Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-07-05
CONGREGATIONAL Debates.
speech Of Wr. Hall. (or ,KEsoSr,)
on THE FoRTlFICATfON BILL.
Hruss a. Rsyrtseniaf,r,, .Nas "a

The lIouse being in committee Of the Whole,
Mr.. Mann of y. Y. IN the chair
Mr.. HALL. Of Vermont rose and as,d be could
not reconcile It With his sense Of duty 10 he con
stiInon't 70 logger silent relation to the
evcn's which we're daily passing before him. He
"a Would rave preferred to suhu, the very general
,iox wh.h he intended To take Of some OF the
mos, important measures before Congress when a
bill on tie table iron the Senate (thc land bill
should come up for discussion bot he bad very
lately been Ssrucd by some rather ominous votes
of the Houee that II might be the pleasure OF
gentlemen TO prevent any direct aetioa of the
Huust on that bill, end no had therefore deter
mined to avail himself Of the present occasion. lie
knew II was the desire Of gentlemen 10 take the
question that night and he should condense his
remarks ~ such manner to occupy little
uf the timc Of the committee as WAS practicable.
We have, as | ihius. fsnd Mr.. H. reached
new and extraordinary era in the history Of this
nation. When cane together in December we
were IN the midst Of an excitement arising out OF
an spptehcndcd war with France. During the ex-
istcnce Of that excitement, when II was supposed
by the country that real and cmmincnt danger ex-
stcd of an almost immediate MAR with a most pow %
erfu foreign nu:ion, We were furnished by the Elk
ecutiyc with an estimate Of appropriations which
would be required Tor that year. 10 you remem-
Der. sir, The amount of those acquisitions .
will remind you Of them. They as fol-
lows
Ordinary appropriations speci-
hcslly called for. Sl7,5l5 033
Computation ofeXraordnsry
appropriations To meet all
anticipated contingencies, S5,6l7,707
Making, in the whole, S23 l336i0
This sir you will observe was the estimate sub
United to us during the existence of our difficulties
with France-a war cstimate--or at least such an
estimate as the Executive branch of the govern
nent thought it proper to recommend under the
possible if not probable contingency of war with
powerful foreign nation. And comparison of
the amount with former estimates will show that
il grea,ey exceeded those of previous wears; and
that, upon the principle which the government
has heretofore acted, could only be justified by
the uncertain and somewhat alarming state of our
foreign affairs. Now, sir. all our difficulties are
amicably adjusted; the nation Is at peace; no fore
ign war is apprehcnded, and suddenly as ifby ma
gc, new warlike watchword is runv in cars.
II Is sounded from the Capitol echoed IN the news
papers, sought to be published in the streets and
proclaimed from the House tops. National de-
y,
of the minority, who have heretofore been brand
ed as wasieful and eXtravagant legislators for cur
votes in favor of reasonable appropriations for for.
u6cstions, are now approached BY the same gen
tlemcn who lately denounced US, and very graycly
asked if we bre not IN favor Of appropriations for
tie ''nationel defence ~ Even the chairman OF
/ the committee Of Ways and Means, (Mr Cambre-
lengl who has never been over liberal in his sup
port of the appropriations for Notifications and
whose uhme the journal OF the last session stands
recorded in opposition 10 NINE against appro-
praiion of sixty seven thousand dollars, for one
of the precise obj. for which the present bill re-
ported by him, contains appropriation of one
| hundred and fly Thousand dollars lie sir now
seems ready TO question even the patriotism Of
any one who hcsa,es to swallow, without exami.
nation. the most quixotic projects for squandering
the public money, under the name Of expenditures
for the national defence. Sir this is cry of pat
Tiofn is the cry Of border interest and of party
and foi one shall not respond 10 it. The CONVEX
sion of gentlemen is altogether too sudden, The
object too palpsble, to give to their efforts any
other character than that the ridiculous I: and b,
that character they must and will be known TO the
country. As to myself, sir shall keep straight
on my old tract. have always voted in favor Of
liberal appropriations for the nstlonal defence anC
shall continue 10 vote for them. shall cheer
fully vote for the one hundred and fifty thnusanC
dollars for fortifyIng Boston harbor u6iuhOence,
by the lasi years opposition ofthe honorable chair
man. and for any other appropriations that have
reasonable claim to our appreciation. Bot, SIR,
Will not vote for appropriations merely to get nc
oithe public money. shall first inquire, as hss,
heretofore done. whether the object for which IN,
money IS asked be proper one; and Il j, be, then
whether the sum demanded can be proftsbly ex
pended during the yesri II come to afiunnty,
conclusion on both these points shall vote for III,
appropriation. Otherwise, shall vote against Il
aud rex the denunciations Of all new converts tC
the national defence party.
Sir, the secret Of the new course ofsc,ion whlcl
Is iadeed, no secret al all, is the discovery Of
large surplus "A the Treasury, which the pcopl
are deslrous Of having dslr baied among The State