The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-02


preparations are got up IN this House
And the bill was then laid aside 10 be reported.
INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS BLL.
The committee took up the bill making appropri-
atoms for the current and contingent expenses oi the
Indian Department and for fulfilling treaty Npu-
laions with The various Indian tribes, for the year
1899 ..,.
Some conversation ensued between Messrs ME-
NEFrE and CAMBRELENG as 10 whether any
discrepancy existed between the estimates and the
actual amounts appropriated in the bill
MIR. CAMBRELENG was understood 10 say that
he had not the report OF the Secretary Of the ITea
sury before him, but that the amounts were nearly
the same.
Mr. MENEFEE expressed his determination here
after 10 see that the responsibility which belonged
properly to the Executive in relation 10 appropfa-
lions should be duly insisted upon, and thai the
amounts appropriated should correspond with the
estimates
Mr. CAMBRELENG moved sundry additional
items OF appropriation; which, after some CONVEX
salion between that gentleman and Mr. FILLMORE
were agreed 10.
ed, by striking out The item OF $4,000 appropriated
for the survey Of lands assigned 10 the Chocktaw
and Creek Indians west Of the Mississippi, (Mr, T.
having explained that The Committee on Indian Al
fairs had reported bill on that subject
Mr.. GARLAND moved 10 strike out the follow
ing items
For the salary of clerk in the office OF the TO-
vernon Of Wisconsin Territory who is ex-ofhcio snper
intendent Of Indian affairs, eight hundred dollars
For the salary Of clerk IN the office oil The act
ing superintendent OF the Western Territory, one thou
sand dollars" ..#.,
The motion was sustained by Messrs. POPE,
BRONSON and CAMBRELENG.
And, the question having been taken, the amend
ment was agreed TO.
And the bill was then laid aside to be reported.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
Next came up, and, on motion OF Mr., CAMBkE-
I Il lad h, pnra SinuI he "a
ton for miscellaneous items from S36O,0O0 10 $780,
600 The bill was then laid aside, and the commit
tee proceeded TO consider the
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Several small amendments were proposed and
agreed to; when
the Chairman of the Committee Of Ways and Means
why the item 7" for the national armories, had been
reduced TO 100000, instead of being kept at $780,
600, as heretofore
Mr.. CAMBRELENG replied that reductions had
been made in every item not fixed by law, to meet
the exigencies of the Treasury, and this among the
rest II, however, the gentleman from Massachu-
sets would consent TO make corresponding reduc-
ton in the permanent annual appropriation Of SIoo'
600 for armng the militia, he had no objection 10
restoring the amount for arsenals 10 what It had been
heretofore.
Mr.. CALHOUN said he had found on inquiry
at the Department that the arms for the militia were
all manufactured under private contracts. II any
reduction was to be made in this appropriation, it
must be effected in separate bill fora permanent
law could not be repealed BY an appropriation bill
The armories now well supplied with skllfu
hands, long trained TO the business, and who had &C
quired great skill in their employment. The reduc-
lion proposed by the committee would cut of one
sixth of their number, and turn them and their iami-
lies on the world. Ii the worst and most short
sighted policy TO throw away mass of trained skill
in difficult branch OF art 10 meet merely tempo
rary pressure on the Treasury He forbore 10 make
any specific motion, hoping the chairman would
himself see The propriey Of keeping up the appro-
priation 10 its former standard.
MI. CAMBRELENG not Simplifying assent to this
suggestion.
MIR MASON, of Virginia, moved to amend the
item BY adding $4,000. He supported the motion
by speech, in which, after urging similar reasons
TO those stated by the gentleman from Massachusetts,
he quoted letter from the Secretary of War, in
which that officer said, that if any reduction should
be made in the appropriation for armories it would
curtai the operations of those Institutions and greatly
relard the supply of necessary arms, &c. He also
suggested thatthe skill thus banshed from our own
establishments might seek employment abroad.
Mr.. LINCOLN warmly protested against the
idea of reducing the appropriation for the arming
of the militia He stated that the militia were not, as
matters stood one-tw entieth part supplied with
necessary arms and the amour, ought rather to be
augmented than diminished. The arming Of the
militia was trust confded by the Constitution ex-
clusively 10 Congress And though the arms
furnished from private factories, that was no reason
it would be polite TO reduce the appropriation, for
skill in those eStablis hmenS valuable 10 the
country al large as if it existed liz the public
ries All the mechanics of the country acquainted
with this branch of work could not, in case of an
emergency, supply the militia with arms for sim
gle month. .... ..1-.....-
Mr.. PETRIKEN opposed the amendment, but his
remarks were not heaH by the reporter.
Mr.. PRATT was understood 10 advocate it, but
he was still more impe' fecty heard
Mr.. w. c. JOHNSON advocated the amendment,
dwell on the 1ourishing state of the public armories,
the unequalled excellence of the arms they furnish
ed the system pursued the admission by foreigners
that our nlusketS were the best in the world, &c,
and expressed his regret at the idea of turning off
workmen who had been taught and trained in these
institutions from their boyhood.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, strongly
opposed the amendment, and was glad the commit
of the public expenditure Their good intentions
ought 10 be met, and not tbwarted.
Mr.. MERCER adverted TO the origin OF the pro-
vision for arming the militia by the General Gov
eminent as having first been contained in bill in
troducrd by Mr. Randolph OF Virginia. He re-
fered 10 the great want of arms in the last war and
10 the fact that detachment Of 1000 Virginia troops
were forced TO march without any musketS. lie
secuted the idea of reducing, in this branch of expe
nditnre, The appropriation, instead OF standing at
two hundred thousand dollars annually, ought rah-
er TO be augmented TO million No nation in the
world was so niggardly on The subject OF furnishing
arms for the national defence.
Mr. CALHOUN briefly replied: when the ques-
ton being put on The amendment the ayes were 55,
the noes AZ; and, on repeated trials, the committee
was found to be without quorum.
They thereupon rose and reported that fact TO the
House, which, after an Intellectual motion for call,
adjourned.
IN SENATE