Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-29
CoNcREssIoNAL.
HOUSE OF RErREsENrArIvrs.


men,s, which were adverse to reduction OF tn
Army;
MIR. GRAHAM, Of North Carolina. said ths, il
the year 1855, under the reeomue ndaton OF III,
then Pfesident, Congress raised AMI increased III,
number OF the regular array up to i2 500 men. Ia
the present embarrassed state OF the public treasu-
~, when economy, retrenehment, and reform are
aeso'uteiy indispensable. this House passed bill
reducing the number cf the army on the peace es>
Enlistment, from 70 500 to about 900 men. That
VIII reduce the army 500 men, and conseque nj y
reduce the expenditures Of the Government near
$500 000.
Ire bill so reducing the army and the expenses OF
the Government, (,ad Mr. G.) went from this House
10 the Senate FOE IT'S concurrence. The Senate have
refused to concur with this House in tie extent OF
i's reduction; hut have proposed To AK the number
OF The regular army at about 10000 men. The bill
making appropriations for the army has now re-
turned to this House; and the question now sub'
united Is, shall We FIX upon eight or ten thousand
as the proper number of The army for the peace
establishment hope this House will adhere to
its former decision and limit the numSsr To eight
thousand. That number OF regular troops is quite
sufcien; to constitute peace est ,blishmen'. and
preserve and cherish the military spirit. Large
standing armies in time Of peace not only very
expensive, but DANCE Gus u liberty and Repub.
lean institutions. The Secretary OF War, IN Il &c
port sent to Congress by the President the first Of
this session, asked appropriations for the army for
uhcatons, aud 30 on, to an amount OF near twelve
millions of dollars. Sir, cannot sanction and APP
prove such enormous and eStravasant appropria'
lions for the War Department in time Of peace. We
must reduce our expenditures, and know Of no
branch of the public service which can bear reduc-
lion better than the amy.
H. unfortunately, we should be involved in war
with any foreign nation, then we may grant an army
OF SO 900 men; but that would be fighting army,
and not a peace army. say, then, the true policy
OF the Government is TO reduce the army, and TO
reduce our expenses in tire OF peace, that we may
be the more enabled in actual war to present our
whole united strength. On all sudden emery ncies,
the volunteers and militia are ready and willing To
come to the rescue and defence of the country.
Tney are n ready help in time Of need. | am
tlrely aversc to large standing army IN time OF
peace l highly appreciate the military qualihca-
tons and scientific attachments oil our officers, and
the good conduct OF our soldiers. make no objee-
tons 10 the officers soders. But in time of peace
we do not need such large force, and the deficient
Treasury cannot pay so many idle persons.
Mo Chairman, some gentlemen who have acvo
Gated the present large standing army object this
mode OF reducing the army. They say the appro-
pra'ion bill IS moi the legitimate way to effect that
reduction. That is true; eonceds it. This is not
the best mode Of eifectng our object, but the
only mode left to the House ut this time. The
President the Secretary at War, the Commanding
Genera, and believe the Military COMMITTEE, are
all opposed 10 the reduction OF the army; far
from it, some of those high functonaries have re-
commended an increase OF the army. Then l say
10 this House, this is the bill and this the only time
an1 opportunity 10 accomplish the proposed reduc
ton. We must do il now, or not at this session.
am willing to vote all necessary supplies to sus.
tom a wise and economical administration Of the
Government; but when this nation is groaning I'M
der public debt, and suffering great embarrsss
ment from deficient Treasury, and suspended
revenue, and no provision IS yet made TO relieve
the Government maintain that are bound "a
pursue and practice all useful and necessary reduc-
tons, both of men and money.
Mr. ADAMS referred TO what MIR WARD had
said about ;he letters he had received, which, as
Ne a IL III. -
paw of the dragons.
MIR WARD explained. His letters had not re.
ierred particularly to that subject, but referred tc
the pay OF the army which was held back by the
dei1ys Of Congress.
