Public intelligencer. (Savannah, Ga.) 1807-1809, December 22, 1807, Image 2

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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. ” irnT ’ L-hifcSfeifiKsißßSi Jt- For Sale at this Office, The following BLANKS, which arc neatly prin ted on excellent Paper: MERCHANT’. ENTRIES, different kind. MANIFESTS, roreign and Coatling BILLS of EXCHANGE SEAMENS* ARTICLES DEEDS of CONVEYANCE MORTGAGES POWERS of ATTORNEY PRINIICES INDENTURES BILLS of SALE 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-