SENATE.] The Tariff.--The British Colonial Trade. [DEC. 21, 22, 1831. positive terms, that it is not expedient to reduce the duty Government here to the minister at the court of St. on tea before March, 1833, and an opinion, not positive, James; given, sir, in terms and in a temper which may that the policy of reducing it at any time thereafter is, at very properly become the subject of public examination least, questionable. He was pleased to hear the chair- and comment here; I say, sir, of public examination and man of the committee unequivocally dissent from this last comment. opinion. For himself, he was directly opposed both to the positive opinion, and the opinion not positive; but he did not rise to discuss that matter. His object was, to leave the way open for a future discussion, unprejudiced by what should be done with this report. There is at least a large portion of the commercial community, who have felt, and seriously felt, the inconvenience of the present arrangement. The resolution submitted by the gentleman from Maine asks for important information on the subject; but there are some particulars which, Upon this statement, then, he submitted to the commit- if known, would enable the Senate to understand more tee, whether the publication of their report, with the clearly the effect which the present arrangement has had letter of the Secretary, which, although not adopted in on our commerce, and which are not embraced in the terms by the language of the report, is yet referred to as call. The resolution does not ask the President to state a document proper to be considered, and against the the months in which such clearances were respectively doctrines of which no exception is taken-he submitted made, and whether from British colonial ports or British to the Senate, whether the putting forth such a paper West India ports, which it is equally important that the would not be likely to create the belief that the Secreta- Senate should understand as the particulars mentioned in ry's argument and reasons were the foundation upon which the resolution. Immediately on the annunciation of the the conclusion of the committee rested. And whether, arrangement entered into by Mr. McLane with the British if the Senate were to vote its concurrence, it would not negotiators, a bill was entered into the British Parliament, be received as an acquiescence with the opinions of the the object of which was to enhance the duties on those Secretary. As the actual state of opinion in the Senate articles of commerce which were carried by our vessels was probably of a character quite opposed to such acqui- to the colonies, which would, if adopted, produce an imescence, and as such an effect on public sentiment was not portant change in the trade to the colonies, and serious designed or desired, he would propose what seemed to injuries would result to the commercial interest. be the effectual means of preventing it. He therefore moved to lay the report with the memorial on the table. The report was laid on the table accordingly. the table: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21. THE TARIFF. The State of Maine exported a great quantity of lumber (and ship timber) to the British colonies previous to this arrangement, in her own vessels; but since that time the trade had been almost exclusively carried on by British merchants in British vessels. This was true with regard to most articles exported from the New England States, Mr. POINDEXTER laid the following resolutions on from Connecticut, and perhaps some elsewhere, in Ameriwith the exception of live stock, which was still exported 1. Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instruct- can vessels; therefore the object of the resolution, as ed to inquire into the expediency of fixing a rate of duties proposed to be amended, is to learn in what employment our ships had been engaged since the commercial treaty on foreign imports, not to exceed on any article imported into the United States more than twenty per cent. ad went into operation. Before this arrangement, our ships valorem, and not to reduce the duty on any article so im- went a longer and more circuitous voyage than those of ported below ten per cent. ad valorem; and to arrange England; but our profits were also much greater, by such duties, having regard to all the great interests of the trading with the British colonies through the neutral ports, country, so as to produce a nett revenue of not less than than those of British vessels employed in the direct trade. Mr. W. said he conceived the information requested by fifteen millions of dollars annually. 2. Resolved, That the said committee be further instruct-the resolution insufficient to enable the Senate to ascertain ed to inquire into the expediency of giving effect and ope- had upon our commerce, and submitted the following the precise bearing which the present arrangement has ration to said system of duties on the 30th day of June next. amendment, which was agreed to by the gentleman from Maine, and adopted as part of the resolutions, as follows: THE BRITISH COLONIAL TRADE. The resolutions offered yesterday by Mr. HOLMES, asking further information of the President of the United States, in relation to the British West India colonial trade, were taken up. "And state the months in which such clearances were respectively made, and whether from British colonial ports or from British West India ports;" Which amendment was inserted immediately following the words "since the President's proclamation, 5th Octo After some conversation between Mr. HOLMES and Mr. SMITH, the resolutions were laid on the table, on the promise of the latter gentleman to call them up again to-morrow. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22. Mr. WEBSTER said the resolution asked information on a subject which was as yet involved in uncertainty, ber, 1830.” and on which further information was highly necessary and important. He made these remarks as a preface to an amendment of the resolution which he was about to propose. Some time since, measures had been taken, and negotiations entered into, the object of which was to place our commercial intercourse with the British AmeriThe resolutions submitted yesterday by Mr. POINcan colonies on terms of reciprocal advantages. This DEXTER, were, on his motion, ordered to be printed. negotiation had failed; and the endeavors to make such Agreeably to notice given, Mr. POINDEXTER asked arrangements and fix the duties on either part on some and obtained leave to bring in a bill concerning Martha equal basis, so that the duties imposed on American vessels Randolph, daughter and only surviving child of Thomas entering the British colonial ports should be no higher Jefferson, deceased; which was twice read, and referred than those imposed on their own vessels, were then inef- to a select committee, consisting of Mr. POINDEXTER, Mr. fectual. The object of that proposed arrangement was CLAX, Mr. TYLER, Mr. HAYNE, and M WEBSTER. for the benefit of commerce as well as navigation. The British Government not consenting to comply with terms which that administration conceived just and necessary, the navigation was, by direction of the Executive, abandoned; since which period an arrangement has been completed, in conformity with instructions given by the Resolved, That the President be requested to cause to THE BRITISH COLONIAL TRADE. Mr. SMITH, agreeably to his promise of yesterday, called up for consideration the following resolutions of Mr. HOLMES, as amended by Mr. WEBSTER. DEC. 22, 1831.] The British Colonial Trade. [SENATE. be communicated to the Senate the number of vessels, and own, and documents selected for the purpose. It came their tonnage and cargoes, which have cleared from any on the Senate by surprise: few, if any, Senators were preports in the United States to any port or place in the pared to answer. This was the course pursued by the British American colonies since the President's proclama- Senator from Maine: he did not wait for the information tion of 5th October, 1830, and state the months in which which the resolutions required, but took his own views, such clearances were respectively made; and whether which might be right, or might be wrong. He has profrom British colonial ports, or British West India ports-duced figures to show a great loss to the navigating distinguishing those, if any, which cleared for such ports interest. He may be right. Mr. S. said he had not exand place, and a market," or for a British port or place, amined his figures, nor had he time to examine them. or some other port or place; distinguishing, also, American The answers to the resolutions may show a different refrom foreign tonnage, and also the entries of all vessels sult. Mr. S. would not pretend to say that they would; from any British colonial port, with their cargoes, since the above proclamation; distinguishing the tonnage as above, and designating the British port or place from whence the cargoes were imported. Resolved, That the President be requested to inform the Senate what amount of American and foreign tonnage (distinguishing them) has been cleared for, and entered from, the Swedish and Danish West Indies, since the President's proclamation of the 5th October, 1830, with the kind and amount of the cargoes. but he would say that he had seen statements made from wrong documents to make out a case, which statements proved to be entirely unfounded when the true documents were applied. The Senator from Maine has shown a large amount of tonnage employed in the trade to the neutral islands, whilst they were the entrepot for all the islands, deducting from which the tonnage employed since the arrangement made with Great Britain, he derives an immense loss to our navigation, and concludes that the bargain has eventuated to our great injury. But, Mr. Resolved, That the President be requested to inform the President, no fair trial has been made: the proclamation Senate whether, since his proclamation of the 5th of of the President, opening our ports, was issued on the 5th October, 1830, British vessels have cleared from the October, and probably went by the packet of the 8th. It United States for any port in the British continental may have arrived in England in thirty days. Some days colonies in America, and have sailed directly to the British ought to be allowed for the British Government to make West Indies, by virtue of clearances previously obtained up their despatches to their minister here, and to the from custom-houses in those continental colonies, thus island and North American colonies. A passage to the performing voyages circuitous on paper, but in fact direct. United States of five or six weeks, at that season of the Resolved, That the President be requested to inform year, would be considered a fair one. We may, therethe Senate what are the duties paid on British American fore, presume that it took three months, which would vessels and their cargoes respectively, in British ports in the West Indies and the other British American colonies, distinguishing between the West Indies and the other colonies, between American and British