Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-05

critical period 10 the history OF the country they ougb
not be restricted to the character Of any busines
which the Horss thought proper hereafter to axe up
II seemed to him tha, the House ought TO be ready to
promptly upon any matter oil moment shat tneJ sloulc
think ct TO introduce. BE could any ty
for SAYING In advance that they would take up ~
bui less after certain day. business OF peculiai
Q iarActer.
Mr.. HOLT asked for the yeas and maya upon the res
olution
The call vas not sustained and the question being
put on the resolution, il was decided in the negative
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
| Mr. CONRAD, Of Li.-I beg leave TO make persona
explanation.
The SPEAKER put the question OF granting leave
ard the House unanimously agreed to grant the leave
| Mr.. CONRAD-The House will recollsot that q short
time ago felt it my duty, a. Chairuan Of the Commit
tee on Naval Affairs to call the attention Of the House
to pasage 10 the late communication Of the President
Of the Confederate States to this body. The effect oil
that passage intimate that any failure the part
Of the Navy Department In msking appropriations for
| the naval deencs Of the country partly owing to
the failure the part Of Congress to make the required
| appropriations
atsd 10 calling the attention Of the Houe to this
matter that the President probably did intend to
convey the meaning which the language seemed TO i'm
psrt but that il Wss calculated convey an erro-
neous impression abroad, l deemed It iLcumbent
on me to prevent any such impression being made, Dy
eIpslning what supposed to be the meaning of the
message.
From a communication, however, which have since
received from the Secretary of the Navy il that
the President did intend convey the idea which his
language imported that he did mean to say that the
Provisional Congress had failed make the spproprA
tons required by the Navy Department.
have 10 my hand letter from the Secretary Of the
Navy which received the day after that on which /
called the attention Of the House to the subject, but
which, owing to the fac. that prevented from
tending early in the morning, was unable to bring to
the attention Of the House.
The letter reads:
| Hen. Ar. Conrad
Ny dear sr-permit me to say word upon the point
raiei by you upon the message yesterday which have
tbs moment read Atd which think will DO sufficient
explain the reference 10 appropriations for the Naval
service.
On TIE lOsh Of M4y las. Congress passed two acts sp
proprGng three millions Of dolsrs for certain purposes
| to be expended by tire Navy D ,pnrtment bu. the
ground taken by the Treasury that estimates had
been made and that money could be drawn under
them the estimates for these amounts TO you
~ Chairman Of the Naval Committee, the 18th Of
Nay. When you brough! them 70 the attention Of Con-
gress YOU may remember the opposition offered by the
Treasury Department aud the appeal nIde to you and
to the Houss against them, and that you consented TO
wthdraW them the money not having been provided to
| meet them.
| WAS not present bat I remember your relation Of
ths subject 10 me. The consequence that did not
realize any of the money under bills ll6 and 1T until
some Ave months after their passage.
This briefly, think will explain the reference in the
message.
Ia every other instance Congress responded promptly
70 ali estimates and your Committee failed in no In
s.Rnce 10 obtain an appropriation.
am very truly yourr,
| SR. MALLORY,
Feb 81, '62. ssc'y Navy.
J NJ CoNRAD-Now, Mr. sPEAKER, the Secretary
writes this letter in order to sustain the position that
Congress had failed TO make the appropriations, and in
/ H. l.. Nl.,T Gk Ia.r
OF Nay last, Congress passed acts appropriatng
three millions Of dollars for certain purposes, 10 be eI'
| pended by the Navy Department"
Now Congress did pass two bills approprating three
millions Of doIrs for the Navy Department., that
family to,s in no manner sustain the allegation tina. Con.
gre $ did not appropriate the mon.y required by the
Navy Department. As stated by the Secretary Of tho
Navy himself Congress did pass two bills appropriatng
tso millions OF dollars and another bill sppropriatng
90 million to b, expended for naval purposes by the
Secrstary o. the Navy.
There the matter rests Congress had performed lite
functions.
some time aer the Secretary Of the Treasury brought
in his annual general appropriation bill, aud amongst
the appropriations those for the Navy psrtment
Bu. i, contained no mention Of these appropriations
Az the cons quenoe that when the Secretary Of the
Navy called uoon the Treasury for this money the Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury refused to order It's payment
Bat whose fault was that, Was Il the fault Of Congress.
or Of the Secretary Of the Treasury Congress had
passed two bills Appropriating the money. The Navy
Department sent In estimates for these appropriations
Toe mouev was therefore, constituiionay and legally
appropriated Congress could do more, and nothing
moro required.
After while the Secretary Of the Treasury ordered
the money to be paid, and that money has b,en re-
ceiyed aud partly, If not entirely expended by the
Navy Department. under these two bills passed by Con
grS.
Mr.. WEIGH, Of Miss. rise to a question Of order
ould ok n this personal explanation ia now in order
A T. =. I,,. 10
4nmous consent given upon bis entering upon his per
so al explanation.
M. CONRAD. According to this statement OF the
Sccr sry, Congress passed two bills apPrOpriAing the
m1rey.
Yr. WRIGHT, of Ga. desire to know whether the
! gent emau's remarks will be opsn to reply.
TEE SPEAKER. O0ly oy general consent.
Mr.. CONRAD. hope al opportunity will be given
for reply.
The facts stated are thes. that two bills were passed
by Congress upon the Estimates OF the Secretary Of the
Navy appropri4tng certain Of money for the Navy
| Department. Owing, however, 10 some misunderstand
ing on the part Of the Secretary OF the Treasury that
muuey was not paid Immediately. Certainly no fault is
attributable TO Congress- II IL was not 81 once paid.
has however been paid since, have said, TO The
Navy Department, u4der these Identical bills.
IWll say that most OF these appropriations are fol
money to be expended 10 Elrope, and :hey have been
expended in Europe. They III no sise relate to the IL
pen ii,use Of money within the Confederate States.
Tbs is the eK 2suston which have to offer have
msde il a. the request Of the Secretary Of the Navy
and deem Il incumbent STATE that, II there
fs been any unnec sary delay wsnt OF decision In
tho Navy Department, in ny opinion, the blame rests
not wish Congress- bus with the head o that Depar msn
itself think the Secretary Of the Navy has not that
capacity and energy which is required for the present
crcums' ances Of the country.
Mr.. WRIGHT. rise to point of order. TAsti nc
| personal explanation.
NJ GlENEHT. | desire TO know whether the gentle.
nAu from Louisiana (Ar CoxRLD) corroborated the
statement ia he letter Of tho Sscretry himself regard
ing the opposition offered b. the Treasury Department
L thsss appropriations
NJ CONRAD. TIE gentleman Misunderstood the Ian
guigs Of tie cretsry Of the Navy.
t., Soar,,sy rys ba: ia regard these particular
appropriations the 81 yreary Of the Treasury by some
mistake failed smbody them in his annual appropris
ton bill. He Gays in his letter to ne; When you
brought them to the attention OF Oongeess you may re-