Mr. W. SMITH proposed $60,000. He would mention, that the Secretary of
War had been called upon to give a reason why so large a sum should be
appropriated; when they were told of the treaty which the gentleman from
Pennsylvania had mentioned, and that it would be necessary to have a
large store for the purpose of feeding and clothing the Indians who
attended it. The motion was then put and carried, 31 to 28.
Mr. W. SMITH moved to fill the blank for the Quartermaster's Department
with $250,000.
Mr. GALLATIN said, it would be remembered that in the estimate at the
opening of the session, this item was calculated at $200,000. The reason
given for this advance, was, that the expense of removing stores,
ordnance, &c., to new posts, would be very considerable; but, it would
be recollected, that $200,000 only were appropriated for that purpose in
the time of war, when the Army was liable to be removed very often. The
present estimate was for a Peace Establishment, when their men, once
removed to the new posts, would be stationed; and the appropriation,
instead of for 6,000 men, was now only for 3,000. He moved to insert
$200,000, instead of $250,000.
Mr. BLOUNT said, he supposed the taking possession of the posts was
contemplated when the first estimate was made. It was then known the
British had stipulated to surrender them on the 1st of June.
Mr. W. SMITH said, it was not certain when the first estimate was made,
whether that House would have ratified the treaty; and, if not ratified,
the posts would not have been got. The increased calculation was owing
to the expense in transporting ordnance, stores, &c., to the posts.
Mr. ISAAC SMITH said, it would require more cannon for one of those
posts, than were required by all the Army.
Mr. BLOUNT said, they had had sufficient proof to lead them to believe,
that the PRESIDENT did not think that House had the power mentioned by
the gentleman from South Carolina, and, therefore, he doubted not but
the first estimate was made with reference to the expense of taking
possession of the posts.
The motion for $250,000 was put and negatived, 31 to 26; when $200,000
was put and carried.
Mr. W. SMITH, moved to fill the blank for contingencies of the War
Department with $30,000; which was carried without opposition. He then
proposed to fill the blank for the defence and protection of the
frontiers with $150,000.
Mr. GALLATIN said, he certainly wished the frontier to be protected, but
he could not think so large a sum necessary for that purpose. The sum
last year appropriated was $130,000; and now we had peace with the
Indians, which was secured not only by a treaty with them, but by
treaties with Great Britain and Spain, he could not account for an
increased expense.
The motion for $150,000 was put and negatived; $130,000 was then
proposed and carried, 34 to 33.
Mr. W. SMITH proposed to fill the next blank, for the completion of the
fortifications, &c., at West Point, with $20,000.
Mr. NICHOLAS inquired if there was any law on this head?
Mr. W. SMITH said, there was an act to authorize a provision for this
purpose, but that act had expired. He believed, however, it might
properly come in there. This expense, he was told, was necessary to make
the posts tenable, and that if no money was expended, the fortifications
would be lost. He believed this item might properly be considered as a
part of the Military Establishment.
Mr. NICHOLAS said, he did not object to the propriety of the expense,
but to the manner of introducing it. It would apply to New York as well
as West Point. He considered the admission of West Point as the
admission of a principle to which all the surplus appropriations might
be applied. All the fortifications, he said, were in the power of the
Executive; but, as they had had a committee appointed on the business,
whose report they had considered, he thought they should act
consistently. He therefore moved to strike out the clause.
Mr. WILLIAMS hoped this item would not be struck out, and that the
PRESIDENT would be enabled to extend aid to the fortifications at New
York; if not, the works would go to decay.
Mr. VAN CORTLANDT said, that fortifications ought to be attended to, and
that he should vote for them.
Mr. GILES hoped the motion would prevail. There had been a committee
most of the session, to consider the subject of fortifications. If these
fortifications stood in need of repair, the PRESIDENT should have given
the information to that committee. He thought the item improper in the
present bill.
Mr. GALLATIN believed the gentlemen from Virginia were mistaken. The
committee which had been appointed was to consider the fortifications of
our harbors only. The works at West Point were of a different
description, and the estimate included not only the completing of the
fortifications, but the building and repairs of barracks and stores
which had been destroyed. The present item could not extend to
fortifications in general, as had been apprehended; for, though the
Secretary of the department does not confine the money appropriated to
one object, to that particular purpose, yet, he cannot expend it on any
object which was not contained in the act of appropriation. He moved to
add, "magazines, store-houses, and barracks." Agreed to, and also the
sum.
Mr. W. SMITH then moved to fill the blank for the fortification of forts
and harbors with $50,000.
Mr. GALLATIN said, this item he should move to strike out. A committee
had been appointed, and had reported on this subject, and that it was
not necessary to attend to it at present, as there was a surplus of
$23,000 unexpended. If they were to agree to the present sum, it would
be appropriating an additional sum of $50,000 for the same object; he
hoped, therefore, that it would be struck out.
Mr. W. LYMAN was in favor of striking it out.
Mr. WILLIAMS hoped it would be agreed to, on the ground of the necessity
of some attention being paid to the works at New York.
Mr. DAYTON was in favor of striking out this item altogether, as there
really was not money to spare for objects not essential. If any
particular harbor had been, or could be mentioned, the committee might
better be enabled to judge whether it would be fit, at this time,
pressed as they were for resources, to make an appropriation for
fortifying it, and how much. But, as he knew of none, and believed there
were no such, he should certainly be opposed to appropriating a single
shilling for this purpose. He meant not to say, that there were not
ports in the United States which might be advantageously fortified, but
only, that this country was not yet in a situation to justify their
encountering such an expense, especially as it did not appear to be
immediately necessary.
The motion for striking out was put, and carried.
Mr. W. SMITH moved to fill the blank for the pay of officers, seamen,
and marines, with $113,025.
Mr. NICHOLAS hoped this item would be struck out. It was certainly an
expense for which there was no occasion. He did not wish to see men
raised when they could be of no service. The frigates, he said, could
not be fit for service before the next session. He hoped, therefore, no
opposition would be made to the striking out of the clause.
Mr. W. SMITH said, they had authorized by law the building of three
frigates, and it was wished that they should go into service the present
year. If the whole sum was not appropriated, there would certainly be a
necessity for a part of it.
Mr. NICHOLAS moved to strike out the item as it stood, and insert, "the
pay of the captains of three frigates."
Mr. MACON believed these were the only officers at present appointed.
Mr. HAVENS wished gentlemen to say why these captains should be paid at
all. He believed that building of ships was not their business, and that
these places were at present mere sinecures. He should therefore vote
against the amendment.
Mr. W. SMITH said, it would be necessary to add subsistence as well as
pay of three captains, and moved to fill the blank with five thousand
dollars; which, after a few observations, was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. W. SMITH, the blank for military pensions was filled,
without opposition, with $114,259.
The committee then rose and the House entered upon the consideration of
the amendments which had been made, when all were agreed to, except
that relative to the subsistence of the non-commissioned officers and
privates.[81]
WEDNESDAY EVENING, June 1.
Mr. J. SMITH, from the committee appointed to wait upon the PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES, to notify him of the intention of both Houses to
adjourn on this day, reported his approbation thereof.
The business before the House being finished, a message was sent to the
Senate, to inform them that the House was ready to adjourn. Whereupon,
after waiting some time to receive any answer that might be sent
thereto, without receiving any--
The SPEAKER adjourned the House until the first Monday in December next.