Part 318

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.

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.

INDEX TO VOL. I

Acts of Congress.--Propriety of limiting the period of their operation, note, 82; safe-keeping of, 129.

Adams, John, elected Vice President in 1789, 10; voted for as President in 1789, 10; in 1793, 385; addresses the Senate on taking the chair as Vice President, 11; Vice President U. S., 441, 520.

Address, Inaugural.--Washington, 12.

Address of the Friends in Pennsylvania, &c., urging the discontinuance of the Slave Trade, 201.