features
| repeated q insisted upon the arguments he had
addGced III yesterdays debate, and confirming. them
! by copious reference TO documents from the War
Department. lie remarked, with undated seyeri-
w. Oh the conduct of the present s. passed Admin
iSlIaons on the subject four Indian relations ac
cusing both ofhaving been guilty of the greatest
enorIntes in this respect
Mr. Sewer, the Delegate from Arkansas, after
some very earnest remOnstrances as to the nroha
bic effect of the bill within the Territory of Arkar
sas, moved that ii be Iecommitted
! The question being taken, cyoic5 did not make
a quorum
Whereupon,
Mr. McLane briefly stated the suffering condi |
lion oil the indians, and the urgent necessity Tor
the appropriation which The bin proposed . max.
MI. Sevicrremonstratcd with increasing warmth. /
stated the probability Of the removal of all the
CheIOAees from Georgia and Alabama To the midst
OF the Territory Of Arkansas two of tie best coIn
ues OF which Territory had already been giver,
away 10 the Choctaws; and concluded by dcclar- /
ng mat should the bill pass in lis present FORM the
4cfIliofy would not be worth sous EHaT0tLe
mf. fhelps took the same side. lie expressed .
MS nope, that Congress would not turn the cui- |
grating Indians into the midst Of a Territory, now
/ rapidly Improving, and which would ere long he /
an applicant to Congress for admission into the
Union as sister State.
Mr.. McDufiie expressed his great astonfsl,ment
mai such very particular sOlicilulde should BE- ex
hbiied by gentlemen. in distant cxtreiitcs of The
Union, for the accommodation of the PeonIa or
| arkansas Territory. This was certainly some
"h" novel nor should he undertake 10 assign the .
easohS " hicn might, possibly, have led TO H.
AHeilouon 10 rccomnit was thennegaigcd; and .
The bill vas passed.
INTERNAL INpgOVFNrFVT