The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-27
THE STATEMENT.

true and exact statement Of the case, in re-
gard to each OF these votes, as appears from the
journals and the printed debates.
The charges are:
l. "On the It'll January, 1914 he voted against an
appropriation for defrayng the expenses the Navy"
This is exceedingly dsingenuous for two reasons
lst Because the matter Is not accurately stated nor
the reason for the vote given that now appears in
the debates. bill had passed the House Of Repre-
seniatixes and without opposition, either the
sage making partial appropriations for the service of
1874" The Senate inserted Ms an amendment nm
appropriation Of million Of dollars for the expenses
OF the Navy. It was quite unusual at that time, and
indeed it is believed unprecedented for the Senate to
originate, by way Of amendment, such large grants of
money for the public service.
On this ground, alone, the amendment was opposed
by some who had been the warmest friends of the
Navy, from the time of Gen. Washington Il was
question OF the regularity of proceeding question Of
the order OF business merely The record shows that
NATHANIEL MACON and other administration men,
voted with Mr.. Webster that question, against
concurring with the Senate in their amendment
"a. Because it is well known that throughout the
whole war, Mr. Webster was constantly urging upon
Government greater extension of our naval means
and augmented expenditure and augmented efforts on
the sea. The Navy had been exceedingly unpopular
with the party then in power This every body
knows; ana Mr. webster was attempting TO argue it
into popularity.
The Journal shows that on the 9Th November
1914, the House went into committee on the bill from
the Senate to authorize the President to build twenty
vessels OF war to carry certain number of guns. Mr.
Reed moved to increase the number of guns more
than two-fold for each ship. Mr.. Webster voted in
the affirmative but the motion was lost and the bill
then passed without opposition. Doubtless many other
votes OF this kind may be found in the Journal for the
debates show that Mr. Webster constantly urged the
increase of Naval power the best means ofmeet
ing our enemy the proudest maritime Power in the
world
In respect then, to the vote here complained Of the
.ec IS that was not vote against an appropriation
to defray the expenses of the Navy but was a vote
against the assumption of the Senate to originate by
way OF amendment large appropriations of money for
military service.
II was then, and is now, thought by many exclu-
sively the legitimate office of the House Of Represen
tatives to originate all the principal grants of money
for the support Of Government. Would it be consi-
dered fair to charge Nathaniel Macon and Others the
friends OF Mr.. Madison and distinguished supporters
of the war, with disposition to withhold the means
OF defending the country, because he and they voted
against the extraordinary amendment of the Senate
Certainly not and therefore, the same charge now
made against Mr.. Webster with voting NTH Nathan
def Macon on that question is unfair not ridiculous
ii. On the 10th January, 1914, he voted against
tors and spies"
This is absolutely untrue
On the 18th of January, 1914 Mr. Wrirht. of Ma
ryland, moved the following resolution:
"Resolped, That the Committee Of The Whole
House be instructed TO inquire into the cxpedency Of
extending the second section the act for the Govern
ment of the United States relative to spies 10 citizens
Of the United STATES"
The effect OF extending the rules and articles Of
war relative to spies 10 citizens Of the United STATES
would have been to expose every American citizen
visiting the encampmcnt of the American Army TO be
charged with being spy, and have thet charge tried
and determined by drum-head ourtmar,ial and that
trial followed by death
IL would have Withdrawn from our citizens that
great shield of American Lberiy-thc right of trial
by jury-and placed the whole country and all our
citizens at once under martial law. SO thought Mr..
Webster, and be voted against it So thought MIR.
thieves and Mr. Farrow, Of s. Carolina, Mr. Duvall,
Mr.. Ormsby, and Mr.. Clark, of Kentucky, Mr. Ep-
pes, OF Virginia, Mr.. Kent, Of Maryland Mr. Sey-
bert, OF Pennsylvania, Mr.. Fisk, of Vermont, (or
New York; MIR. King, of North Carolina, (now
Senator nom Alabama, and late President of the SEN
ate) Mr. Richardson, (ate Chief Justice of New
Ham shire,) Mr. Robertson, of Louisiana, and many
others off, warmest supporters fthe Administration
OF Mr.. Madison; and they voted with Mi Webster !;
and there is no more truth in this charge against Mr.
Webster than in the same charge should i be made
against Mr.. Eppcs the chairman Of the Committee OF
Ways and Means, son-inlaw of MIR. Jefferson. and
leader OF the then Democratic party in the House OF
Representatives
I'LL "On the 25th of March he voted against the
bill I, call forth the militia TO execute the laws Of the
Union and repcl invasion"