Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-09
Twenty-ioarth Congress--ast Sess.

In tie House of Representatives., Ianuary, 1886 on the
following resolution, offered by MIR. Adams ef Nlassa
chusclts:
Resolrea, That so much Of the Message of tho Pres
dent of the Uned States Congress- Mt the commence
ent of The present Session. relates to the failure at
the last session Of Congress- of the bill containing The
ordinary appropriations for fortcaons be referred to
Select Committee with instructions 10 inquire into, ana
report to the House the and circumstances OF the
! failure Of this bill
Mr.. Canreleng said it not his design to detain
the House long in discussing this very grave question oi
the loss of the appropriation Of three millions for The de-
fence Of the country; the true issue between the two
Houses Concerning the bill making ordinary provision
FOR new forticatons there was no contest The con-
trovcrsy between the Senate and the House, was not
about Notifications be finished perhaps in lc40, Int
about The three million appropriation in 1883, Tor
arming forts already completed, and for increasing our
navy ailoat The inquiry was, who lett the country de-
feaceless, after the message Of the President commnn-
eating the correspondcnce with France, and after the
unanous resolution of the House, that the execution
Of the treaty should be insisted and at crisis, loo,
when Tie question of peace depended on the ca
price OF itovcrnment denying justice, and regard
less of It's iath; That was the appropriation TO which
the attention of the nation directed, and in the fate
Of which our aonal interest and honor directly
inrurrd-lhat was the only issue now pending between
the Houses and which the country had ulready
and very Justly decided.
lie regretted that he obliged to engage in in
qury after lost appropriations, when the lime q! lie
House could be much more Prohhbiy employed in de-
visinr measures fer the NATIONAL defence, war war
but SAID Mr. c. not al liberty TO he silent in this
c,G,atc-lhe combined attacks on in both Houses
oh!lrc IN" defend myself. In doing 50, shall be
compelled notice Oft statements Of the gentle
man from Virginia. (hlr Wisr) shall not, Mr. Sreak-
er in discussing this question: introduce nancs-try
of little any debate; the i.ustr"ns
name of tic gentleman from Virginia. cnud add Tie
weight If feather {" my argument. You would never
tolerate it, sir, AID the House would be rs.
tonshed Ill INV ndrcorun, to designate the gen
,lo wpuIl
not permit IT, call the gentleman otherwise. No. SIT,
hope shall never be tempted on any nccaslon even ~
the wild rant of disappointed ambition. to forget my
selfIrspcc my regard for the dignity OF this HOUSE.,
so far liz treat any senemaR with dsrcsPect In The
present instance, Mr. Speaker shall not only treat the
gentleman with the utmost respect, but even with tcn-
dcrncss. 1t would be unkind indeed TO treat otherwise
the innocent the Esurplng, tic Pcncnt victim OF That
stuncnduus fraud, which The gentleman from Virginia
has recently hscovcrcdthat stupcndous conspiracy
which the President, you and plotting last year,
TO undermine Constitution and destroy our Govern
!ncnl. ,iu, is far very from my purpose, to en-
raue in any parliamentary tournament with the gentle
man from Virgins; but, should ever be forced into
any such contest with any gentleman hope II Will be
nv fortune To encounter more formidable antago-
MIST than Buckingham with his rash levied strength.
Before proceed MIR Spcaks. to discuss this question,
must do act OF justice to an honorable Senator from
Massachusetts. A day or two since, announced my
intention to notice attack made upon in The Ma
,ional Gazette of P!adc pbia in March last, founded
Srncinrs of the highest character In that journal,
was stated that lie Vice President and Secretary OF
State had advised to let the fertilization bill Gle IN
The House. 10 prevent the responsibility OF Its aii-
from falling on the Prcsdent-u statement which
was Immediately pronouncrd both by the Secretary
Of State and myself to be false. upon whatever au-
thory founded. And now, sir, for the origin OF this
poor SANDER. The Vice President and Secretary Of
State in this House, and about leaving II, when
the committee of conference returned to 1t. The
Secretary of State, from whom the estimate for the
three million appropriation had been received, inquired
the result of conference and on learning IT, expressed
the opinion in which entirely concc!red, that eight
hundred Thousand duilars pui appropriation for
the defence OF nation Not Liable passed between
the Vice President and myself Sir there secret
no mystery about the nater- was in the presence OF
the whole House. and every syllable uttered might have
been heard by evey gentleman near. As chairman OF
the Committee OF Congress OH the part oi the House,
whatever may have been my opinion as 10 the lnadequHcy
of the appropriation should have immediately reported
the compromise, but for the obstacles winch shall
state in their proper order. Every gentleman near me-
without reference to party, knew that such was my in
tention.
Such was all the foundation for the statement in the
National Gazette. That statement ascrbcd IN the Sc
naor from Massachusetts, the authority referred 10 :ting
a Senator Of & the highest character am happy Ii
say sir that since the last day debate, have received
the most satisfactory assurance. that that honorable Sc
naor was mol the authority relied by the editor and
take far more pleasure in doing justice 10 that gentle
man than should have done in defending myself from
the attack make the ackncwed gnlct with the greater
pleasure because, throughout the remarks OF Tie honor
able Senator, he has not condrScended-he has not
s,oopcd notice this miserable scnnGai-he has resign
ed nil the honor Of nourshng and cheristing this poor
and contemplate Islander 10 unknown Senator and
10 others who have no loter ambition.
Gentlemen who feel themselves accountable to the ma
ton for leaving country unpreparcd to meet any
emergency winch might have grown out OF our relations
with France have plead their utter ignorance OF the ne
ccssty for any such preparation, and OF any proposition
for defence TILL tho las. night OF the session WHAT sir,
is lb, notorious history OF this appropriation: Our al
fairs with France remained in I'll uncertain attitude I'LL
the last DAYS of the session. and this House suspended its
action upon the question: in the hope that some ntcl!t-
ocncc would arrive. None reached US OF pacific cha
ructrr The Minister Of France had been recalled pass
por,s had been rendered to Minister, and hr had been
also recalled Every thing wore bellgcTrn cha!acier
At tina, crisis, the PRESIDENT in his message OF the 18th
February communicates soon as 1t was 1rceIVrd The
correspondence with the French Government, and III
conclusion says:
"rhe subject being now in all its present aspects be-
fore Congress. whose right it is TO decide what measures
urc to be pursued that event, (Alr Livingstone re-
turn) deem it unnecessary 10 make further recon-
mendatiun being confident that 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 lhc Nation submits this
question: critical period, to Congress, conldcnl that
on their part, crcry thing e'H &c d0nc 10 maintain We
rishs ant honor If the country which the occasion re-
quircs When that Message came 10 the House OH the
10Th February, submitted three resolutions which had
been previously considered by the Committee on Foreign
AfilIrs.
The third resolution recommended contingent pIcPa-
ration for any emergency which might grow out Of our
relations with France. These resolutions, and tho Ere
sidemts message, were referred to the committee The
next day The committee made report which contained
the following extinct
The bill now before the House authorizing the sale
Of our stock in the Bank of the United States would il
adopted, afford all the revenue necessary The commit
is of opinion that the WHOLE or part Of The fund Ia
be derived from that source, should be appropriated oi
the purpose of arnng Notifications, and Tor making
the military and naval preparations for the defence OF
the country in case such expenditures should become