The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-24


effect upon the simple minded negroes; and they
had been induced in consequence 10 commit acts
which their white advisers had not the courage nor
holiness to undertake in person. He stated that
since the passage Of this law, arms pistols, and
bowie knives had been placed in the hands of the
free negroes by the abolitiopists, that the law
might be resisted. He had stood in a crowd of two
thousand persons, and had heard speaker after
speaker tell them to arm and to strike to KILL If
necessary. any one who would attempt to recapture
a fugitive slave
Mr.. CASS continued the debate, maintaining
that the law had been executed, and would be exc
cuted.
Mr.. BERRIEN obtained the floor, and after some
conversation the subject postponed till Mon
day, and made the special order for that day.
The Senate then adjourned till Monday, at IL
o'clock.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
On the opening of the House this morning, the
Rev. r. r. GuRLEY offered the following
PRAYER:
o, God Of eternal power and eternal mercy, we
adore Thee the refuge and defence of this ma
ton from its earliest hour, and through every Pc
riod of its history. We praise Thee for the gifts
and graces which Thou vert graciously pleased to
confer upon our fathers in the most perious and
trying days of their existence. We bless Thee for
him, the gift of whom by Thee, this nation this
day commentaries. We bless Thee for his ability
and success the leader in arduous con-
test for liberty, our counsellor and guide in
peace, for the wisdom Of his administration
Oh tul4 government IN the dawn OF our
tional independence, for all the virtues, public
and private, blended in his character, and for
the power of his illustrious and never dying
example. o, God of our fathers. cause that we,
their children, truly thankful for Thy goodness to
them, may gather instruction from their words and
their experience, and by Thy mighty providence
may this Union and this Government continue
forever to increase in beneficence and prosperity
Bless the President of the United States, the
Speaker of this House, and all our Senators and
Representatives IN Congress. and mercifuly grant
that the closing hours Of this Congress may be rich
and full in acts of enduring benefits our country
and mankind. Pardon, God, our many and
great sins, give firm faith in only Saviour
and Advocate Jesus Christ and after this transitory
dom of eternal holiness and joy-al which we
humby ask in the name and for the sake of our
Divine Redeemer. Amen.
NAVY.
Mr.. BAYLY, from the Committee of WAYS and
Means, reported bill making appropriations for
the naval service for the year ending June 30,
1852.
The House proceeded to dispose of the bill max
ing appropriations for the service of the
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT..
An amendment reported from the Committee of
the Whole the state of the Union was conc urred
in, and the bill was then passed.
roRrIrIcATIoN ELL.
On motion of Mr.. BAYLY, the House resolved
itself into Committee of the Whole on the state
of the Union, Mr.. GREEN in the chair.)
Mr. BAYLY moved that the fortiiicaton bill be
taken up. If this should be done he would make
few remarks; and, as he knew that there were
many gentlemen who were opposed to the mea-
sure, he would then consent that they should vote
against it.
MIR. JONES. ask for tellers on the motion.
Mr.. BAYLY. We are not ready to go on with
any other bill
Mr.. JONES. We will adjourn any how, this
being the 22d of February.
Mr.. McLANE, of Maryland, expressed the hope
that the Fertilization billwould be taken up.
And the motion was then agreed to.
The first item of the bill having been read
Mr.. BAYLY said that he had not heretofore de-
tanned the House with many remarks with regard
to the General Appropriation bills; but as he knew
that there was great deal of opposition 10 the bill
growing, as he thought, out Of a misrepresentation
Of its character, he felt it to be his duty to say
few words. Our Qualifications to this date have cost
the Government twenty millions and five hundred
and twenty five thousand dollars This large ex-
penditure Of money has nearly completed the most
important OF them. With the exception Of the for
tications ip the Gulf of Mexico, lately begun the
rest Of all Of them are nearly completed, and, that
the committee might see how much more money is
estimated to complete them, he had called on the
Department Of War to state the amounts expended
each ratification, and those necessary to COM
plete them. And, this was useful information
he called the attention Of the committee to the sew
eral items, giving the sums already expended on
the fortihcations, and the appropriations which
will be necessary to complete them.
He did this to enable the committee, if they were
determined to arrest Notifications, strike out the
n,
vote money for those nearly completed The COM
mittee would ace that the new works are those at
Sellers Point, Baltimore harbor,) and at Key
West, and Garden Key, Florida. These three for
tications, which it is estimated very large future
expenditure should be made to complete them,
have all been authorized since he had been me mbcr
of the House, and very well the debates
upon them. He knew that the Military COMMITTEES
recommended in the strongest terms, the fortifica-
tions at Key West and Florida Reefs, and they salts.
fed the House, almost without dissent that thepro-
lection ofthe commerce ofthe GulfofMexico, through
which such enormous proportions OF the products of
the est pass, wasindispensabe. Gentlemen greatly
misconceived the object of these Notifications.
They seemed to think that they designed to re-
pei an assailing enemy. The great object, how
ever, was not that, but to deter lit was not aup-
posed that they will be attacked in time of war;
the enemy from attacking the strongholds, to get
possession OF which would give the foe great ad-
vantage. He proceeded To show tho benefit of for.
tifications during the late with Great Britain,
and said that great object of them was to cover
our shipping in time of war; and, after answering
the arguments usually urged against the bill. said
that steam power for maritime purposes had in
creased the necessity for Notifications.
MIR. GlDDINGS was entirely opposed to this sys.
tenn of Notifications, and not to any particular parts
of it. Tho vast expenditure on these works. as the
committee were informed by the chairman of the
Committee of Ways and Means, has been more than
twenty millions OF dollars He asked, in all can
dor, what benefit has been conferred the country
by this expenditures? Have the people received
one dollars worth of advantage from this System?
1t was throwing away money as effectually as fit
cast into the Atlantic or the Pacific AL
though the system may be continued for five hum
bred years, in the end it must necessarily be ADAM
donsd; such is the progress of science. art, and
civilization. Instead OF depending upon fertifca-
tons, must resort to the strong arms of freemen
did when went to with one of the
strongest powers of Europe, and came out Of tho
conflict successful. Where were our Notifications
then? We now have twenty millions of frcemen,
and should be able to protect ourselves with our
citizen soldiery.
Such has been the development of science, art,
and enterprise, that, in case Of emergency, troops
could rapidly be conveyed over great lines Of
railroads, and concentrated at the points where
their services are most needed Therefore, he was
opposed to standing army in time Of peace, and,
being Jeffersonan democrat, he was against
navy, except 30 far az would protect shipping
from piracy. He regarded this branch, as now
constituted, a maelstrom, whirlpool, which draws
into its vortex millions of public money, with no
adequate return to the people out of whose pockets