FEB. 12, 1828.] Navy Appropriations. [H. or R. a part of the report. He wished to let it remain, until Mr. WHIPPLE said, the gentleman went on the prethe information was before the House. The usual num-sumption that it would be necessary to print a new edition ber of copies were ordered to be printed, that the mem- of the documents. He denied that any member had a bers may have them to read, and be able to compare the right to presume so. Was there any thing in the quesresults of their examination with the report. He was not tion which requires this extreme sensibility as to the pubable to say he if could vote for the report. He was not lication? He wished an opportunity to go into an examprepared to say that it was either correct or incorrect.ination of the documents, and to have all the information He did not think it material as to the order in which the he could gain from the report. He wished to have the papers were printed, but he thought it material, when evidence, without the report, according to the former orthe House was called on to act on the report, that it der of the House. should be in possession of all the facts. The House was now asked to adopt a part of the report. He could not sanction any thing which, by insinuation, charged corruption. Any member on this floor, who chose to incur the responsibility, could insinuate such a charge, by saying that the Department made a false report. He did not wish to do this, until he could see the evidence. It had become much too fashionable to depart from the subject, in order to throw suspicions on public officers. The ef. fect of such a course is, to sap the foundation of our institutions. Every officer is entitled to respect, until he shall be proved undeserving. He hoped gentlemen would check this course. He wished for information-for the documents to be printed first, in order that when the report is to be acted on, he might be prepared to give his vote, either to accept or reject it. The present motion is out of the natural order of things. It is acting without information on which to act. When the usual number of papers are ordered to be printed, it is to enable the House to act; when a larger number is ordered, it is to give information to the People. The House orders the printing, that members may be enabled to act on the evidence they contain, leaving individual character untouched, unless facts are such as to warrant accusation. He hoped neither the resolution nor the amendment would be acted on now, nor until further information had been obtained. Then, let the evidence go to the People in as many volumes as you please. He could not act without a proper understanding of the subject. He wished the House to be less in a hurry in going halves, than it seemed to be in going wholes-to think less of men, and more of principles. If we do not curb passion, and let reason govern, we shall show ourselves to be but a licentious body. He concluded with a motion to postpone the further consideration of this subject till Monday next. Mr. CAMBRELENG asked for the ayes and noes on this question, which were ordered. Mr. WHIPPLE asked what would be the effect if this motion should succeed? whether the order for the printing could not be sent, and the House would have the first order perfected. Mr. J. S. STEVENSON said, he saw the effect of the proposition. The documents would be printed, as they were originally ordered, and the report would be laid on the table. Then, if the motion should prevail, we should have a double set of documents. When these papers were called for by a majority of the House, at the instance of the gentleman from Ohio, and the call was complied with by the War Department, it was in the power of the House to do what it pleased with the documents. They were referred to the Military Committee; a motion was made to send them to the committee on the Militia, but they went to the former. Had not the Committee power to consider, arrange, and detain the papers, as long as they might think it essential to their views? When they communicated their report, was it not fair that the report should go to the world? Under the order of the House, the object of a minority would be accomplished. If a majority be disposed to affix the report to the documents, would they consent to postpone and thus defeat the desire of the majority? Ile hoped the question would not be postponed. VOL. IV.-95 The question was then taken on Mr. BEECHER'S motion to postpone the further consideration of the question till Monday; and it was decided in the negative—ayes 71, noes 110. The question was then taken on the motion of Mr. STORRS to amend; which was decided in the negative— ayes 82, noes 107. Mr. DRAYTON rose to move an amendment to append to the report the documents called for by the gentleman from Ohio, from the War Department. Mr. WICKLIFFE called for the previous question: which motion prevailed. The question being then-"Shall the main question be now put?" It was decided in the affirmative—ayes 105, noes 75. The question was then taken, on the passage of the resolution, and agreed to-ayes 108, noes 69. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1828. NAVY APPROPRIATIONS. On motion of Mr. McDUFFIE, the House went into Committeejof the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. CONDICT in the Chair, and took up the bill making appropriations for the Naval Service for the year 1828. The bill was read through, and then taken up by sections; and the clause of appropriation for the pay and subsistence being under consideration Mr. HOFFMAN, Chairman of the Committee of Naval Affairs, requested Mr. McDUFFIE, Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, who had reported the bill, to state to the House what was the increase in the number of officers in the estimates of the present year, over the number of officers in the estimates of last year. Mr. McDUFFIE replied, that he had imperfectly understood the gentleman from New York, but would state, in reply to what he had understood to be his question, that the increase in amount for this item was about $20,000; which difference grew out of the increased number of officers. Mr. HOFFMAN then went into a lengthy detailed statement, in which he compared the estimates of this year and the last, as they applied to each grade of officers. The number of Captains, in 1827, was 27; for this year, 32. Those in commission in 1887, were 8; those for this year, 9. Captains waiting orders last year, were 9; this year, 13. Lieutenants waiting orders last year, were 83; those waiting orders this year, 111. Surgeons, two more this year than last-12 waiting for orders. Surgeon's mates were increased from 28 to 32: waiting orders last year none: this year, 11. Pursers increased from 21 to 23-4 waiting orders last year; 8 this year. Midshipmen waiting orders last year, 20: this year, 85. He summed up the increase for the present year as fol. lows: 5 Captains, 1 Commandant, 55 Lieutenants, 17 Surgeons, 14 Surgeon's mates, 6 Pursers, 3 Chaplains, and 156 Midshipmen. After stating the reasons given by the Secretary for this increase, Mr. H. insisted, that, if any alterations were to be introduced in the management of the Navy, those changes could be more easily effected if the number of officers was few than many. The only limit to the number of appointments was in the restricting the appropriations for their pay and subsistence. He H. OF R.] Navy Appropriations. [FEB. 12, 1828. expressed his willingness to increase the number of officers so far as might be necessary for vessels actually in commission, but was opposed to increasing the number of those waiting for orders. The Navy now cost about one-year, with the expenses of the preceding year, on which seventh of the whole expenditure of the Government. That arm of the Government was at present highly popular; but would not continue to be so if it were suffered to grow too expensive. Mr. H. concluded by stating that he was unable to designate what particular sum should be substituted for that now in the bill, as he had not received the necessary data for that purpose from the Navy Department. Mr. TAYLOR congratulated the House that this subject had received the attention of the Naval Committee. He deprecated the omission, on the part of Congress, heretofore, to fix the number of Naval officers, as it had done that of the officers of the Army. He thought it highly improper that their number should be left discretionary with the Executive branch of the Government, and pressed upon the Naval Committee the pro priety of bringing in a bill fixing the Navy Peace Establishment. Mr. McDUFFIE sent to the Clerk's table a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, explaining in detail the estimates from that Department for the present year. Mr. WILLIAMS inquired of Mr. HOFFMAN, whether he considered the total number of officers, proposed to be employed, as too great in proportion to the services proposed to be performed, and whether the whole number was any greater than was requisite for that service which was authorized by law. Mr. HOFFMAN replied, that the number would be far too small if all the vessels in the Navy were actually in commission, but not more than half our vessels were in actual service; and, in reply to the other question, he said, that if the estimates of last year were to be taken as a standard of judgment, the number of officers proposed for the present year was too great in proportion. The estimate contemplated an increase in the service, which Mr. H. did not think necessary. After some explanations from Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. HOFFMAN continued his speech, and opposed the expediency of fixing a Peace Establishment, thinking it better that the number of officers should be regulated, from year to year, according to the contingencies of the service. He was opposed to every thing like a sinecure office. He would pay the officers liberally when in actual service; but not retain large numbers of them, upon salary, waiting orders. Mr. STORRS, (who was last year Chairman of the Na val Committee) went into an explanation of the causes