The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-24

Mr.. C. }. INGERSOLL asked Mr.. PARMrSrER
If the amendment limited the or the tinis SO as
not to leave il under the control Of The Executive
If SO he could SEA- no objection to it.
/ MIR. PAR MENTER said il would end with the fs-
cal year.
MIR. L SMITH, of Illinois, spoke against the bill,
and said he was for holding The Executive to a strict
accountability Tor specific appropriations and " as
opposed 10 the discretionary power Of transferring
the public money from one object TO another and
was rather severe upon the Secretary of the Navy
Mr.. PARMENTER explained the object OF the
bill.
MIR. NORRIS of Pennsy lvania, said when the bill
Was hrSt introduced he was opposed TO II but, with
the amendment, he satisfied. lie thought the
gentleman from Indiana had exaggerated the facts a
itte under misapprehension 1t was the Secretary
and mol the workmen who had asked this lranier, and
he would inform him that the Dry Dock at Philadel-
phia and the vessels in that yard compelled TO
be stopped for the want Of funds. He objec-
tons to the bill as amended, and sh uld vote for IT,
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON spoke ARMY against the
bill casting severe censure upon the Secretary lie
wanted to know if the money which had been appro-
praled Tor the repair OF vessels had been expended
The $1,000 900 which asked to be tranferred belong
to the seamen abroad and when they home an APP
preparation Will be asked for, to pay them, AID he
could not sanction such There were more
abuses IN this branch of the Government than any
other, and he hoped there would be no appropria
ton, without limiting the power Of transferring funds,
thereby implying censure.
Mr.. c. J. lNGERSOLL said there had been three
Secretaries of the Navy since the Administration
came into power, and he wished the gentleman from
Tennessee to name which Of the three had transcend
ed his powers. lie was opposed to whipping them
selves by applying censure to some one Of the Secre-
tares, and stopping the Navy by Withholding appro.
prations. The Navy did not belong to the Seci eta
ry but to the country and he did not think it right to
punish the poor men who had labored for the Gov
nj fail 4 wa nd re-
ceive his vote. lie admitted that there had been
some improper application Of the public money, but
that no reason why the House should spite itself BY
Withholding this transfer Of appropriation. lie
saw no objection To heb as amended but the other
day he had objected to it, and the of the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts in pressing that light
be passed In its former shape out that objection
was obyialed, and he should vote for the transfer
Mr. MURPHY replied 10 the objections urged by
Mr.. Cave Johnson. He said although he represented
Brooklyn yet he did not support it upon local con-
sidcraon, but for the benefit of the whole country.
If the objections Of the gentleman from Tennessee
were TO prevail, and discretion was allowed to the
Secretary, he would he compelled to forward
with estimates for an appropriation of 100000,
to meet the ee-way of unforeseen contingencies.
Mr.. ATKINSON said gentlemen from the West,
who opposed the Navy had had the pleasure of
seeing the beautiful ships Of the American Navy
afoat, or they would not be hostile to prosper
ty. 1t is the right arm Of defence and he was a
friend to lhe Navy. 1t should be fosteed by the Gov
eminent, and gradually increased. Instead of the
late Secretary of the Navy, (Mr. Upshur) being ex-
travagant AS chaget by the gentleman from Tennes-
see, it was the reverse. He thought he had pulled
the purse strings TOO ght, having eye to economy.
he knew him well and knew that his idea of econo-
my IN The Government, was strong characteristic OF
the man. i he gentleman from Tennessee and the
gentleman from Indiana, had said this was an appro-
pIiatlon to crafty The workmen, and to feed & cir
families. 1t was appropriations but transfer; and
ID nj IN f,yn sod lint
right. Their hard hands and honest Lears, the
sound of the axe and the sedge, the emhlens OF
their indasry and pa,riosn without which the
Government could not exist. They were as inteli-
gent lndu strou-, and patriotic any other class OF
people on the face of the earth He then enumerated
the vessels at the Gospot Navy Yard which this
uanster of funds required TO finish and repair.
Mr. HARRISON was opposed 10 this transfer
mig OF money from specific objects of appropriations
and commended that the people should know what be-
ca ne of The public money, which could not well b,
j accounted for except all appropriations were specific
lie was opposed 10 giving to the Secretary of tn,
Navy any discretionary power in relation to the appli
p cation OF the public money.
MI HUGHES here read the bill, and said he ii,
not understand the meaning ofthe word increase
1t might mean an increase of the Navy, and asked
Mr.. Parmenter for an explanation.
Nh PARMENTER explained its meaning and
said ii was not intended 10 increase The Navy except
: those vessels already in commission
Mr.. HUGHES said he cOncurr,d IN the views OF
the ent eman from Tennessee (Mr. G. Johnson, !
and believed there something wrong in This
branch ofthe public service, which should b. em,-
died, He was also opposed TO the Converting prin.
, cipe.
Mr. WELLER said, as there no probab y Of
agr eng TO the bill this evening, he moy,d that the
Committee rise but Withdrew IT.
Mr. BlDLACK spoke aga INST the bill, because be
believed the day not far of when all vessrs of the
Navy would be built e iron and propelled by ST, an
instead Of rotten pood-for- nothing wood
The question was farther debated ny Messrs PAR
MeNTER, BELsER, and HoPKSs until half asl four
O'Clock, when a motion made that the Commit G
; RE.
The Committee rose and Mr. CAMPBELL, the Chair
man. reported to the House that the Committee Of
the Whole on the state Of the Union had had the
Union generally under consideration, and particular
" The Joint resolution in relation TO the occupation Of
the Territory Of Oregon, and the bill making a GER
tain transfer Of 500 900 for the Of the Navy and
had come 10 no conclusion thereon
Mr.. HUGHES presented bill establishing port
Of entry al Independence, Jackson county, Mis-
souri,
MIR. Cp. INGERSOLL presented bill TO enrorce
the hobeas corpus IN the District Of Columbia and also
TO orce the law Of 1889 in relation 10 fugityes
from labor
MIR. HOPKINS gave notice of ls intention to in
troduce bill gulating the time Of holding the Cri-
mina and Circuit Courts Of the District Of Columbia
and for other purposes.
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Miss moved that the House
djourn.
And the House adjourned at quarter to O'Clock
SUPREME COURT UNITED STATES
WEDNESDAY,, January "a, 1874