FEB. 23, 1832.] Minister to Colombia. [H. OF R. than had been heretofore voted, no greater sum will be one, inasmuch as the Government asked for no additional expended on the ordinary surveys. There is in this bill, expenditure. as had been usual, no express appropriation for the sur- Mr. BELL thought it would be more respectful to the vey of private land claims. After their improvement and Government that the sum which had been asked for settlement had been delayed year after year, shall all should be appropriated. If it should afterwards be disthese surveys now cease? He would inform the gentle- covered by Congress that they had applied for a useless man from Georgia, [Mr. WILDE,] that the standing in- waste of money, and Congress should deem it their duty structions to the surveyors are to survey no lands that will to control the Executive Department in the conduct of not bring the Government price. If other and inferior this part of our diplomacy, the sum might be reduced. lands were surveyed, it was an abuse of their instructions. There was, besides, another idea of great interest to the The gentleman from New York [Mr. ROOT] was unwilling American people, and, indeed, to every people, which to vote for these surveys, for fear this country would fill showed the propriety of the appropriation. If the friends up with people, instead of their being stopped around the of the progress of liberty in South America thought it great manufacturing establishments. He would make no important to that cause that the dismembered fragments of comment on that argument: the House could appreciate the Republic of Colombia should be reunited, then this its force without any comment. Government ought not suddenly to withdraw its minister from Bogota. Mr. VINTON said, that reference having been made to Ohio, it was due to himself to say that the surveys in that State begun in 1785, and ended in 1820. Thirty-five years had been occupied in bringing twenty-three or four millions of acres to market. Formerly some regard was had to the comparison between the survey and the demand. A population of a million had become inhabitants of Ohio, under that system. Its success will settle its correctness. The question was then taken on filling the blank with 160,000, and was carried--yeas 72, nays 48. MINISTER TO COLOMBIA. On reading the following paragraph: "For the salaries of the ministers of the United States to Great Britain, France, Spain, Russia, and Colombia, dollars," If the hope of reunion was to be fostered, it might prove a strong argument to that end, that the Governments of the United States and of Great Britain still continued their ministers there. He desired to give the friends of the late Government all the benefit of such an argument. Mr. WILDE, in reply to Mr. BELL, said that he was not conscious of having failed in the respect due either to the Secretary of State or to the President of the United States. It had never been his habit to treat any of our executive officers disrespectfully, but the gentleman from Tennessee must excuse him when he said that he could not make any other consideration his guide, when voting to appropriate the money of the people, than the public good. In deciding on such a question, he must be permitted to make up his mind for himself; and when a proposed exMr. McDUFFIE said that when the committee had pro- penditure appeared to him improper, it was not any reposed to fill this blank with $42,750, it had been on an spect for the Executive, however great, that should induce estimate made on the supposition that the salary of the him to vote for it. The gentleman had endeavored to minister to Colombia was to continue but nine months. show that many reasons existed why our minister should The Secretary of State had since then informed the com- be continued at the court of Colombia. If such reasons mittee that the President, for good and sufficient reasons, did exist, they had not been communicated to the Comhas determined to retain our minister at that court, and he mittee of Ways and Means, or to the House. As to now, therefore, proposed to fill the blank with $45,000. the economy of the measure, there might possibly be Mr. WILDE said he was unwilling to oppose the ap- a little saving, so far as the present year was conpropriation, but he could not suffer it to pass without a cerned, in continuing our minister, rather than sending a remark. The gentleman at the head of the Committee chargé; but the arrangement looked to future years as of Ways and Means had informed them that it had been well as the present. As to the idea that we ought to the avowed purpose of the Government to discontinue keep our minister there, in order to support and give the appointment of a minister at the court of Colombia, countenance to the Government, and strengthen the hope and to supply his place with a chargé d'affaires. He con- of reunion, by the continuance of two such important sidered that resolution as in conformity with the best ministers as those of Great Britain and the United States, interests of the country. He recollected that a certain Mr. W. was not apprised of the fact that the Government Committee on Retrenchment, once of much note in that of Great Britain did retain its minister at Bogota. If such House, had recommended, among other reforms, the dis- was the fact, he should have been happy had it been offi. continuance of our minister at that court, and the House cially communicated. But not having the same acquainthad had from a late President of the United States the ance with the state of our diplomacy as the gentleman avowal of a similar sentiment. In a discussion which had from Tennessee, he did not know such to be the fact. taken place a few days since, it had been avowed that But, if it were so, he was not prepared to say that the the Government of Colombia was dissolved, and, unless continuance of an American minister at a foreign court, something very special rendered it necessary to continue for the purpose