APPROPRIATIONS FOR FORTIFICATIONS. were part of a grand system; and that the government proceeded to fortify ports, as it was found to be necessary, and according to their relative importance. That he would cheerfully vote for the erection of works on the coast of Georgia, whenever the board of engineers should report in favor of such a step. He regretted that sectional feelings had been indulged in, on this subject. Mr. M'Lane reminded the house of the manner in which this policy was adopted. Shortly after the close of the late war, a distinguished foreigner was placed at the head of the board of engineers. Examinations were made of the coast; detailed reports were sent into congress; and the information, required by the gentleman from Georgia, could be had by him upon examining the records of the house. These reports contain full and minute information, on every particular, to the smallest angle, and all the points and bearings, and even so far as to show, how the population of the country might 135 be concentrated, in aid of the fortifications. This system embraced all the most vulnerable points on the coast. New Orleans was to be defended, because of its vast importance to the commerce of the west. Boston, because it is an important port. The same reason applied to Newport and New-York. Delaware bay is an important inlet; and so is the Chesapeake, which is, also, a rendezvous for our navy. These points were all to be fortified. The fortifications, at the adoption of the system, had been arranged into classes; the most important works being arranged under the first class, and least important under the third class. Those of the first class were intended to prevent an enemy from establishing himself, by means of a navy, in any strong position, in the country. Those of the second class, were designed to protect towns of the second class, which are already partially defended; and those of the third class, were not to be recommended until the others were completed. The fortifications named in the bill, were of the first class, and the following sums were asked for :— $100,000 75,000 115,000 90,000 There were other works enumerated in the first class, but it was not thought necessary to commence them at that time. These were the fortifications for the defence of Throg's Neck, and Tompkins' Point, in New-York, Dumpling's point, Rose Island, and the Dyke, over Narragansett passage, Boston harbor, and Portsmouth harbor. Fort to be commenced at Bayou Benvenue, Mr. M'Lane said, that there were also in the bill, appropriations for the continuance of a Fort at Bogue Point, viz: Do. at Oak Island, For repairs and contingencies, These two last forts were commenced by the department in consequence of appropriations made for that purpose, by congress. The works had been begun, and an increase of expense would be the necessary consequence of any delay in passing this bill. He hoped, if no better reason existed for its postponement, than want of information, that the house would not consent to it. The motion to postpone, was lost by a vote 110 to 51. Amendments were made to the bill, adding $2,500 for repairing fort Constitution, in Portsmouth harbor; and $17,000 for the purchase of a site, for a fortification, on Throg's point. An amendment was also offered by Mr. Forsyth, appropriating $10,000 for erecting a fort at Savannah; but it was rejected as an improper departure from the general system. The bill then passed both houses, without farther amendment. When the bill making appropriations for the support of the govern $25,000 30,000 15,000 ment for 1826, came under consideration, a motion was made by Mr. Floyd, to insert $18,000 for an outfit, and year's salary, for a minister, to Central America. This was objected to, on the ground, that it was the intention of the executive, to reduce all the diplomatic agents at the new governments of Spanish America, to the rank of charge d'affaires. Mr. Trimble observed, that, to the governments of Mexico and Colombia,ministers of the first rank, would, in all probability, be continued: but, that, in consequence of the wish of the governments themselves, on financial accounts, ministers of inferior grades, would be sent. The amendment was negatived. An appropriation of $500 for certain buoys; one of $100,000 for completing the public buildings ; together with one of $1,000 to the reporter of the supreme court; and one of $2,000 for extra clerk hire, in the office of the surveyor, in Illinois, Arkansas, were Missouri, and SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT. stricken out of the bill; and an amendment, increasing the appropriation for surveying the public lands to $74,132 was made to the bill, and was sent to the senate for concurrence. In that body it was amended, by inserting $7000 for additional contingent expenses of the senate; $5000 for the keepers of the public archives, in Florida; $1750 for additional clerk hire, in the war department; restoring $1000 for the reporter of the supreme court; and $2000 for the clerk hire, in the office of the surveyor of Illinois, &c. $950 were also added, as a compensation to the chief Clerk, in the office of the fourth auditor, for performing the duties of his principal, during his last illness; and an amendment to reduce the contingent expenses in the treasury