FEB. 14, 1826.] Revolutionary Pension System.-Breakwater in the Delaware. they should take up the various propositions offered at this session of Congress, to amend the Constitution, should come to the conclusion that some of them should be adopted, he might, at a future day, call their attention to that which he now offered. His opinion of its expediency must depend on the opinion which the House should express on the other amendments now before them, and which may very soon be acted on. He should now only move to lay the resolution on the table. The resolution was accordingly ordered to lie on the table. THE REVOLUTIONARY PENSION SYSTEM. Resolved, That the Committee on Military Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the several laws relating to Revolutionary pensioners as to allow said pensioners to receive their pensions from the date of their several declarations, made pursuant to the provisions of the act of Congress passed on the 18th of March, 1818, entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war. Mr. ESTILL said he would offer to the House some of the reasons which induced him to introduce the resolution; and in doing so it would be necessary to revert to the course of legislation which had been pursued on the subject of Pensions. [H. of R object of his resolution was to embrace this class of persons, whether few or not. He differed from the War Departinent in the construction which it had given to the law of 1823. He did not believe it was the intention of Congress to withhold a pension from any of those who were indeed paupers, and had served their country with fidelity. He was not, however, very anxious in the matter. He presumed the act of 1820 had for its object nothing more than to protect the Treasury from imposition, and to ascertain whether an applicant was what he pretended to be. The resolution asked that a Committee may consider the subject, and report on the expediency of amending the law, unless they should agree with Mr. E. in the opinion that the present construction of the law is erroneous; in which case they would so report; and an expression would be obtained of the opinion of Congress, one way or the other, which was all Mr. E. aimed at. Mr. McCOY observed, that he did not like to say any thing in opposition to the wishes of a colleague; but the decision of the Secretary of War was now settled, and he thought it would be a pity to disturb it. The law was sufficiently plain-it meant to say that the pension should commence with the date of the proof. It was never the intention of Congress that those who were stricken off the pension roll, should again receive pensions, till they had satisfied the proper officer of the Department that they had a right to them. Mr. ESTILL said, in reply, that he had not expected any objection would be urged against making an inquiry; his resolution contemplated no more; and, when the report should be received from the Committee, it would be time enough to discuss the merits of the question. The question was then put, and the resolution was adopted-ayes 95. BREAKWATER IN THE DELAWARE. Mr. J. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, who voted against the resolution of Mr. MINER, rejected yesterday, calling for information intended to bear on the proposition in favor of the erection of a Breakwater at the mouth of the Delaware, moved for a reconsideration of the resolution; which was agreed to. When He In 1818, Congress passed an act providing pensions for persons who had served during the war. By this act it was directed, that any person claiming the benefit of it must make declaration, in a Court of Justice, among other things, that he was so poor as to stand in absolute need of the public bounty-from which it appeared evident that the intention of the law was to make a provision for paupers only. By a subsequent act, passed in March, 1819, it was declared that the pension should commence at the time the required declaration should be made. It was soon found that an immense class of persons were receiving pensions who were never contemplated by the Legislature, and, in consequence, another act was passed in 1820, the effect of which was to exclude all but those who proved themselves to be paupers. By this last act, Mr. HEMPHILL rose in favor of the resolution. the Secretary of War was made the judge, to determine was sorry, yesterday, to see the opposition which was whether any applicant had, or had not, satisfactorily, made to this call for information, contrary to the usage of shown himself entitled to the benefit of the public bounty the House, which seldom resisted a call for information, --and he was required to withhold the payment of the when asked for by any member, with or without an avowpension, till a certain schedule, accompanied by a pre-ed object. He instanced the call for the proceedings scribed oath, should have been laid before him. In 1823, of the Court Martial in the case of Commodore Porter, at a farther act was passed, supplemental to those preced- the present session, when no object was in view of the ing; and according to the construction of this supplemen- | mover, who so avowed, and yet the House did not refuse tal act, which was adopted as the rule of the War De- the information; and many other similar cases might be partment, it was determined that (even in the case of adduced. those who finally proved themselves to be paupers, and fully entitled,) all pensions should be suspended, froin the date of the act of 1818, till the time