vessels, and the produce of the United States and of the colonies. bring the receipt to the 8th January, when our rivers and many of our harbors were obstructed by the ice, which continued until the 1st March, so that we can only count on seven months of open trade. Our merchants were not prepared for this trade: it had been stopped for Mr. SMITH said that he had no intention to oppose the a long period, and had been diverted into other channels. adoption of the resolutions; they would probably elicit The merchants had, before they could commence, to information, which might be desirable to the Senate. He arrange their correspondence, procure vessels properly thought that the third resolution might be withdrawn, fitted for the trade, and assort their cargoes. A merchant although he would make no motion on the subject. He does not enter at once into a new branch of commerce; it merely submitted the idea to the mover. That resolution takes him some time to arrange his business, mature his supposed a case, on which the Secretary of the Treasury plans, and to be well satisfied with the prospects held can have no information. It supposes that a captain shall out, before he engages in a commerce that is new to him. present a manifest, on oath, to the collector of a port, Is it then fair or candid, said Mr. S., to compare such a say of New Brunswick, declaring that he has on board of trade of seven months, with a known and established trade the vessel he commands five hundred barrels of flour, to an emporium such as St. Thomas, for twelve months? although he has not a single barrel; but he has bribed the Besides, St. Thomas was a great entrepot for all the tide-waiter to report that he has on board the quantity islands, and the neighboring continent. Droghers went represented in his manifest. He obtains a clearance for there from other than the British islands, some from the Jamaica, and proceeds to a port in the United States, say out-ports of Porto Rico, and perhaps from the French Alexandria; he there takes on board his vessel exactly islands; many of our vessels touched at St. Thomas, and five hundred barrels of flour, clears out for Jamaica, and not finding a good market, proceeded, as is very common, immediately on getting to sea destroys his American clear- to Porto Rico, to all the ports of St. Domingo, to Cuba, ance, and makes his entry in that port under his British and even to the Spanish main. Besides, the consumption clearance, and thus cheats his own country of four-fifths of St. Thomas and St. Cruz (Danish islands) is equal, if of the duty, say four hundred dollars, and defrauds our not greater, than any of the British windward islands. navigation of the carrying of that quantity of flour. Now The simple clearances for the neutral trade were no cri all this may be done at the risk of vessel and cargo, and teria on which to form a judgment of the actual bona fide of being punished for perjury, for thus defrauding the navigation that had been employed in it. The trade is revenue. But, sir, he must be not only a rogue, but a now understood, and we shall be better capable of formfool, if he shall communicate the trick he has played on ing a correct judgment on the subject next year. Mr. S. his Government to the collector of Alexandria; without which disclosure, he [Mr. S.] could not perceive how the Secretary of the Treasury can be informed of the transaction. However, said Mr. S., if the Senator from Maine wishes that it shall go to the Secretary, I shall make no opposition. Mr. S. proceeded to remark, that a mode had been introduced by a celebrated gentleman, which was said to be parliamentary. It was, that a Senator intending to introduce a resolution, prefaced it with a speech, which he had considered and prepared with calculations of his knew, he said, that the trade was daily increasing, and would, he thought, continue to increase. This fact is undoubted, that every shipyard in the United States has been fully employed in the building of vessels during the present year, which afforded strong presumptive proof that the opening of the colonial trade had not operated unfavorably to the navigation of the country. It is equally well known that very few of the shipyards had full employment prior to the arrangement having been made. Many of the vessels that have been built, and which are now building, are intended for the West India trade; and SENATE.] The British Colonial Trade. [DEC. 22, 1831. if he [Mr. S.] was well informed, (and he believed he never complained, although some of them might have was,) few States will produce more new tonnage for this thought that it was of no consequence to them who cartrade than the State of Maine. Mr. S. remarked that he ried their produce; yet they submitted, like good citizens, had been informed that the commerce of Maine had in- to a policy that was for the general interest. creased most rapidly since this arrangement had been) It is idle, said Mr. S., to assert that the navigating inmade, and that the merchants had attributed the increase terest has suffered from the effect of the opening of the mainly to the opening of the West India trade; that they trade to the British colonies. Every circumstance conhad full employment for their sawmills, the rents having risen full twenty-five per cent. If these facts be correct, he [Mr. S.] could not understand that the navigating interest had suffered any injury, but, on the contrary, had derived benefit from the arrangement made for the colonial trade with Great Britain. Mr. S. had not intended, when he rose, to say more than a