Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-09
Twcnty-fourth Congress--fst sess.


Resoired, That much Of the Message of the prcsi
dent OF the United States to Congress- at the commence
en Q, The present Session. relates failure at
The last session OF Congress- OF the bill ,
ordinary appropriations for be refereed 10
select Committee with instructions inquire into aud
report to the House the and circumstances Of the
failure of this bill
Mr. Cambreieng said it was not his design TO dctan
me House long IN discussing this grave question Of
Tue loss OF the appropriation of three millions tor the
fence o The country; the true issue between the two
Houses Concerning the bill making ordinary provision
Tor new forufcations there contest The con-
troversy between the Senate and the House. was not
about Qualifications to be finished perhaps ls40 but
ABOUT the three million appropriation in 1885, for
armng forts already completed and for nore,sn, an,
navy aoat The inquiry was who LEFT the country de-
enceess after the message Of the President conmun
eating Tue correspondence with France, aud after the
unanimous resolution Of the House. that the execution
OF the treaty should be insisted and crisis too
when the question of peace depended on the ca.
price OF Government denying Justice and regard
less Of its faith? That was the AUTHORIZATION 20 Which
The attention of the nation directed and in the fate
OF which our national interest and honor directly
ih'oived-that was the only issue pending between
The Two Houses, and which tho country had already
and very justly decided.
lie regretted that he obliged 10 engage in an in.
curry alter lost appropriations, when the time of the
House could be much protably enploved in de-
ysng measures for the national defence, war;
but, said Mr. c., not liberty be silent i'm this
debate-the combined attacks me in both Houses
obiige me to defend myself In doing SO, l shall be
compelled la notice of the statements OF the ene
man from Virginia, (Mr. Wise) shall not MIR Sneak
err IN discussing this question: namestey are
OF niue moment IN any debate not the illustrious
name OF the gentleman from Virginia could add the
weight of feather to my argument. You would never
tolerate H. sir, and am the House would be as
tonished at my ndecorum were to designate the zen
teman "hlr. Wise'-and courtesy would certainIy
not permit me to call the gentleman otherwise No sir
nope shall yer be tempted any OCCASION even by
the Wild rant oil disappointed ambition forget INV own
seliesPec or my regard for the dignity of this House
SO far az 10 treat any gentleman with dsrcspect In the
present INSTANCES MIR Speaker shall only treat the
gentleman with The utmost respect but with ten
derness IL would be unkind, indeed treat otherwise
tne innocent the usurPng, the penitent victim of that
stupehdons iraud, which the gentleman from Virginia
has so recently discovcredtha supendous conspiracy
which the President, and plotting last year
to undermine Constitutions and DESTROY our Cavern
ment No, sir it is far very from my purpose TO en-
gage IN any parliamentary tournament with the gentle.
man from Virginia; but, should be forced into
any such contest with any gentleman, hope it will be
my fortune TO encounter formidable antago.
MIST than Buckingham with his rash eved strength"
Before proceed, Mr. Speaker, to discuss this question
must DO an act OF justice to an honorable Senator from
Massachusetts,. day two since | announced INV
intention to notice attack made upon me in the Ma
toha Dazetle OF Philadelphia, in March last, founded
upon Information derived, among other sources sfrom
Senators of the highest character In that Journal
at was stated that the Vice President and Secretary OF
State had advised let the fertilization bill die in
the House, TO prevent the responsibility of its fail
ure from falling on the Presidential statement which
was immediately pronounced, both by the Secretary
OF state and myself, TO be false, upon whatever au-
thority founded And now, sir, for the origin of this
poor SANDER. The Vice President and Secretary OF
State IN this House, and about leaving it, when
the committee of conference returned 10 il The
secretary OF state, from whom the the
three million appropriation had been received injured
The result OF our conference and learning it,
the opinion, in which entirely concurred that eight
hundred thousand dollars plifu appropriation Tor
The defence OF nation Not syllable passed bet
the Vice President aud myself Sir there was no secrst
mystery about the mater-t was in the presence NJ
the whole House, and every syllable uttered might have
been heard by evey gentleman As chairman of
the Committee OF Congress the part of the House
whatever may have been my opinion to the nadcouacv
OF the appropriations should have Immediately eoerted
the compromise, but Tor the obstacles which | shall
state In their proper order Every gentleman near me-
without reference to party, knew that such was my in
tention.
Such all the foundation for the statement in the
National Gazette. That statement ascribed to fine So
nato from Massachusetts, the authority referred TO bcn
Senator of " the highest character" am happy To-
say SIR that since the last days debate have received
The most satisfactory assurance, that that honorable Sc
nator was not the authority relied BY the editor; and
take far pleasure in doing Justice TO that gente-
man than should have done in defending myself from
The attack make the acknowledgment with the greater
pleasure, because throughout the honor
able Senator, he has not conference.-the has not
stopped TO notee this miserable scandal-he has resign.
ed all the honor Of nourshng and cherishing this poor
and contemplate SANDER to some unknown Senator and
to others who have no lofier ambition.
Gentlemen who feel themselves accountable to the ma
ton for leaving our country unprepared to meet any
emergency which might have grown of our relations
with France have plead their utter ignorance of the ne
cesSi ior any such preParaton and of any proposition
for defence, Til the last night of the session What sir
IS the notorious history OF this appropriation Our af
IarS WIN france remained IN an uncertain attitude till
The last days OF the session. and this House suspended its
action upon the question: in the hope that some intei-
gence would arrive. None reached us OF pacific cha
racter The Minister Of France been recalled pass
ports had been rendered TO Minister and he had been
olso recalled Every thing begercnt character
AT that crisis the President in his message Of the 2h
February, communicates, il was received the
correspondence with the French Government and in
conclusion says:
Ihe subject being now in oil its present sspecs be-
tore Congress whose right il to decide measures
are to be pursued that event. (Nr Liynustons re.
iurD) deem IL unnecessary to make further recon-
mendaon being confident that their part every thing
WIN be done TO maintain the rights and honor Of ihe
country, which the occasion requires
Thus the Chief Magistrate OF the Nation submits this
question, at critical period Congress- confdent that
their part, erery Ming leW be done 10 naaiHoia ME
rights aHd honor II IKE country which the occasion re-
quires When that Message 10 the House on the
goth February, submitted three resolutions which had
been previously considered BY the Committee Foreign
Affairs
The third resolution recommended contingent prcOa
ration Tor any emergency which might grow out of our
relations with France. These resolutions and the Pre-.
sidents message, referred TO the committee The
next DAY the committee made report which contained
the following extract;
" The bill before the House authorizing the sale
Of stock IN the Bank of the United Stairs would If
adopted afford al the necessary The commit
tee IS Of opinion that the whole, part Of The fund to
be derived from that source, should be appropriated for
the purpose Of armng Qualifications and Tor rpakna
The military and naval preparations for the defence Of
The country, IN such expenditure should become
necessary before the next meeting of Congress"
he third resolution appended to that report was,
tsit contingent preparation ought TO be made 10 meet
any emergency growing out ofonf relations with France
That report, and the resolutions adopted by ma
JOry OF the Committee Of Foreign Affairs and proposcd
net merely m appropriation Of three millions but Of tie
whole proceeds Of stock IN the Bank of the United
states, u necessary for the public defence
tie