which had led to an increase in the extent and expenses of the Navy. He insisted that the expenditure was economical, having been more than made up by the value of our commerce which it had protected. The increase of the officers ought to keep pace with that of the Navy itself. As to a temporary employment of them, to cease as soon as their ships ceased to be in commission, he denounced it as utterly destructive of our Naval interests and character. He pronounced the present pay of the officers to be inadequate to the stations they respective ly occupied. He denied that there were any sinecures in the Navy, and insisted that, if the number of officers was at any time too great, the fault did not lie with the Department, but with Congress, who had frequently been solicited by the Department to fix the number by law. Such an arrangement was earnestly wished for by the Secretary of the Navy; but he had hitherto asked it in vain. The increase of the expense of the Navy was only in proportion to the increased extension of the commerce which it had to protect. Mr. DWIGHT replied at considerable length to the remarks of Mr. HOFFMAN, the general error of whose statement lay in this: that he had compared the estimates of this year with the estimates of the last year; whereas, he ought to have compared the estimates of this they were founded. Had he done this, he would have found, that, instead of being greater, they were about 150,000 dollars less than those of the preceding year. Mr. D. did not agree with Mr. TAYLOR as to the necessity of restricting the Executive discretion, in the appointment of officers. He recapitulated the increasing appropriations which had been made, and the multiplied items of expenditure which had arisen from the building of ten sloops of war-the erection of dry docks at New York and Boston-the depot at Pensacola, &c. and insisted that the number of officers was not greater than these new and various branches of the service required. Mr. McDUFFIE stated the facts, from which the increased estimates of the present year had arisen, and among them, dwelt especially upon the increased number of Lieutenants and Midshipmen. He gave no opinion as to the necessity or expediency of this increase; he denied that the number of officers employed was to be regulated by the number of vessels in commission. Their number was five times as great as was needed for a state of peace, if that state was always to continue. The necessity of their employment arose from the necessity of being prepared for war. He would not say that it was inexpedient, in this point of view, to increase the number of officers. He was incompetent to judge of that point, but should be unwilling to refuse, without further light, the appropriation asked for, Viewing the Naval Establishment in peace, as in fact a preparation for war, he thought the number of officers ought to bear some general relation to the number of ships, and that, if the Navy itself was increased, some increase of officers was unavoidable. If the Chairman of the Naval Committee would suggest some mode of restraining the number of Lieutenants and Midshipmen, he would unite with him in such a measure. Mr. WHIPPLE insisted, that, as this whole subject had been placed within the discretion of the Navy Department, that Department should either be permitted to arrange the number of officers as it thought proper; or be accused of malfeasance in office. He presumed the Head of that Department had sufficient ability to exercise a sound discretion. Mr. W. insisted upon the better information possessed by the Department as to the necessity of changing the arrangement of different detachments of the Navy than existed elsewhere, and such changes are necessarily expensive. Let the House either trust to the discretion of the Department, or regulate the matter themselves by law. He had heard no good reason advanced to show that the discretion reposed in the Department had been improperly exercised. Mr. BARNEY, adverting to the situation of Mr. HOFFMAN, as Chairman of the Naval Committee, reprobated the sentiments expressed from so influential a quarter, in regard to paying the officers only while in actual service, as tending to degrade the standing of those gentlemen, and drive them from the public employment, the effect of which would be to ruin the service, and leave the Navy of the United States bottom upwards. Mr. B. denied that the number of officers was too great even for a permanent Peace Establishment. There were no supernumeraries—no sinecures. The increase of Midshipmen, instead of being upwards of ninety, as by the estimates it would appear to be, was, in fact, but about fifty. He concluded by insisting that the extent of the Navy was only in proportion to the commerce of the country; that the Navy was, in effect, the right arm of the nation. Mr. SERGEANT stated, as a reason why the number of vessels in commission would require to be increased, FEB. 13, 14, 1828.] Navy Appropriations.