Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-12
TwEMTIETK CONGRESS-.
SEcoSp SESSION.
TnusRpAy-, Feb. J.Isoo

on the resolution offered by him, relative 10 th.
Southern Expedition.
Mr.. Hayne said, the resolution had been s,,b
mi'tcd by direction Of the Committee OH Naval
Affairs bill from the House Of Representative
appropratinS so 900 dollars for the purpose OF ex
pioring the Pacihc Ocean aud South Seas, had
been referred to that Committee, in consequence
OF which, their Chairman had been directed tc
address letter TO the Secretary of the Navy re.
ghiring oi him an explanation Of the views OF the
department as 10 the objects ofthe expedition, and
statement oil the expenses already incurred, with
an estimate Of the further expense that would be
incurred in citing it out. An answer had been
received from the Secretary, which was not al
together satisfactory 10 the Committee. He had
gwen an explanation OF the plan of the expedition
and whathad already been done in fur,herance OF
II stated some OF the expenses which had been
incurred, but did not give all the information
required. The want OF the accounts was the req
son aiiedged why the desired information had no,
been afforded.
An the examination of the subjcc; by the Com.
Dittee. some circumstances had occurred which
induced them 20 submit this cali In order N
present 10 the Senate the views which influenced
the Committee, ne would give brief history @,
this exploring expedition, and state what lad al.
ready been done in reference 10 this sui ieci
Atthe last session of Congress, the protector of
the expedition came 10 Washington, bringing
with him several memorials, signed by persons
Of responsibility, praying that Congress would eli
Their INT out an expedition for The purpose Of max
sig explorations ut the South Pole or that they
would aid in fitting out such an expedition The
snemorials were referred 10 the Committee of Ma
val Affairs in the other House, who comnuaicat.
cd with the Head of the Navy Department on the
subject-and he held in his hand the letter ofihe
Secretary of the Navy TO that Committee from
which he wou'l read few extracts for the infor.
dnstion OF the Senate. Here Mr.. II. read from
Ihe letter of the Secretary as foiIows:I
1.-THE expedition ought not 10 be large nor ex-
Sensive. O:her nations have erred on this point
atseems TO be the desire CT the memor;ahst that
Congress should afford aid, furnish the whole
expense If this mode be preferred by the Com
1uitee, all that the bill need provide is Tia. the
enm OF - dollars be appropriated TO aid in fitting
out an expedition 10 explore the Pacific Ocean and
South Seas" IL il be the intention that the whole
expense should be borne by Government, the bill.
ought TO provide " That Gie President of The u
nited States be, and he is hereby, authorized 70
cause TO be fitted out an expedition TO explore the
Pacific Ocean and South Seas; and that tie sum OF
- dollars he, and the same is hereby, appropr,
a,ed for that object" The blank ought 10 DE eli
ed with 40 900 or 80 900 dollars"
On the receipt OF this communication from TIC Sc
cretary, (said Mr.. H the Committee reported a
OH, similar, he believed. in all liz provisions. 20
that now before the Senate, taking tle whole mat
terin'o the hands of the Government, authorizing
The President 10 cause the expedition TO be fitted
OH, and appropriatng $4,000 dollars for that OBJ
Ject. The Committee reported the bill some time
IN March, but IT was not acted on-Congress be-
ing either unwilling to act upon the subject at all
or not having time to Do SO. Congress having o.
Tnitted to pass the law. there was, Of course. an
eau oil the matter. Within a few days OF the close
OF the session, however, viz: on the 10Th Of Nav
Member of the House submitted the followine
resolutions, which, the 2l5 Of the So me month
we're considered and agreed TO by that House,
viz:
Reso'uef, That il IS expeiient dat one Of orr
email public vessels be sen, to the Pacific Ocean
and South Seas 10 examine the coasts, islands har-
hors, shoals, and reefs in those seas and 10 ascer-
tain their true situation and description
"Aes0lred, That the President Of the T. States
De requested 20 send one Of our small public ships
iaso those seas, for that purpose: and that ne be-
requested TO afford such facilities os may be with
IN the reach Of the Navy Department, to attain
HE object proposed; provided il can be effected
without prejudice TO The general interest OF the
Navy service; and provided it may be done with.
oaf further appropriations during the present
year"
These resolutions were never sent to The Senate
for their concurrence, and consequently could not
he considered as sanctonedby Congress Never
theless, the Secretary OF the Navy had acted upon
the subject, in the same manner as he would have
Done, not only II the resolutions had passed both
1iouses, but as II the original bill had become a
lazy. The specific appropriations made for The
general purposes Of the Navy had been applied.
at pleasure, towards this object: and now this bill
"a sent to US for APPRECIATION going 10 sanction
what had already been done by the Secretary
This was its object. 1t appeared to the Commit
tee as OF the last importance that this matter should
be carefully looked into. The Senate was a CO.
ordinate branch OF the Legislature and no a,nro-
priation could legally be made for public OBJ
Ject without their concurrence. Whether appro-
Priaiions made by law for particular objects should
be suffered to be transferred 10 those which were
not authorized by law, was question which il
was desirable TO bring to the view Of the public
The resolution (Mr. H. said,) furnished no su
tnoTity Tor what had been done in this case And
he quoted That clause of the Constitution which
provided that every order, resolution or vote -
20 be obligatory, must have the sanction of boit,
Houses, and be approved by The President. An
appropriation bill had no effect, unless passed by
both Houses, and approved by the President; and
the rule was the same as TO resolutions rert,irng
the appropriation OF money, or which related -
any matter of public concern
But II these resolutions Of the House Of Repre.
seHtaiiyes could be considered as an authority.
they had not been pursued
Mr.. III. then commented on the resolutions pass.
ea BY The other House, and explained their object.
IhEy provided for sending out one If our small
rsstets, provided it could be done withou. injury
TO the public service, and wiihou, any increase Of
expenditure. in other words, that one Of our email
cfuizipg vessels nigh; be detached on this SER
Vice'- But the measures pursued by the Secreta-
yy,were The same ss if the law now before the
senate had been passed during the last session -
II seemed, the Secretary had considered tils reso
Jutions 10 the light Of law, giving hin, an On 3.
jimiteo discretion. What had been done? WHY,
the Peacock had been rebuilt at an exosn.o
probably exceeding the construction Of a sidoo ~
waS; eh had been double Gmbered, and Other.
Wise ft ed for this particular service A brig had
been purchased, at an expense Of teh thousand
dollars, with the understanding, Il was true, II
the expedition vas not sent out, she shou'o be IA.
G'r FEFs ~ hfr ov7neT-' 4 sohc,rsr ~, sA-