Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-05-25
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, NAY 81, 1874.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, May 81, 1874.
The committee resumed the consideration Of the bill
making appropriation for the naval service Of the United
States for fiscal year ending the 30th Of June, S45
The state Of the question was this:
Mr. PARMESTER had moved amendment substitute
ing specific items OF appropriation for the general item in the
bill for expenses of the navy yards.
And Mr. CAVE JOHNSON had moved to amend the
amendment by striking out all appropriations for the navy
yard at Washington. n.
The debate continued by Messrs. SAMPLE and
ASHE after which, Mr. CAVE Johnson withdrew his pro-
position
The question then recurring the amendment Of Mr.
PARMEsTER-
Mr.. HUNT, of New York, moved to amend the amend
ment by adding thereto the following proviso
Propded one half Of the moneys appro
printed by this shalt be expended the
drawn from The Treasury pre-os the day Of January
is45 excepting the appropriated for Improvements and
necessary repairs Of navy yards
Mr.. HUNT, promising confne himself to the reasons
which had induced him offer this amendment remarked
that by this bill it proposed to place the control Of the
President not only an amount for the support Of
the navy 10 the beginning Of the Of Congress-
but for five six months after The had disclosed
within few days that the Executive branch of this Govern
msn without the knowledge appreciation of either branch
Of Congress- had assumed 10 itself the power given by
the Constitution, TO enter into warke offensive attitude
to despatch portion Of navy with orders and instructions
which, IN certain contingency contemplated hostites with
the Executive upon the legislative branch this Government
without rebuke at least without any such rebuke
occasion required Tor one ne was not prepared to place.
der existing circumstances large fund for the navy
the disposition of the Executive this bill proposed He
thought would be much appropriate for the House
deliberate upon what concerned their dignity and the
rights of the people, through their Representatives here
TO place funds in the hands Of the Executive continue
and perhaps to consummate the outrage which he had
menced. Mr. H. admitted that it would perhaps have been
some slight aeviation OF the enormy Of this
the of the Executive if it had been made under
stances OF Imminent and pressing emergency and for the
attainment Of some desirable end for the interests the rights
the honor Of this but only had he taken this
step during the session of Congress without consultation with
them but which, il he had consulted Congress-
they would have been found emphaticay opposed and
trey any such employment of the forces Of the
country. II object which, far from being
desired by the people of this country at the expense Of war;
great majority Of them would be found, would not yield
their it, it could be accomplished by peace
ful measures
II Mr. HIS purpose to enter into general dis
cusson Of the annexation OF Texas of any other question
connected herewith that subject before the branch
Of Congress where properly belonged under the treaty
making power but he wished notice two Of the
positions assumed by the gentleman from South Caroline,
(Mr HoLMEs) He referred of those positions, which
he considered extraordinary, that it the duty Of this
Government to adopt this Of annexation for the
protection OF the South and Of Southern institutions Mr. H.
said he Of those who viewed with favor but with
sapprobaiou, the proceedings of the nbooniss; that he
desired this Union perpetuated the Constitu
ton preserved il Isl that he ready any
where constitutional obligations required, to maintain the
South and Southern institutions; but he contended that this
Government under constitutional obligation, either
in letter in spirit TO maintain any interest Of this Confed
eracy and particularly belonging peculiarly to certain
portion Of the country by the extension Of boundaries
He secuted the idea advanced by Mr. HOLMES, that
nexation necessary in military point OF view
Of defence against foreign foe and he argued
that infant colonies had been able resist
fully the usupaon and expressions OF the mother country
and establish nm n
uatn Of twenty millions, and with the great developments
of and vastly increased power, were
able without extension Of our boundaries with just and
righteous cause, 10 DEFY the world in
Instead Of facilitating the onward progress Of Executive
usurpaton by placing his dsposaperhaps oil Of be
expended before the session Of Congress-fve
mioEs Of dollars Mr. H. wished rather place such oha-
Giles before the President make altogether beyond his
power to plunge this country war, carry il
without the appreciation and Of the people, expressed
through their Representatives. He thought il por-
tentous and alarming precedent and il suffered pass
without rebuke or censure in period of the future his
tory OF our country when Of nerve backed by
powerful party, was at The head Of Government might
lead to the subverson Of the very form Of Government
II the Representatives be deprived Of that
which the Constitution gave them Of the inception of mea-
which might involve the country in war; there was
very little occasion for the people send their Representa-.
tives here.
In conclusion, Mr. H. remark ed that his object in oer;no
this amendment to place the restrictions which he hud
mentioned around The Executive in the disposal Of this mo-
not the He would
be the last TO detrac from the distinguished honors which
had n,eredly won, weaken in any manner ON
the contrary be wished 10 maintained on footing Of
respectsbiIty and efficiency.
Mr. ATKINSON advetted to the irrelevancy OF the dis
CUSTOM and the reluctance which he felt in rising to pa
cipae in II under the circumstances; but he said, Justice
his country those institutions which he loved better
than himself he could keep his seat when proposition
that Of the gentleman from New York
made. The amendment OF the gentleman proposed to pre-
the Executive from dsbursng the appropriations accord
ing the necessity Of the Government Whence that
picion Upon what evidence did the gentleman rely DID
he believe that the Executive OF this country
poy the funds his command involve the country in
war; Or it intended withhold the money from the
naval service until another great cheain should in
Mr. HUNT interposed, and (Mr. A. yielding the foor)
in reply the inquiry whether he believed the Executive in
tended apply the appropriations to involve the
try in war; said he did think there good reason, and
for one he did believe II.
Mr. ATKINSON continued He did not stand here, he
sad for the purpose Of vndicang the President any further
than the Executive officer Of this Republic but although
Mr. A. had had hand in eevang him 10 this high station
he would defend him when improperly sssaled by those who
had placed him there It had been honest John Tyler,
Virginia, during the canvass and until the veto had beer
brought Unto play, but when he had carried those prn
cpss for which he had baeJ with his enemies upon this
floor and elsewhere had been denounced by the
party and now the gentleman from New York not will