—Internal Improvements. [H. OF R. President of the United States may think necessary and The question being put, it was adopted without opposition. Mr. HOFFMAN then moved to fill the blank in the section which provides for the pay and subsistence of officers, with $1,100,081 75, instead of $1,176,312, which had been proposed by the Committee of Ways and Means, in conformity with the estimates from the Navy Department. that information had just been received from the Southward, that great danger was apprehended from the rise of piracy in the Gulf of Mexico. Applications on that subject had this day been received at the Navy Department, from the Insurance Companies of Philadelphia and New York, and others would no doubt follow, from Boston and elswhere, urging the propriety of stationing an additional force in the Carribean sea, in consequence of the proclamation of Commodore Porter, inviting privateers into the Mexican service. While this increase of our Naval force was required in that quarter, the service in the Pacific, on the coast of Brazil, and above all, in the Mediterranean, would not allow of any diminution. Mr. S. insisted, that the power of appointing officers was properly vested, and that, as long as the House could check it by the amount of appropriations, there was no need of regulating the number of officers by legislative enactment. As to a Peace Establishment, the Navy knew no such thing as peace. From its creation to this day, it had been in perpetual service. Our commerce had required incessant protection, and was likely now to require still more in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Mediterranean. If a Peace Establishment was fixed at all, it must be fixed at a maximum of what was likely to be required, which would be a very extravagant arrangement. The ships and men of a Navy might be changed, but its officers grew up from childhood in the service, and could only be ma- Mr. HOFFMAN then made a speech, of considerable tured by long practice and experience. It was now the length, in support of his motion, in which he went over settled policy of this Nation, that its Navy was to be grad-nearly the same grounds as he had taken in the debate ually increased; and, if so, the number of officers ought of yesterday. He did not wish to interfere with the ofto increase with it. Congress had fixed the number and ficers attached to vessels in actual service, nor with size of its ships, and therein had done all that was re- those that would be required for the increase of the quired of them, towards fixing the number of officers. service, which had been proposed by the Secretary of Should the service be cut too short of officers, it might the Navy. He wished only to prevent the increase of chance to fail on the very point most exposed, and a loss the number of officers waiting orders. The increase of be thereby incurred far greater than all the petty saving these persons proposed by the Department included 4 which might be produced by curtailing the appropriation. captains, 7 masters commandant, 28 lieutenants, 12 surMr. HOFFMAN now spoke in reply. The Naval Re- geons, 11 surgeons' mates, 4 pursers, and 65 midshipgister assigned eight vessels to the West India station. men; the amount of whose united pay and subsistence These were more than sufficient to guard against any dan- would be $76,230 25. This surn he wished cut off gers in that quarter. He thought the past history of our from the appropriation. Navy was sufficient to shew that no naval nursing and schooling from infancy, was required to form able and accomplished officers. The merchant-service supplied such training; and an officer of spirit would rather return to that service, when out of active employ in the Navy, than receive a salary which he did not earn. He oppos ed the necessity of fixing a permanent Peace Establishment to the extent suggested. He professed his zeal for maintaining this arm of the national defence, on which he bestowed very liberal commendations, but opposed the position that the number of officers was to go on continually increasing. Peace might last a quarter of a century, and yet, at this rate, the expense of the Navy will be so enormously increased, that it might at length constitute one-half of the expense of the Government. Mr. H. concluded by moving that the committee rise to give time for procuring further information from the Navy Department, but withdrew the motion at the request of The motion of Mr. HOFFMAN gave rise to a debate, which occupied the House till four o'clock, and which, in the subjects treated, and the arguments employed, resembled so nearly that of yesterday, that a detailed report of it would be little more than a repetition. The motion was opposed by Messrs. SPrague, GILMER, INGERSOLL, WOOD, of New York, BARTLETT, DRAYTON, and WEEMS; and advocated by Mr. HOFFMAN, in a closing speech, in which he replied to the several gentlemen who had opposed the motion. The question being then put first upon the larger THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1828. Mr. SERGEANT, who replied in explanation. Itations for internal improvements. Mr. SPRAGUE moved to amend the bill by increasing the appropriation for removing obstructions at Lovejoy's Narrows, from $2,500 to $3,500. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1828. NAVY APPROPRIATIONS. Mr. HOFFMAN moved the following: "And be it further enacted, That there be, and hereby is, appropriated, for the purchase of such lands as the Mr. S. said, that the Kennebec river, at this place, was narrow and rapid; and in the centre of the current were two rocks, one rising above, and the other lying just below the surface of the water. The force of the current propelled vessels directly upon these rocks, and of course they could be passed only when the wind was strong enough, and in the right direction to command the vessel and control the current. For this they frequently had to wait, and sometimes in considerable : number, for several days. The last Congress, upon the recommendation of the Committee of Commerce, made an appropriation for removing one of these rocks. That appropriation was found insufficient. The Secretary of War had recommended an additional appropriation of $2,500 for that object, which sum the Committee of Ways and Means, of which he [Mr. S.] had the honor to be a member, had reported in this bill. But it was essentially necessary that the other rock, called "Sunken rock," and which is comparatively small, should also be removed, and the expense would not exceed one thousand dollars, if done at the same time with the first for the workmen, with all their tools and apparatus, being upon the spot, the expense of commencing a new undertaking would be saved. Considerations of expediency and economy dictated the removal of both obstacles at the same time. Mr. S. said, that there was no work mentioned in this bill, nor any other which had come under his observation, which was so important, compared with the expense, as that which he was advocating. The annual loss, by detention of vessels merely, to say nothing of the injuries frequently sustained by their striking upon these rocks, was equal to the whole expense of removing these obstructions. This subject had been under the consideration of the Committee of Commerce at the present session; and he was authorized by the Chairman of that Committee to state, that the present motion received their sanction and approbation. Mr. S. said, he did not intend to discuss the subject, but merely to make such a statement that the facts might be clearly understood. Mr. BASSETT said he was opposed to the Southern States being taxed to remove obstructions in a river in which the citizens of Maine were only interested. Mr. SPRAGUE said the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. BASSETT] had misunderstood him. He had not said that the annual saving to his constituents would be equal to the expense of removing the obstacles in this navigation. He had not mentioned his own constituents. The place where this work was to be accomplished, was not within his District. His constituents would be benefitted, it was true, but it would be in common with other portions of his own State, and with the citizens of other States. The gentleman is in error in supposing the advantages of this improvement to be entirely local. Vessels resort to this river from various portions of our country, and trade is carried on from them, not only to almost every part of the United States, but to the West Indies and other foreign places. There are now more than thirty thousand tons of shipping owned in the river Kennebec, and it is fast increasing. That river penetrates the centre of one State, and traverses one of the most fertile portions of it; our permanent seat of Government has been established upon its banks and a road has been commenced, and will, I trust, soon be completed, from its head waters to the city of Quebec. Sir, I repeat that the work which I advocate is, in pro portion to the expense, beyond comparison more impor tant than any improvement for navigation proposed in this bill. The bill proposes to expend more than $33,000, in addition to large appropriations heretofore made, for the improvement of harbors upon the Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the whole amount of shipping on both of those Lakes is not equal to the one-half the tonnage owned in the Kennebec river. Yet the gentleman from Virginia has quietly kept his seat, without rising to offer a syllable of objection to either of these expenditures. But when I ask this small sum, the gentleman objects that it will take the money of Virginia and other States to be expended in Maine. And is not the money of Maine taken by the other appropriations of this bill? Has she not been taxed her full proportion for the expenditures heretofore made for similar objects? And [FEB. 14, 1828. what has been done for that State Owning one-eighth The question was then taken on the motion of Mr. SPRAGUE-Ayes 71, Noes 52. So the amendment was agreed to. Mr. McDUFFIE moved to fill the blank in the 47th line, after the words "for defraying the expenses incidental to making examinations and surveys under the act of 30th