Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-01-21

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now, said he, seven years since the present
Exec utive has been in power. What has he
been about during this time? Why are the
sea coasts and frontiers thus exposed? Every
appropriation that has been called for by the
President, or by any Of the Secretaries, has
been granted. When the bill from the House
of Representatives came up, the committee o
the Senate conferred with the Heads Of De-
partments, and made, in conformity with theil
wishes, large additions to the bill from the
House of ,Represen entatives. Did this show
that the Senate are not willing to vote for the
defence of the country any thing required by
the Executive?
Did the necessities Of the country require
it? Ifthey did, why did not the Executive
or some Head Of the proper Department
come forward and make call for the sums
requisite to put the Notifications and navy il
better state Of defence and preparation?- =
Was the Executive afraid to meet the re-
sponsibity?
II Mr.. T.. noticed, at some length, the infa
nous SANDER of Mr.. Benton on the Senate, ir
ascrbing to them the loss of the last years
fortfication bill. He gave some additona
items in The history of that bill, which placed
still more glaringly in view the base attempt
Of the Senator from Missouri.
4 Mr.. Goldsbo.ongh, in relation to Mr.. Ben
tons first resolution, and that he Mr.. g..
would not pledge any surplus revenue to the
national defence; he would pledge nothing
short Of the whole revenue, power and energy
Of the country.
Mr. G. entered minutely into the public
acts Of the administration and of Congress
previous to the Introduction Of this appropria-
ton for the three millions. He showed con-
clusively from the Presidents Message, from
the report of the war and navy departments,
from the unanimous votes Of both Houses OF
Congress, to the effect that no extraordinary
Legislation was required in the matter. lie
showed that no pressing emergency had oc-
Cured just at that time to rendeI such an mp
propriaton necessary and that there had been
no recommendation of the President no ex-
preston of opinion from him, that the public
service required such an appropriation. Mr..
G still farther adverted to the facts ofthc case
relating to the SANDER of mr. Benton. He
read the record on Executive documents, that
the bill in question was lost in the other House.
lie adverted to the Executive, who had af-
terward declared it agreeable to his views
that the extra 100000 should be appended
to the fortifcation bill, and yet at the time,
no official communication on the subject had
been made to the Senate, or, as he knew OF,
to the other House of Congress-! Mr. G far.
ther adverted in Just and severe terms, to the
scandal us aspersion that had been uttered
by the Senator from Missouri, in his extraor-
dinnry remarks.
After some remarks from mr. Benton, who
assumed the attitude of the injured person,
and some further remarks from mr. Goldsbor-
ough, (who was several times called to order
mr. Benton left the chamber apparently under
much excitement.
Mr. Porter, after having briefly alluded to
the feelings which such an aspcrsion could
not but excite in such body as the Senate,
went pretty largely into the past history ofthe
circumstances attending our relations with
France. He showed that the failure Of the
IFortifcation Bill was through the action of
the other House.
Mr. Webster entered more mnutely into n
narrative of the transactions connected with
the vote. He commented with ability and
severity on the conduct ofthe Executive, and
on the House of Representative, and gave a
particular account of the circumstances at
tending the loss Of the last years forti6cation
bill, showing clearly and decisively from the
public records, that the action Of the Senate
on the bill was in all cases prompt, and that
it was lost in the hands Of the other house.
He adverted to the fact before unexampled,
of the Presidents refusing to receive COM
murications from the Senate, and conse-
quently from either House, after midnight on
the third of March; on which account alone
the bill might have been lost if 1t had passed
both Houses.
Mr. w dwelt for some time on passage
in the last annual Executive Message, in
which the President declared that the appro-
priation of S3,O00,000 was proposed in accor-
dance with his views; when in no way, direct
or indirect, had this opinion been communica-
ted to Congress, us the constitution makes it
his duty to do. He also argued that so loose
an appropriation ought not to have been made,
even on Executive recommendation, and
showed to demonstration that the whole
fault Of the failure of the bill was owing to
the refusal to act on it by the other House
His speech was most triumphant and con-
elusive exposure Of the falsity of the charge
made by the Senator from Missouri; and this
he did without mentioning or auding to him.
On motion Of mr. Clay, after few words
from mr. Cuthbert.
The Senate adjourned till Monday.