Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-03-18

EXTRACTS FROM THE
SPEECH OF MIR CAMBRELENG

SEEbOi Of MIX CAmBRELENG
or New York, in the House of Representa-
tives, Jan. 81, 1885, on the following reso.
luton offered by Mr. Adams, of Mass.
Resolved, That so much of the Message
OF the President Of the United States to con.
gress, at the commencement OF the present
session, as relates 10 the failure at the last
session OF Congress, OF the bill containing
the ordinary appropriations for Notifications
be referred to a select committee, with in.
structons TO inquire into and report to the
House the cause and circumstances Of the
failure of this bill"
Mr. CAMBRELENo said il was not his de.
sign to detaln the House long in discussing
this very grave question of the loss of the
appropriation of three millions for the de-
fence Of the Countrywide true issue between
the two Houses. Concerning the bill ma.
king ordinary provision for new fortifica-
tons, there was no contest The controver.
sy between the Senate and the House was
not about Notifications to be finished, per.
haps in 1910, but about the three million
appropriation in 1885, for arming forts al
ready completed. and for increasing our ma.
w ailoat The inquiry was who left the
country defenceess, after the message of the
President communicating the correspond
ence with France, and after the unanimous
resolution OF the House. that the execution
Of the treaty should be insisted on and at a
crisis, too, when the question OF peace or war
depended on the caprice of a government
denying us Justice, and regardless Of its
faith. That was the appropriation to which
The attention OF the nation was directed. and
in the fate of which our national interest and
honor were directly involved that was the
only issue now pending between the two
Houses, and on which the country had al
ready very justly decided
He regretted that he was obliged 10 en-.
gage in an inquiry after lost appropriations,
when the time of the House could be 50
much more proftably employed in devising
measures for the national defence, war or no
war; but, (said Mr. C) | am not at liberty
TO be silent in this debate; the combined al.
lacks on me in both Houses obligc me 10 de.
iend myself In doing so, shall be com
PEELED TO notice some OF the statements OF the
gentleman from Virginia, (Mr Wise) |
shall not, Mr. Speaker in discussing this
question, Introduce names-they are of little
moment in any debate. Not even the illus
trious name OF the gentleman from Virginia,
could add the weight OF feather to my ar.
gument You would never tolerate it, sir,
and am sure the House would be aston.
Shed at my indecorum. we're ] to designate
the gentleman as MIR Wise +" and courtesy
would certainly not permit me to call the
gentleman otherwise. No, sir, | hope
shall never be tempted on any occasion
even by the wild rant of disappointed anbi
ton, to forget my own seli-rcspect or my
regard for the dignity OF this House, so far
as to treat any gentleman with disrespect
In the present instance Mr. Speaker, | shall
not only trea, the gentleman with the utmost
respect but even with tenderness. II would
be nkind, indeed. to treat otherwise the in
nocen,. the unsuspecting, the penl,ent victim
of that stupendous fraud which The gentle
man from Virginia has so recently discov
cred that stupendous conspiracy which the
President, you and were plotting last year
to betrav the gentleman, undermine the Con
stilulon, and destroy our governments No
sir, it is far, very far from my purpose &c
engage in any parliamentary tournament
with the gentleman from Virginia but
should | ever be forced into any such contes
with any gentleman, | hope II will be my
fortune to encounter some more forlndab!,
antagonist than buckingham with his rash
levied strength"
Gentlemen who feel themselves accounta
Bile to the nation for leaving our country un
prepared 10 meet any emergency which
might have grown out OF our relations will
France, have plead their utter Ignorance
of the necessity for any such preparation
and of any proposition for defence, ill tn,
last night of the session. What, sir is til,
notorious history Of this appropriation p GU
| Affairs with France remained in an uncer
tain attitude till the last days of the session
and this House suspended its action upor
the question, in the hope that some intelll
gence would arrive. None reached us of I
pacific character The Minister of Franc,
had been recalled, passports had been ten
dered to our Minister, and he had been alsC
recalled Every thing wore a beligeren
character AT that crisis. the President, II
his message of the 25th February, commu
nicated as soon as il was received, the cor
respondence with the French Government
and in conclusion says
THE subject being now, in all its presen
aspects, before Congress, whose right it is tC
decide what measures are to be pursued OF
that event, [ Mr. Livingston's return deen
it unnecessary to make further recommends
ton, being confident that on their part every
thing will be done to maintain the rights
and honor Of the country which the occasion
requires"
Thus the Chief Magistrate of the nation
submits this question, at a critical period tc
Congress, confident that on their part, ere
ry thing aoiU be donesto maintain the rights