of encouraging a foreign political confeour minister there, Mr. W. was not prepared to vote the deracy, was within the legitimate objects of our Governappropriation. A resolution had been offered by a gen-ment. He thought it our duty, as well as our avowed tleman from South Carolina, whom he did not now see in policy, to keep clear of all interference in the domestic his place, calling for information on this subject, but, owing concerns of foreign States. With the information he now to the obstructions arising from the morning debate, the possessed, he should be opposed to any increase in the resolution had not been acted on. Till the House had sum first estimated. some further light on this subject, he thought the first sum proposed by the committee ought to remain. Mr. WICKLIFFE inquired whether the bill made any provision for the outfit of a chargé to Colombia. Mr. McDUFFIE replied in the affirmative, but that was a specific appropriation, contained in a different clause of the bill. Mr. ARCHER, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, observed, that even if the Government of Colombia had been dissolved, as he was inclined to believe it had, we must still have a chargé at Bogota, and the con- Mr. WICKLIFFE further inquired whether the Gotinuance of our minister, who was already there, would vernment of Colombia had any accredited agent near the cost the Government no more than the sending out a United States. chargé. The discussion, therefore, was merely a nominal Mr. ARCHER shook his head. H. OF R.] The Judiciary. [FEB. 24, 1832. structed to make this motion, by the unanimous vote of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which committee contained gentlemen of opposite political sentiments. Mr. WICKLIFFE said that his great objection to the appropriation was, that we were sending a minister to a Government which, so far as we knew, had no existence. All the information we had on the subject, went to show Mr. ADAMS and Mr. McDUFFIE both strongly obthat it had been dissolved, and three Governments formed jected to voting an appropriation on that ground. If there in its stead. If our minister was to be sent to all three of was any State secret in the matter, the House might rethose Governments, it ought to be so expressed. He ceive it with closed doors. could see no good reason for the increase of the appropriation. Mr. ARCHER declining to make any further explanation, the amendment was negatived. On motion of Mr. EVERETT, $2,000 were voted for the expenses of obtaining documents relating to our early history, from the public records of Great Britain. After some other amendments, The committee then rose, and reported the bill as amended; and The House adjourned. Mr. JENIFER said that, ever since the bill had been under discussion, he had been listening with anxiety for further information on several of its items, and had attributed his own ignorance in part to his late absence from the House. But he now found that the gentlemen from Georgia and Kentucky seemed to have no more light than himself. He could not vote to appropriate money where he felt in doubt as to the propriety of the expenditure. In the present case, they had to rely on a mere estimate. It was very true, as the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. ADAMS] had remarked in a former part of the debate, that an estimate from a responsible officer was prima facie evidence of the propriety of an appropriation; but here on the 27th ultimo, was taken up: the prima facie evidence was against the appropriation. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24. THE JUDICIARY. The following resolution, submitted by Mr. LECOMPTE Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be inA report from the Committee on Retrenchment had point-structed to inquire into the expediency of amending the ed emphatically to this appointment as needing reforma- constitution of the United States, so that the judges of tion; nor had he seen or heard any reason for continuing the Supreme Court, and of the inferior courts, shall hold an appropriation which it had been so strongly recom- their offices for a limited term of years. mended to discontinue. To afford opportunity for further information, he moved that the committee now rise; but withdrew the motion at the request of Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, demanded the question of consideration. Mr. LECOMPTE begged him to withdraw the motion, Mr. BELL, who said that the gentleman from Georgia that he might have an opportunity of addressing some reseemed to suppose that he had insinuated that that gentle-marks to the House; man and other independent gentlemen of the House ought. But Mr. WILLIAMS, being well convinced that, in disto regulate their votes by the wishes of the Government. cussing such a resolution, the time of the House would He had made no such insinuation; and the gentleman's be consumed to no purpose, could not, he said, comply declaration as to his own independence was therefore with the gentleman's request. wholly gratuitous. He had only said that it would be more respectful, should the House proceed on the presumption that the Government had recommended what was proper and necessary. One of the departments was supposed to have a better knowledge as to what expenditures were necessary to its own action, than a private individual. It was certainly in the power of the House to withhold any ap-ed by yeas and nays, as follows: propriation which was asked for; but it was more respectful to suppose the demand correct, until the House should be better informed. Mr. McDUFFIE thought this discussion had better be deferred till the bill should come into the House. Mr. ARCHER said he did not seek to press the appropriation if gentlemen were not prepared for it; but the explanation might as well be given then as at any time. courts. The Government had a chargé at Guatemala, another at Chili, another at Peru; and we had also a commercial treaty with Colombia. If it was