The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-02

foreign relations with the Department where they had
| been placed BY the Constitution your Executive
Depaitment Yet he could not consent, late as was
| in The session. considering the facts now before the
House and the situation of the world at this very
ment 10 20 from this place without doing something
10 place the country ia situation 10 meet the contn
| gencies into which II might be thrown.
He made these remarks irrespective Of any COLI
sion that might be apprehended with foreign power
but a. matter Of providence in time peace to prepare
| for war-to prepare for difficulties. Without reference
TO our particular situation the aspect Of the world
the present time sufficient 10 call on u.s. and call
on us in trumpet tone, not TO dissolve this Congress
and 20 home without placing in the hands Of the Exc
cuve sum that may be judiciously expended 70 put
this Government situation TO assert It's rights and
defend its citizens il il should be necessary
| lie suggested TO the Chairman OF Ways and Means
whether might not, by common consent pass aside
the bill before the Committee, and take NJ The bill
reported by the Chairman on Military Affairs.
To this objections were made
Mr.. FILLMORE understood that the CHAIRMAN
had decided this amendment in order, as increasing
merely the appropriations. 1t transferred SO much of
the bill reported by the Chairman Of Military Affairs
to the bill under considerations and as the Chairman
of the Ways and Means objected TO the introduction
of the other portions Of the BILL in this case we took
so much as relates the board and let the entire
Northern frontier wholly undefended. II this was
the case he should much refer that the present bill
Mr. THOMPSON withdrew his amendment. As
the House had resolved itself into committee for no
specific purpose he submitted whether il was not now
in order TO move take up the bill he had the honor
of reporting from the Committee on Military AhaIrs
And accordingly moved TO lay the present bill aside
and take up that bill making appropriations for Ger
tain Notifications Of the U s for the year lsil
Mr. CROSS gave notice of an amendment which
he would offer at the end of the bill, appropratlns
fy thousand dollars for continuing defensive works
and barracks at Fort Wayne
Mr. SMITH, Of Me. offered the following amend
ment
'sFor repairs of Fort Preble and Fort Scanned, in
Portland harbor, $6 GOO.
MI WIN. COST JOHNSON, at some length, ad
dressed the committee. He opposed appropriations
for the repairs and construction of harbors without
cannon, ordnance, and munitions for their defence
were also provided. He then adverted to the matters
of fact in relation to various forts and showed that
more than three thousand cannon were necessary to
supply the forts already built He opposed the aPpro
priaion of SO much money-a half million dollars this
year. for the construction OF forts which, without be-
ing defended, of no value.
He moved that the committee take up the other BILL
To which he gave notice he should offer an amend
ment, appropriatng 600 for the erection of Ma
tional Foundry Ii 1t was adopted he would cordially
support the bill.
Mr.. PICKENS said since he arrived at the Capito
this morning he had heard current rumor that farther
exciting correspondence had passed between Mr.. Fox
and Mr.. Forsyth
He rose for the purpose of saying that he had
thentic information that such not the fact, and he
hoped that legislation would be effected under such
vague rumors.
He exp essed his desire that the Committee proceed
with the bill now before them and pass il quickly
as compatible with the public interest,
Mr. w THOMPSON rose to point Of order.
He commended that motion of ord, of business was
not debateablc and that the motion should now be
taken and the Committee decide on which bill they
would act
The CHAIRMAN said the motion could not be
taken until the Committee desired II.
After further remarks by Messrs. BARNARD, Tin ex-
planation) TiLIlNGHAsT, and CUSHING,
Mr. ANDERSON of Me- offered the following
amendment to the amendment:
"For repairs Of forts at Wiscasset Damariscotta
Castine and Eastport, in Maine, 81 900 each"
Which Mr. SMITH accepted, and accordingly
modified his amendment.
Mr.. VANDERPOEL opposed taking up the bill
proposed and hoped the Committee would act on the
one before them He adverted to the necessity of the
ordinary appropriations for Notifications but opposed
the new and extraordinary appropriations proposed by
the bill proposed to be taken up
Mr. FILLMORE at some length, and in an able man
ner advocated the necessity of appropriations tor the
defence Of our Northern frontier well as of other
parts of the frontier of country and desired the bill
reported from the Committee Military Affairs,
ehoud be taken up.
After further remarks from Messrs. Monroe, VIM
c. johnson and Pope, the hour OF half past two hav-
ing arrived, without taking the question, the House
took its stated recess to four o'clock.