The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-04


pressions of indignation at the conduct of the
House of Representatives, in cutting down the
estimates for the Navy Several Of these art-
Giles which we intended TO insert, were necessa-
rily excluded yesterday; to-day we supply the
o mission, and, in conformity with the intention
which we have mentioned, we will transfer TO
our columns all the articles on this subject
which we shall find in our exchanges.
If the opinions expressed by our cotempora-
ries, in almost every section OF the country, be
correct, it appears that Congress, in session Of
six months, has done but little, and much of
that little it has not done well. From the Civil
Appropriation bill, the contingencies have been
Temporarily elected, that their constituent de-
tails may be submitted to more elaborate scru-
tiny than the industry of Congress could find
time TO devote to them in five months. In the
meantime, the mechanics and other employees
Of the Departments, who are paid out of the
contingent appropriations, must wait, perhaps,
until August, for the money justly due to them
on the first of February. The protracted sleep
of the contingent appropriations, is, we under
stand, subject of loud complaint among the
citizens of Washington, and constitutes one
item of the little not done well.
In the Navy Appropriation bill, the estimates
sent from the Department, have been reduced
a million of dollars OF the policy expediency,
and economy of this act of apparent retrench-
ment, the full expression of opinion which ap-
pears in the papers, in almost every section of
the country, would preclude the necessity of
any comment of ours, were we even inclined
Congress and their constituents. The interests
of the Navy are at least as well understood at a
distance as they are in Washington. That
they are so, we need no other proof than the
intimate knowledge of the subject, and the
vgor OF argument, exhibited in the articles
transferred to our columns from distant papers.
If the retrenchment which has been applied to
the Navy, be deemed injudicious by the const-
tuency of the country, and present indica-
tons manifest the unpopularty of the measure,
those members, who have been its most active
advocates and ardent supporters will suffer the
penalty incident to Representative delinquency.
If this retrenchment, as is alleged, is not only ex
pedient but necessary, the case must be made
clear to the People. To this tribunal of ultimate
resort we leave the decision of the case.
The Army bill is yet TO undergo the same
ordeal, but It's fate is not yet decided in the
House of Representatives We forbear any
remarks on the subject, till we see how it escapes
from the trial.
The neglect of the Apportonment bill in the
early part of the session, forms another item
in the catalogue of faults which have brought
upon the present Congress the disapprobation
of the People. When taken up it was discus
sed with due diligence-but that which the
country thought should have been done early in
the winter, is yet under consideration at the be-
ginning OF summer.
| Much vet remains to be done. In fact the
only important measures requiring the mighty
exertions of legislative wisdom yet sleep in the
Committee of the Whole. The middle of
july, which has witnessed the final adjourn
ment Of the longest sessions, is not far distant.
Will not Congress be made sensible of tie dis
satisfaction of the People at their dilatory pro-
ceedings-be stimulated to do that quickly which
remains TO be done-and strive to do it in man
ner more in accordance with the wishes of the
People2