Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-05
The Richmond NNhIG.
GONG ElSS.
pEBATE ON IINE OAK PLANTATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
SATURDAY., Feb. %, 1892.
lC,nclnd,d Gom pcslcldnyl

DEBATE ON LIVE OAK PLANTATIONS.
(Conciadcd ftom ycStcid"y)
Mr. Wlurg.-SOO acres of this land had been
owned bv me for a number of years before the
sale. There were 100 acres of it which did then
own The Secretary did not wish To make propo-
sails for this land himself and asked to do it,
nCrcrinr To pay for the whole 200 so much
l admit that what paid Tor he 400 acres was no,
quite equal so the sum allowed me by Government
but my own 500 acres was more valuable than the
400 because 1t lay nearer To the Navy Yard.
Mr.. BGANCu.-Thc reports will show the whole
facts of the case III a light no, to he disputed.
The report of Com. Rodgers will show that the
land was barren, and of the poorest quality. The
gentleman has stated many things which |
know to be foreign from the fact, that | am really
10th Ia correct him. He SAYS that Com. Rodgers
was sen; out in Sloop OF war, accom- panied by an
Engineer, expressly for the purpose OF examining
tins land. Sir, TN" fact Is not So Com. Rodgers
about to make his annual visit to Pensacola
1 commanded him to examine, on his way, the site
which had been selected for the live oak planta
tons. Can the gentleman say that he did not
receive money i'll advance from the Government
for land which then belonged to his constituents?
And that lie was not, III consequences, enabled To
speculate on his constituents Vet this is the zen.
tlcman by whom have been inSdiousy assaulted
He charges me with having given Il salary TO a near
relation. and says that this was public abuse. Sir
do not think there is any gentleman, on this floor
who believes it. am ready tn undergo any inves-
tigation. l invite examination. The gentleman
TO whom he alludcs am proud to acknowledge
is relative. l. is General Eli b. Whit
takcr. He reluctant to take the APP
ponment, but | cntrcatcd him TO serve; and
the result has proved that it was most fclictouS
appointment. have in my eye gentleman who
knows him well: and if there is gentleman who
stands more dcscrvcdIy high in the estimation of
his fellow citizens, am not acquainted with him.
The reports OF Gen. Whitaker will show how ably
he discharged the trust committed to him. As to
any thing | have done in this affair, trust this
House Will examine into it. ! invite any gentle.
man who doubts the proprcty OF my course, H. any
respect to move the appointment Of committee,
so as to allow me tribunal before which my con.
duct may he brought to the test. | seek such ri.
bunal. am not afraid to trust the investigation TO
my warmest political opponcn : who are gentleman
and if they shall find aught TO dctract from nv
humble name, | am willing to suffer whatever |
may deserve. | fear nothing. Errors they NAV
find but not errors ofmy heart.
Under the third article of the act which | read
l asked the House whether they believe that the
President or his Secretary had power to make
purchases of private land? | formerly gave il as
my opinion that they had not. But none were
implicated by the expression of that opinion but
those who ought to be responsible. stated fact
which it was my duty to state am prcpar-
cd to say, that It on examination of the pub.
lie land 1t shall appear that we have no. most
abundant supply of live oak timber then am rea.
dy to vote for the purchase of other land And in
that case, am proud 10 say that should be willing
to expend not only thirty or forty thousand dollars
but hundred Thousand if it were necessary
The House then must see how greatly | have been
a3Ised by the accusation Of having abandoned
the policy OF securing supply OF this timber
for the navy. | have not abandoned that policy
/ never did abandon it,. / did no more than EN-.
Ploy additional agents, at the same per diem al
lowancc which had formerly been paid. When
tho report of Lieut.. Gedncy shall be presented TO
the House, and the statements with respect to the
Gulf of Mexico shall be submitted to our examina-
ton, then gentlemen will find, that where the gen
tleman from Florida has declared that there is none
Of this timber, there exists, as before stated an
abundant supply Lot these examinations proceed.
Let us spend hundred thousand dollars or two
hundred thousand, if 1T shall be necessary in this
important ivestigaton.
Sir, am not in the habit of public speaking.
and do not know that need go farther in re-
ply TO the gentleman from Florida We are both
known.
Mr.. CARSON observed that the difficulty which
had arisen perhaps very great as it might
at first appear. The insinuations which had fallen
from the gentleman from Florida, in regard to the
honesty with which the duties of the Navy Depart
mcnt had been discharged, while it vas under the
care OF his friend from North Carolina Mr.
Branch,) seemed TO call on some friend of that gen
tleman--
Here the SPEAKER interposed; and said he could
not permit discussion ofIhs personal kind to 90
pny further. The peculiar situation in whic! the
gentleman from North Corona stood had alone
prevented him from intcrposng at an earlier stage
of it.
Mr.. CARSON said that he was not about to on.
ter into the discussion, but merely to suggest that
some friend OF that gentleman should move the an
poinrmcnt of Il committee Of investigation
The CHAIR said that this was not the time for
any such motion. The debate had been of a very
unpleasant nature, and he should have INTERRUPTED
il, but for the he had stated.
Mr.. BRANcHsaI that he perfectly willing
chat any information should be elected which the
gentleman from Florida might desirC aud if the
gentleman would Withdraw the insnuation con-
tanned in the latter part of his amendment, he
should have no objection in the world to his get
ting at all the facts he wanted. One clause of the
amendment called for account of the expense
OF fitting out end maintaining the vessels which
had been employed by the Navy Department in the
service which had formed the subject of debate
Now tins inquiry could not be answered without q
long and difficult Investigation, and a dciay of
perhaps weeks and months. There was no diff
Guilty on The subject. The report of Lieut. Ged
ney will show that there was timber enough be.
tween the Mississippi and the Atchifaaya, to sup
ply the demands Of the United States for hun
bred years. II the gentleman would strip his a.
menGwent OF It's offensive parts he bad objec-
tin to his getting the number Of agents who had
been employed, the salaries which had been al
lowed them and the dates of their respective com
missions, but an exact account of the expense of
hitting out the vessels and keeping them in service
would produce delay that must entirely defeat
the object fthc resolution.
Mr.. WHITE said, that he had not conceived that
there was any thing in hIs amendment which
could be offensive. lie willing to strike ont
the part which the gentleman objected to- He
differed t2to cmio from the gentleman as 10 what
The reports would disclose, hc did in every thing
else.
lie modified lis resolution by striking out
the following words:
And whether, III his opinion, the said agents
nave found live oak enough 10 pay their salaries,
or to justify their continuance III Office"
me resolution having been read as modf