The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-30

10 Justify The course pursued towards the Administra-
Npn at Nc Tyler He dil OF stand up here to JUS
NY The eGifavogance OF any Department but ho~ is
his branch OF The public service 10 be adninisi cred
II Il Is 10 have no Discretionary poaer Whatever ??
IL had been asserted by geniema that the
300 600 appropriated for dry dock at the
Navy Yard, Pensacola, had not been expended
there but hanserreJ 10 oihef ublrcis Does that
gentleman know that The amount was insu ihclent 10
complete II The gentleman from Missouri Mr..
| iiughes) Mad some iiisgviDgs about the word In
crease IN the bill transferring these rations
But he would ask him how is he mouth Of The Co.
iunbia ilser to be defended, II Territorial Govern
menl 10 to be established ia Oregon except by in
crease OF the Navy Ii he Mr. b. was the Secre-
'ary OF the Navy he should have eye sngly to a
gradual increase oihc Navy to meet the very conin-
gency which the gentleman from Missouri wishes
and that is the organization of Territorial Govern
| ment In the Territory of Oregon. To send army
across The Rocky Mountains would cost monr;
then the proper would he turn his attention
70 he navy that 1t may aoas triumphant in vindica-
lisn of our National rights.
Mr. HUGHES said he was not against the Navy,
but was opposed to Tvs abuses.
Mr.. BLACK said he was much opposed to abuses
as shy other gentleman this floor, but he
AFRAID other gentlemen would follow Mr. Hughes in
his attack upon the Navy for its abuses having ulte-
nor views Come forward aud specify the abuses of
which complaint Is made, and he would 90 against
mem but this bill Is a limitation of the powers
of the Secretary OF The Navy and not an enlarge
ment as had been asserted He did not know that
he should vote for the Oregon BILL but he certainly
would no. unless Texas was embraced To accom-
piish this the Navy must be increased, because II is
more economical and effective than to send an army
across The Rocky Mountains. The estimates of the
Navy Department had been referred TO by gentle
men but he would ask them il the estimates Of the
departments are t. be taken conclusive for the
t'oh OF this House Certainly not. Congress had
aeT'aken To parcel out the money under different
heads, giving some bureaus more than they wanted,
whist Others had not enough, aud his bill only pro
posed transfer Of those une pended from one
OBJECT to another If there any fault in thus parcel
ling 1t out, 1t belongs 10 this House, aud not the
secretary and he hoped distinction would be |
made IN tins matter with this Administration and
those OF General Jackson and MIR Van Buren,. He |
LOOK his seal, hoping the transfer would be made.
Mr.. HOfklNS was opposed to the general princi- |
pie OF Transferring appropriations from object to
hat OF another, but Was in favor Of specific and dis
unct appropriations of the public money.
MIR. WISE said il was not gen, raj transfer, but
a transfer only OF unex pended balances.
hlr HOPklNS said, as the bill stood il was gen. |
eral transfer; because the seamen abroad enti |
tied to their pay, and when they came home from
sea an appropriation would have to be made by |
Congress to supply the deficiency of transfer
and II The friends of this transfer contend that |
IL Is mol general transfer he would move amend |
ment to that effect and then he would have no OBJ |
lection to it. He proposed to amend as folIows-"du-
ring the present fiscal year." which limited the time
of the transfer.
WI. w iSr. saiu tnat since the organization OF the |
Navy Department IT had exercised the dscre tonary
power OF transferring funds from one appropriation
10 mat oi another to met unforeseen contingencies
II the necessity of the service should demand it of
putting the ships Of the Navy aloat This bill only
proposes TO take appropriations from one head and |
apply Them TO another. Ii does not PROPOSE as ae-
serted, to 80 into the Treasury and take the public
money Tor this purpose. Has the Navy Department
transcribed It's powers in this instance Where
Aud now IL the object OF gent emen is TO prevent
an abuse oil the pubnc money, the best course would
be TO take these idle funds OF the hands Of the
cretary and apply them to the use of the Navy in
stead oil leaving them at present idle in hands
IL 'ne administration were corrupt, as supposed, ii
would be thankful for these funds TO lie Idle in It's
hands. Then, # gentlemen v ished to avoid corrup-
ton, II would be policy to expend this idle money
which would tend 10 check corruption but ia with
holding this transfer gen lemen do not strike the right
nail on the head. Instead Of preventing corruption
The reu al TO transfer these pended balances in
Tue hands oil The Secretary would be the me ans of |
increasing it.
Mr.. HOPKINS explained and said that if the
transfer was made from the pay Of The seamen abroad
II would have to be supplied by app opration, AMI
Tins was his objection.
Mr.. WISE said that he admitted that the seamen |
abroad will have to be paid but there we're other un
expended balances hes des the pay Of amen abroad
which could be transferred, which was only shifting
Tie public funds from hand to the other to meet I
unforeseen contingenc which must accrue in the |
Administration of the Navy Department.
Here there was conversation between Mr. |
WISE and Mr.. HUGHES, OF explanatory cha
racer, IN relation TO abuses IN the Navy and about
the purchasing Of cypress canoes by Lieutenant Nc
Laughlln M the Florida campagn.l
Mr.. WISE said that the gentleman from Tennes
see Mr. Cave Johnson, } whom he 10 ,ked 90, n As a
goose watching the Public Treasury, land in all sin
cery for his lrieSd hom Tenn essee he n, goose
either, for he was very vgiant in watching the Pub
lie Treasury}-had already called upon the Navy De
parment for the information in relation to Lieut.
Mclaughlin, which would lie presented in a few
days. But he would tell the gentleman from Missouri
(Mr Hughes that he would give ten dollars apiece
for those cypress canoes, for his use although
there a plenty Of cypress where he lived and
that the administration of Mr.. Tyler was as pure rs
any other administrator since the formation Of the
Government, not even excepting General Jsckson,s
lie said calls were made by gentlemen on this aoor
upon the Departments for information, which would
take their whole force 10 answer them and the Other
day, his friend from Tennessee (Nlr Cave Johnson)
had addressed an order 10 the form Of an inquiry
about the appoii tment Of masters mates which was
absolutely order TO stop the sailing Of the frigate
Rartan, until the validity Of those a appointments
could be ssc rtaiDed. Yes an absolute order from
this body, which is but branch Of the Legislative
Department OF the Government TO that Of the Execu
tive, not even inquirng whether such retention would
or would not be injurious TO the public service !
When the 10 all Of these calls were sent here
they printed, and finally sent into the document
room, there forever TO sleep without any further no
tice TAX Of them, aud which were Of no use what.
ever. Some gentlemen appear to have no idea what
OF the labor they throw upon others by these I'M
necessary calls. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr
Brnkerhoh) said that the Navy now was not what il
was twenty years ago, when 1t fought itself into no.
tee but he would tell that gentleman that no man
had higher regard for the yalor Of Hull Decatur
Perry, and ohers than he had yet the young officers
Of the navy would compare in every essential part
culor, with them, when the time shall arrive. Look
at your ships, and compare them with those
Of any other natl n--the Wsrspite, and the French
covetes you please, that have been in the ports of
the u. Sts,s-and they will be found sup rior in dis