The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-24


and vital questions; and do not complain Of il be-
cause, as the President says, il is not unusual Re-
Gently Il is not unusual but the practice is Of recent
origin and, in my judgment, 10 not TO be encouraged.
do not know whether the honorable members Of
the Senate who are respectively at the head Of these
committees, have communicated these estimates in
any way 10 the body to which they belong; and |
rise therefore, for the purpose Of inquiring of them
--beginning with the honorable member from Mis-.
sour, [Mr, BENroS, the head Of the Military Com
mittee, what that communication To which reference
has been made, is and whether he cannot suggest
some form Of bringing u knowledge of il TO the
whole body of the Senate because IL is stated in the
message that these estimates were made by the
sanction Of the President himself; and of course il
seems to me that these estimates, thus sanctioned,
should have been brough, before the Senate.
Mr.. BENTON, in reply, said; The proper intro
duetion the answer TO the honorable senator's in
qury, addressed to me- will be the statement in the
first instance, how il ia that the departments, with
the sanction Of the President, have 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 di.
reetlng certain committees, and amongst others the
Military Committee, to inquire whether any, and il
any, what additional defences and preparations are
necessary in the present state Of the country.
As matter Of course, the committee sent
that inquiry 10 the proper organ-the Sec
rotary of War. He returned answer TO that
inquiry, which is in the hands Of the committee.
many parts Of 1t being very proper to be made pub
lie, others not II is all in their hands; but up to
this time the committee have not deemed in
ny 10 take any action upon IL.
Mr.. FAIRFIELD next rose and said: | am also
called upon, and the statement have TO make is
simply this In consequence OF the passage of reso-
luuons Offered by the senator from Michigan, mir.
Cas-, directing the Military and Naval Commit
tees 20 inquire what measures were necessary for
the defence of the country. letters were written by
direction OF the COMMITTEES on Naval Affairs TO the
Secretary OF the Navy; and he, in answer to this
and other inquiries deemed pertinent to the case,
made communication, which has been read TO the
Senate, and been published. In conformity with
his recommendations, which were understood at
the time TO have the sanction Of the President of the
United States, the bill was reported by the commit
tee which Is now before the Senate, providing for
the building Of ten war steamers.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON asked whether the Com.
mittee on Naval Affairs had reported all the infor-
nation communicated by the Secretary of the Ma
Wy; or whether any other communications had been
made to them by officers Of the Navy Department
which had not been laid before the Senate
MIR. FAIRFIELD. The communication of the
secretary was accompanied by a report made by
chiefs Of the bureaus to the secretary himself and
was transmitted 10 the committee by him, with the
sent to the committee in order to aid them in fra.
ming the bill, and making the proper estimates. II
was large, voluminous document, not submitted TO
the Senate, because IL understood that 1t to
be returned to the Secretary Of the Navy. IL was
accordingly returned.
Mr.. WEBSTER again rose and said. | intend
to pursue this subject with single remark only. |
desire TO put two inquiries TO the honorable gentle
man at the head Of the Naval Committee; first,
whether the Secretary Of the Navy in communca-
ting 10 him these estimates informed the committee
that they had received the sanction Of the President
and, secondly, whether the communication which he
says the committee made to the Senate contains the
same informaton--to wit: that the naval estimates
from the department had the sanction of
the President, and were made under his direction
Mr.. FAIRFIELD, in reply, said the communi-
cation Of the Secretary Of the Navy that il had
ceived the sanction Of the President, was made to
mysef-it was verbal, merely, and therefore not
to the Senate
MIR. WEBSTER. l understand the gentleman
hen to say that the only authority given him for
these estimates made out under the
direction and sanction of the President, was a YER
pal communication to that effect to him as chairman
IF the Committee on Naval Affairs by the Secretary
Of the Navy; and that not even that submitted
BY him TO the Senate on presenting the bill for the
augmentation of the navy, some days since. We
zee, then, the posture of this affair. have only
urther to say that hope that as soon az it may be
convenient to the honorable member, who is chair
nan of the Committee on Military Affairs, and who,
presume, has received information in the same
way, that the estimates from the War Department
lave had the sanction, and are made under the d.
ection Of the President-that he will as soon as
.onvenient-all that is in his discretion-communi-
ate to the Senate far proper, and no farther
What those recommendations If there be a
portion proper to be kept private it is quite safe in
ne nd ates
n the committee, and there | am quite content to
cave it. But such portions of the Presidents rec
for the augmentation of the military
means Of the country fit for public commune
alton, and public discussion here, and public nfor-
nation throughout the country, should be very
,lad that the gentleman, whenever it suits his con-
,enience should communicate to the Senate.
Mr.. BENTON was understood to say that he had
eceived no verbal communication; but that in great
matters Of this Kind, he always looked to the heads
If departments as the organs of the President.
Mr.. CASS. II understand the message Alright,
he President recommends still greater ornaments
han were recommended by the Secretary of War. |
iesire to hear tina; portion of the message read
,gain. ..-.
z Mr.. WEBSTER. He says greater ornaments
han recommended in the early part of the session.
not greater than recommended by the Secretary OF
War.
The portion of the message alluded to was then,
1t the request OF Mr.. CAss, read.
Mr.. CASS then said: | merely remark that, after
using every possible effort to carry my resolutions
into effect, ! thought they had gone to sleep the
slumber of the dead. am heartily rejoiced that
they have been resuscitated; and certainly am the
more gratifed when that resusciation has been eff.
fected by an executive message, and not by British
cannon.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON. If I am at liberty to do
so, should like to ask how many ships are recon.
mended to be built
Mr.. FAIRFIELD. am not able to answer that
question. paid but little attention to the matter,
believing that the recommendation of the Secretary
Of the Navy was adequate to the exigency. 1t
passed out Of my mind. ....... g.. .
On motion of Mr.. BERRIEN, tho Senate then
to the consideration of executive bust.
ness; and, after some time so occupied, the doors
were reopened, and
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The journal of yesterday having been read in
part, ~. tt5.s'- -.-".. .
Mr. MCCONNELL moved that the further read
ing be dispensed with, and that the House resolve
itself into Committee of the Whole on the state OF
the Union. "0