full proof was made according to the new forms required. In consequence of this construction of the law, it happened that those very persons for whose benefit the pension law first passed, and who were admitted to be legitimately entitled to its As to this last objection, Mr. H. asked, could it not be benefits, lost the amount of their pensions from the passing made in almost every case? Whatever is of record in the of the act of 1820 to 1823; and this without having been Departments, (unless some things, perhaps, of a configuilty of any fraud, or attempt to deceive. A case of this dential nature,) may be seen by any member. But, shall kind existed in that part of the country from which he the members of this House, therefore, be taken from their An individual applied for a pension in 1818, and, seats, and be employed for a week, to do what it is the furnishing the proof then required, continued to receive proper business of a clerk in a public office to do, and it till 1820. Owing to sabre wounds in his head, his un- what he may do in a few hours? Is it a usual argument derstanding was much impaired, and he neglected to fur-to a mover, that you may go and hunt up the information nish farther evidence, till 1824; in consequence, he was deprived of his pension for those four years, though most clearly one of those persons for whose benefit the law was made. Mr. E. thought this was unjust. He did not believe there were many cases of a similar kind; but the came. In the present case, however, the call for information had been resisted: first, because it was said to be founded on an improper principle; secondly, on the ground that the information would be useless when obtained; and, thirdly, that any individual member could get the information for himself, if he would take pains enough. yourself, and not trouble the clerks? If such arguments were to prevail, members would have to be taken from their business here, continually, to seek out for information, which the clerks in the Departments are paid for the purpose of preparing, when necessary. H. of R.] Navy Appropriation Bill. [FEB. 14, 1825. It had been said, also, that the call for information is York, or some other port. I hope, sir, that the Delega founded on an improper principle; that the expenditures tion from New York will be too liberal to let this cunin ports ought not to be in an exact proportion to the re-stance influence them; and I appeal to that State, which ceipts of the revenue. Mr. H. agreed that this would adjoins the State of Pennsylvania, whether the port d not be a proper principle to act upon; and, he said, nei- Philadelphia ought not to be protected, in its natural ther of the gentlemen who advocated this call, had main-vantages. I think I may safely assert it as a fact, the tained the principle. It was entirely imaginary with Pennsylvania has had less public money expended within those who opposed it. The honorable member from her limits, in proportion to her importance to the Union, Massachusetts, it seemed to him, raised it himself, and than any of the other States. argued it down himself. Mr H. thought, however, that I never knew the citizens of Philadelphia so warmly i he should be able to show, that even this principle (al-terested in any object as in this. They have sent mens though he had never acted upon it,) ought not to be rials here-the Legislatures of three States have taken treated with great disrespect, because it had been acted part in it-and now, when the particular friends of the upon, heretofore, by both Houses of Congress. Since I measure only ask for information which they believe w have had a seat here, (said Mr. H.) I have exhibited no be useful, it is resisted, &c. On what grounds was it op sectional feelings: I was the first in the Eastern part of posed? Mr. H. asked; and then recapitulated the grounds Pennsylvania to support the Cumberland road, which is taken, pro and con. We disguise nothing of our purpose, now popular, and is continued almost without objection. said Mr. H. We wish to show whether there has not From the Committee of which I am a member, acts have been more public money expended in other ports, on obbeen reported, which have distributed money in most jects not so important as this. Suppose the subject to be parts of the Union: In surveying the country in many under discussion, and the gentlemen who represent Boston directions; in surveying and making roads in the Terri- should say, that they wished an improvement of equal imtories; in doing the same in Ohio and Mississippi; but I portance in their port, and that the finances could not scnever endeavored to get done for Pennsylvania any thing complish both. Would it not be a good argument, on the locally beneficial to her. I have never voted, that I re- other side, to say, that, at the port of Boston, much lege collect, against any of the fortifications at New York, at sums had been expended than for the port of Philsde Boston, or in the Chesapeake; nor against any improve-phia, in comparison with the revenue, and the rebrive ments in the ports of Boston, &c. And I am certain that importance and position of the two ports? And if we I never voted against any call for information on any of could show that the port of Philadelphia had been atthese subjects. But, as to this principle of proportional glected, and that moneys had been expended, in the expenditures, I will say a word or two. Internal improve-ports of Boston, New York, and the Chesapeake, on obment has long been a subject which