The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-02
gwemtp=Sehsmth Congress.
IN SENATE,
FIRST SESSION
SATURDAY, Aug. 2s. 1874

IN SENATE,
/ SATURDAY, Aug. %, ls4i.
Mr.. CHoATE presented memorial Of merchant.
Of Boston, praying that the time for the operation Of
the Revenue Bin be postponed, and that merchandise
actually shipped be exempted from its operation laid
| on the table, and ordered To be printed.
The bill from the House OF Representatives making
appropriations for the outfit of diplomatic agents was
read first and second time by its title and referred to
| the Committee Foreign Relations.
/ The bill making appropriation for the arrangement
of the statue of w ashngton by Greenough, read
first and second time by its lle and referred TO the
| Committee on the Library
/ The Fertilization bill was then taken up the ques-
ton being on concurring in the amendments OF the
House.
Mr.. PRESTON said that the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs had recommended that the Senate disa-
gree with the amendments made in the House. and
| insist on their amendments which had been stricken
out by the House for appropriation of 900 for
survey of the Southwestern frontier, inland, and
maritime bordrs and appropriation Of $4,000 for
the purchase of site for Western Southwestern, or
| Northwestern armory.
Some conversation here arose as to postponng the
bill, till the Senate was full many members being alb
sent. Several Senators however coming in, the Sc
nate proceeded with the bill
Mr.. PRENTISS said when this question was un-
der consideration the other day, he had gone some
what al large into the Importance of the defence Of
the outlet Of Lake Champlain, and showed at once
/ TIE HtCcsslty anu urgency ol mhttfs
thought he had succeeded in convincing the Senate,
| and the chairman of the Committee Military AT
fairs particularly to the necessity that existed for
something to be done in the premises. His colleague
had also remarked with great force the subject and
| he MIR. + did not know that he could now offer
any thing additional. The honorable chairman ofhe
committee had promised his cordial cooperation in the
measure when certain bill came from the other House
and now when contrary TO expectation, the PROPOSE
ton much desired by himself and coll eague had
In ypTv he Wasa Y in IN m
the Committee on Military Affairs had stricken il
out The honorable chairman had been very profuse
of his compliments to the people Of Vermont, but
pments would not defend them from the incursion of
| an enemy. II would require something more sub
stantia than compliments, however well merted they
| might have been. Ii there was any point along the
range of our wide and extended frontier that re-
CURED defence than another, the outlet in Lake
Champain was that point and he therefore hoped
that the amendment of the House might be concurred
Mr. WRIGHT said that, although several Sena-
tors had arrived, still there were two absent who took
a peculiar inteIest in these amendments, and he
thought better to pass the bill Informally for the
present.
MIR. HUNTINGTON thought good results might
grow Of their proceeding with the bill. Senators
would understand that the business would up
in its regular order, and wait for the attendance
of those who were interested. tt
MIR. WRIGHT would proceed and merely say to
the Senate that If the three items stricken out by the
House concurred in, the effect would be that
they would be rejected for the session
Mr.. BUCHANAN had said he would certainly
vote for the proposition OF the Senator from Vermont
when certain bill came from the other House, to
which il might be properly attached; and he should
certainly do SO, but this was not the proper bill
Mr.. EVANS said that when this bill was before
the Senate he had done all in his power to keep it
free from the amendments which gentlemen sought to
engraft on il; not that he much opposed to
those measures, but that they did not Of right belong
to the bill before them. The House, finding that the
Senate had broken in the principle, had added 9th
ers, which showed the necessity Of always adhering
to what proper in the first instance.
The debate was further continued by Messrs
KING, LINN, PRESTON, HUNTINGTON,
CALHOUN, and PIERCE,
Mr. PRES TON asked that the question be taken
on the items separately.
The question was first taken on concurrng with
the House in he following amendment
For purchase Of site, and for barracks and de-
fensive works at or near Buffalo, New York, $780,
600"
On this question the yeas and nays demand
ed, when the vote stood follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Barrow, Bates, Choate,
Clay, of Kentucky, Clayton, Dixon, Evans, Hunting
tom Linn, Moreheai, Mouton, Phelps Porter, Prem
tiss Riyes, Simmons, Smith, of Indiana, Southland,
Tamadge, Tappan, Walker, White, Woodbridge,
Wright Young-26
NAYS Messrs Archer, Benton, Buchanan, Cal
houn, Clay, of Alabama, Fulton, Graham Hender
son, Kerr King, McRoberts, Miller, Nicholson,
Pierce, Preston, Smith, of Connecticut, Sturgeon,
Woodbury-lS.
The vote was then taken on concurring in the fol-
lowing amendments, and carried without division
For fortications at the outlet of Lake Champlain
and purchase of site, $4,000.
For defensive works, barracks, and other neccssa
~ buildings and purchase of a site for depot, at
near the junction of the Matawankeap and Penob-
scot rivers Maine, a25 900
The first amendment ofthe Senate, which had been
stricken out by the House, was, after brief remarks
insisted on by the Senate II appropriates thirty
thousand dollars for surveys the southwestern, in
land, and maritime frontiers for the purposes of de-
fence
The next amendment of the Senate was the appro-
prlaion of seventy five thousand dollars for the pur-
chase of site for Western, Southwestern or North
western armory.
Mr.. CLAY hoped this amendment would not be in
sisted on. He was against the expense, IN the first
place, in the present state of the Treasury and IT
the selection le TO the President, il would be
left to a Secretary, who in turn would leave 1t to
head OF a bureau when, in matter so important,
Congress should retain control. Besides, @I5OOO nr
the purchase of site was most enormous pice,
and looked like a job to somebody who had property
sell ten times its value and then all that money
was only for commencement.
MI. BENTON would say in reply to the Senator
from Kentucky, that, unless Congress gave the power
to the Executive would be impossible for any selec-
ton to be made An armory supply the great West
with arms much needed, and he did not expect to
see il opposed by any Western Senator
Mr.. BUCHANAN thought that, in body like
the House of Representatives Composed as was OF
many members, all naturally DESTROYS to have the
location where il would be desirable to their con-
stituens)it would be perfectly ridiculous to suppose
that location could be made He was in favor OF IN
sisng the amendment, leaving the selection to