Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-02


was passed without debate, and sent to the House
for concurrence.
The following bill was then taken up. and after
having been discussed by Messrs. LINN, SEWER,
HENDERSON, and WALKER, 1t was amended,
and ordered TO be engrossed:
A bill to revive and continue in force, for limit
ed tme an act approved on the third day Of March,
eighteen hundred and thirty seven, entitled IAN
act for the appointment Of commissioners TO adjust
the claims 10 reservations OF lands under the four
teenth article of the treaty Of eighteen hundred and
thirty, with the Choctaw Indians" and also an
act approved on the twenty-second day OF Februa-
ry, eighteen hundred and thirty eight, entitled "An
act TO amend entitled IAN act for the appoint
Of commissioners to adjust the claims to resor-
vations of land under the fourteenth article oil the
treaty Of eighteen hundred and thirty, with the Choc
taw tndians.~
The Senate went into an executive session at !
past g and after remaining therein for consider
able time, adjourned.
HOUSE OF. REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. JONES, of Va, moved that the House re-
solve itself into Committee OF the Whole on the
state OF the Union. which carried; and the
House resolved itself into committee, aud }.
ton Of Mr.. Jones, took up the bill making APP
preparations for the naval service for the year isi"
The bill was then read; after which, the Clerk
commenced reading it by clauses.
Mr.. SALTONSTALL moved to amend the fol,
lowing clause; "For increase, repair, armament
and equipment of the Navy and and tear OF
vessels in commission, 81, 425 OoO"-by increasing
II to two millions of dollars.
Mr. SALTONSTALL, at some length, supper.
ted this amendment, advertiug TO the present state
of our Navy, and the great necessity of strengthen
ing that arm OF our power. There was need Of ap-
preparation for the purpose of building steam ships
and placing our Navy on par with that OF Enslan
We owe II TO our Navy, and for carrying out that
system of gradual increase OF the Navy commenced
In 1918.
Mr.. Jones succeeded. He referred TO the cry
that had been made throughout the country, of sex
travagant expenditures" Now these same indiyd-
nails when he arr rejnced Ill.
cry OF "parSimony."
These estimates had been made up, on a full ard
careful investigation of the need of the Navy. Bnt
because the views entertained by the Naval Com
missioners squared better with his own the honora-
bic member had brought forward this, and advo-
Gates the enormous increase Olive hundred and sew
enty-iv thousand dollars.
We are told that we are not to look at the means
OF the country at all. 1.-THE Navy requires we are
told to goon and expend money. This he opposed.
and advocated the appropriation of the bill.
Mr. WADDT THOMPSON advocated the ne
cessity oil appropriations for steam frigaes 10 be
built at some point, so TO be available on the
Western waters and the Gulf Of Mexico. He would
vote for the amendment, offered by the gentleman
from Massachusetts,, without specification to what
II Is TO be applied, but would much prefer and
would suggest to him. that it should be specifically
applied TO the building Of steam frgates at some
pon. on our Western waters
The defence OF the Gulf of NJ eKieo was the most
important point, IN the event of foreign war-It is
there that foreign war would break and It's fury
would be expended. Ii is only there where foreign
fleets can congregate.
Again, 1t was by stopping up the mouth OF the
Mississippi that foreign power can cripple and in
jure US most.
As to steam frigates, they had created a new err
an naval warfare. All the msritime nations in the
world were acting on IL save ours only. he looked
win shame and modification, and, as far as fit for
an Amerisan TO do So with fear and apprehenson
10 our destitute condition.
he did not at present Relieve there was a prosnect
OF war, which he prayed God to avert, as the
greatest OF all calamities, but became the dignity
OF the nation, that should be in some position r
not TO fghr. TO negotiate.
And as TO the willingness OF the Whig party now
10 exPend proiusey against all our provisions pro.
LESSONS, he was willing take the responsibility
although lie did not belong to the responsibiIitvr
party. OF voting money, not for the Improvement
oi haroor, not Tor personal benefit but for the per-
.nanent ana requisite defence Of the country Ard
there was only one purpose for which he was will
ing 10 dedicate our public domain. The strong i'm
preston on his mind now was although he had not
gwen particular attention, that If necessary he
should be willing TO dedicate the public domain TO
the permanent increase Of the Navy.
Hls own inclination against any but very
small iort'hcatons on land. We are the predomi.
nani power on land. But we ought TO strengthen
our weakness on the ocean. He was willing and
would vote for the amendment, even if lis applica
ton was not specifed-in that case, he should moi
feel preeluded from moving an exclusive appropIia |
ton for steam frigates.
MrEVANS should speak exclusively IN tho me-,
ter IN hand, and hoped that the bate would be hrs
strictly confined.
He adverted to the fact and would enquire how !,
happened, that there was less APPROPRIATION nv
ST3O,OOO than for last year. He would tell Tberc
had been standing law OF APPROPRIATION of half a
Ion dollars yearly for the increase of the Navy
This law expired last year. There had been no
Corresponding appropriation IN this bill, TO continue
THIS gradual increase Of the Navy. The Secretarv
OF the Navy Is utterly silent on the subject He
does not come here, and represent the wants of the
Navy. VIC
The reasons for this appropriation had beep s,s,.
ed by the Honorable gentleman from Massocbn.
setts,-the present condition of our Nayy-its nbso
Lutte want. We ought at this session te make the
peeessary appropriations.
We lived in a time OF peace profound peoce and
lie saw no prospect Of It's being disturbed Bnt tLe
very fart GIFTS being time Of peace made il our
most pressing duty TO prepare for war. IL was a |
reproich to our nation, after having so long epioyed
period OF poace, with the most abund mt Teso1rces
that we are at this time in so defenceless n coudi
ton. IL was precisely the reason that we sboud
now prepare for war, because we are now in
peace. "
The debate was continued by Measrs. REED
TlLLlNGHAST, and PROFFIT; and at two o., !
clock, the House took the usual recess.
EVENING SESSION OF WEDNESDAY
The SPEAKER took the chair, and at 5 minutes
past quorum rot being IN attendance,
Mr. ANDREWS moved an adjournment. and the
question was put by yeas and nays and there an. /
Pe1red for the adjournment 4, against il los
The House refused to adjourn, but quorum did |
not vote. wv
The SPEAKER counted the House and renort,d
that log members were now in attendance
The question was then put on the ameodnnsn,
under consideration when the House took recess a.,
dinner, and which appropriated S2,62s for expenses
OF The Presidents House, garden, &c. &c and tbe,e
appeared for the amendment 49, against 40
The following item was next in order, viz:
"For pay ofstonocutters and other workman n,
the new Treasury building and the Patent Oaice /
building, Of the sums allowed them by the comn,is
sion appointed by the President OF the United states
under the resolution Of Congress Of the 2Oth july.
1870, SI2,023"
The yeas and nays were ordered on the amend. |
men', and being taken, 1t passed in the afirma-
Next came the amendment reducing the -rnission |
fairs. % W ~
20 INC question TO agree 10 this amendment the
yeas ana nays were, yeas Sc nays iOf
80 the amendment was rejected, and the rnissior
20 Mexico remains a full MISSION
Other amendments of the Committee IA. ,vkat
were then reported by the Clerk and conc,r,.d
IN. '''O'
And the amendment adopted on the roo,;o, ~,
Mr. UNDERWOOD, relating 10 eomp.ns,,;,, ~
pc masters, was then ret, as follows.
Provided, hoptUr, That in addition 10 ,e,y,,.
required 10 be made by postmasters il shall he The
duty Of the posimastersst New York Boston Pbra