has attracted the at-jects of less consequence than the one we proposed; and tention of this House, and in 1817, a law passed both far out of proportion with the revenues and natural pasiHouses of Congress, setting apart the dividends on the tions of the different ports; would it not, and ough: it United States' shares of stock in the Bank of the United not, to have a persuasive influence on the subject? For States, as a fund for Internal Improvement, to be distri- I hold the doctrine to be correct, that, where the objects buted among the several States, according to their re- are equal, we should aim at equalizing the expenditures spective representation in Congress. This bill was re- for Internal Improvements, as much as possible, over the jected by President Madison, on Constitutional princi- whole Union. Further, if the General Government, by ples, but he made no objection to its provisions: yet the expenditure of money, has made the ports of Boston Congress thought and acted differently, as appeared by and New York so safe and easy to enter as to draw from their having inserted the principle of representation in Philadelphia its natural trade, ought not the same Gothe bill, which is now treated disrespectfully. The gen-vernment to protect the trade of Philadelphia, and place tleman from Massachusetts, himself, then voted on that her on the same footing with the others? Certainly. principle. And, Mr. H. said, when objects are of great Such a course would not only be consistent with the national importance, attention ought to be paid to the equity due from the Government, in the distribution of claims of different parts of the Union, so as to equalize its beneficence, but would be beneficial to consumers the expenditures as nearly as possible. This was a posi- every where, by enlarging the choice of markets, &c. tion which he would never give up. Mr. H. concluded by saying, that he thought he had shown that the information would have a bearing on the subject of the proposed improvement in the Delaware, and he hoped the resolution would be no longer objected to. The object to which this information is to be applied, said Mr. H. is one of great and national importance; and particularly interesting to the city of Philadelphia. I need not, at this time, enter into an argument, to show its importance; but only to say sufficient, on that point, to attract the attention of the House, and induce them to vote for a call for necessary information. It is interesting to the Union, as the revenue is affected by the loss of vessels; it is interesting to the coasting trade, there being not a single harbor in that great extent of dangerous coast, spreading from New York to Hampton Roads, but the Delaware. It is interesting to the consumers of foreign merchandise every where for, the cheaper articles can be brought into a port, by removing risks, the cheaper they can be sold; and it will have a tendency to regulate prices in other ports. It is interesting, particularly, to the commerce of Philadelphia; the opinion of intelligent merchants being, that one hundred more square rigged vessels would come into that port, in a season, if a Breakwater was erected. The Bay is extremely dangerous in storms, and when ice is floating. Merchants have to detain their vessels, at an expense, in the ports of Europe; and often, when they arrive, they cannot enter into the Bay of Delaware, for fear of the ice, but must go to New : Mr. WOOD, of New York, rose-but The SPEAKER declared the hour for the discussion of resolutions to have passed, and proceeded to the or ders of the day, whereby the further consideration of this subject was postponed until to-morrow. NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL. The House then again went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. MARKLEY in the chair, on the bill “mak ing appropriations for the Naval Service of the United States, for the year 1826." The question being on filling the blank in the item for an agency, and expenses for captured Africans, on the coast of Africa, with $ 32,000— Mr. FORSYTH observed, that he was by no means satisfied, either by the information stated yesterday by the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, or that contained in the report of the Secretary of the Navy, of the propriety of this appropriation. The Chairman of the Committee had said, that the report of the Secretary ex 1 [H. of R. pressly states, that there is no connection between the limiting the appropriation for this Agency to the present United States' Agency and the Colonization Society. For year. They wished to make the sum so small, that none himself, after an attentive perusal of the report, Mr. F. of those serious evils which the gentlemen apprehended said, he was unable to discover in it any such declaration. could possibly grow out of it. Their desire was to apThere is, indeed, one passage,in which the Secretary says,propriate just enough for the support and transportation that the Government Agents have been instructed not to of the negroes already captured, and such as might be connect their views with those of the Society; but it is captured during the present year. If any irregularities most manifest that there is a perfect connection between had taken place-and he was not prepared to say that the Agency and the Society. The Secretary declares they had-they probably grew out of the large sums that they have a mutual dependence on each other. He heretofore appropriated. But if the sum he proposed goes