Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-04-09

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less the appropriation he moved for were
granted, the sea wall which supported the
old work at st. Augustine, would assuredly
fall in, and the work be irretrievably ruined
To all this Mr. Polk opposed Il steady par
ty majority, who though hot for war, and bent
on gratifying the favoritc propensties of the
Executive, for some reasons best kno,cn 10
themselves, were determined, at this time, that
nothing should be done in the way of putting
the country into state of defence, by its u.s.
ual wholesome and constitutional legislation.
The amendments for increasing the appro-
priations having all been rejected both in the
Committee and the House, the Bill mallered
was ordered to be engrossed for third read
ing, Monday, Jan. 10 (; and Tuesday, Goth,
was passed and sent to the Senate.
The Bill therefore was t,co mechs and for
days in possession Of the House, after it had
been reported by the Committee, before it
was sent to the House and the subject of
the Bill had been in possession ofthc House
and its Committee sir iceeks, before the Se-
nate could have an opportunity to act on it.
We had intended to have followed out this
statement oftacts by succinct history Of the
Bill in its progress through the SENATE-the
traduced Senate-down to the time, when
the Committee of Conference had separated,
land was prepared to report This would have
demonstrated with what a different temper
the question of public defence was entertain
ed in that body, and how much was effected
by its unwearicd and patriotic members to-
make the Bill for Fortifcations what the exi-
gcncy of the times demanded, an adequate
and reasonable provision for that branch of
the public defence. II would have proved al
so, how entirely clear was the Senate of the
east participation in all those disreputable
proceedings which finally led to the loss of
this Bill. But we find this and much more
already effected TO our hands in the Cores
pondence between our Senator, Mr.. RoRnINs,
and number OF our most respectable towns
men, and with much greater fnlness of detail
than our time and limits would permit. We
will merely advert therefore to one or two
facts which seem to Us worthy of notice.
The Bill was received in the Senate and
referred to the Committee of Finance, We'd
nesday, Jan. 2lst.
1t was retained in that Committee in order
to investigate the proposed amendments, and
to obtain the fullest information from the
War Department and the Military Commit
tees, until the 10th of February. 1t was
therefore in possession of the Committee of
the Senate three weeks and .fre days.
The bill remained in the Senate until Feb.
24th, (eigM daysJ when it was passed and
sent to the House.
The Bill therefore was in possession of the
Senate and its Committee, four ,ceeks and Sir
days, when it was returned to the House for
its action on the amendments.
The House then had it in its possession for
one treek longer, ,oihom acting on IL at all, and
then returned it at 8 o'clock of the last night
OF the session, with the three million amend
ment. This added to the s;r ,pecks, which !
have been mentioned above, makes SEVEN
ENTIRE WEEKS in which the Bill was held by i
the House and its Committee.
So much for its unreasonable do,avs ms
with the House, for which the Whr
Senate has been so severely rated.
The Senate added appropriations for Dos
.on, Baltimore, Fort MiIlln, and for arming
he Fortificatons to the amount Of $780,
JCO.
If the report OF the Committee of Confer
'nce had been accepted, TO which the Senate
was ready to agree) there would have been
added, for the arming Of Fortifcations a3OO.-
300 more. Total 3l,lG9.c0O. II
All this, together with $4,000 for there
'airs and fitting out of the Navy, would have
'een appropriated by Congress, and nj least
100000 oft spent in Htis nc,ghJoriood but
or settled, and as We believe, most crimi- |.
lal project among the Jackson leaders of the
lousc of Representatives, so to frame the
5lIl for Fortifications as 10 make some plaus-
lie opportunity'to slide in their THREE MIL
ions extra, wih an ufimiied potcer in Jack.
on to dispose of it;-or, failing in this, TO de-
troy the Bill.