Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-07-07

tlce and his associates. And like ano.
iher great nation which had lately
oeen revoiutlonlzed in the name of lib
efty, but in its sacred name. with a
peace establishment of 410,0O0 men
pefPetrates every species of tyranny,
tue prison would with us also, become
Inc purlher OF tho press, whilst the bay
onet settled our civil disputes. He
therefore gave notice that he should
vote against all these vast projects for
changing our system into any expen.
slve military government, as fast as
they might BIO brought forward. And
as to the forts in question, why push
them on us without estimates? Was
Maine in danger He hoped she could
sustain herself another season against
the Brunswickers. John Bull seemed
good natured at present, and had kind
~ lnteriered to settle dispute with a
beligerent neighbor. But we were told
we were refusing appropriations whilst
the Indians were cutting the threats of
the people. Indeed, and were forti-
ficatons in the East intended to pro.
tect us against Indians in the West D.
NO appropriations for tho West had
been delayed a moment when asked for
and tho danger in tho South and
West was another reason why we
should direct our whole attention there
for the present, and not be dividing
the attention of the War Department
with the seacoast, where there was no
danger pressing.
Mr.. Benton and Mr. Walker Of Miss
issippl, made some remarks, when
Mr.. King said, in reply to the re-,
marks of his friend from Mississippi
compelled him TO say word further
to reconcile his views with the general
principles OF the report. If he had any
pride as a politician (and he had not
much) it was the pride Of consistency.
That he might be perfectly understood
he would now read few words fur.
thcr from the Report, which he had
read before. Mr. King then read from
the 2lst page:
but before any expenditure is in.
Cured for new works, | think an ex.
animation should be made in every
case, in order to apply these principles
to the proposed plan of operations, and
thus reduce the expense OF construction
where this can properly be done, and
also the expense of garrisons required
to defend works disproportioned to the
objects sought to be attained"
This was the wise language Of the
Secretary, approved by tho President,
and in which he entirely concurred.---
lie believed, however, that the season
would be SO far spent before this bill
could pass, that this examination could
not properly be made and acted on be-
fore the next session. We, therefore,
had no lnducement to tic up additional
millions in the deposite banks so long
before needed, and also depart from
the system of having surveys and esti.
mates when there was no emergency
to justify such haste in the appropria..
ton. His friend was for reasonable
delences.' So was he. In the abstract
they agreed exactly. He feared they
would only differ when they came to
settle what was reasonable.
The Senator had very candidly ac-
knowledged that one of his reasons
for voting for this bill at this session,
was, because he looked upon it as san~
tagonisticaP to the distribution BILL
lie would make further appeal to the
candor of his friend, and ask him, if
he were not sensible that this was the
only reason he had for voting for this
bill! Mr.. Walker said no, he had
other reasons He had no doubt the
Senator imagined he had, or he would
not say so. Mr.. k. could not think
that many of his democratic friends
would er-have thought of the enor-
nous appropriations at the present ses.
sion, and this among them, but for that
fatal surplus. The 'surplus!' the sur.
puso aye that was at the bottom of
all our troubles. 1t was the root of
all the evils that, he feared, might grow
out OF tho proceedings of the present
session. He acknowledged its possess
sion gave US much embarrassment and
surrounded US with perils; but he no.
ped we should live through them. He
cared nothing for the surplus. Would
to God fifty millions ofthe public trea-
sure could be thrown into the crater Of
Vesuvius, or sunk in the ocean, unless
we could devise some means to get rid
of it that would not fix a permanent
and growing curse upon the country.
He cared but little for land bills, dis
tribution bills, or graduation bills,
which had been referred to, and as TO
the surplus, gentlemen might do just
what they pleased with it so they did
not plant 1t in prodigallty, that it might
grow up, and branch off into future ex-
penditures that would ultimately over
shadow and impoyerish the land.