Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-11

Y @,
not alter his view of the Ii that species of
civity had been practiscd, and il was the desire of
his brother officers, Mr.. w. nothing to object
to 1t. II mattered not to him whence the members
oil the Board came. He went different prin-
ciplc altogether. If every member came from
his own State, unless the law appointed them, he
should DO equally against an appropriation bill ,
which provided for their compensation.
MIR. Harrison differed from the gentleman from !
Md 1.-THE motion prevailed, there would be no
visits hereafter. The Secretary would properly |
conclude that the plan met the disapproval of Con-
gress, and they would probably be altogether a. |
polished. As TO the supposition that the selection
OF vsiiers was not authorized by law. il erro
neous, as the Secretary of War had the authority
to appoint the visitors, and Congress- in making the
appropriation, would give it the sanction OF law. |
his was not an incidental expenses but that
called for yearly. II Congress disapproved of the
plan it ought TO be abolished altogether; and he
doubted not that would be the consequence. AS
to The Military Academy, although he not
convinced that its plan was the best, it like
standing Army-a necessary evil-as it was i'm
possible that we could cope with European skill,
without scientific officers. 1.-THE Academy was an
Institution with which we could not safely dis
pense, every means ought 10 be AIKEN to make it
useful, and TO contribute TO proper management.
In this point of view the Board of Vsiters of
important service; and he hoped the provision for
1t would not be stricken out
MIR. Kane expressed himself strong advocate
OF the Military Academy, and impressed with be-
lief in the advantage of the Board of Visitors The
power to appoint them <was not granted by law,
but by implications and was part of the pieroga-
tive OF the Secretary of War. he was called on,
however, TO vote In the dark this motion; he
had not been informed by the Chairman of the FL
nance Committee, in whose statements he always
put great confidence, whether the sum proposed
by the bill for this purpose, might or might not, be
| taken from the contingent fund. He should, under
his present view of the matter, rather vote against
the appropriation, and allow the Secretary of
War to pay the visitors from the contingent fund.
Mr. Benton said he was Indifferent 10 the
event OF the motion. He disagreed as to the effect
| anticipated from it by thseentleman from Ohio
He had examined the statement OF the sums which
mad been, IN past years. expended for this object,
| and he divided the different sums, for nine years,
into three averages. That for the first three
years, was 274 dollars per annum; that for the Sc
cond term, 1913 dollars; and that for the last three
| years was 1856 dollars. He thought the appoint
nent OF visiters necessary; but he thought sum
was preferable which should be medium between
the hrst and the second term. He should, there
ore vote for striking out not intending thereby to
oppose the continuance Of visits sufficient APP
| preparations.
| Mr.. King said that he intended to vote against
the motion, and he would give the reason
| He approved the visits-thought the President
had the power of appointing the visitors, and that
1 while the expense was kept within proper bounds,
there was no necessity for special appropriation.
The practice OF sending visiters authorized by
| the custom IN appointing officers to examine the
| Land Offices, and to examine the business of col
iections. He thought the sum ought to be fixed
specifically, and the Secretary would act accord
| inSiy. AS the question whether the appro-
pration should be struck out, and the matter left
to the discretion of the Secretary or a specific sum
be fixed upon, he was against the former; but was
desircus that the proper sum should be fixed by
| law.
Mr.. McLane rose to ask for information as TO
the reasons for the increase OF this expenditure
| OF the Chairman of the Committee on Finance
| he was in favor OF the examinations of the Mill
tary Academy, but was far from being satisfied
that this appropriation was necessary. AS far as
\ he had received information, the appropriation was
altogether too large. 1t difiicnlt to account
| tor the augmentation OF the expense which had
| grown up from year TO year. He wished to know
--J v nor expenditure sIIuuiu be grea-
er in 1926 than it was i'll 1925. He thought If the
! contingent Fund could supply this fund formerly
II could now be drawn from the same source Ue
would also ask the Chairman of. the Committee Of
FINANCE on what ground l5, 900 dollars was asked
by the Secretary of War, a contingent fund, s.
5000 Tor this purPose-thus swelling the demand
OF the Department to Is 900 dollars He merely
I rose 10 ask for information ON these heads.
] Mr.. Paris observed, that one reason for the in
crease Of the expense OF visitors at the Academy
arose from the fact, that it formerly merely
school for Military practice; and none but Militia
ry men were needed TO be chosen rs visiters But
iatterly, tie Academy has been also devoted to ge
neral education, requiring the examination of sci
| entiiic, and literary, well as military men,
These individuals had been chosen from various
parts oil the country, and some of them from the
! most distant States
Mr.. Hayne said, that there was another fact.
which seemed to him important. Last year the
contingent fund Of the War Department was 10
900 dollars, and out of it the expenses of the vi
/ siters were paid. He wished to know WIN there
must also be ] 800 dollars. If he could be told
/ why the contingent expenses should be greater
this year, than last he would vote FOR IL but not
otherwise.
| Mr. Chambers made. some further remarks, &
read letter of the Secretary of War, detailing
the causes OF the change in the system of vista
tion Strong prejudiccs had formerly been felt a.
gailst the Academy, and it was thought expedi-
en to select the yisers from the different states
Mr.. C. said the Secretary had not anticipated the
payment of this sum out Oh che contingent fund
and the inevitable consequence o. rejecting this
appropriation would be, that no gisters ssould be
sent TO the Academy.
Mr.. Hayne did not anticipate that the rofns y Of
this appropriation would have the effect To aboIisb ,
the visitation. 1t would merely restore il 10 its |
former state, as other expenses had been paid ont
of the contingent fund last year. He objected to |
voting for any appropriation, without knoyyinG the
reason; and he had heard no cause for this addi- /
tiona demand.
Mr.. Harrison remarked that, if this provision
was stricken out, there would be no means for de-
fraying the expense of the Board of Visiters
Mr. Smith OF Maryland, said, that, for series
OF years, the contingent fund had been $40 600 =
Why larger sum had been asked this year, he did
not know. IL was true, as The gentleman from
South Carolina had said, that the expense of the
Visitors had hitherto been paid out Of the confin
gent fund; but the Secretary now saws tbat. If
this sum is not granted; he cannot defrdy it from
that source.
Mr.. Woodbury. said, that the question was
whether the Senate would appropriate . 500 dol