Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-03-18
NO. 20.

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his parliamentary duty--"he first ASKED The
chair aehelher there qoas a quorum present or
not" There was not, sir, and MIR Lewis
laid the bill upon the clerks table, and
there it remained
Mr. Speaker | confess that when that OK
traordinary message was received from the
Senate-when we witnessed the solemn farce
OF hearing announced grave message from
that dignlhed body, rebuking the few mem-
bers remaining, aud who, it was well known
all over the Capitol, were taking steps pre-
paratory to adjournment, | felt sir, some
OF the Indignation so warmly expressed by
the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr Ad-
ams.) But, sir had we then known, as we
1 have been since informed-as we are now.
indeed, told by honorable senators them
selves-that, before that message was sent TO
this House. they had received a messurc
from the President Of the T.. States, announ-
eng to them that, as the functions of Con-
gress had ceased, he could receive no fur
ther communications from them-had we
been aware Of that fact, sir, by what name
should we have designated this extraordina-
ry proceedings Might it not have been de-
nounced as miserable artifce, to attempt TO
shift the responsibility of leaving the country
deienceless, from the Senate to the Execn-
tive All such expedienis, sir, were in vain.
J as well as all these speeches upon the sub
Iject The country well know where this
responsibility rests. The story of the three
million appropriation is briefly told. Ii was
the proposition of the House. in pursuance
ofthe Presidents message, and for our coun-
trys defence--it was sent to the Senate,
where it was rudely reiected-it was sent
there again and again-it was uncourtrous-
" returned 10 the House 1t then received
its dealh-blow in the Senate-it fingered for
a time between the TWO Houses-it pefishcd
in the committee of conference and its poor
miserable remains were brought and depcsi,.
ed here, the gentleman from Alabama and >.
Hampshire and myself acting as pail bearers.
But. sir dismiss all these details. which
| have been compelled to go into in sclfdc-
1 fence. come now, sir, TO those great corr
stitutional objections which honorable Sene-
tors have argued against the three million
appropriation, proposed for our defence n
the contingency vi war. We have been
told sir, that the amendment pecified 10 OF
Jects-thnt every thing was left to the dscre-
ton of the President-that he could do e.
~ thing touching the naval service, wilhou,
control, and that be would have an absolute
power to raise and employ land forces; and
we are asked whether our Legislation, under
our Constitution, furnished any precedent
for all this Mr. Speaker. these objections
are made, and these questions are asked, by
senators distinguished as statesmen gentle
men OF great experience, having been in the
public councils some twenty or thirty years
in peace and in war. Such bold declara.
lions of gentlemen of experience and reputa-
ton, though entirely unsupported by the
history OF our country may sometimes mis-
lead, especially when put forth with an air of
confidence and authority
The history of our Legislation, sir is re-
plete with precedens, Notwithstanding the
bold declarations Of gentlemen TO the contra
r ry, | have in my hand list of some forty
or fifty few of which l will only notice.
In the early history of our Legislation, in
Washington's administration, all our expcn-
ditures for the civil list were in one line. and
;, for the army in another, without any specf-
cation whatever, know that we have long
since departed from that rule, but doubt a
little whether we have consulted true econ
omy by such a course, for every branch we
have Topped off has become a tree till, final
ly, one, two and three thousand dollars have
amounted up to two or three times as many
millions. Such sir, are some ofihe results
Of too much specification.
These, Mr. Speaker, are some few of the
precedents for appropriations in sudden e.
Emergencies, aud to prepare our country for
the contingency of war Instead, sir of ma
king all these objections to forms, instead of
resorting TO all these expedients TO avert re-
sponsibilty, and making unfounded appeals
, to the history OF our Legislation, would it not
be more candid, more manly, nay more hon
orable, sir, to take the honest ground which
some gentlemen have occupied, and say they
would not make the appropriation through
feaI of a war with France2 Sir, these timid
councils never have succeeded, and never
will. 1t was the unfortunate decision of the
Senate that it was inexpedient to do any
thing that produced the prompt rejection of
the three million appropriation for our ma
) tonal defence; it was their unfortunate and
Interchangeable resolution to oppose the House,
the President and the country. France ex-
uted at this division in our national councils;
the result is the treaty is not executed, aud
we are now preparing for any emergency.
Mr. Speaker, the Senate, in former days.
was not found, in any question between our
country and foreign power, ANONYMOUSLY
and rudely resisting measures of this House
designed for our national defence, in case
war should come upon us in the recess of
congress They did not reject propositions
without examination, and adhere without
previous conference. They did not scruple
about forms, specifications, and estimates Of
! Denartments when called upon bv The Pres