few words on the subject. He confessed that he was not fully prepared; that he had spoken from recollection only; had looked into no document, but had been induced to make these remarks in consequence of what had fallen from the Senator from Maine. tradicts the assertion. When, or at what time, were the shipyards as fully employed in building as at present? When was the commerce of our country more active or more flourishing than at present? When were the wages of all persons employed in ship-building higher than at present? In fine, when was our nation more flourishing The Senator from Maine, said Mr. S., read yesterday a and happy than at the present day? If the navigating inschedule of duties presented by Mr. Herries to the House -terest has suffered, the loss, if any, is fully compensated of Commons, and reasoned upon it as if it had passed, and by the great advantage derived from the open trade to had become a law. He showed, what was the fact, that the agricultural interest, which he [Mr. S.] should and it would have imposed such duties as would nearly have did consider as the predominant interest; one which has annihilated all the advantages which had been expected never received any special advantage from the Governto result from the opening of the islands to our commerce. ment, but in many instances had been oppressed. But, Mr. President, was it fair, was it acting with candor, We legislate, Mr. President, for the whole, as one to attempt to pass on the Senate as a law a schedule that great whole; and in commercial legislation advantages never had been acted upon-that, in fact, was no law? will arise to one portion of the Union that cannot be enIt is well known, said Mr. S., that Mr. Herries had been joyed by others. What special interest have the Western one of the late ministry of Great Britain, and had retired States in navigation? How small is the interest of the from office,a few days after he had presented his schedule; Southern States in it? Yet we have seen those States that he [Mr. S.] had said yesterday, that he well remem- invariably promoting this interest. bered the schedule having been presented, but, as far as his recollection enabled him to say, he felt confident that the schedule had never passed into a law. He had since reflected on the subject, and would now say that the schedule referred to never had become a law; that it had died a natural death, as some of our own propositions do at every session. He [Mr. S.] admitted that new regula- Mr. HOLMES observed that the Senator from Marytions, perhaps a law, had been made; that he had seen land was certainly correct in saying that he did not underthem; and that they were, in his opinion, highly beneficial stand the matter under discussion, or he would not have to the United States. Some of them he would mention made the statements he did yesterday, and repeated tofrom memory. Salted beef and pork had been prohibited day, that the British Government had laid no discriminatby the act of 1825; they were now admitted into their ing duties on the American trade with the West Indies. colonies on a moderate duty. Much of the produce of the If they had not, how then, said Mr. H., could our agriUnited States is admitted into Canada, and sent even to culture of the interior be benefited at the expense of the the mother country, as if it were the produce of Canada. commerce of the Atlantic, the British tariff remaining Flour is not: it must be deposited in the public store, and precisely the same? How could the arrangement of Mr. exported agreeably to the act of 1825. If taken out for McLane produce any such advantages as those claimed in consumption, it must pay the duty imposed by that act. the President's message? Sir, when the outlets to the But flour made from the wheat of the United States is Atlantic are closed, our produce will rush out through the free, as if made from the grain of Canada, and may be ex-Canadas; but I do not understand, when the Atlantic door ported even to England, where it will be admitted when is opened, how our agriculture of the interior can be so our flour is not, as is well known. Here, then, said Mr. much benefited when our tonnage is apparently so inS., is an immense advantage to our farmers of Ohio, jured. When the gentleman from Maryland had made Michigan, part of Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont. himself acquainted with the subject, Mr. H. would be But, said the Senator from Maine, is it right that, for the pleased to be informed on these points. Mr. H. observed, advantage to those States, the navigating interest should that, before the arrangement of Mr. McLane, we had a very be destroyed by depriving it of the carrying of those pro- valuable circuitous trade with the British, which was rapidly ducts? These benefits were gratuitous on the part of increasing; but by the new arrangement it appeared to be Great Britain; they form no part of the arrangement for considerably diminishing. As he understood the gentlethe colonial trade; they might have been adopted by Great man not to object to the passage of the resolution, he Britain if no arrangement had ever been made, and would should not now enter into elaborate arguments in suphave produced precisely the same effect as to the navi- port of the positions he had assumed; but when the matter gating interest. There may be, and he [Mr. S.] thought should again come before the Senate, with the answer of there was, some addition of duty in the new regulations, differing from those in the act of 1825, but, as far as he could recollect, they were