Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-03-18

| sing the sale OF our stock in the Bank of the
u States, would, if adopted. afford all the
revenue necessary The committee is of
opinion that the whole, or part of the fund
10 be derived from that source. should be an.
proprluied for the purpose Of arming our fol.
''hcailons, and for making the military and
naval preparations for the defence of the
country, IN case such expenditures should
become necessary before the next meeting
Of Congress"
ne third resolution appended to tina, re-
Pot' was, that contingent preparations ought
10 DC made 10 meet any emergency growing
out OF our relations with France. That re-.
port, and the resolutions was adopted by
majority OF the committee on foreign aflairs
and proposed, not merely an appropriation
OF three millions, but Of the whole proceeds
OF our sock in the Bank Of the L. States,
II necessary for the public defence
When these resolutions came up the dav
after, ] stated that, TO secure unanimity. !
should withdraw the third resolution. as
intended, when the Seuate's amendments to
the ioriiicaliou bill should be under consid
Grafton, TO offer an amendment appropra,inc
three millions, which had learned would
be all that was deemed necessary by the
Executive thus substituting for mere de-
claratory resolution, an actual appropriation
Tor the defence of the country. Such, sir is
the published history of this preparation for
defence, about which gentlemen seem 10
have been so utterly ignomnt The Presi.
dents message, the report aud resolutions
Of the committee, and Lbe unanimous resolu
ton of the House TO insist on the execution
OF the treaty, were Before the world still
/ gentlemen were ignorant Of the whole affair
and waited for estimates from tie depart
mentS, and an executive order Journals on
all sides were calling on Congress TO place
the country in state of defence; the fire
OF patriotism was kindled throughout the
land, and lighting every spot in the Union
save one dark chamber. into which that light
could never penetrate; there all was midnight
Other apologies are made to the country.
sir-esimatcs were not submitted by the de.
paument and, the form OF the amendment,
was unprecedented, unconstitutional, and
nonstrous. shall presently show on wha,
| foundation, legislative or historical, this lat
ter objection rests. As 10 the estimate, you
will recollcct that you, as chairman of the
committee OF ways and means, united with
me in a note 10 the Secretary Of State. in.
curing what amount would be required, and
that his answer was. one million for the Ar
my, and two for the Navy, including lortifi.
cations, ordnance aud increase Of the Navy
Ii was upon that estimate the proposed
amendment was founded. And now, sir, for
this formidable amendment; here il is sir
And be il further enacted, That the sum
of three millions of dollars be, aud the same
is hereby appropriated out of the money in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. to
be expended, in whole or in part. under the
direction of the Presiden, of the L. s for the
military and naval service, including ionii
cations aud ordnance and increase of the Ma
Wy; provided such expenditures shall be rem.
dered necessary for the defence of the coun-
try prior TO the next meeting Of Congress
This Internal machine, which was to blow
the gcntleman from Virginia the Constitu.
ton andsthe Government 10 atoms was con.
trived here, sir, in concert with former
representative from Virginia, and a member
OF the opposition. gentleman OF the highest
standing Tor ability, honor and integrity
and universally esteemed in this house.
mean gentleman who was formerly chair
man of the committee on foreign atinirs.
drew the section, and submitted il TO him
lie proposed an amendment, and here ar,
the words "shall be rendered. in his owl
handwriting. As originally drawn it reac
provided he shall deem such expenditure:
necessary AS amended by the gentleman
from Virginia, it was, provided such eX
pendtures shall be rendered necessary
Such, sir, was the origin of the celebrated
section which startled the Senate, and shool
/, the Government TO its foundation.
And what, sir, was the history of this ap
preparation proposed it in the House i
was adopted by a large majority, including
some fifteen opposition votes 1t was sent tC
the Senate, and how did they receive a mere
proposition to put the country in a state o.
defence, should it become necessary? Was
it treated with ordinary respect aud referred
to a committed No. Was it examined in
form or substance? Was the slightest dis
position evinced TO make any contingent pro
vision for defending the country in case o.
ware No, sir; no effort was made to modl
fy the section in form or amount-nont
whatever to defend the country. The Sen
ate seemed outraged at the American spirit
of the House; they appeared TO receive II
as Il rebuke Of their resolution to oppose the
recommendation of the President and TO re
ject every measure designed ito maintain
the honor and rights of the country" Ii
was not the form, nor the objects, nor the
amount of the appropriation; it was the pre-
determined resolution of the Senate, upon a
question between the country and a foreign
power, to resist the House, the President and
the country, This was the origin of the
motion to reject the appropriation, and Of
Il. i nj