department, from $12,000 to $6000. The house consented to all the amendments, but the two last. It disagreed to these; and the senate having insisted on these amendments, the allowance of $950 was agreed to by the house. A conference was proposed, as to the last item, which resulted in the senate's receding from its amendment. The bill was then passed. Appropriations were made by this bill, of $58,970 to pay the expenses of the legislative department of the government, in addition to 137 $455,000 granted at the commencement of the session, and to $150,000 for mileage; $244,400 for the judicial department; $574,500 for the executive department, including the expenses, of all the departments at Washington, and also,of the territorial governments; $241,500 for diplomatic intercourse, and $312,500 for miscellaneous expenses. A farther appropriation was afterwards made of $40,000 for the expenses of the Panama mission. Upon the military appropriation bill being called up for consideration, Mr. M'Lean moved to strike out an appropriation of $6,500, for the purchase of 50 horses for the use of the military academy, which was inserted, under an impression, that the appropriation had been recommended by the board of visiters. This was an error; and he therefore made the motion. The motion was agreed to. The bill was also amended, by reducing the general appropriation for arsenals, from $36,700 to $26,700; and appropriating $15,000 for an arsenal to be erected at Vergennes. The appropriation for the repairs of Plymouth beach, was reduced from $25,000 to $13,184 13; and $749 added for repairing the Cumberland road ; and $18,000 for arrearages prior to 1817. The bill passed through its other stages, without opposition, and became a law. By this law, the following appropriations were made for the mili Quarter-masters, and hospital departments, and supplies to West Point academy, Ordnance service, Contingencies of army, Arrearages prior to 1817, Armories and arsenals, 14,602 273,753 64 $344,514 16 65,000 10,000 18,000 - 402,700 100,000 Armament of new fortifications, Repairs, and continuation of Cumberland road, Plymouth beach, deepening harbor of Presque Isle, and expenses of new surveys, 180,933 90 Total, $2,728,531 45 $43,000 15,000 95,000 The appropriations for the Indian department, which is a branch of the war department; were for the pay of the Indian agents, Presents to the Indians, Contingencies, The other appropriations, made on account of the Indians, were as follows: 259,116 17 To defray the expense of making, and carrying into effect, In addition to the sums appropriated by the appropriation bill, for the military service, the sum of $70,000 was appropriated for an arsenal in Georgia, near Augusta, and for internal improvement, the following sums: For the repair of the post road between Jackson and Columbus, in Mississippi, Do. between Chatahoochie and Line Creek, Ala. 60,000 20,000 15,000 6090 For piers, buoys, light-houses, removing obstructions in For the survey of a canal between the gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, 20,000 harbors and rivers, &c. 308,255 150,000 For subscription to the Dismal Swamp canal, of a colony, which was contrary to the intention of congress. He was not satisfied with the report on that subject. Mr. Owen was also opposed to the appropriation, if it were to be employed as it had been. While the law remained a part of the law of the land, he would vote for the appropriation; but he wished it to be distinctly understood, that it was to be applied in a different manner. For running the line between Georgia and Florida, When the bill making the appropriations for the naval service for 1826, was moved, Mr. M'Lane, the chairman of the committee of ways and means, moved to reduce the sum proposed for the African agency, from $100,000 to $32,000. This agency was established to return slaves, captured under the act "to suppress the slave trade," to their native country. The larger sum had been inserted in the bill, from the estimates of the department; but the committee had resolved to ask for a smaller sum. He did not intend to discuss the expediency of the system. He presumed that had been considered, when the house passed the law. If that law is to be repealed, congress would do it; but while it stands, the appropriation is necessary to carry it into effect. The committee is of opinion, that $32,000 will be sufficient for that purpose, viz: $2,800, salaries for the agents; $8,000, for the support of the slaves on hand; and $21,000, for the transportation of 420 negroes, now in the United States, to their native country. Mr. Forsyth observed, that this agency seemed to be the beginning Mr. M'Lane replied, that the sum was so small, as not to admit of any part of it being diverted, from the specific purposes of the appropriation. This was the object of the committee, in limiting the sum. He did not mean to enter into a discussion of the subject; but he thought, that the construction which the late president had put upon the law, was the correct one. The government could not get along with a less sum than that proposed, and he hoped the amendment would be adopted. It was then agreed to. A motion was made to insert an appropriation of $20,000, for a navy yard, at Baltimore. Mr. Dwight objected to this |