so far as to say, in so many words, that the Society, should be inserted in the bill, they would be prevented the Colony, and the Agency, could not exist indepen- by the necessity of the case. If it was proper at this dently of each other. The place of both is the same; time to enter into this subject, he believed he could show the officers of both are the same; the same persons act that many of those things which had been represented as in a double capacity, and are authorized by their appoint-abuses, were in reality not so; but he would not now enà ment and instructions, to incur expenses for the benefit ter upon a discussion which did not belong to the subject of the Society, whenever required so to do. Mr. F. did in hand. As to the letter of the Secretary of the Navy, not profess to be intimately acquainted with the concerns and the animadversions which had been made upon it, he of the Colony; but he believed he might state, with great should, for the same reason, abstain from any reply. Of safety, that there is a fort there. He found, from one one thing he was entirely satisfied, and that was, if the item in the report, that, for the defence of the twenty- Agency for captured Africans was to continue at all, eight persons whom the United States have to support at the Department could not get along with a less sum than the Agency, the Agents had purchased 220 muskets. $32,000 for its support. This seemed a very sufficient armament for twenty-eight men, even with both the Agents at their head. It must be evident, from the whole language of the report, that the entire concern is nothing but a combination of the two interests. The Secretary speaks continually of "the settlement,' ""the establishment”—and it is evident heon, $20,000. includes the Colony and the Agency under this term, "a settlement." The language of the report is, throughout, strangely inaccurate. The Secretary says, the "settlement may be said to have recovered from its embarrassment. In another place he says, that, if the blacks continue there, they will add strength "to the establishment." To him, Mr. F. said, it appeared most evident, that there is a connexion between the Agency and the Colonization Society; and that the blacks supported there by this Government, are governed in effect by that Society. He mentioned these facts that the Committee might turn their attention more particularly to the subject. Mr. McLANE said he did not understand the gentleman from Georgia as opposing the motion he had made to fill the blank, but as having rather directed his observations to some proposition which is hereafter to be considered in reference to this subject. If so, he would say nothing in reply. Mr. FORSYTH replied, that he should not oppose the motion to fill the blank. The question was then put on filling this blank with that sum, and carried, without a division. Mr. BARNEY then moved the following amendment : "For the purchase of a site for a Navy Yard in the port of Baltimore, and erecting suitable buildings there In support of the amendment, Mr. BARNEY observed, that it became his duty to present it, in consequence of the wishes of his constituents, expressed in a memorial addressed to this Housc, by the City Council of Baltimore, and farther confirmed by resolutions of the Legislature of Maryland, instructing the Senators, and requesting the Representatives, from that State, to bring the subject before the attention of Congress. The House, at its last session, had passed an act for the building of ten sloops of war. As soon as this became known in Baltimore, a memorial was prepared and presented to the Secretary of the Navy, praying that one or more of these vessels might be built in that city. The answer returned to this memorial was, that that arrangement was not within the authority of the Secretary; Congress having already designated at what places the vessels of the Navy should be built, by the establishment of the different Navy Yards. Mr. B. now requested the indulgence of the House, while he presented, in a very brief manner, some of the claims which Baltimore conceived herself to possess, to the Mr. OWEN observed, that, if the sum proposed by the location of a Navy Yard there. In the first place, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means was to same depth of water was to be found in that port, as either be applied as appropriations for this object hitherto had at Philadelphia or Washington, viz. from eighteen to been, he should be opposed to giving even $32,000. But twenty feet; which, though not sufficient to float a vesif it was to be expended according to the provision of the sel of war to the Ocean, with her full armament on board, law, as passed by Congress, he would then support the furnished as great facility for that purpose as was to be motion, seeing that such was, at present, the law of the found at either of those places; which had nevertheless land. But he desired that it might be understood as the been selected as sites for Navy Yards. And, while Baltiwill of this House, that these funds are not in future to more possessed the same advantage in point of water, it be applied in the manner they have been, but in such a had greater advantages in some other respects. The shores manner that the House may know and understand their of the Chesapeake furnished an abundant supply of cedar, application. If the consequences to grow out of the con-white oak, locust, and white pine. These valuable spenexion of the Government with this Colony were