The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MnMnix Inlu 10 l2d

MONDAY, July ~, lo4l.
After the reading of the Journal of Saturday, Mr..
TURNEY moved to correct it, by stating differently
his course in relation to appeal which he took from
the decision of the Chair as to the right of any
Der to demand the rereading of bill resolution on
its passage. He dscoursed the subject with much
argument little attended to, for twenty minutes He
very little understood, from the great inattenion
of the House. and noise. He concluded by asking
the yeas and nays; which were ordered.
The SPEAKER replied, showing that the object
Of the motion was to place him in ridiculous posi-
ton.
Mr.. G. BROWN, with much warmth, supported
the motion to correct the Journal He insisted that
the question had been not the appeal but on the
Mr.. HOPKINS naao a statement. eonrrade.ins
that of the Speaker to the nature of the question
put to the House on Saturday.
Mr.. BRIGGS expressed his understanding Of the
matter to be the that Of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, (Mr. c. Brown
Mr.. Bolts moved to lay the whole subject ON
the table, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
At the request of Mr. JOHN a. ADAMS, Mr..
B. withdrew his motion for moment to permit that
gentleman to explain.
Mr.. ADAMS expressed his regret at having been
the cause of all the difficulty. On Saturday morning.
having been necessarily delayed few minutes after
the meeting Of the House. he took his seat just at the
moment when his name called for his yea or nay
on some resolution which he had not heard read In
order to understandingy he asked the favor Of
hearing it, to which, to his great surprise, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Turney) objected. Such an
objection to so common favor he had heard in
this House before. The Speaker then decided that
the resolution might be read from which the gentleman
from Tennessee appealed, and the House sustained
the Speaker and granted the favor He did not hear
distinctly the precise form in which the question was
taken; but he willing to take the Speakers &C
count Of it.
Mr.. Bolts then renewed his motion to lay on
the table, which was passed-Yeas 100, nays 80.
The House then resolved itself into Committee Of
- - sv.t hA( thasr nd
resumed
THE FoRTIFIcATIoN BILL.
Mr.. MCKAY addressed the Committee against the
bill, in detail, for one hour.
Mr.. S. MASON made some remarks in explanation
Of his late speech. 49,. ~ u.s..
Mr.. LIrTLEFIELD read speech thirty minutes
long from his hat % in which he had deposited it, He
spoke in behalf of the State of Maine much ne
elected Stae-her deences not being provided for in
this bill. Portland had beautiful harbor, and was
beautiful town; yet the Representative from that dis
trict (Mr Fessenden) had refused to any prov-
sion for the defence of that place. Mr.. L. read his
speech through without regarding the mischsvous in
terrupons with which various members attempted 10
put him out.
Mr. FESSENDEN replied to his colleague,--regIet-
ting that he had not taken counsel OF his head rather
than his hat.
Mr.. PROFIT made very animated and occa-
sonaly amusing speech in reply to various speakers
on the Opposition side He discussed the probability
of war, aud denounced the acsuru ana ostentatous
conduct of those who had been making warspeeches,
both last session and this session. He commented on
various points bearing the great question Of war
and peace such Mr.. Pickenss "war-report"-
Judge Governs decision (Which he considered as six
columns of verbose stuff, the substance of which
might have all been compressed into a paragraph, ~
and Mr.. Bowne's recent "war-speech" He derided
these and corresponding efforts in the British Para-
ment as mere "balderdash the offspring of the self
conceit of those who sought thus TO magnify their own
importance. He went for the largest appropriations
for the defence Of the country, not so much because
there was immediate danger Of war; as because there
was confessedly a" prospect or possibility OF II, and
because the present Notifications were moi in good or
der even for peace establishment He would be will
ling to vote appropriations of twice the amount at the
present time
Mr.. WISE followed with speech against the bill,
basing his arguments mainly on the recent communi-
cation from the Secretary Of War.
Mr.. FILLMORE replied with great eloquence and
cearness Notwithstanding frequent Interruptions from
Mr.. WISE He showed the proposed appropriations
to be ndspensaby necessary, and the least possible
at present.
Mr.. RANDALL, Of Maryland, in reply to Mr..
Mckay, made statements in relation to the pro-
posed improvements of the Notifications Of Annapo
lis. He demonstrated and corrected many errors
made by Mr. Mckay. ..
Mr. DAWSON, Of Georgia, spoke in support Of
the proposed appropriations, particularly in reply to
the objections Of Mr.. Wise. He observed that the
recent decision Of the Supreme Court Of the State of
New York made the danger OF a war so great as to
require greatly increased efficiency in our Navy,
and an immediate appropriation Of large amount
was necessary for that purpose. But now, on the
Continued on the fourth page.