The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-29

ms with Great Britain If she should dare to
possession OF the Island of Cuba. Great sensation and
the members crowded down in front of Mr. Adams.) II
looks like direct preparation for war sir Yes, sir for
war!
viii the gentleman yield the floor 10 allow
me to ask him question
ADAms-lfitsa question of that kind think I'd better
IyGERsoL-Will he allow Great Britain to take posses
sion OF Cuba Great sensation)
ApAMs-Let me ask the gentleman Is he ready for war
lNornsoLL-(o uickly) yes. without moments hesita
ton rather than she shall take possession of Cuba reat
excitement throughout the House)
Several MEMBERS cried out good" chats right"
certainly hats the true doctrine" and considerable
sensation
ADAMs.-Very WELL sir That's an answer for me,
sir That's an answer for the country sir-for the cou
try
INoERsoLL--You're welcome to make the most OF It,
ApAMs.-Now, sir. would not go to war with oreat
case as the Creole for such considerations Ao
rejoice to find that the morals of the country and the
feelings OF the people such that they would not allow
us to to for these But to return SIT Inc
gentleman that it's by administrative reform that
we only can economist Why SIR suppose that we Were
had pay all! What would bekaved by that srl
The gentleman says our expenses are S2OOoOoO Well,
sir perhaps by crowding together the expenses Of Con
gress and the Secretaries and the Executive Depart
ment and so on, hemay make it amount to 81 100000
ISGERsoLI--NO. for Congress alone, 81, 0O0, 900.
ApAMs-Well Sir take that sum for Congress alone
for all its expense the printing of documents ID
IA volumes in session for transmitting them to con-
suens in all parts Of the country for all the contingent
expenses for the entire legislative of the nation
throughout Congress- it may amount to $4,000 600
And what done for the country for that sum Sup
pose Sir that down So your So 900 900
asked Tor by the Secretary of the Navy that will still
port OF your Navy in time of profound peace And sup
pose that we eXravagant to expend 81 900
during one Congress, is done here Sir What is
the interest to the country in the Legislation of this body
And what is the interest of the Navy to the countrywide
is done by that Navy for the benefit of the country in
comparison with proceedings That Navy, perhaps
will go and insult other naton-or take possession
OF some territory belonging to nation with whom we are
at peaceor invade some other country whose navy
weaker than ours, has been DONE Sir. What good,
ask is done the country by that Navy Perfect silence
But Sir, the gentlemans proposition is unsound to begin
with. IL is not here that your reform must commence
but in enormous expenditures for anArmy and Navy
And, Sir feel under deep and lasting obligations to my
friend from Tennessee Gave Johnson for the reform in
those branches which he introduced and which
red through Congress two years ago Sir the appropria
reduced four millions. At the commencement of that
session. the Secretary of War asked that the Army might
be increased 900 men-in time of peace and the
House instead of granting it, cut down the army from
10000 to 5000 SO also the Navy reduced very
considerably and the result vas saving to the country
OF 81 200 in year. Sir maintain that that Con-
gress was the most retrenching Congress that
had and the means they employed the reduction Of
the Army and Navy.
INeERsoLL--Who was the Secretary of War at that
time
Treasury, Sir The Commander Chef (agentleman for
whom have the highest respecD said that the then
her OF regiments was fourteen and that two more were
wanted Immediately, and the Secretary recommended
them in his report,
INGERsoLL-Oh, but he also recommends Treasury notes
-Q.aughter).
ApAMs-And it was these reports at that session. Sir
from the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy
that showed in reality what the policy of the Admnstra
ton was. 1t recommendation of an outlay of at
least S4O,0OOOO0 year. And this would have been ex
pended Sir II 1t had not been Tor the prudence and hrm
of this House. And hope that they'll stand firm to
their principles Sir and instead of an almost bound
less expenditure for implements of and for purposes
Of and aggression and boodshed let the army and
navy be reduced to peace establishment Cry of Good
1T shall beHo On another point Sir the gentleman was
wrong IN his premises He said that here, the
administrative branch of the government that retrench
ment must begin Sir, this is not the administrative
branch This is the legislative branch We control
minstrative branch This is the place for legislation
And as to his plan of economsng IL WISH Sir that he'd
tywth all his might to reduce the expenses fhs House.