appal-cies of timber were there near at hand, while the other ling, he was for meeting them and putting them down. ports at which Navy Yards were established, had to send Mr. McLANE said, in reply, that he should not at-there to get it. Baltimore had also the advantage of betempt to discuss the expediency either of the law on this subject, or of a connexion between the United States' Agency and any association of private individuals. He thought that such remarks had no connexion with the subject immediately before the House. The gentlemen appeared to look forward to evils which might, or might not, ever take place. But he would only observe, that it was from precisely such views as they entertained, that the Committee of Ways and Means had been desirous of ing situated in the centre of an area, of twenty or thirty miles, abounding with greater water privileges and water power, than any other district of the same extent in the United States. It presented the greatest facilities for the manufacture of cordage and canvass, for the rolling of copper, and for the preparation of almost every species of material, required in ship building. There is, at this moment, building in that port a most splendid ship for the use of a foreign Government-a vessel which would bear com H. of R.] Navy Appropriation Bill. [FEB. 14, 1836. parison with any that had been constructed in the most approved naval establishments. The mechanics of that City were numerous, and as expert in their respective branches of art as any that could be found. Their pride, too, was interested in this measure, and they would exult in an opportunity-it was the height of their ambition-to have their work exhibited and compared with that of others, in contributing to that Navy, which had encircled the stars of the American banner with unfading glory. He appealed to the gentleman from Massachusetts, if, when the Constitution floated into the port of Boston, that gentleman and his fellow citizens did not feel the glow of conscious exultation and delight. What he wished-what he asked-by the policy of the Government. And, as to ship bub was, that his deserted City might be permitted to share in the same feeling. States' Navy are continually and sedulously occupied in drawing away her seamen (of all other things the most important to a commercial City,) even before they ar enter the port on their return voyage. It is well kno that our seamen are not migratory, as to the ports fram which they ship themselves. They do not pass from pr to port in search of employment, but commonly ship then selves in the same harbor to which they have returned from their last voyage. This is known to the recruiting officers, and it often happens that seamen, arriving at Bal timore, are engaged for the Naval service before they set their feet upon the wharf. Commerce is thus crippled ing, no sooner has an enterprising individual collected to gether a few mechanics, with a view to prosecute that business, on a respectable scale, than his men are immediately tempted away by the prospect of superior prices at the Naval stations of the Government. A union of such disadvantages must be sufficient to break down any comof Baltimore to indulge in the language of complaint or murmuring. She had submitted quietly to the privatives of her situation, and, even in the severest seasons of nonintercourse and embargo, this Government always heard from that City the cheering voice of a friend. She has paid many millions into the Treasury, and now asks only that a small portion of that wealth should be returned to her which she had been the means of collecting for the country at large. Mr. B. said, he had thus, he hoped, brought the subject fully, though feebly, before the view of the House. The whole sum for which he asked was but twenty thousand dollars, and he felt persuaded, if it should be granted, that the result, while it would be eminently beneficial to Balti more, would be not less conducive to the Naval interests of the United States. It might, perhaps, be urged against the claims of Baltimore, that the Java frigate had been built in that port, and had since been pronounced of very inferior quality. But gentlemen, in fairness, ought to remember that the Java was built under circumstances of the most disadvantage-mercial City whatever. Yet it never had been the babit ous kind. She was built by contract: she was built for a sum little more than half of what has been paid for other frigates; she was built when the enemy was at the door when the circumstances of the Government required the utmost despatch, and when the vessel to be completed was intended to be used more for the present necessity, than to be preserved as a lasting monument of the skill of the mechanics. Another frigate was constructed at Philadelphia, at double the expense. Both had since been repaired, and it was found that the repairs of the one, cost nearly as much as those of the other. But he might appeal to the Erie and the Ontario, which still remain, as evidence of the skill of the Baltimore mechanics, which are allowed to be crack ships, and enjoy a distinguished reputation. Gentlemen, perhaps, were startled at the idea of the expense of a new Navy Yard; but let them recollect that a Navy Yard can be established at Baltimore, with less expense to the Government than at any other place. It is already a naval station. Officers of the Navy constantly reside there, engaged, it is true, in the recruiting service, but still they are there. Already there exists, in that