Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-04-18

Inmates were mace ny Inc SaHClloh VI the
President himself, and of course 1t seems
to me that these estimates, thus sanction
ed, should have been brought before the
Senate.
Mr.. Benton, in reply, said: The proper
introduction to the answer 10 the honora-
BILE Senator's inquiry, addressed to me,
will be the statement, inth first instance,
how it is the departments with the sane
ton Of the President Shave communicated
these estimates TO the committees. The
reason of that procedure is, that at the
beginning of the session, a resolution of
this body having been adopted directing
certain committees, and amongst others
the military Committee, 10 inquire whelh.
er any, and if any, what additional deien-
ces and preparations are necessary IN
the present state of the country. As a
matter Of course, the committees sent
that inquiry 10 the proper organ-the
Secretary of War. He returned an an
swer to that inquiry, which is in the
hands of the commlttee--many parts OF
it being very proper TO be made public,
others MOI. 1t is all in their hands; but
up TO this time the committee have not
deemed it necessary to take any action
upon it.
Mr.. Fairfield next rose and said: | am
also called upon, and the statement
have to make is simply this: In conse-
quence of the passage of resolutions offer
ed by the Senator from Michigan Mr.
Cassl directing the Military and Naval
Committees to inquire what measures
were necessary for the defence Of the
country, letters were written by direction
OF the Committee on Naval Affairs to the
Secretary oil the Navy; aud he, in an
swer 10 this ana other inquiries deemed
pertinent 10 the case, made a communlca
ton, which has been read to the Senate
and been published. In conformity witt
his recommendation which were under
stood at the time to have the sanction o
the President OF the United States The
bill was reported by the committee wi ci
is now before the Senate, providing 10
the building of ten war steamers.
Mr.. J. NJ. Clayton asked whether tn,
committee on Naval Affairs had repor e
: all the information communicated by tn
Secretary of the Navy; or whether an
other communlca ton had been mad
TO them by officers Of the Navy Depar
ment which had not been laid before tn
S Senate?
r Mr.. Fairfield said that the communca
e ton OF the Secretary was accompan lie
= by report made by the chiefs of the bu'
;, eaus to the Secretary himself, and wa
transmitted to the committee by him, wi t
i the understanding that it was TO be re
Q turned. 1t was sent to the committee i
order TO aid them in framing the bill an
s making the proper estimates. |! was
n large, voumlnous document, not submit
ted 10 the Senate, because it was unde
stood that it was to be returned to tn
Secretary OF the Navy. 1t was according
II y returned.
e Mr. Webster again rose and said:
intend to pursue this subject with singI
remark only. | desire to pat two inqu
n ries to the honorable gentleman at th
head Of the Naval Committee: frs
/ whether the Secretary of the Navy, i
Y communicating to him these estimate:
e informed the committee that they had re
ceived the sanction OF the President?-
= and, secondly, whether the communca
:, tion which he says the committee made
e the Senate contains the same infofmatlo
Ito wit, that the naval estimates proceed
ing from the Department had the sancto
v OF The President, and were made unde
q his direction?
!. NJ Fairfield, in reply, said the commu
#, ncallon of the Secretary Of the Navy
q that had received the sanction Of tn
r President, was made 10 himsel--it wa
|. verbal, merely, and therefore not commu
}. nlcated TO the Senate.
;. Mr.. Webster.-I understand the gen
f tleman then TO say, that the only author
ity given him for considering these estIn
| ales as made out under the direction an
, sanction of the President, was a vel a
communication to that effect to him a
, chairman of the committee on Naval A
T.. fairs by the Secretary Of the Navy; an
3 that not even that was submitted by hlr
! TO the Senate, on presenting the bill 10
IS the augmentation Of the Navy, some day
is since. We see then, the posture OF 'hl
l. affair. have only further to say, that
e hope that as soon as it may DO conVen
e lent 10 the honorable member who
: chairman Of the Committee on Mlitar
h Affairs, and who, presume. has receive
r information in the same way, that IN
!. estimates from the War Department
\ have had the sanction and are under TN
Q direction Of the President--that he Will q
soon as convenienl-all that is in his dI
n rection- communicate TO the Senate
ST far as proper, and no farther, what thoS
il recommendations are. If there be POI
10 ton proper to be kept private 1t is quit
S. safe in the discretion Of that gentlema