of April, 1824," with " $30,000;" which was agreed to. Mr. McDUFFIE moved to insert, between the 44th and 45th lines, the following: "For preserving and securing the light-house on the Brandywine Shoal, in Delaware Bay, $10,000." In explanation, he observed that about $30,000 had formerly been appropriated for the erection of this light-house, than which there was none more important in that bay. The Executive officers, to whom the superintendence of this structure belonged, considering it so much injured by storms as to be incapable of repair, had not asked any appropriation for that purpose; but farther inquiry had led to the conclusion, that, with some exertion, it might be saved, and reinstated. It was for this purpose that he asked the present appropriation. After some conversation as to the appropriate committee to whom this subject should have been referred, the item was agreed to. Mr. MARTIN, of S. C. inquired of the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, whether the sum of $30,000, which he had moved for defraying the expenses incidental to making examinations and surveys under the act of 30th April, 1824, was intended to pay for sur veys already ordered, or for those yet future. Mr. M'DUFFIE replied that there might possibly be some small arrears from the last year, but he understood the greater part of it to be for future surveys. Mr. M'COY said, that, as he presumed, of course, that the Executive could not order surveys to exceed the sum appropriated by law, the whole of this sum must be for those not yet commenced. Mr. DWIGHT stated this to be the fact. There was a small balance of $45, left from last year. The estimate of the Secretary of War for the present year had been $50,000, but the Committee of Ways and Means had reduced this sum to 30,000, in conformity with the annual appropriation assigned to this object for some years past. Mr. MARTIN then moved to strike out this entire item, and supported his motion in a short speech. He declined entering upon a discussion of the constitutional question, as to the power of Congress to make appropriations for this object, but opposed it on the ground of its inexpediency. A like sum had now been appropriated for many years, and no beneficial effect had resulted to the country. No general system was adopted, or ulti mate object pursued. He denied that the act of 1824 FEB. 14, 1828.] Internal Improvements, [H. OF R now in progress, which were not more than half com pleted, and the question was, whether the House would withdraw the means of completing them. A discussion of the general policy of the plan, was out of place on an appropriation bill. Whatever might be decided as to carrying such a system of internal improvement into effect, these surveys were of great advantage to the American People. Should that system never be adopted, this mass of information could not fail to be useful. The constitutional question of power did not fairly arise, on a proposal to employ the Engineers already at the disposal of the War Department, in a particular manner. Should the time ever arrive when we have more in the Treasury than we know what to do with, the argument of the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. BARBOUR] might have some force. But the question now was, whether the House would arrest these surveys? Mr. B. for one, would not do it. He would give the Administration the sum now asked, and would hold them responsible for its application. provided for any appropriation beyond that year. No works had been accomplished, and there was nothing to shew of the large sums expended, but maps and plats. Mr. M. dwelt with emphasis upon the divided and distressed state of the country. Those engaged in manufactures complained, and agriculturists were still worse off. He insisted that this was not a proper time to expend $30,000 a year on plans and estimates. If the Government had adopted any thing like a regular system of operation, he could more willingly submit to such an expenditure. He disavowed all sectional feeling in this matter, but one thing was certain—not an Engineer had made his appearance in the State from which he came. Mr. P. P. BARBOUR supported the motion to strike out. He declined entering on the constitutional question, having gone into it at large on former occasions. He adverted to the subject now, only to declare that no change had taken place in his opinions on that point. He resisted the appropriation on the ground of expediency, anticipating the time (likely soon to arrive) when the national debt should have been discharged, Mr. BARNEY said he felt no sickly sensibility on the and when the ten millions, now set apart as a sinking constitutional question, which had already been ably fund, would be at liberty to be applied to the object of and fully discussed, and which he considered as definiinternal improvements. He insisted that its employ- tively settled. The General Government entered no ment by the General Government would unsettle the State, even to make surveys, without the full consent balance of the