port, buildings erected by Government at the time of the construction of the Constellation frigate. These are, at present, private property, but it will not require more than twenty thousand dollars to restore them to the Government, and to put them on a footing to render benefit to the nation. As to the capacity of Baltimore to its own defence against an enemy, the experience of the last war furnished, of itself, the most conclusive evidence. The City was attacked-attacked by a powerful and successful enemy-attacked at an hour when all hearts were dismayed by their barbarous triumph in the destruction of this City; and the first ray of hope that broke upon the gloom, beamed from the triumphant repulse of that enemy at Baltimore. It might be said, that there were already two Navy Yards within the Chesapeake, but what is the Chesa-drew his motion for amendment. peake Bay? It is an inland Ocean, whose wide expanse is able to embrace all the Navies in the world. When the extent of this Bay was taken into view, and the connection of its various branches, with the most important portions of our country, the argument he had mentioned would be found to possess but little weight. Having briefly touched on some of the advantages which would result from the establishment of a Navy Yard at Baltimore, Mr. B. said it would be proper that he should state some of the disadvantages under which that City at present labors. Her Representatives might appear before the House, and might almost demand a redress of grievance at its hands. It is known to all, that Baltimore is a commercial depot, and it must be acknowledged by all to be the true policy of this Government to build up, by every proper means, the interests of commerce. But Baltimore might complain that the officers of the United Mr. STORRS (Chairman of the Committee on Nam Affairs) hoped that the gentleman from Maryland would consent to withdraw the amendment which he had now offered. On the motion of that member, the Naval Com mittee had been directed to inquire into the expediency of establishing the Navy Yard in question, as well as some others, proposed by other gentlemen. These various projects were now before the Committee, and under consideration. In relation to this, as well as some of the other propositions, the Committee had referred to the Navy Department for information, and he would put it to the gentleman, whether it would not be better to wait, before acting on the subject, until the Committee shall have reported to the House. An opposite course might operate to injure the very object the gentleman had in view; and, besides, Mr. S. said, he felt some doubt whether the amendment was strictly in order, so long as the same subject was before a Committee of the House. Mr. BARNEY, in consequence of this suggestion, with Mr. STORRS then said, that he had been directed by the Naval Committee to move the following amendment: "For surveying the harbors of Savannah and Bruns wick, in Georgia; and Beaufort, in South Carolina, eight thousand dollars." Mr. S. said, that the views of the Committee were, in substance, these: That it might be important, at a future day, for the Government to have a Navy Yard at some po South of the Chesapeake; and, if so, it was desirable the a survey should be made of the different harbors on the part of the coast. Such surveys might also be of impor tance to the commercial and to the navigating interest the country. The sum of eight thousand dollars would be sufficient to cover the whole expense of the surveys nos proposed, and perhaps would prove more than sufficies for the object-in which case the balance would go to th surplus fund. Mr. BARNEY moved to amend this amendment by inserting therein "Baltimore, in Maryland;" and increasing the proposed appropriation from eight thousand dollars to twelve thousand dollars. Mr. STORRS observed, that the harbors proposed in his resolution had not yet been surveyed at all. Whether the harbor of Baltimore had been surveyed as particularly as was desirable, he did not know-the House would know when they had received the report of the Secretary of the Navy on the subject. But, with respect to those harbors embraced in his motion, he had had personal communication with the Department, and he knew they had not been surveyed. The Government has a fleet in the West Indies, which needs a rendezvous in one of the Southern States. The necessity, therefore, for these surveys, was pressing-it was immediately pressing. But, as to Baltimore, he did not conceive this to be the case. If it was a fact that the harbor of Baltimore had not been surveyed, the gentleman would state it to the Committee. Mr. BARNEY replied, that all he wished to accomplish by the last amendment he had offered, was, that a subject of so much consequence should receive a full examination. He did not know that so large a sum as that he proposed, would be required to authorize the survey, in addition, of the harbor of Baltimore. Perhaps a smaller sum might be sufficient. He hoped that the opposition already manifested to an appropriation towards a Navy Yard at Baltimore, would not be extended to a measure intended merely to obtain information. Mr. McLANE said, he had no disposition to embarrass the proposition-his only difficulty arose from the manner in which these amendments were proposed. He believed it to be a rule of order that no subject referred to one of the Committees of the House, could be brought into a Committee of the Whole, in the form of an amendment to a bill. He