unimportant. the President, he would undertake to show that we had relinquished a productive trade for one less valuable; that we had, instead of abolishing a circuitous trade, made one Mr. S. then said that he had been a merchant, and had still more circuitous, for the benefit of the British, and always been attentive to the interests of navigation in both carried on in British instead of American vessels. He Houses of Congress, but he had never lost sight of the would undertake to show what was the state of our cominterest of agriculture: on that all-important interest we merce in 1821, what was the tonnage employed in it, and, depend; and if the agriculturist has now obtained an ad- carrying it down to 1830, show how it stood then; and, vantage to the injury of the navigating interest, (which he said he, if the President will undertake to show us how it utterly denied,) it is for the first time. The agriculturists has stood since, we shall be able to appreciate the mighty have been deprived of a free and open market for their advantages gained to us under this much lauded arrangeproduce, for nearly half a century; and for what, he ment. He would undertake to show that we had sacrificed would ask? To subserve the interest of navigation. They enough, heaven knew; that we had gone down on our DEC. 23 to 28, 1831.] Armament of Fortifications. [SENATE. marrow-bones to the British, and begged them to take all Maryland is equally unfortunate. He [Mr. H.] did not we were so anxious to give them, and that they were not object to the practice supposed by that resolution, on the slow to avail themselves of the advantages so liberally ground that it was a fraud on the revenues of Great Briheld out to them. The gentleman from Maryland had tain. It is of no importance to us how much the British committed, as he had before observed, a great error in navigators in this trade avoid British duties, unless by supposing that the British had laid no discriminating duties it they gain an advantage over our navigation. And it on our trade with the West Indies. He was positive that then does become a ground of complaint. Our products, they had, and he would tell the gentleman where he say flour and lumber, carried to their Northern colonies, might find the law. It was published in the British Albion pay a very trifling, or no duty, whether in American or a few months ago; he would not positively say it was the British vessels, and thus far the trade is apparently or an identical schedule prepared by Mr. Herries; but, if it was equal footing. But these products must be transported not that, it was one far more obnoxious. The gentleman thence to the Southern colonies in British vessels excluhad fallen into another error, which he would take the sively: for this is, by British construction, "coasting Liberty of correcting. So far from its taking our mer-trade," in which we are not permitted to participate. chants a long time to determine how to shape their Again: British and American vessels can on equal terms voyages, the vessels were actually loaded, and waiting to clear from our ports for the West Indies, and go directly sail as soon as they heard of the West India ports being there. But let it be remembered that the duties in this opened; and some of them, when they arrived in the British West Indies, found that they had no business there, and were forced to carry their cargoes to a port of deposite. As to our vessels being blocked up by the ice, that was out of the question. Do we not know that our vessels go to the West India ports all the winter? Why, said Mr. H., those are the very places in winter they should go to; so that, for ten months at least, we might have had the benefit of the trade. direct voyage on these articles amount to a prohibition. Now it will be readily perceived that an American vessel could not, but a British vessel could, under a false clearance from St. John's, clear from Richmond for the West Indies, and enter there by her clearance from St. John's, and thus avoid the duty. - This would avoid the delay incident to a circuitous voyage, and operate a saving of from $400 to $600 on each cargo. And, as this circuitous voyage would be of no manner of benefit to the British, and the direct voyage would throw all the carrying into their hands, I, said Mr. H., can see no obstacle to the British custom-houses giving countenance to such a transaction. Whether the Executive has any information, or can obtain any, may be doubtful; at least, we can ask. If such a practice is indulged, and should become general, the whole carrying trade will inevitably go to the British. The resolutions were then agreed to. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday next. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27. This day's sitting was spent in disposing of a variety of petitions and other private business. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28. The calculation of the Senator from Maryland must be wild indeed, if he supposes that three months must transpire after the President's proclamation of the 5th October, 1830, before the West India trade could be commenced by us. If the trade offered any prospect of benefit, every adventurer would be watching and ready to embrace it. The Americans not prepared for the trade! What, sir, when the President's proclamation had opened it to the British for two months, and we were expecting it every day to be opened to us, and we not prepared for it! No, sir, the merchants were much better prepared to understand this trade, than the Senator is to discuss the subject. and resolutions, and in acting on sundry private bills; and This day's sitting was spent in the reception of petitions If the trade were worth any thing, they had ample time then to find it out. And pray, sir, what was the wonderful change which required so much deliberation before our merchants could venture? We had hitherto furnished the British colonies through certain ports of deposite: if, instead of these, we could go direct to the places of consumption, did it require much time for deliberation how to manage? Time for those who understood a circuitous voyage, to consider how to manage a direct one? Now, this is wonderful. The merchants must have time to arrange their correspondence, procure proper vessels for the trade, and assort their cargoes. And pray, sir, if the trade were worth a thought, would they not be doing all "Be it enacted, &c. That the sum of one million of this from the moment of the President's proclamation? dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, for the Proper vessels! Sir, I would ask the Senator whether a purchase of timber, iron, and other necessary materials vessel fit for the trade to St. Barts and St. Thomas would for artillery carriages, and for providing the cannon, mornot be as fit for Barbadoes or Jamaica? And I confess I tars, cannon shot, shells, &c. for the armament of the cannot well discover why an assorted cargo for British new fortifications, and such of the old fortifications as, in consumption, through a Danish or Swedish port, would the opinion of the President, ought to be armed: Pronot be just as good an assortment when transported divided, That a sum not exceeding two hundred thousand But I shall have a word to say about assorted car-dollars be annually applied to the purposes aforesaid. goes when the information comes which is called for by SEC. 2. That the moneys appropriated by this act shall not be transferred to any other object of expendiIn regard to the period it did require after the procla- ture, nor shall any part thereof be carried to the fund demation of the 5th October, before information was re-nominated the surplus fund.'” turned, he [Mr. H.] spoke from recollection only, and he [The annual appropriation has heretofore been one so stated. The Senator from Maryland, it seems, does hundred thousand dollars. The present bill was intronot pretend to know, but he speaks from conjecture. duced by Mr. SMITH, on leave, and was referred to the Now, that information might go and return in sixty days, Committee on Military Affairs, which committee reported there is no doubt; indeed, it is about the ordinary time. the bill with a recommendation that it be rejected. AcWhat time the news that the British ports were open to cordingly, when the bill came up to-day,] us did arrive, he did not pretend to state precisely, but he was pretty sure it was in December; it might be little more than two months after the proclamation. rect. the resolutions. In his remarks on the third resolution, the Senator from Mr. BENTON, in pursuance of instructions from the military committee, moved that it be indefinitely postponed. Mr. SMITH said he should have been glad to concur with the committee in their motion for an indefinite post SENATE.] Armament of Fortifications. [DEC. 28, 1831. We were not ponement of the bill under consideration, had they given which could not be left unprovided for by Congress, but any satisfactory reasons for their motion. He believed was a mere measure of convenience, not of necessity, now, and he had long believed, that an additional appro- which might well be dispensed with without any real loss priation for the purpose of providing for the national de- or disadvantage to the country. He conceived that the fence was a measure not only desirable, but highly argument of the gentleman from Maryland, that this meaimportant and necessary, as a precautionary step to pre- sure was necessary to enable the country to avoid the vent the danger of a sudden invasion from a hostile force, danger of sudden invasion, was one which the present and the losses and disgrace unavoidably resulting from en- situation of this country, with respect to foreign Powers, tering into a war unprepared. Ten years since he had did not support. He could discover nothing in the poliprepared and introduced a similar bill into that House, tical aspect at this time, indicating a danger that would which had been submitted to the then Secretary of War warrant the making so large an appropriation, or, in fact, for his opinion upon the propriety of bringing it forward, any additional appropriation for the purpose of arming and which had been warmly approved by him, and the fortifications. He did not think that any European earnestly recommended to the favorable consideration of nation was disposed to enter into a war with this country. Congress. He had expressed some doubts of his being There was, on the contrary, abundant evidence of their able to carry it through both Houses of the Legislature, disposition to cultivate the friendly relations now subsistbut considered it of sufficient importance to demand their ing between them, and which it was the determination of exertion in its favor. this Government to reciprocate. But if there should a The engineer of the department had also deemed the rupture take place with any foreign Power, there would provisions of that bill of so much importance as to induce undoubtedly be sufficient warning given to the country him to make a particular reference to it in his report, as to enable them to prepare for the event. having been introduced into