Mr. ADAMS said that so far as these were hon
est claims against the Government for services ae
tually rendered, he should make no opposition to
their payment, but as 10 Keeping up the army 10
ls present number by concurrins with the Senate's
amendment, he must oppo sc II. |! the Mi itary
COMMITTEE intended to report bill for reducing
the army. he should think that they might have
done II before this Uill was returned from the Sen
ale. tie should not pronounce between the two
systems, that OF prospective reduction according to
the bill OF the committee, and of reduction in q I
as IN the present DILL as 1t went from this House:
NIL he had tosay was, tnat IL gentlemen really want
Cd to reduce the SIZE Of the army, they had now
the opportunity by refusing the Sennte's amend
mrnt And notwithstanding the assurance of the
Chairman (Nlr Stanly) TO what would be done
hereafter he had rather have bird in the hand
than Two IN the hush The other bill. rs MIR
A. understood provided for a new organization Of
the army as yell as It's reduction: now MIR A. had
his own doubts 10 the new plan Of orsaniZ alton;
II would be work Of time, and he trusted IN Goo
that some day would at length arrive when this
House WIS to udiocrn: he preferred acting now.
But he mad been DESTROYS 10 ask his friend from
New York MIR WarJ) whether, among the iet.
teIs he veeeived, there any against the re-
uenchment Of the public expenditures. or any
which gave him Satisfactory iniormsuon as to tie
d. ms hrh L. trIf
fly ali these Appropritlonsl How did stand
no~l The President Of the United States, wilh-
on, any authority OF law, was now levying revenue
the People OF the Uoited States by virtue Of his
own sole authority, precisely as Charles l. had lie
wed ship money on the people of England. For
the resistance Of that tyrahnical enactment John
Hamrden had Suffered Imprisonment and fine OF
E20 600 s,eriing; but how did II endl The c'ock
on which the head OF Charles OF last fell presented
the answer. That precisely our state q.
this day in regard TO tie public revenue. The Sc
crctary Of the Treasury had expressed himself Ss in
doubt whether dollar could be legally collected after
tbs Ist Of juno he had s,nce then been called upon
by a solemn vote Of the House to say whether he
hid changed his opinion; and what did he sayi
That he had7 By no means. There was not d
particle OF evdercs IN his reply that MS opinion
was altered one hairs breadth he took very good
care % say 10 such thing; but Re told the Hous,
that /, was the opinion OF the Attorney General
and he had consequently issued circulars TO all III,
collie cIoTs 10 the United States 10 20 and raise
money from The People on the bnsls 81 TINS Opnlpr
oC Mr. Attorney General and by AUTHORITY OF The
Executive. MIR A. desired to speak with all respec
Of that genteman's character, talents, ard attain
ments, hut at the SAM time he cou not but remem
her his opinion in regard 20 the Mississippi election
that was his legal opinion. Just this was; and no,-
wuhstaod,ng oil the sl'quence with wh.ch Il had
been mantsined in the House, he could not forget
that IT'S Effects 10 bring the House to decision
which thew had themselves resclnded at the subse
qaent session.
There were other legal opinions expressed by
the same gentleman during his membership IN this
House, IN which MIR A. had as little corhdcnce.--
Al these things had not inspired a very high opn-
ION Of his judgment as an authority IN law; Will
on the other hand, he scarce knew man of any
respectable standing IN ether llOnse or out, who
haG not expressed nm opinion 10 the contrary; nor
was there, he believed, a man OF any legal emnence
ON that floor who would rise aud say he agreed in
opinion with the law officer OF the Government.
On the contrary, what had the House witnessed on
the 30h Of June listl A promising young states
man from ONO (Mf MLLLER,) a gentleman ex.
cessively opposed TO gags, and TO oil pfeciuituto
legislation rose IN font Of the chair with bill
which WIS 70 be passed that same doy through the
House, through the Senate, and through the Presi.
dcnt OF the United States. TO enable The Executive
10 rsise revenue. Well, the promising young safes
man failed; an5 then when his project had mi.cIr.
0ed, the House saw another gentleman from New
York, nlso lawyer Of high character, and a mem
Der OF tie Judiciary Committee 10 boot, rise IN his
place and present another plan for the same oil ct
Tie hsd made a similar effort TO carry through bis
bill IN o day, and with no better success. And why
fltr.W