Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-03

trade. For want of mo6ntod men il was now ne,
cessary to cxpend much in steam boat transporta-
ton and the employment of State Cavalry. 1t was
supposed by Gen. Icssup that the measure would
save the United States much exposure. 1t was
not intended tc employ single additional soldier
but to mount portion of the Infantry as occdsiol.
might require.
The bill was ordered to third reading.
COMPLICATIONS.
The bill TO provide for the armament of certain
Notifications of the United States was read q So
cord time, and
Mr.. Benton moved that it be indefinitely post.
poncd.
Mr.. SMITH considered the bill ofgrcat Importance
to tho United States The Notifications were unarin-
cd, and, on tho sudden occurrence If war, our
forts could be blown up. 1t would take 90 wears
with present appropria ions to furnish tho forts
with ornaments. This bill appropriatcs u million
OF dollars-200,0 900 dollars Il year for five years
which viii prevent tho Department from coming
Co for 100, 900 dollars annually. lie himself was
disposed to go faster, and to complete the arma-
nIen;s in less time. Ii gave the contractors an
annual contract for five years. they could afford TO
furnish the cannon much cheaper. The subject
had long been before Congress in various forms,
and he considered it of great Importance.
Mr.. Benton said, our situation not like the
nations of Europe, who, at any moment, arc likely
to be involved in war. No emergency in affairs
could be anticipated, which would prevent us frou,
arming our Notifications in due time. He consider
cd that the present rate of appropriation, which
would furnish the Notifications in 26' years, was
fast enough. These appropriations had greatly
| increased since he came into tho Senate; and hc
was now opposed, principle, to any expend
turc not absolutely necessary.
Mr. SMITH was, he said unwilling the Sen
ator from Missouri could be to go into unneccssar,
expense. But were we not, in the late war, taker
| by surprise? When tire Governor of MARYLAND
said Mr. Smith, sent me TO take the command o.
fort, below Baltimore, / found there were no
fvc cannon there, and was obliged to pledge my
own means to procure them We went into tn,
/ war hurry scurry. and got through it by accident
| IL was then recommended to to prepare for wa
| In time of peace He did not see why we shouls
not complete th.s preparation in ten well as il
| twenty years. AS TO the expenditures, had now
SD much money, that every day it was asked how
we were to get rid of it.
MIR. HOLMES remarked that, in the late war, WI
struck the first blow ourselves, and it faul
1t we struck 1T unprepared. That not cas-,
III which sudden emergency of which w,
werclrfaware. If we were now i'm danger of get
ting into war, tho Senator from Maryland ough
to go further, and provide for manning the forts
1T we armed them and left them unnamed, w,
should incur the double danger of losing the, fort
and the arms too. He considered the preseht mp
preparation of s 900 year as sufficient:
| Mr.. HAYNE objected, he saiG,- both 10 the desig.
and the form of the bill. A plan for this objec
should be marked out and not varied. We hav
adopted u plan; and now without the occurrence. o
any cXigency, without recommendation from thu
President, or anv HcaaFof Department., the Sena
tor from Maryland proposes to change this system
lie was surprised ut the proposition when it frs
came from the Senator. 1t referred to tn,
Committee Military Affairs. and that Commit
tee, thinking it ineXpedcnt, have, through tlei
Chairman, moved its indefinite postponemcnt
What great necessity there for this expcndi
ture! why, says the gentleman, it will take 81
years to arm the forts. Fsuppose, too, aid Mr.. III
1t VIII take ~ years to complete the forts. But i
was said that sin peace, we must prepare for war;
| Sir, sald Mr.. H., this is a much abused maxim L
Is made use OF as preteXt for every plan by which
money is to be drawn from the people If it il
deemed expedient to impose heavy duty on wool
lens, II is urged upon us that we must have blank
els tor the soldiers in time of If it is though
advisable to feed some hungry contractor with ia
job, 1T is proposed to prepare cannon something
else Tor war But what prospect of was
there! 1t was the interest of the whole world t.
remain at peace with tho United States, and peace
he looked to as the settled policy of this country
But the gentleman asks what arc to do will
| our money2
Mr.. SMITH here denied that he had asked the
question: lie had said the question was asked by
others.
Mr. HAYNE said, it was now a common question
/ lie had seen bills enough, this morning, reporte,
IN tins house, to require ten millions of dollars
For himself, he felt no anxiety to the manner O
disposing of our resources He would leave tn,
/ money in the pockets of those who earned it. In
stead OF going abroad to seek out ways of expendi
ture, he would leave with the people their owl
| n,
IN cases the most urgent necessity. The Sena
tor from Missouri was correct in his statemcn
that these expenditures were increasing. Notwith
standing, said Mr. H., the cry of retrenchment ant
reform, our expenditures were every day increasing
lie hoped the Senate was prepared to check this
protusion. Wishing that the question might be
deliberately taken, he asked for the ayes and noes
Mr. SMITH, in rejoinder said so long as we ar,
government we must provide for its exigencies
and these exigencies must continually arise Ht
could not find out where there had been any pro
expenditures for internal improvement; for most o
them he had himself voted 1t gives money tt
make money. What would have been the situa
ton or our navy now, had il not been for the ap
preparation icr'the gradual increase of the navy We
should have had only few rotten ships A to
manning the forts we could always have men
enough.
The question beng taken by ayes and noes or
the motion for indefinate posiPonemcnt. it was de.
cIded IN the afiiI NATIVE, follows:
AYEs-Messrs. Bell, Benton, Buckner, Brown
Clay, Dickcrsoh, Ewing, Foot, Forsyth, Freng
huysen, Grundy, Hanna, Hayne Hendricks, Hill
Holmes, Kane, Mangum, Marcy, Miller, Moore
Prcntiss, Robbins Robinson, Ruggles Seymour
Tomlinson, Troup. Tyler, White, Wilkins.-31
NoEs-Messrs. Bib, Dallas, Dudley, Johnston
knight, Silsbce; Smith,.
On motion of Mr.. BENTON, the Senate proceed
ed to the consideration of Executive business
and, when the doors opened,
The Senate adjourned.