The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-05-08
From the Glohe.l
TIE NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Several of the Opposition newspapers, and some
of the Opposition members of Congress, are now
quite busy in declaining against the Administration
for what they are pleased to term the defenceess
state of the country and some of the latter have
begun to engage themselves in the patriotic avoca-
ton of making calls upon the Secretary at War, the
Secretary of the Navy, &c, for plans and estim-
atcs for the dciences. Thus these gentry would
play themselves of as the yigiant guardians, the
patriotic champions, and the sagacious counselors
of the national defence and will doubtless soon
prefer regular claim to the sole and exclusive hon
ors Of having toreseen and provided for every ex-
igency, and overwhelmed the Administration with
abuse, for ncglcctng these vital concerns until
driven into by these wise counsellors, Now we
would be glad to refresh their memories little,
and inquire Of them what part the Opposition acted
in the Senate of the United States in the season of
lS35-6, when Mr. BENTON offered the following
resolutions:
RcSoued, That the surplus revenue of the United States
aud the dividends Of stock receivable from the Bank Of the
United States ought to be set apart and applied the gc-
cr defence ana permanent security of the country.
"R,Sored, That the President be requested cause the
Senate to be informed,
81. The probable amount that would be necessary for
lortii ing the lake, maritime and the gull frontier Of the
United States, and such points of the land frontier ~ may
acquire permanent Notifications.
~. The probable amount that would he necessary to
construct M adequate number o armOcs aud HrScnnlS in
the United states, to supply the several States with Held
artillery especially brass field pieces nr the militia, and
with side arms aud pistols for their cavalry.
81, The probable amount that would Unnecessary sup
rF the nitei states with the ordnance, arms, and u-
nonr OF ~hiol proper would
require IN be always on hand
81. The probable amount that would he rcc'ssrry to
place the naval ccnccs of the United Smrs iGcmg the
increase of the navy, navy yards dock Yards and steam
floating bacrics upon the footing OF strength and rcspcc
liability which is due to the welfare OF the ininn.n
These resolutions of Mr.. Be NroN were offered
in the Senate on January 18th, 1886. They were
then offered and being offered, they obtained
place upon the journals where they may now be
read. What became of them, the Fcdcraists, and
their then nasccnt allics-hc most ridiculous Con-
scrvatlvcs-can tell. Suffice it To say these rcso-
lu,ions were considered to be antagonists to Mr.
CLAWS land bill and were stihcd by the two conf
bned parties, then IN secret, now in open hug.
These resolutions were offered in 1886 Since
that time they have been renewed, in more de-
tailed form, except in what relates to the surplus
revenue and the bank stock These were other
wise disposed of; but the subject of the national
defence was not permitted to sleep, and the follow
ing resolution, offered by Mr.. BENTON at the scs-
sions 1889, was adopted and the answers to it
are now in a rapid state of preparation, part .of
them being ready, others nearly so, and those from
the navy sent in. When they come in, and that
may be looked for daily, the Opposition will, of
courso t,ko ali tho mari, n, ,ho,,Io,.ns ,,J ro,
49, " wv '' w '',,''''' an" ''P-
recent the answers given to Mr. BENroN's of one
year ago, as being entirely produced by the hectic
movement Of MIR. WISE, and others, within these
"" uays past lhey oush' III ieast W AUNT thht
the Secretaries were quite prompt IN their answer.
"FcbuWy g. ls39.-Mr Benton submitted the following
motion for consideration which was ordered 10 be printed
"Rssohed That the President of the United state, he
requested to to be laid before the Senate at the COM
Of the next season Of Congress report, upon
the military and naval deances of The country showing