Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-18

that branch ct the services it merits attention IL has
been frequently observed that the best way avoid war
Is TO be prepared Tor At La this point of view is desa-
Die that the appropriations To BE- made for clothing
should correspond with the probable periods
OF their completion IL would indeed be mortiiyng re-
suit IT, ailrr the labor and which has been encoun-
tered tor her completion, should rest in the power of
an eneuy or the onset OF war; seize destroy them
because the means had not been placed in readiness
their defence. From the report will be seen that at
the present annual rate ofappropration to wit O00
steea OF tcey years will have passed. before proper
supply OF arms, Tor those Notifications progress
can be obtained for their defence. IT, in the slow aud
gradual preparation Tor necessary and adequate
ment at present pursued sixteen twenty years should
be found requisite and within that period took place
consequence would be-, that of forts built
at great expense, would be destroyed because incapable
OF sclEdeence be retained and armed by the enemy
aud used against ourselves (.voc lS2y)
The second fact that shall show will be n memoran-
dunn, IN answer To note OF my own from the Colonel
oil Ordnance Colonel Bomord, stating that the add
cnal sum of SioOO00 asked for the armament of
Notifications for the year 1890 which, added to the
standing appropriation of 100000 would have made
S2oooOO tor that year, and which not granted by
Congress.
The third fact which he would show, was memo.
randum iromth officer, made at his (Nlr B. So
quest and headed, I" Memorandum of items of the est-
mates OF the Secretary ut War, which were rejected
from the bills of appropriation from lc3U 1885 ncu
svei which showed list OF twelve items, of them
an audtionai appropriation of 800 900 for armng forts
and which would have been asked for annually if grant
cd; the twelve items amounting to $902 900.
The fourth fact that he would show would be me
randum from the Engineer Depart inent show ing that
from the year 1880 to 1886 incusvey. the sum OF
Si9l479 "a cents had been asked for orticalions six
OF them new ones, and that the of S3957 Sis "a
cents only had been granted by Congress- making de-
ficiency of $943,9S4 ON that Lead.
The fifth fact that he should offer was me moran
from the Navy Department headed "a statement of es
Inmates submitted by the Secretary OF the Navy from
the commencement of the present TO the
close OF the last session of Congress, which have not
been acted on, for which appropriations have been
made, and which contains four Items one Of them for
deepening the bar at Pensacola harbo for SO6 600 and
contained in the Secretary of the Nays report (Mr
woodbury. in November, 1888, and another from the
present Secretary, Mr.. Dickerson, for 5000 OOO for
steam batteries, to be expended during 1885, the whole
near $500, 900.
The sixth fact that MIR. b. would mention. was the bill
OF Cen Smith, of Md for million of dollars for
arming foruhcatons, quarter of million annually
and which was indefinitely postponed by the Senate
me seventh TACT that he would mention was, that he
himself (lr Bentun) had moved the resolution at the
last session, under which the Senates Committee Mi
ary Affairs had inquired into the expedency
ing the military deences He made his motion TO that
effect the 29th day of January; and the committee
upon communications with the Secretary at War, Gov.
ernor Cass reported near million OF dollars wit:
$.oOOO for Font Miiiin; 600 for Fort Delaware
SOOOOO additional for tent of Notifications and
SoVoooo Tor repair increase, and arming forts 1t
under this very resolution submitted by himself under
which the committee acted when they made the Sc por
tan recommendations and the fate of which
Is well known the Senate the first three items hav
ing been lost in the fertilization bill after being agreed
TO by both Houses; the fourth large item being rejected
by the Senate under the circumstances which been
Delaware, (Alr Cayion)
Here, Mr. H. would pause, and ask gentlemen if they
were satlshed 80 far from ncgectng the deences of
the country IN prosecuting that innocent Bank which,
though cut down, has grown up like Jonah's rourd in
night far higher than ever was before: instead of
tins neglect four or five millions up in few
minutes, oil sums applied for by the Administration or
ITS friends, and not granted. The amounts would have
been greater, II repeated refusas had app
catlohsi Out Is enough, as it is enough To vim.
dictate the Administrations, enough To show gentlemen
their profound error, and enough show the truth of
Mr. Eaton remark in le29 that unless we acce eraed
the arning of forts, might be building them to be
blown up by the enemy, or be occupied by them and
turned against ourselves.
Another attack upon the Administration is upon the
Encouragement or waste of the moneys voted for the
public defence and for which, it said no adequate re-
turns are forthcoming 1t is said that $40 600 have
oeen voted since the last for the the
ana coast deences; and IL is trlumphany demanded
Is TO be shown for all this money! will answer md
tell what TO be shown for it, In the naval arm The
are Twelve ships OF the line, either built bndng there
are ten frgaes OF the first class either built or budng
and There tweny-one soops and sciooners either
built or buding then there are number of old vessels
repaired with DOCK and navy yards constructed, ship
lumber prepared, and munitions collected. But only
lew ofthese ships ready for Granted and for
what reason! because the appropriations required
ut them OUT and especially of the three millions OF the
last Session. have been refused-Nex as TO the coast
deiences We have eighteen forts built, many old
ones repaired, and some munitions of collected
bu gentlemen say, these forts deensible They
nave no guns no carriages no shot, shells. Granted
again. not Ia the letter. hut granted And why are the
iorts not deiensibe: Because the ndaton of
.uT secretary Edt0H IN lc9 had not been followed be.
cause the repeated applications for accelerated arma-
ments had not been listened to; because the $500 600
asked tor by the Military Committee had been rejected
the three millions lost-and the whole fertilization
bill lost which contained items the amount of eight or
nine hundred thousand dollars
Another attack upon the Administration is as To the
condition. OF The navy IFS paucity the sIHnll number
sIhPs IN commission, aud their dispersed situation
rms attack comes from the Senator from New Jersey
(Mr Southard) and certainly comes with authority from
Nun lie mas been SIX Secretary of the Navy and
iOur years chairman OF the Committee OF Naval AHrs
ia The Senate aud ftany should know better than any
other member of the Senate the actual condition of the
arm OF defence which he has bad long his oyvn care
III found 10 be in miserable condition. he will Ger.
tainy in for n share of the kind of meri, which at
taches Ia that condition BUTT may best for the French
not TO rely too implicitly upon the helpless npoent
miserable picture which he has drawn We have flty
ships OF war; old and new, either built or building. Our
naval arm Is many times stronger than when il
encountered the thousand ships of war of Great Britain
ana augmented itself with captures from her noble ap
The Macedonian and Java still in our hands to do
service II necessary, upon the French More than that
we nave French names upon list La GueyTierc and
La Cyane, which took from those who took them
from the French 1t saying in England that
France builds ships for the British that saying NAV be
iahsPlanled to America If falls out between Anne
Lca ana france Those who can take the prize from
the cODqueror, with could take from the loser
And now, after defending the Administration from the
attacks OF the Opposition, Mr.. IS would be glad 10 know
what they have done for their country? What has the
senate done IL very ready To- arfaign condemn
Others aud surely can have no objection TO little ar
argument itself The Opposition Ina We the majority here
and all the committees strongly organized some oil them
our to one IN their favor and could carry any
Tor the public good, Which they pleased Now what has
S majority donef What has been about Has passed
TIE appropriations for defence which have been asked BY
the heads of departments The nemorandums which +
have read answer that question Has il passed the sums