the Senate, and the Presi- situated like the nations of Europe, in the neighborhood dent was also favorably disposed towards it. That report, of powerful and warlike rivals, with armies restless from said Mr. S., tells us that it will take twenty years to com- inactivity, and ready to invade the territories of contiguplete the armament of these fortifications, according to ous Powers at the command of their sovereign. We were the present sum appropriated for that purpose. Now, in situated at so great a distance from any powerful nation, the event of war with any foreign Power within that that the argument which the gentleman had used, though period, he would ask the gentleman how they were to it might apply to Europe, was quite inapplicable to our prevent these fortifications from becoming an easy prey country. If at any time the aspect of affairs should be to the enemy. They would be destitute of the necessary even threatening, it might then be advisable to make an But, as we were now weapons of defence, and of course fall into the hands of appropriation of this nature. the hostile troops, who would take possession of the forts, situated, there were other objects far more deserving of and blow them up. It was the object of the bill now be- our attention. He should oppose this measure, on the fore the Senate to prevent an occurrence of this kind principle that it was inexpedient to grant an appropriation from again disgracing the nation. It was founded on the of one hundred thousand dollars at this time to any object same basis, and embraced the same principles as those that could well be dispensed with, or which was not absowhich had been advanced by the previous bill. It was lutely necessary to meet the exigencies of the country. intended to be similar in its effects with those of the pre- He was sorry to see the national expenditures regularly vious appropriations. There was no difference in the increasing, and such a disposition to augment them still principle between this bill and that system which had long more. since been matured and carried into effect by the states- Mr. B. added, that the measure was not supported by men of a former period, whose wisdom had been appre- any recommendation from the Executive branch of the ciated and acknowledged by the nation. It was only an Government. The committee had, according to usage, extension of this principle which was proposed by the sent the bill to the Secretary of War, by whom it was present bill. He had taken the pains to prepare and returned, without objection, but without any particular introduce it, and he thought it was a measure of great recommendation. importance, deserving the deliberate consideration of Mr. SMITH replied that he was equally unwilling with the gentleman from Missouri to enter into unnecessary Mr. S. then went into a statement, exhibiting the pre- and extravagant expenditures of the public money; but sent situation of the various armories of the United States, we had erected fortifications at great expense, and he and to show that the present amount of the appropriation thought it a prudent and necessary measure to provide (one hundred thousand dollars) for the purpose of pro- them with arms for their defence; otherwise, they would viding arms and other necessaries for the defence of the be in danger of being destroyed by the first enemy that country, was too diminutive to be an inducement for Go- might appear on our shores, and choose to advance against vernment contractors to make proposals for arming or them. Notwithstanding the reasons that have been urged completing the fortifications, or to prevent the head of by the gentleman, he was still disposed to consider this that department from making annual demands for new ap-appropriation a measure of prudent foresight and wise propriations. This bill, by increasing the appropriation precaution. In answer to the argument that we were not to two hundred thousand dollars yearly, would obviate liable to be called into sudden war, he would appeal to these objections, and perhaps induce the contractors to the facts which were well known that transpired during undertake the arming and completion of the public works the last war. At that time we found ourselves engaged twenty per cent. cheaper than they would do it now. It with one of the most powerful nations of the world, prowould also enable them to complete the armament in ten vided at every point for attack or defence, in a contest years, or one-half the time that was required by the pre- which threatened the existence of our liberty, and on our sent plan. This Mr. S. considered an object of great part totally unprepared. I was at Baltimore, said Mr. S., importance, as it would require no more of the public when the British troops approached that city, and witnessfunds to complete the works in ten years, than would be ed the evils of neglecting in time of peace to prepare for necessary if they were delayed twenty years. He could war. I was engaged at that time in examining the fortress not see the propriety of an indefinite postponement. below the city, to ascertain its ability to stand the expect Mr. BENTON said that the grounds on which the ed attack, and found but five guns in that important committee had recommended an indefinite postponement fortress on which to rely for the defence of the fort and of this measure, were, that it was of a character not en- of the city. In this dilemma he was induced, from the titling it to be ranked with those necessary appropriations necessity of the case, to apply his private fortune to pro Congress. |