The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-27

the Union, (Mr. BkoDBEAD, Of Pennsylvania, in III,
ehair,) and resumed the consideration OF the bill
making appropriations for certain defensive works
OF the United States for the fiscal year ending the
3Oth day Of June, 1886.
Mr.. TIBBATrS modified the substitute hereto
fore offered by him, so as 10 read as follows;
Strike out all after the enaeting clause and insert
That Of the OF money appropriated by tbs act
titled An act making appropriations for certain fortihca
tons OF the United states Tor the year ending the 3O
June lsa7 approved May TO- Is6 Except the sppro
Prsted for the armament ofioroaons exceeding Sl 900
and the other hall during the fiscal ending soh June
Mr.. ASHMUN was entitled TO the floor, and add
dressed the committee at length. He stated his in
tenton TO vote for all the appropriations contained
IN the bill; and willing at all times, but especial
y at this PARTICULAR conjunction in our affairs to
vote the largest appropriations for the defence OF the
country
He then passed into an examination Of the causes
and objects Of the Mexican war, and into yindi.
cation of his own course in relation TO il. The
causes, he commended, were 10 be found in the un-
necessary acts Of the Executive in sending troops
TO that region Of country which had become the
theatre Of the war, in the movement Of the army
from Corpus Christi TO the banks of the Rio Grande,
an order which was given without the sanction of
Congress, and without the existence Of any necessi-
ty which could justify it.
The objects Of the war, as developed by recent
circumstances, especially by the correspondence be-
tween the War Department aud Col. Jonathan ID.
Stevenson (whom Mr., A. designated as a political
not military adyenturer.) he eontended were con-
quest and colonization. Mr. A. argued these posi-
IONS al length, citing in support thereof portions Of
the correspondence heretofore published, the edi-
torial articles from the Union, &c.
Mr.. A. presented statement of appropriations
made since the meeting of Congress which (inelud-
ing the amount Of ordinary appropnations) pre-
scented an aggregate Of hfty-one million three hun
h.aA. "A = Al. 4
ty-hye dollars. This statement had been carefully
prepared and examined, as to obyiaie any errors
in the results.
Mr.. MCKAY briefly stated the grounds Of his
opposition TO this bill The sum Of 81 las, Os0 had
already been appropriated by Congress during the
present session for the continuation Of foruhcatsns
now IN progress. This was a much larger sum
than was usually appropriated, the amount last
year beng only 1900, and the year before $780,
900, This large amount Of appropriations, II was
well known, made at this session on account of
the existing state Of foreign relations there be-
ing, al that time, wel7grounded apprehensions Of
war with Great Britain. Instead Of appropriaiing
more money, he prepared to direct, in lieu Of il
suspension Of the expenditure Of part Of the
81, las, 900 already authorized.
In advancing another reason why be went against
this bill, he referred to the report Of the board OF
distinguished military officers, appointed in 1916,
for the purpose Of projecting a system Of national
ed French officer, was at the head; and which re-
port, revised, was embodied in q report Of board
OF officers Of which Colonel Totten was ehief-n
which the defensive works Of the country were
classified according TO their importance and most OF
the works provided for in this bill placed in the
lowest class.
Mr. GILES. Where is Baltimore in that elassi.
fcation'
Mr.. MCKAY. | admit Baltimore i, placed in
the first class
He admitted that this classification had been
broken over in the legislation Of Congress but al
ways to the manifest detriment Of the public inter
esis. He opposed, under these circumstances, the
commencing OF new works involving largely in
creased expenditures, in addition TO the millions of
dollars required to complete works already com
menoed.
Mr.. HARRISON suggested to MIR. Mex. th.,
there vas not now a solitary fortheatien upon the
whole eoas, of Georgia.
Some conversation ensued between these two gen.
uemen on that point, Mr.. Mex dissenting, as was
understood, from this statement Of Mr.. II.
With reference to the item for the purchase Of de-
fensve works Staten Island he suggested that the
and read from law Of New York Of 1907, bearing
on this point.
MIR SEAMAN interposed and said that these
lands, or portion Of them, had been purchased by
New York since that tire.
Mr. Mex. admitted there was some dispute
Win reicrc0ce 10 Ihat matter, and said he
wiling TO authorize the sale Of Fou Gansevoort
which had now become useless, and the application
of the proceeds to the purchase of the defensive
works Of New York on Stsien island.
In conclusion, he stated that the appropriations
made at .hs session would be pvs-ds ofkfy million
OF dollars, which were absolutely necessary enable
the government 10 carry on the Mexican var and 70
meet the ordinary current expenses OF the govern
meni Would they, when they had authorized the
President 10 borrow money by the issue Of treas
uTy notes, and when \ tax on tea and coffee vas
deemed 10 De necessary 10 present zrprolrla-
tons and expendEures-wsre they prepared to gol
on and authorize ad5Itionsi expenditures Of rnil-
lions; He trusted all the rends Of the sduniais.ra
uloa wnad take ground against them, and be AZ
peaked also TO his Wig feEds to STAY the progress
of this sNtFaysEance.
Mr.. BURT tho0ghi il did not very vel become
his friend who had Just taken his seat At the close
Of The session. after the extraordinary agency he hsd
had in mourning expenditures TO be reading 10 this
committee a lecture about economy. He he'd that
honorable gentleman rsspo1sbe for every dollar OF
those appropriations for forIikczrons 10 which he
had called the attention Of the Houss Al thess
schemes by which usoaey had been expended oxss
their paternity 70 him; and Mr. B charged hfra q,
HIS peril 10 see that have the means Of 6sfayIr
,hese expenditures Ii was lot las MI B ~ tuss-
ness. In
But when Us Cad the country involved in : var
when we find that o2r Department Of wsr-shsr l
me engineer &C r.r1Ent1its1 recEzTe1 fo- two Con
crosses every appropriation contained IN this bali be
asked thai gentleman wliA Wsst prO1-ssSy he ooas3
sand up in tins House snd make MS sopsSl against
hem 90 the ground Of The reo0nmz73aIlun Of a !
board Of ot5csrs eo0venei soRse wears sSnoe es1e-
,Saiy wten the rSentiosl head Of the sagIuser De-
osr'ssot and Other ofEce-x had, SINCE tAAa tne /
-essosa rnsreed these very sppropsSsIionss
= MIR b. brIesy gl&roed At the several items coz.
aired IN the baA. Erag tAesr irps-szrce
y, and deosRE-nc thai there were no Other pD,s IN
ne Un1ssa States which 50 ioSisreaxabtv rs,szirvs
approprssilons for defensive works
Niia reference to the gran, BY New York in lsg7 |
u the sEse Of csSe1save works On SzAsel ixlKnd he
sSe-rs 10 the fses that the cao6lz5oa 90 EhScA Ii.
,rar' was h&sss-rIr= the exssrlaa r.f Se<s-ssr ~
<orss-hsi n1s bees eamplS@a wi,h; ,A1s. On al 4
,ro1nts Of A~ and ss=Hy, rvDtsrtas the Eraas zsz8
nd voS5.
Mr.. SEAMAN nocap6si the remaining -niwuss
md Saf II rsssEng frOE former arrr0p-sasSos-
NJ ~ whpch ~ss recognised the q tfEe on lie
rsr7 Of the Uniled States 10 lhas sGss GA Ssnss-
IsdsR3.
TIE hcur Of fEslrs havaas arrived, Ii. tsrnzzsi-
80 PCroSaSsa 70 roae-