Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-03-14
SPEECH OF Mr.. SPEIGHT,
OLE MISSISSIPPI,

OF MISSISSIPPI,
IN Senate, January 30, 1916, on the bill provd
ing for the augmentation of the Navy
Mr.. SpElGHT being entitled to the floor
addressed the Senate as follows:
Mr.. President: In the discussions which
have taken place during the present session
(and which, by kind Of fatality, seen
10 have taken the same direction,) | have
occupied but little or no par: of your time
3 have not remained silent because did
not think that, to some small extent,
comprehended the merits of the great
questions ofthe day, or that | was entire.
" ignorant Of its practical effects ON the
great mass Of the community, but mainly
because it was my misfortune TO differ
with some OF those with whom 1t has
long been my pleasure TO act.
| did not, nor do now, believe that
The proper time for action has arrived
But though | feel physically unable tc
do Justice TO the subject which now en-
he ges the attention Of the Senate, | can
not uny longer consent to remain silent
because feel that it is due to my con
stituents that they should know the reas
ons governing me in the vote | Intend
living, and my knowledge OF their intel
ligence aud patriotism assures me thai
they will truly appreciate course which
sound democratic doctrine would seer
40 distinctly to mark out for the action
Of this House.
Without further remark, | proceed t.
the provisions Of this bill. And, wha'
does it proposed In the first place, TIT
PRESIDENT is authorized 10 build ten steam
ships OF iron, and to fit out and call lEt'
actual service the remainder Of the vessel
in ordinary, if, in his Judgment, it may b'
deemed necessary. And what is tht
amount Of money that is proposed to b'
appropriated by your votes TO the accom-
plishment of this object Why Sun
BETwEEN SIX AND SEVEN MILLIONS DOLLARS
The honorable senator from Indiana, On
HANNEGAN,) brings for an amendmen
adding to this already enormous sum,ar
ADDITIONAL TWO MILLIONS ! This, witt
the annual expenditures for the Navy
Department, swells the appropriation tc
above FOURTEEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS =
Yes, sir, in a time Of profound peace
when, | undertake to say, not SHADOW
az war hangs over our heads--when the
horizon is unobscured by single cloud
We are called on 10 vote fourteen mil
lions Of dollars for one branch Of the pub
lie service.
Now, Mr.. President, it may not be al
together improbable to look little init
past expenditures. You will not be sur
prised, because it must be known to yol
that this sum of money is almost doubt
he annual expenditures Of the gorernmen
for anu one year up to the declaration @
he last war. Here, under democratic ad
shinstraton, pledged to system OF rIgl'
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT especially III Its monetary
affairs--we are called upon TO expend a
! single dash, and for the support oil ou
one branch Of the national defence, lar
Der sum of money-double the amount
lhan The whole expenditures OF the gov
brnment prior TO the war oil 1917,
have a statistical list before me which
Shows that even these OUTLAWS were lar
ger than we're required during most o
The years up TO 1881 and 1882 Yes
Dir, many of those years the amount o
money required TO defray the ordlnar!
expenses Of the government UdS less ha'
that nov asked for the support Of The Nar
By this bill. Here Mr. S. went into al
extended review Of the expenditures G
the government for series oil year
past.
This bill (said Mr.. S. presents ltseI
10 our consideration in two prominent as
poets. We are to consider it first as
PEACE MEASURE, and, secondly, as WA
MEASURE. live are really at peace with III