did not say that the present was precisely such a case; but he thought the reason of the rule equally applied. One Committee should not interfere with another. The Committee of Ways and Means had examined the estimates from the Department, and had prepared a bill in conformity with them. Now, another Committee, which has had none of those estimates before it, proposes an amendment to the bill. Every other committee of the House may do the same thing, and, if an appropriation bill is to be encountered by every new project, which may have been matured before other committees, but of which the Committee of Ways and Means had had no opportunity to judge, he did not see how that committee was to get along with any of the bills it became its duty to report. Mr. STORRS said, that the subject of his amendment had not been strictly before the Naval Committee, and no vote had been taken upon it; but, if the House thought the measure was necessary, and the necessity of it was pressing, they would not, on that account, refuse to make | provision for it in this bill. [H. of R. advantage of such an arrangement to the Government must be evident. Facility in the construction of any thing which immediately refers to the defence of the country, always must be important. There were, in Baltimore, a great number of mechanics of all descriptions, especially of Naval architects. If a Navy Yard should be established there, and the purposes of Government should at any time require an extra number of mechanics, the population of Baltimore can always furnish them. Whilst, on the other hand, should it be necessary at any time to dismiss a considerable portion of the persons employed, no such inconvenience will result as in places, such, for example, as Washington, where the public mechanics, if dismissed, must be thrown altogether out of employment. In this City, the Government is in some sort bound by humanity to retain workmen in its employ during intervals in which they are not absolutely needed; but there, a mercantile public is always at hand and ready to employ and to reward their industry. It is always an object worth the attention of the Executive, that those points selected as sites for the building of our Navy, should, as far as practicable, be secure from exposure to the approach of an enemy. This security is enjoyed by Baltimore in an eminent degree. The events of the recent war put the truth of this position in a very strong point of view. It was known to every body, that when the enemy approached this City, there was in fact a race between the forces of the enemy and our own Government in the destruction of public property. The Navy Yard was fired by our own officers, and such was their assiduity and success, that one very valuable vessel, then at that place, was entirely destroyed. This would not have happened if the Navy Yard had been stationed at Baltimore. This same enemy did approach that City Here Mr. DWIGHT rose to order, insisting, that, as this subject was already before a committee of the House, and had not yet been reported on by that committee, it was not in order to introduce the same subject in the form of an amendment. The CHAIR decided the amendment to be in order, The decision of the Chair was opposed by Messrs. The SPEAKER closed this debate, by expressing it as his opinion, that the decision of the Chair was incorrect. The principles of order did not admit of the same subject being referred for consideration at the same time to different committees. If it were so referred, the report of one committee might be made, and the decision of the House taken on it, and then the report of another (perhaps of an adverse tenure) would come in, and a new decision must again be had, and so on as often as the report of any comA discussion, as to the point of order, was further prose-mittee should be received. The Committee of the Whole cuted by Messrs. POWELL, DWIGHT, STORRS, and MCLANE, which resulted in Mr. STORRS' withdrawing the amendment. Mr. LITTLE now renewed the amendment which had been offered by Mr. BARNEY. He said, that, in supporting the proposition of his colleague, he felt it his duty to submit some considerations to the House, which he should do in as brief a manner as possible. He flattered himself they would do him the justice to believe that, in desiring to see this proposition adopted, he was actuated as much by a regard to the interests of the Union at large as to those of his own immediate constituents. At an early period of the Government, Congress had passed a law for the building of a number of vessels of war, and Baltimore had been selected as the place for building one of them, which was now engaged in actual service. The was but a committee of the House, though a large one, and before any subject could be discussed in this committee, which had been referred to any other committee of the House, the committee which had charge of it must first be discharged from its consideration. As this subject was now before the Committee on Naval Affairs, upon a memorial from Baltimore, if gentlemen wished to bring it into Committee of the Whole, they must first move to dis charge the Naval Committee. Mr. LITTLE, though still retaining his original view of the subject, consented to withdraw his proposal to amend. Mr. COCKE moved the annexed proviso, to come in after the following item : "For the pay and subsistence of the officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, and washerwomen of the Marine Corps, one hundred and seventy-six |