The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-09

Carroll. in Maryland next Fort Delaware, in Delaware
need not explain that appropriation The from
to include this fort but il failed He showed then that
Philadelphia was exposed to attack from any little
contemplate maritime force that might attempt it, II has
no defence whatever now. Then comes Massac husets
and then Maine We have selected merely those points
where every knows there ought to be defences ii
we are to have any al all
SENATOR. How much do all the appropriations
amount TO
Mr. SHIELDS. The whole amount Of the amend
ment is but little more than million of dollars. 1t is
too little The only regret have is that il is small
and so inadequate; and nothing would have induced
TO bring forward but the absolute necessity of defend.
ing these points in any case
After some thought since offered this amendment,
would prefer 70 have the vote taken upon all the appro
The PREsiDiiNG OFFICER. (Mr. BADGER in the
chaiI) Does the Chair understand the senator from
California TO call for separate on the first clause OF
the amendment'
MIR. GWIN. | am willing to take vote on all TO-
Mr. SHIELDS. prefer that the vote shall be taken
on the whole amendment together.
M. GWlN. i this amendment should be rejected. /
Wish 10 know II will be IN order for 10 offer the first
clause as separate amendment
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair SO under
stands IT,
Mr. HUNTER. AS said before, 1 believe we ought
to pass some fortcaon bill. do not believe that after
commencing such system OF Notifications have
commenced we ought to abandon il all at once, except
or some better reasons than have yet been given What
suggested was, that there was difficulty in medding
with the subject in this piece meal manner
Unless we have general system, those portions OF the
country not included in the amendment might think they
had good reason TO complain OF it, Perhaps there
special cases which will form exception. believe
that in relation TO these islands in the sea, which
mand the commerce OF the Union, they would constitute
an exception. am willing, also, 10 admit that San Fran
CISCO California, constitutes exception, because
have done nothing towards defending that coast, and
believe we ought 10 do something. But il me
that there s difficulty in commencing without estimates
without plans, without knowing what we are doing
How can we tell now how long it will take to foy the
Mr.. SHIELDS. ] wish to correct the honorable sen.
ator These sums according to the estimates of the
department for these particular works These works
not only estimated for but they have been selected
those OF the first necessity great many others ought
also to be constructed but these of the first
and the amounts in the amendment correspond precisely
with the estimates recommended by the department.
Mr.. GWlN. would state TO the Senate furthermore
that in regard TO the habor of San Francisco the es,
mates have been prepared with extraordinary There
has been board OF officers sitting for great length OF
time preparing the estimates and they have done the work
very well.
all the appropriations together proposed by the honorable
chairman OF the Committee on Military Affairs, Mr..
SmELDsl
MI GWIN will withdraw my call for a separate
vote upon the first appropriation.
Mr.. MALLORY. | will say 10 the Senate that we
have, in answer TO call made the War Department.
all the information upon the subject of the particular
Notifications at the Torugas and the OF the de-
parment shows this extraordinary fact that in conse-
quence OF the in which these appropriations have
been dealt out by single storm 900 were lost upon
Fort Taylor No appropriation has been made for these
works Tor the last two years All the preparatory works,
which are necessarily very the fort stands
at least thousand yards in the sea- in eight feet
ter-w probably be rendered entirely useless, if this
appropriation be longer delayed These works stand
at least hundred and fifty miles from any inhabited
portion OF the State Of Florda they are emphatically
islands IN the and they really the left bank of the
Mississippi In sight of these two points pass some
four hundred millions of dollars worth OF property
annually and almost every day of the year there from
htty to one hundred vessels in sight OF these positions
These two points have been selected by the War Depart
ment as deserving especial and immediate notice. No
system OF orhca'ons pass through Congress at this
moment. Ii is perfectly out of the question suppose
so. We are not prepared for it The other branch OF
Congress is decidedly opposed to it, and has manifested
that opposition IN most decided manner. But why
should we refrain from voting for those FORTS the
completion OF which every discerning mind in this coun-
try must, upon the very first rupture with any com.
merca nation be TO us the greatest loss we could poss
Mr.. GWIN. As this is most important question,
and do think the Senate has yet fully understood
1T, should like to have the yeas and nays upon the
amendment
The yeas and nays were ordered
Mr.. HUNTER merely rise TO say that as under
stand fromthe chairman OF the Committee on Military
Affairs this is estimate OF the department, and they
have selected these as the important points, am willing
to vote Tor the amendment
MIR. CHASE. The purpose and effect OF this amend
ment will be to introduce system of Notifications into
the army appropriation BILL has been remarked by the
senator from Virginia, Mr. HusTERl The arguments
which have been urged by the senator from California,
[Mr. GwIs,l and the senator from Florida, mr. NAL
LoRY relate OF the most important and probably
most exposed points the country and for these points
am quite willing 10 vote liberal appropriation for de-
fensive works But sir am constrained TO vote agains,
general foricaon system in the army appropriation
bill think the precedent Is bad one, and think
moreover that il will expose the bill to hazard between
the two houses We know perfectly well that the House
of Representatives. by successive votes, has condemned
the existing system and will not be likely to concur
in an amendment OF the Senate TO this bill which will
introduce one
Mr. UNDERWOOD. I wish TO ask the gentleman
from Illinois Mr. SHELDs whether the Notifications TO
which the amendment aIludes are 10 be buildings,
whether The appropriation is for repairs to keep the old
works in order wish explanation in regard to
the OF the works TO be provided for by this appro
priaton.
Mr. SHIELDS will reply to the honorable gentle.
men; and first to the honorable senator from Ohio, Mr.
CHASE woald prefer that we should have a general
bill for this purpose but there s no chance, no hope of
that now think all we have to do is to perform our
Duty far understand it. to the country and let
the House take of their affairs If they reject
il, we cannot help that.
Now, in reply 10 my friend from Kentucky, (Mr. Us-
DERwooD,l would say that bat OF these points
one and that San Francisco No structure has yet
been commenced there where fort is absolutely
all the other appropriations, for the continuation and
the completion OF works that have been commenced and
upon which great deal OF money has been expended
but which abandoned for the want OF these APP
preparations ! will take the place OF Boston harbor.
There are two forts in that harbor Boston - OF the
richest cities on our continent and yet from the fact that
one Of those forts is not condition OF defence the
whole defence of that city, may say good for moth
ing | will then go to Maine. State which connects
with the British provinces, and one which would be the