Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-03-31

Mr.. Benton SAID The Military Commit
tee had not acted upon the matter, and
mere were poitions of the information
"h'ch he thought ought not TO be com
inunicated to the Senate. 1t is in their
hands, but up TO this time the committee
d nave not deemed it necessary to take
any action upon it.
Mr.. Fairfield next rose and said, | am
also called upon, and the statement ]
nave 10 make Is simply this /: Ia conse-
quence OIL the passage Of resolutions
one'eo ny The senator from Michigan,
tn'r. Cass,) directing the Military and
naval Committees to inquire wha, mea-
snres were necessary for the defence of
The country, letters were written by di-
rec''on OF the Committee on Naval Az
iairs to the Secretary Of the Navy and
he, in answer TO this and other inquiries
deemed pertinent to the case, made q
communication, which has been read to
the Senate, and been published. In con-
fOrmiiy with his recon,me n ations, which
were understood at the time 10 have the
sanction OF the President Of the United
States, the bill was reported by the COM
mittee which is now before the Senate
providing for the building Of ten war
steamers.
MIR. Webster again rose and said.
intend to pursue this subject with SIN
gle remark only. desire to put two in.
quirics to the honorable gentleman at the
head Of the Naval Committee first
whether the Secretary Of the Navy in
commune ating 10 him these estimates in
formed the committee that they had re-
ceived the sanction Of the President 7
and secondly, whether the com:nunica-
tion which he says the committee made
TO the Senate contains the same niorma-
tion-to wit that the naval estimates
proceeding from the department had the
sanction Of the President, and were made
under his direction
MIR. Fairfield, in reply, said the CON-
munication Of the Secretary Of the Navy,
that il had received the sanction Of the
President, was made TO myse!f-it was
verbal merely, and therefore not com
munic ated to the Senate.
MIR. Webster-I understand the gen.
tleman then to say that the only authority
given him for considering these estimates
rs made out under the direction and sane
tion Of the President was q verbal COM
munication to that effect to him as chair
man Of tho Committee OH Naval affairs
by the Secretary Of the Navy and that
not even that was submitted by him to
the Senate, on presenting the bill for the
augmentation Of the navy, some days
since. We see, then, the posture Of this
affair | have only further to say that !
hope that MS soon as it may be conyen-
lent to the honorable member, who is
chairman Of the Committee on Military
Affairs, and who, presume, has receiv-
ed information in the same way, that the
estimates from the War Depnr,men, have
had the sanction, and are made under
the direction Of the President-,hat he
will as soon as convenient-all that is in
his direction iion-communcatc TO the Sen
ate as far as proper, and farther, what
those recommendations are. IL therc he
portion proper to be kept private, it is
quite safe in the direction OF that gentle
man and his associat in the committee @ :,
and there | am quite content to leave il.
But such portions Of the Presidents re-
c8mmendations for the augmentation of
the military means Of the country as are
fit for public communication, and public
discussion here, und public information
throughout the country, should be very
glad that the gentleman, whenever it
suits his convenience, should communi.
cate u the Senate.
Mr.. Benton was understood 10 say th al
ho had received no verbal communica-
tion but tina, in great matters of this
kind, he always looked to the heads of
departments as the organs Of the Presi-
dent.
On motion Of Mr.. Berrien, the Senate
then proceeded to the consideration Of
executive business and after some time
SO occupied, the doors we're reopened, and
The Senate. adjourned.
In the HoUsE, n resolution was adopt
ed, 90 to 10, to close the debate upon
the bill for increasing the Army two
regiments, at 3 p. IN. The debate on
the bill was resumed and continued with
much warmth until the hour Of adjourn
mcnt, when on motion Of John Quincy
Adams, the final decision on the Blk
was deferred, as he wished to see the
Presidents Message before he voted
In SENATE, Wednesday, March 25th,
Mr.. Benton communicated a letter from
the Secretary Of War, recommending
an increase in the Army, SC. ordered tn
be printed. Mr.. Sewer, of Arkansas,
spoke on the Oregon question.
In the HOUSE, the bill to raise two
regiments of riflemen, was again dis
cussed. a substitute for Mr.. Haralson's 8
bill was moved by Mr.. Hungerford, of
New York, and adopted, and the bill
as amended. passed and went to the
Senate. II provides for filling up ell
the companies Of the Army to 80 men,
to be enlisted for three years. 1t will
add four or five thousand men TO the