Constitution, and destroy the salutary of that State. Where then could be the danger to State equilibrium between the General and State Govern- rights? He would go on and collect all the topographical ments. The power to employ so large a sum in works information possible. Then it would be easier to decide of this nature would enable the General Government to how the surplus should be applied when that happy milhold out to those States who deny the constitutional lenium arrived, to which the gentleman from Virginia power so to apply it, a constant and strong temptation to had alluded. If the Union was to be perpetuated, it would abandon their principles, and they must either do this be by providing facilities for the intercourse of its inhabiagainst their conscience, or see these benefits lavished tants; and as to its dissolution, he so deeply abhorred the upon other States, while they were necessarily exclud- idea, that he could almost consent to make it death even ed. He objected to the measure on another ground, to speak of such a thing. Retrenchment might be popuwhich was, the enormous extension of patronage, which lar, but he would never consent, for the sake of any petty the disbursement of so many millions annually would saving, to crush the unfolding energies of this growing throw into the hands of the General Government. He empire, or nip them in the bud. He regretted the gen referred to the effect of patronage in other Govern- eral pressure of which the gentleman from South Carolina ments, and particularly in England, the history of which [Mr. MARTIN] had spoken as much as he could do, but he will show, that what the Stuart could not accomplish by thought the present plan one of the best ways to remove prerogative, had been effected in subsequent reigns by it. As to the neglect of that gentleman's State, he bepatronage. He implored the committee to pause believed she had never asked and been refused. There fore they sanctioned a principle directly at war with the was no intention to debar Virginia, or any of the Southpolicy which rendered the States the supervisors and ern States, from their full proportion of these benefits. sentinels over the movements of the General Govern- Of the three important works which had yet been under. ment. The last ground he took was, that, as a very taken, they had had at least their proportion. He referlarge portion of the United States were known to dis-red to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, the Ohio sent from the power of the General Government to ap. Canal, and the Dismal Swamp Canal. The last of these ply the public money to objects of this description, it was now enjoyed by Virginia; it had not been forced upbehooved the majority of this House (and he believed on her, but she has received it, as he hoped, with gratithere was a small majority) who thought otherwise, to tude. The interests of the Southern States were precious pause and deliberate well before they sanctioned a sys- to the North, because they were identified with their tem of measures on which public sentiment was so own. As to patronage, he believed the great fountain of greatly divided. He meant to use nothing like a it was to be found in this House. He believed the Remenace. He had not the remotest idea that the People presentatives here were almost always consulted. He whom he represented would rise in any sort of rebel- could say, for one, that he had obtained for his constitu lion, or attempt, in the slightest degree, to disturb the ents their full share. Government, But he thought it the part of wisdom, especially in a Government that paid so much deference to public opinion, to act with the greatest caution, when that opinion was so nearly upon an equipoise. Mr. B. then referred to the employment of the United States' Engineers, in devising the plan for the Baltimore rail road, and passed many commendations on their assi duity and skill. Mr. BUCHANAN expressed his dissent from the Mr. HAMILTON rose in support of the amendment. opinions avowed by the two gentlemen who had pre- He believed there were more surveys now in the Topoceded him. The true question ought to be distinctly graphical Bureau than could be carried into effect in half stated. The act of 1824 sanctioned the policy, not of a century, or, to speak within bounds, for twenty-five immediately entering upon a plan of internal improve years. Under the parental patronage of the gentleman ment, but of preparing for it, by obtaining surveys, from Virginia, [Mr. MERCER] who, he believed, was in plans, and estimates, in relation to the various roads and favor of every canal and every road in the country, procanals, that were required throughout the country.jects had accumulated which could not be completed The sum of $30,000 had been appropriated, not for a single year, but for a specific purpose, which purpose had not yet been accomplished. Many surveys were within that time. There was no need of this appropriation to enable the Secretary of War to employ the Topographical Engineers, but he could tell the gentleman that |
