Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-28
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS S.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE.
The leading topic of discussion in the Senate this
week has been the Oregon Question The dimen-
sions Of this paper restraints from giving all the
regular speeches OH this subject The debate will
probably be brought to close next week. We
make the annexed extracts from our Daily Reports
THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.
Dunng mr.. CHALMEnss speech message received
from the President reply to resolution submitted some days
by Mr. DAYTON, asking information as to the necessity
Of making additional appropriations for the defence Of the
country, DC Of this message permitted TO take
a copy When it had been read
Mr.. WEBSTER rose for the purpose of inquirnp into
maiter referred 70 in it. without intending make any
mcnary any remarks whatever 1t would be perceived
from the reading of the message that the judgment of
the PRESIDENT that increase of Of Defence both
military and naval had become by the ccumsta
ces Of the country The of that necessary
increase not stated in the message but the President had
stated that estimates showing the extent of the necessary
crease Of Of military and naval deences had been
communicated from the appropriate departments of the Execu
tive Government to the appropriate committees in that and the
other House OF Congress for their advement and consera
ton He would not complain at oil Of this mode Of commu-
ncang the members Of Congress the judgment of the Exc
cutive on such highly important subjects he would com
plain OF it. because, the President had said, u
usual Recently, not unusual but the practice was of
recent origin, and, in his judgment, it not 10 be
encouraged. He did not know whether the honorable MEM
bers OF the Senate who respectively the head the
different committees had communicated these estimates in any
way the body which they belonged And he rose to in
quire, therefore, beginning with the honorable Senator
Missouri who the head Of the Committee on Military
Affairs, what that communication was and whether he could
not suggest mode Of bringing to the knowledge of the
wholebody Of the Senate because said in the message
that the communication made with the sanction of the
President himself
ton to to the honorable Senator'S inquiry would be
to that the information had been to the com
mttces by the heads Of Departments in conformity with APP
pcatons made by the committees, which applications in
at nc
session. nstructng the committees to inquire report what
increase any, necessary TO be made in the military and
naval defences of the country The committees prompt
cd as matter o. course TO make the inquiries of the proper
Departments of the Government and the Military Commit
tee having made application to the Secretary of War; that
iuncionay returned answer, which in the
hands OF the committee. There much of il which il
might lie very proper perhaps make public but there were
other parts which the committee thought would be pro-
per TO make public The information all the hands Of
the committee, however, Che spoke of the Military Committee
alone and they had not deemed it necessary action
uponit
Mr.. FAIRFIELD said in answer to the inquiry the of
honorable Senator from Massachusetts, far related the
Committee on Naval Affairs that subsequently tothe passage
Of the resolution of the honorable Senator from Michigan
(M CAss insrucng the committee 10 inquire what
sures any were necessary TO be taken for the defence Of
the country, letters written, by direction of the
to the Secretary of the Navy requesting information and
estimates and in reply communication had been received
and had been read TO the Senate and published and in
fomity with it, bill had been reported, and upon
the calendar.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON inquired whether the Naval Com
mtee had reported all the information which they had
ed from the Department
Mr. FAIRFIELD said the communication accompanied
by reports from the heads the various naval bureaus These
reports made by the heads Of the bureaus the ecrc
ta Of the Navy, and by him transmitted to the committee
with the understanding that they TO be returned TO him
again. They transmitted 10 the committee merely for
the purpose Of enabling them to make the proper estimates
These reports vouminous and not communicated
Mr.. WEBSTER said he had intended only TO make the
inquiry, but he desired follow il by single remark
After what had fallen from the chairman Of the Committee on
Naval Affairs he wished to ask two things First whether
the Secretary Of the Navy in communicating the estimates
informed the committee that he had the sanction Of the Pes
dent to those estimates And, secondly, whether the
muncaon which the Senator stated had been made the
Senate, contained the information wit the estimates
prepared for the committee, under the sanction and direction
Of the President
Mr. FAIRFIELD replied that the communication TO him Of
the fact that the estimates had received the sanction Of the
President verbal communication from the Secretary of
the Navy, who had transmitted them.
Mr.. WEBSTER said he understood the Senator TO saw
them that the only authority upon which he based his know
ledge Of the estimates having been made under the
ton OF the President verbal communication, and that
not even that communicated to the Senate by him. on
introducing the bill for the augmentation Of the navy
He had only further to say, that might be
venen TO the honorable Senator who chairman Of the
Committee Military Affairs, who, he presumed had
ceiyed information in the way Of the estimates having
received the sanction and been prepared under the direction of
the Presdent-he hoped that il might be found
convenient by the honorable Senator Git altogether in the
Senator's own discretion of course he would communicate
as lar as was proper to be communicated and further TO
the Senate the information which committee had received
lie was quite content to leave to the discretion the Sena
Tor from Missouri TO what portions of that information
proper io publication, and to form the topics Of public dis
custom
Mr.. BENTON observed that az Chairman of the Commit
tee on Military Affairs he deemed himself only the organ of
that committee, and he the sanction of the
committee he would have great satisfaction communicating
10 the Senate the information which the honorable Senator
desired.
Mr. WEBSTER understood to say (rom his seat> the
Senator an organ that have confidence in than
have IN some other organs.
Mr. BENTON (also from his seat) remarked that he re-
gaded the Secretaries the Departments being the organs
Of the President
Mr. CASS requested the reading Of that part Of the mc
which referred TO tho increase Of the navy He
remarked that he had understood il correctly the President
now recommends greater armament than recommended
by him at the carly part Of the session.
The passage having been read by the Secretary
Mr. CASS said he would merely remark that notwlhstand
ing every effort Of his the Senate and Of this matter
had been allowed to sleep for many weeks and he glad
TO find that pressed upon their attention by the Ex
ecutive message, and not by British cannon.
Mr. j. NJ CLAYTON inquired Of the Chairman Of the
Committee Naval Affairs how many ships Of
compounded in the communication of the Secretary
MI FAIRFIELD replied that he did not at that moment
rccolect the number.
i nc message was ordered TO he printed.
ARMY AND NAVY ESTIMATES.
Mr. BERl2lEN submitted the following
Resolved That the Committees on Military and Naval Ac-
fairs respectively lay before the the estimates commu-
ncated TO them by the respective of
Navy for the increase of the military naval means for the
defence OF the country.
Mr.. FAIRFIELD. LII that;