Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-27
coNGREss--.sd SESSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Monday, february %, lS4l.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Monday, february %, lS4l.
NATIONAL DEFENCEs.
Mr. WADDY THOMPSON, Chairman of the Com
mi,eee on Military Affairs, (Mr. Lane having given
way for that purpose,) reported bill, in compliance
with the instructions of the House, making approprIa-
tons for certain Notifications Of the u s. generally fer
the year 1871, and for armament of Notifications; also,
for raising company Of sappers, miners, and Ponto-
niers, and approprating SoC000o for steam ships OF
war The amount proposed BY the bill to be aPPropri-
ated is ST. ,67S 900.
The bill was read first and second time, and,
On motion of Mr.. THOMPSON, it committed
10 Committee Of the Whole the state Of the Union,
and ordered 10 be printed
AIRY OF THE UNITED STATES.
At the instance Of Mr.. PROFIT, the report of the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate on the sub.
iect was read and the bill then laid aside TO be
ported to the House
The Committee then proceeded to the consideration
of the bll make further provision for the expense
of exploration and survey of that part of the North
Eastern boundary line Of The United States which sePa-
rates the States Of Maine ard New Hampshire from
the British Provinces.
When this bill was under consideration the 18th
instant, motion made By MIR. Underwood 10
amend il by striking out $50 600, the amount proposed
to be appropriated, and inserting S37 800 MIR. Petr
kin, on the day, moved 10 reduce the approPria
ton TO $4,000.
Mr. PROFIT said he believed he entitled to
the floor when the bill was up before. Since that time
he had paid some attention TO the bill, and
WINGED that the contemplated to be appropriated
was necessary for the purpose lie, therefore, should
withdraw opposition in every shape and ne would vote
for the bill He had ascertained that there were three
lines to be run instead Of one
Mr. PETRIKIN said that any member of the COM
mee had been challenged to show that the approprla-
ton asked for by this bill was not too large Now, Mr.
p would state that two distinct lines were run between
Texas and the U. S. and only $4,000 were approprl-
oed for that purpose. The distance about three
,,,tn rtofth
ry line Of the S which separates the States OF Maine
aud New Hampshire from the British Provinces he
said that the for this small appropriation was
obvious Men had been taken from the woods, and
were acquainted with the country; while, the other
hand, gentlemen had been taken from colleges, who
knew nothing.
Mr. CLIFFORD expressed the hope that he might
have the attention of the committee tor few minutes
while he made n brief explanation of the necessity
of the appropriation asked for in the bill under consl-
deraon He believed it would be wholly unsafe TO re.
duce the amount and he could not doubt that all would
concur with him when the facts of the case were July
understood Before he attempted to explain the est
mates which had been submitted by the commissioners,
he desired to make two remarks in reference
10 the position which the State he in part represent
ed occupied in regard to this survey and exploration
He wished to remind the committee that neither the
people nor the authorities of Maine have ever asked
this Government to institute il and he did not know
ash would be going too far TO it not desired by
his State at the time it first recommended, or when
that recommendation received the sanction OF Con
oress At that time the Executive Of Maine press
np upon this Government the performance OF ITS con-
sttutionai obligations to protect the State against IN
yasion from foreign foe If the wishes OF the State
had been consulted, military occupation OF the terri
tory in dispute under the authority OF the u 81 IN al
probability would have removed the necessity whlcn may
now be supposed to exist to take any steps to coun
teract the influence of the eI Parte exploration oil
British agents But Sir, what answer did the action
of Congress nstituting this survey give to the aulho
rites of Maine, reply to the demand to rePe the
invaders from its soils 1t amounts to tins, IN my es
nation: ENGLAND a great and naughty power; IT the
reunest made should be Immediately granted there Is
danger that the peaceful relations between the Two
countries may be interrupted; 1t has become important
10 institute counter survey to be made the OASIS Oh
another effort rutless he feared it would beg to con-
vince Lord Pamerston Of the peposterous character oil
the British claim This survey not necessary 70 con
vince the people of Maine Of their rights they under
stand them full WE'LL it necessary TO enable th's
Government to Judge of the ghul character of their
claim under the treaty of17S3 Every branch OF thus u
vernment over and again, and IN the most solemn
manner has admitted the right OF the State TO the whoie
territory in dispute. No objection, however, was mace
the proposed survey; none will be by any MEMBER
from Maine, unless should be converted into an ex
cuse for unreasonable delay removing the British
troops quartered upon the soil, and within the Jursdc-
ton Of the State MIR. c. said, he did not desire any
extravaganza in this any other branch OF the pubc
service All he desired was, that the amount should be
sufficient to insure the completion Of the work during
the next season. Negotiation is at stand for the
want of the information expected from commission
Let the survey be competea-to that he would not OBJ
;ect II ought to be made; but let be we'll and quick.
Iv DONE Last years appropriation is now exhausted,
and but little, comparatively, has been accomplished
The commissioners in pursuance OF that duty have es'
tnaed the expense to complete the survey, basng the
calculation upon the actual cost per mile Of
work Il is said to be extravagan;-douhtess gem
tlemen think so-bu does any know, and can it be
demonstrated that less sum will be sufficient to en-,
sure the accomplishment of the object in yew' without
unnecessary delay? He would appeal to the committee
if il is not reasonable to believe that any con-
adorable reduction should be made from the estimates