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CONGRESS.
troves er‘tZTa.EmtTAXtrsu
Monday, November 30.
Mr. Cook said that the House
had been long in fiffion, end bad yet
done nothing towards the purpose for
which they were called together. For
the ‘purpofe of coming to the confi
de ration of the fubjeH, and for obtai
litng the proper information he offered
the following resolution :
id. Resolved , that the Secretary of
the Navy be directed to lay before
this Ho life a Ratement of the frigate--,
and other armed vdfeis-compotieg the
navy of the United States d-.Ringaiifh
ing those in atlual service from those in
ordinary, and noting such as want re
pairs, with an estimate of the sums n'*-
ccfTary to prepare them for immedi
ate service, and the probable time nc
ceflury to make such repairs.
2d. Resolved , That the Secretary of
the Navy bed.reeled to lay before this
‘Houfe, a Ratement cf tire number of
officers and men refpetiively belong
ing to the navy of the United States and
the corps of marines.
3d. Resolved, ‘l'hat the Secretary of
the Navy be direfled to lay before this
House, an estimate of the number of
officers and men which would be ne
celfary to complete the tnaning the
whole and entire navy of the United
States including the gun-boats with an
eUunate of the expenditures refpeft
ively necessary for maintaining them,
in afctual service during cue year.
4th Resolved, That the Secretary of
the Navy be directed to lay before this
House a Ratement of the quantity,
quality, and present Rate of the timber
and other materials belonging to the U
nited States now on hand suitable for
building (hips of war, deicribing the
force and size for which such timber
•and other materials are suitable.
Mr. Blour.t objetled to the paffiage
of the fir It resolution as entirely ur.ne
eelfary, as he had in his hand a letter
from the Secretary of the Navy, giving
part of the iuformation alked for by
that resolution, and as the committee
of aggressions had aßually, requeßed
of the Secretary of the Navy, inlorma
tion which would embrace ail that was
•contemplated by it.
Some converlation ensued on the
particular information wißied, and the
propriety of calling for it, between
Meifrs. Cook, Blount, Smilie, Mil
iior, Mumford, Dana, Talltnadge and
Gardner ; timing which a motion was
made by Mr. Smilie to postpone the
conlideration ot the resolutions till this
day week, on which Mr. Mumford of
fered the following remarks.
He Ibid, that more than a month had
expired iincc they were assembled here
on an extraordinary occalion, and the
nation had been conllantly looking up
to them in lull expectation that they
were occupied in measures of defence.
It was true that a lelefcf committee had
made a report authorizing the Secreta
ry at War to fell a few mulkets and ef
!tablilh a cannon foundary in this place;
it was also true that the committee of
aggressions had made report. He did
not mean to arraign the measures of!
their Committees ; it was far from his
intention; he had thefulleft confidence
in them, he made no doubt they had
difeharged their duty with fidelity.—
J3ut they had also duties to perform to
tfiemfelves and to their country, and
he did hope they would immediately
proceed on measures of defcncc.~
Would they put it in the power of a
foreign minister to write to this court
that they might purfuc their own mca
fures, that they had nothing to appre
hend from the American Congress, as
they were occupied in their domestic
concerns ? Although they had nooffi.
cial information ol late date before
them relating to their affairs with Great
Britain, he yet presumed every mem
ber of the House was convinced of the
hollile dilpofition of that government.
Look to Novo Scotia (laid Mr. M,
you there find her militia in a Rate ol
requisition, fortifying the port and har
bor of Halifax, numerous reinforce
ments daily arriving there, and at Que
bec, under the command of a vigilant
enterprising officer; the whole of their
naval force on the lakes prepared for
war; numerous tribes of savages a Rem
bled at their indication in the neigh
borhood of Detroit, a secret expedi
j don from Europe confiding of 20,000
1 men ostensibly given out for South A
! merica to re-conquer Buenos Ayres,
when in sass they might attack foine
vulnerable part of our country ; 14
fail of the line and i3 frigates they had
heard were bound to the Weft Indies,
when in reality they might together
| with what force they had at Halifax,
i blokade the whole of our ports and har-
I bars in order to overawe our govern
j mem, and enforce the demands very
j likely to be made by the ir Minister ex
; traordinary daily expended to arrive in
this country. When they were thus
threatened, there could be but one fen
tffnent and he hoped they would not
delay a moment in taking such efficient
measures as would at !ealt defend the
count ry.
‘The ideas suggested by other gentle
men, being nearly correlpondent with
those already given, are omitted for
want of room, and to allow the adtnif
miffion of a greater part cf the debate
on fortifications.
