The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-11-17
Prom the Philadelphia Forum.
TRANSFER OF APPROXIMATIONS
MEETING OF WoRKINGMEN AT
WASHINGTON

ia LIN Ut RlA tOhS-
MEETING OF WORkINGMEN AT
WASHINGTON.
The workmen discharged at The Navy
Yard, Washington, held meeting some
days ago, aud passed resolutions exonera.
ting the acting President and Secretary of
the Navy from all censure in dischargine
them, aud attempting 10 throw blame upon
the last Congress for not making larger
appropriations for the increase and re.
pairs OF the Navy, and also for prohibit.
ing the government from making trans.
fer from one head Of appropriations 10 an.
other.
Probably the people at large do not fully
understand what is meant by transferring
appropriations from one head to another.
We will explain it; and they can then
Judge whether any blame is to be attached
to Congress for refusing this privilege to
the Navy Department. A single case will
illustrate the operation of the privilege of
transfer. The Department asked an ap.
preparation of Congress for particular
oblect-somc experiment or other-of 3
or 100000 dollars, which, upon mature
delIberation, was refused the object not
being considered Of sufficient importance
TO warrant such an expenditure in the strai.
tened condition Of the Treasury. But what
did the Secretary of the Navy! Did he
desist from his project because he could
got no appropriation for III Not at ALL
No sooner had Congress adjourned, than
he made "a transfer Of money appropri.
atcd 10 other purposes TO the oblec, he had
IN view, and went on with il. The money
thus taken had been appropriated for pur.
poses indispensable, and he knew that the
deficiency thus made in other oppropfia.
tons would have 10 be made up al the next
session; so he carried his point in spite Of
those 10 whom the people have entrusted
their purse strings.
The Constitution declares that no money
shall be drawn from the Treasury but up.
on appropriation by Congress but with
this privilege Of transfer" what is tho
use Of Congress making specific appropri-
atoms. namely, SO much for the payment
OF the officers, seamen and marines so
much for armament; so much for increase
and repairs, &c. &c! If the Secretary Of
the Navy be allowed the privilege OF using
the money appropriated for one object for
another for which an appropriation was re-
fused, ali Congress have 10 do is to appro.
pirate a sum IN gross, say six or eigh, mil.
lions OF dollars, for the Navy, and leave tho
spending OF II entirely 10 the Secretary or
10 the President.
Ii an appropriation Of one million Of
dollars were made fora Dir, dock al Phil.
adelphIa, for instance, under the system of
transfers" should the President or Score.
tary be opposed 10 such a work, the money
thus appropriated might be taken and used
for an entirely different purpose. Hence
The reason why Congress refused permis-
sion 10 the Navy Department 10 transfer
appropriations for one object TO another
and in doing this, We think, acted perfect.
ly right.
Under this power Of transfer the
greatest abuses have been committed -
money having been frequently taken and
used for purposes which the officers of the
government would never have dared TO ask
an appropriation for, and would have been
Indignantly rcbokcd had they done so---
such, for instance, as sending men 10 Eu.
rope to attend riding. schools-to travel in
the capacity Of public agents, &c.-0blec,s
we are quite sure no Congress would bo
willing TO appropriate money for had such
apDFoprlatlons leon asked