We should what all his plans of retrenchment
would amount to! Why sir, he would be able to
nothing candle ends and don't think he'd do that
Bursts OF laughter) Sir, attempt made in the
last Congress to reduce the expenses of this House. At
from Virginia (Gilmer who is here this session and at
the head Of the other another respected gentleman
from Virginia, whom deeply regret is not in his place
ness. These committees composed of able and
good men they examined the whole subject, and
committees did their duty faithfully than they
did. Well sir, what did they do after all {? Why, the
gentleman from Pennsylvania himself laughed at what
tionery They economised in the matter of few pens,
some paper; and believe they dispensed with the
vices ofone doorkeeper and dismissed two pages And
this the total of their retrenchment sirQaugh
teri. And if we were to form committee and place
the gentleman from Pennsylvania at the head of it,
they would succeed no better, sr-laughter) 1t has
been the practice of many gentlemen to rail at
the extravaganza OF different admnstrations-to say that
then perhaps impeach the heads Of departments who ex.
pend the moneyand declare that it is the proigate
administration in the world that does nothing but
devise means for squanderng the money of the people -
Sir, make no Charge of this kind never charged
experimentation with extravaganza. did not charge
the administration OF Mr. Van Buren, with eXrava
gance But do say that it is the duty of Congress to
limit the expenditures of every administration Con-
gres has other mode of controlling the action Of the
government but by drawing the pursestrngs tight and
making appropriations And therefore it the duty of
Congress on all occasions to exercise this power udcious
ly Another plan of reform and enchment ohe
time proposed for adjournment Various members sir
veproposed various times for the adjournment of the
House this session Some May, others April and
gentleman says March," But sir have first to make
appropriations We have besides four or five mil.
lions of debt pay in way other sir whether
we agree to adjourn early late. For my part sir
perfectly willing this House should adjourn in March,
APRIL, or MAY but remember that this very pro.
position brought forward at the last long session. and
at carly period as this sir had regular PROPOSE
ton before the House to adjourn in May what the
result sir J Why, the House let the month of May pass
before they even undertook consider the proposition
luch laughter It's true sir, with regard to the gen.
trench He moved to strike out 100000 from the appro
prations for the Judiciary Sir those expenses in all
within $500 900 and what they for For your
Judges ofthe supreme Courtor juriesor expenses of
wtnessesand for all the expenses of the law of
the United States All these items calculated with
the nicely bill of goods delivered And yet he
would cut down $1,000 from the Judiciary No
assignedno statement rendered for doing. But cut it
down, and this done And how his reform car
ried into effect Why, when the gentleman, at the close
of the session. the last two days. when labors
almost superhuman when he was gone home to amuse
himself with his constuens-there additional APP
preparation sent in of $500 000 and passed then hou
word QIere Mr. Adams slapped his hands and the
members laughed heartily.
&. J. INoERsoLL-Yes in Indian Treaty Roars of
laughter)
ADAMs-Qaughng)-Y Sir and there more
things passed in that Indian Treaty than knew in
Treaty in this House before-(roars Of aughter) But
Pm not going to speak about that now, Sir.
ISeEnsoLL-Well tbc judiciary get along very well
without that sl000M
ADAMs-Yes, Sir; but III be bound that shall have
TO pay the whole Of that 800 900 at last just the ap
preparation hadn't been struck ont And now Sir what
wish to DONE is that the House would cut down those
nine millions asked for by the Navy and the large appro
pria.ons for the Army, and make suitable reduction
and not rest satisfied with a mere 100000.
Mr. ADAMS sat down, Mr. HALE took the floor to reply,
and the House adjourned