Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-14

the surplus could be got rid of He had the au-
thority of the President OF the United States TO
say, that if call were to be made on him, he
could show how it could be reduced by five
hundred thousand dollars.
Mr.. Benton continued:
If he (Mr. Calhoun) is right now, he was Ia
mentable wrong years ago, to bring in an act
which gave a surplus OF 90 millions: which
leaves Congress under the necessity las he Mr..
c. represents) OF violating the Constitution and
debauching the morals of the people, in order
to get rid Of this surplus which his own act has
created: an act which if it was not made in an
island on the coast ofItaly, has brought in mil
itary sanction, and has been felicitously called
new Constitution. | say these things (sald
Mr.. b. that he Mr. Calhoun) may learn to dis
trust himself if he was right then, he has to run
the ploughshare now, for these views which he
has adopted. He was as wrong then in saying
we were in a state Of Bankruptcy as he is wrong
now in talking OF surplus OF 80 millions.
say not this (said Mr. b. to bring up past things,
but to shew him (Mr. c. the necessity OF dis
trusting HIMSELF prophets who commit such
enormous mistakes have lost the right OF having
their prophecies believed.
will not Continued Mr.. b. touch upon the
public lands: but as western man this only L
will say, that in less than seven years time the
revenues from this source will all be dried up,
and hope that the grand, the glorious idea, OF
the public lands, not source OF revenue, but
means of settling the country.
| will now (said MIR. b. take the gentleman
(Mr. Calhoun) upon other grounds. VIII al
init all that he has said: / will admit that the re-
venues ought not to be reduced. Will admit
the possibility of this immense surplus (unless
the bank should seize upon the public stock for
the sake of her dear, dear deposites) But add
hitting this excess, deny the right, the neces-
sity the propriety of dividing it out in the man.
ner proposed, in order to getrid OF 1t all! meet
the Report on this ground in its very front and
face, and which says, there are no proper and
fit objects on which to employ and by which 10
dispose of the money. deny the proposition
totally, yes, deny it ont and out | assert that
there are objects great national utility objects
loudly crying out for our assistance. | ask gen.
tlemen to look at our sea coast where they will
find 1000 miles of coast with deep indentationS,
having numerous bays and inlets, all without
any defence, the whole liable to be ravaged at
any moment by an enemy; is not this an object
calling for attention2 Where, if there are any
Notifications, they are without arms OF every
kind, leaving our whole maritime trontler de
lenceess and exposed.
Look at our milita are they armed? have they
not become an object of ridicule as they parade
with corn stalks in their hands for want OF armsf
ask, (said Nh b. ifhere is not state OF things
which calls for every dollar OF surplus money!
The next great object of defence which would
absorb every dollar, and which requires not a
sinking fund but rather a creating fund.- is TO put
our coast in such state as the French coast was
when the proud English navy sailing along struck
no terror into the minds Of the merry peasants
nhabiting the well protected coast. Their coasts
covered with forts and bristled with cannon, bid
defiance to the magnificent English navy; where
as. look at our coasts, look at our people IN the
late war, behold them trembling, flying from
tI,o;, hon nd IoSartipn their farms m
and alarm. Ought we not to place our coast in
the same state of defence as that of France?-
Shall we not feel urged to do this on reading the
messages which were sent to. Congress when he
(Mr. Cahoun) was Secretary at War? When
his ardent and young mind first lighted up in my
bosom, the ardour which now feel on this sub
ject? When thought saw in the effulgence of
that young mind the promise ofone about to rank
hereafter among the first and greatest Of Presi.
dents that ever sat upon throne. 4 general
and loud burst of laughter occurred at This tdpsuS
hngue accompanied with clapping of hands,
obging the Vice-President to interfere and call
to ordeg. | mean, (said Mr.. B. that ever sat
upon-that ever satupon the presidential chair.
This defence Of our coast is loudly called for;
here are objects crying out like mother calling
for help to protect her defenceless children. We
want many, many millions to accomplish this
purpose; if we went on at the rate of one million
oniy Der annunl, it would take more than seventy
wears to complete tie defence of our maritime
coast from Savannah to Boston only. il i ne
inquired why this work has not been already pro-
crossed in answer because Of the glorious re-
suit the grand consummation of the extinguish-
ment Of the National Debt. Now however, that
this is effected, we want every cent to put the
country in state of defence.
Another annual expense is the Navy Dock
Yards; we want more than million year for
this important branch. Mr.. Benton here re-
ferred to Message of President Monroe, which
he read, calling it voice from the grave, des-
cribing the defenceless state of the coast
While, (said MIR. B. the point of the enemy's
spear is at our backs, shall the money Of the
people be used to debauch the public morals?
Shall we see great statesmen going about from
farm house to farm house, calculating how many
cents per head this scheme will give each ndi-
vidual, and telling them that ], (Mr. b. have ia
ken it out of their pockets for the sake of lorti-
cations and defence? Telling them that Col Ben
ton has been the means of their losing - cents
a head? That he, (Mr b. took this to save the
country;-you, (NIr. Calhoun) to turn his party
out of power. This, (said Mr.. b. will be the
spectacle exhibited to the astonished epes of Eu-
rope. At this part Of his speech Mr.. B. took a
book in his hand to represent slate, and going