The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-02-07

"A corr mgnlcation wss here read
lrom the Secretary of the Navy, whicf
had beeu made by the COMMITTEES The b.
'is Of The bill, and several other slate.
nents from other quarters, all cslculal ed
to sustain The views Of the ccmmtiee.
md lllusirsie the resources of The coun.
FRY. The large appropriations contem-
plated by the bill, aud the objections ur
ged, wtre referred to, but, he said, the
expenditures, contemplated were lefl
discretionary with The Presideni. The
appropriations for the building of the
steamships was The only one no, left
ilscre'ionsry, and these il was perfec ly
,pparenl would be required whether
war should ensue or peace be preserved.
Popular expectation, he said, is decided.
~ in favour of the measure, or sone
other measure Of the kind. The pub
lie eye is turned to our Navy, whose he
roic deeds during the last war were en-.
shrined in the hearts Of every true Amer
icsn.
Mr.. Benton, contrary TO general ex.
pectation, made u speech decidedly pl-
cllic and in opposition 10 any increase OF
our naval defence. lie said that he rad
not made any war speech this session,
because he had seen nolhlug which jns
tilted he belief that war would ensue,
Aud as he had no apprehensions of war
he saw no reason for adopting war meas
utes, He was decidedly opposed TO
he bill, and 10 the recommendations
of the Secretary Of The Navy. I he pro
visions of the bill were examined in de-
tail. The present expenditures for The
Navy, he said, amount TO about S6 600,
300 more, m king in all Sl2 100000
for the Navy of The United States in
lime of peace. THIS bill comes forward
IS war measure, in time Of peace, aud
an appropriation OF $l2, ,ooo,0oo called
or, when the whole goveI eminent, ac-
,ordng to the estimates, is expected 10
,e carried on tor S2l 100000.
He opposed the bill, as war meas.
Ire, because he was not willing that the
4 merican Senate should declare to
Great Britain that the American people
re prepared Tor war! He had shown
" his course, on former occasions, 10
which he referred, that he mad not been
Together bliud TO what was necessary
or The national defence. But he was
opposed TO measures, IN time Of peace,
ulated 10 involve The country 10 war.
from the close ofthe war the govern
nen, has acted upon plan, a system,
which he was ready 10 carry out, but he
vas moi ready TO depart from tina, sys.
EN-, TO plunge tbs country into war,
al when here g nohing 10 show chat the
eace Of the country is not 10 be presev-
d. HIS position in regard 10 war or
eace would never be .qulvocal, and he
'ished the measu res al the country TO
e equally unequivocal.
He went on 10 show that those pro
osed were of an equivocal character,
nd also that the edurls which had been
nade in past years 10 augumsnt our land
nd naval forces had been unsuccessful.
lie would not undertake 10 argue the
olicy of the present naval peace estab.
but are we prepared 10 doublel
reble il, in time Of peace, and TO make |,
a war establishment? Are we pre-
ared 10 establish permanent military
avail establishment? Have the consb.
uencss TO flow from such an establish
,ent been duly consideredi Evenl
treat Britain does not keep up such an
Establishment The ordinary expense
{ the navy in time Of war is 9lS,0oO,-
100, and in peace, about $4,000, ,0oo,
And are we 10 keep up an establish.
nent al the same expense in peace and
n war; Are we prepared 10 increase
ur expenses fro 100000 10 l2,OOo,-
100 Of dollars? Al the close of Gen.
'acksor's administration, the number
f men employed in our Navy was a
out 1000. This has since been boub
ed, and now tits proposed 10 double
he double. The present distribution
# our naval forces he considered illu
Iicous. There was no more necessity
low for naval force in The Menilerrs
lean than there is for Navy in Chesa
'eake Bay. He wss opposed 10 the
ill. He saw no necessity for any wal
MEASURE; and he moved The postpone
men, Of its consideration lo the FIST day
# May.
Mr.. Hanegan made one OF The most
'loquent speeches Of The session. He
would purchase peace neither with land
lollars and cents. Il we are 10 purchase