Mr. Cook, consented to withdraw
the ‘firft refoiution till the information
alked for by the committee of aggres
sions was received, which might alto
gether Rfpercsde it, cr induce him to
medefy it so as to obtain his objeff.
The three last resolutions were then
agreed to without a division.
On motion of Mr. Blount, the
House went into a committee of the
whole, Mr. Baffiet in the cliair, on the
second report of the committee of ag
greffions, which recommends the fol
lowing resolutions.
Resolved , That it is expedient to au
thorife the President of the U. 5. to
cause such fortifications to be ere&ed
as, in addition to those heretofore built,
! will, with the assistance of gun-boats,
afford effe&ual protection to our ports
and harbors, and preserve therein the
refpeft: due to the ccnftituted authori
ties of the nation, and that their be, and
hereby is, appropriated for that pur
pose, out of any monies in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated, the sum of
dollars.
Resolved , That it is expedient to au
thorife the President of the U. S. to
cause to be built an additional number
of gun-boats not exceeding and
to arm, equip, man, fit, and employ
the fame for the protection of our ports
and harbors; and that there be, and
hereby is appropriated for that purpole
out of any monies in the treasury, not
otherwise appropriated the sum of
The report being read, and the firft
refoiution under consideration.
Mr. Blount said he would state, in
as few words as he could, the views of
the committee in presenting to their
consideration the refoiution now be
fore them. It would be seen that the
committee were of opinion that the
fortifications contemplated were e-”
quaily neceffiary in time of peace and
in time of war. For the circumstance ,
of our being at peace hitherto had not
restrained the rapacity and insolence
of Britilh naval commanders, and si
milar conduft would be continued,
unlels there were created in our har
bors a force fufficient to repeal it.
The contemplated sum to complete
the fortifications already eftabliffied
and to ereft others, was, in addition
to what remained unexpended of for
mer appropriations for that purpose
about 760,000 dollars, in case a war
took place; in case of peace, or our
former Rate not properly of peace or
war 300,000 dollars would be fuffici
ent, that being as large a sum as could
conveniently beexpended in the courle
of the year. It was not necessary that
the blank in the resolution (hould be
tilled at present, and it would accord I
better with his wishes, if it were left 1
Mil a bill should be brought in confor
mably to the refoiution,
.j The feccnd refoiution proposed an
! appropriation for building a certain
. number of gun boats. The reaion ol
; preference by the committee of this
mode of defence, was, that it Was the
■ only defence that could be provided
in a short time. However gentlemen
might differ in opinion with respect to
a naval force, all would agree that at
. this time they had r.ot means cr time
! to provide any other defence than that
! proposed by the committee. It was
| proposed to ereft 188 additional gun
boats which with the number already
built, would amount to 267, the num
ber proposed as fufficient for the pur
pose of defence. The secretary of war,
who was not called upon in form to
give information to the committee,
was requeßed to cat! on the commit
tee, and converse with them, on the
fubjeft, and the substance of his an
swers was contained in a paper which
Mr. B. held in his hand, but which the
committee did not propose should be
fubmiued to the House at prelent as
it might contain matter not proper for
disclosure. He would put it into the
hands .of the clerk who might read such
parts of it as would shew what were
the views of the secretary of war on
the Ribjeft—fuch as gave entire fatis
fadion to the committee, and such as
they hoped would be fatisfaftory to
the House. With thefeobfervations,
and one other, that thcle fortifications
were not contemplated.to be of a fix
ed or expensive kind, but principally
heavy artillery mounted on travelling
carriages, that might be moved from
place to place, he would submit the
fubjeft to the consideration of the
committee.
Mr. Dana enquired if there was any
statement of the balance remaining un
expended of former appropriations.
Mr. Blount said there was not a dis
tinct statement, nor was it in the power
of the secretary to give it, but it was
upwards of ico,coo dollars, which in
addition to 750,000 dollars, would
make about 374,000 dollars.
Mr. Quincy vvifhed to know of the
chairman of the committee, whether
this money was to be appropriated ex
clufiveiy to ereft new fortifications, 01
to repair old ones, or for both.
Mr. Blount said the sum of 750,000
dollars was considered fufficient to
complete such fortifications as have
been erefted on proper feites, and to
ereft such others as might be necessary
irt aid of gun boats. The secretary
of the navy could not state the particu
lar sum that each place would require.
Pad experience had shewn that such
express appropriations could not be
made. It was the wish of the commit
tee to afford to the President the pow
er of applying these sums to such pla
ces as he Ihould think best.
Mr. Quincy wished to know wheth
er the terms of the refoiution express
ed the intention. He conceived that
this sum of money should be placed in
the hands of the President of the Uni
ted States, not only to ereft new forti
fications, but to repair old ones where
necessary. As he understood the rel’o
lution the President was to apply the
whole sum to new fortifications, and
could not appropriate it without mis
application to repair old ones.
To continued in our next.
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In Council,
MONDAY, December, t8o?.
ORDERED, That rn Monday the 28th infl. that
the City Council will proceed to the Ele&ion of
DEPUTY COALER, vice William Simmons, resign
ed, with a salary of Five Hundred Dollars per annum.
Candidates, who with to apply Tor the Office, will for
ward their petitions to the City Clerk,
Extradt from the Minutes
D. WiftLIAMS, C. C.
INTELLIGENCER,
SAVANNAH :
TUESDAY, Df.cbmbkr 22, ISC7.
FOR THE INTELLIGENCER.
Mr. M'Lean,
THE liberty of the press has been
juflly said to be a necessary part of a free gov.
eminent. Neither oppoiition or malevolence
have induced the writer to make the following
“b
remarks ; but a feme cf propriety, Thejl
publication will in no way criminate you ss aa
Editor, but will gratify the feelings of thou,
who are friendly to the charafters, whole ah
ledged disappointment has made so many f ov ,
cigners exult.
YOUR FRIEUDS,
FOR THE INTELLIGENCER .
Mr. M'Lt.an,
A more extraordinary measure was fuvr.
ly never adopted by any legislative affenih.lv,
than that recently passed by the members cf
oitv State Convention, relative to the ccnduft
and proceedings ot’ the Justices of the Inferior
Court prefixing- in this County.
Some feribbier in the Republican, wha
iigned himfelf ‘ IJ,’ with more evidence cf au.
dacity and enmity, than of sense and judgment,
wrote an elaborate piece againtl them 5 arnj
another writer conversant with law books pear,,
ed a prolix pamphlet. All this was dene to in.
jure the Justices of the Inferior Court.
The Governor followed the counsel given
him, (and the purity of his motives it is net
mine to doubt) but where was legal knowledge
all this while ? The Legislature received Exe
cutive information of the removal of an officer,
■ and the respect to the source from whence it
issued, induced them to notice it. But how
’ has it been noticed l Having a sense of justice,
1 and fome knowledge of the laws and conftitu
i tion, they made resolutions, reprehending the
ex-officer. No decisive measure has the Leguv
: i lature adopted, and they had no power to do
so, or a sense of their folema duty would doubt,
less have led them to do it, But as no right
existed, authorising a determined procedure, no
aft should have taken place. A refpeft to the
elevated officers of the government is undouted
|ly due, but that refpeft should never lead to the
j exercise even of public opinion in a legislative
body, unless explicitly fanftioned by fome pnr.
ciple of law. The Legiflatnre it is true have
pronounced their opinion ; and will writers
dare to exult at that declaration, who have quo.
j ted Tucker, and used all the little sense they
puff.fs to prove that the branches of govern
ment should be totally separate and drflinft ?
If they do, it will add one more example to the
inconfiflency, which is uniformly attendant upon
ai iftocratic principles. The Judiciary is to de
cide, and the bufmefs should never have engaged
one moment of the Legislature’s attention. If
it be conceived by the Judge who may preside,
as the Legislature have pronounced, a cheerful
acquiefcertce will (I venture to affirm) be given;
and I Solemnly declare I believe the Mag’.ftrate
wiil possess independence enough to decide as
his real sentiments may dictate in despite of
what hae transpired.
Lover of Right.
Names of the Counties laid out in the Coun
ties of Baldwin and Wilkinfoh—are Baldwin,
Wilkinson, Morgan, Putnam, Jones, Randolph.
Lawrence and Telfair.
Lou'nville Gazitie.
On Tuesday last, anew contrast went into
Operation for carrying the U. States rtiail fro® ,
Washington City tp Detroit, the expedition with
which it is to be forwarded, will give pleasure to
those who view with a jealous eye, the conduit of
the British on our N. Western frontier. By [ h e
new arrangement 51 hours are allowed the con
traftor to take the mail from the General Pod-
Office and deliver it at Pittsburgh, 9‘J hours to
deliver it at Cleveland, at the mouth of the Cay
ahoga, and 8 1-2 days to carry it from hence to
Detroit. Pie is allowed 9 days for his return.
We may be permitted to add that there are now
more than 2000 poft-offices eftabhihed in the U.
S. and upwards of 30,000 miles of poll roads.
Those who recolleft the state of the Geuerß
Poll-Office when its present chief, firft accepted
the pretidency of that department, ill if friend*
to this country agree in hoping that the energi**
which now direst it, nay long continue to Rive
the United States.
Walhiugton Expof.tor-