asked why a chargé would not be sufficient there, he should reply that the success of Mr. Moore's negotiation proved the importance of our having a full minister at all the South American The commercial treaty he had made was highly advantageous, and there was a prospect of its becoming still more so by the removal of the restriction with which it was accompanied; but this benefit must be lost if our minister should be recalled. If we called him home, we must immediately send a chargé in his place, unless we meant to show a mark of disrespect to Colombia, which we had done to no other of the South American States. After some further conversation between Messrs. MCDUFFIE and JENIFER, the question was put on the rising of the committee, and negatived-yeas 31, nays 79. The appropriation of $45,000 was then agreed to. On the following item: "For salary of the dragoman to the legation of the United States to Turkey, $2,500." Mr. ARCHER moved to strike out 2,500, and to insert "and for contingencies $37,500." He said he was in Mr. ELLSWORTH, remarking that the subject of the resolution was one of great importance, demanded the question of consideration should be taken by yeas and nays, which was ordered by the House. The question was then propounded from the ChairShall this resolution be now considered? and it was decid YEAS.-Messrs. Robert Allen, Angel, James Bates, Bouck, John Brodhead, Carr, Chandler, Clayton, Conner, Coulter, Warren R. Davis, Dewart, Felder, Fitzgerald, Ford, Foster, Gaither, Griffin, Thomas H. Hall, Holland, Hubbard, Plummer, Roane, Root, Wiley Thompson, Weeks, Wickliffe.--27. NAYS.--Messrs. Adams, Alexander, C. Allan, Allison, Anderson, Appleton, Archer, Armstrong, Arnold, Ashley, Babcock, Banks, Noyes Barber, Barstow, Isaac C. Bates, Beardsley, Bell, Bethune, James Blair, Jolin Blair, Boon, Branch, Briggs, John C. Brodhead, Bucher, Bullard, Burges, Cahoon, Cambreleng, Carson, Chinn, Choate, Claiborne, Clay, Collier, Silas Condit, Eleutheros Cooke, Bates Cooke, Corwin, Crane, Crawford, Creighton, Davenport, John Davis, Dayan, Dearborn, Denny, Dickson, Doddridge, Doubleday, Drayton, Duncan, Ellsworth, George Evans, Joshua Evans, Edward Everett, Horace Everett, Gilmore, Grennell, Hawkins, Heister, Hodges, Hogan, Howard, Hughes, Hunt, Huntington, Ihrie, Irvin, Jarvis, Jenifer, Jewett, Cave Johnson, Charles C. Johnston, Kavanagh, Kendall, Kennon, A. King, John King, Kerr, Lamar, Lansing, Leavitt, Lecompte, Lent, Letcher, Lewis, Lyon, Mann, Mardis, Marshall, Maxwell, William McCoy, Robert McCoy, McIntire, McKay, Mercer, Milligan, Thomas R. Mitchell, Muhlenberg, Nuckolls, Patton, Pearce, Pendleton, Pierson, Pitcher, Polk, Potts, Randolph, E. C. Reed, Russel, William B. Shepard, Augustine H. Shepperd, Slade, Smith, Soule, Southard, Speight, Standifer, Storrs, Taylor, Francis Thomas, P. Thomas, John Thomson, Tompkins, Tracy, Vance, Verplanck, FEB. 25, 1832.] Washington's Remains.--Claim of Mrs. Decatur.--Live Oak Agents. [H. OF R. Vinton, Wardwell, Washington, Watmough, Wayne, monwealth forthwith make known the feelings and wishes WASHINGTON'S REMAINS. The SPEAKER laid before the House the following communication, viz. WASHINGTON, February 24, 1832. To the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States: CLAIM OF MRS. DECATUR. The House then went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. SPEIGHT in the chair, on the bill for the relief of Susan Decatur, which bill was warmly debated until half past four o'clock. One of his associates not having arrived at Washington, and the other having declined to act, in performance of the honorable trust confided to us by the Governor of Mr. CARSON, with a view to conciliate those who Virginia, the undersigned takes upon himself the honor would not vote for the bill unless it contained a provision to transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representa- for the nieces of Commodore Decatur, moved (by consent tives of the United States the envelope directed to him of Mr. PEARCE, who withdrew his amendment for that by the Governor of Virginia, covering the resolutions of purpose,) an amendment to the bill, granting $10,000 to the General Assembly, laying claim to the remains of our the Misses McKnight. illustrious fellow-citizen George Washington; also cover- The amendment was opposed by Messrs. WICKLIFFE ing a letter from the Governor of Virginia, accompanying and DRAYTON, and advocated by Mr. DODDRIDGE—the resolutions; and in the discharge of this duty he takes when the question being put, it was rejected. leave to remark, that while the people of Virginia are Mr. PEARCE now renewed the amendment he had proud of the gratitude of their fellow-citizens of the offered last week, the effect of which would be to allow United States for the eminent public services of the father Mrs. Decatur $21,000, instead of $31,000, as her share of his country, and also for their high admiration of his of the $100,000 granted by the bill to the captors of the patriotic virtues, manifested by the successive resolutions frigate Philadelphia, and to give the remaining $10,000 of Congress, they also justly anticipate the frank acquiesc to the Misses McKnight. It was on this amendment that ence of their fellow-citizens of the United States in the the debate turned. In its latter stages, it assumed a very paramount claim of his native State to the sacred remains painful character, in consequence of the introduction of of her Washington. letters from Mrs. Decatur and one of the Misses McKnight. One of these was believed by Mr. CARSON not to be authentic, as it was not written in a female hand-but, on explanation, it appeared that the letter had been drawn up by that lady, although it might not be in her own handwriting, FRANCIS T. BROOKE. To Andrew Stevenson, Esq. Speaker of the House of Reps. U. S. SIR: The honorable Francis T. Brooke, Chief Justice John Marshall, and Major James Gibbon, the friends and brother officers of Washington in the war of the revolution, are the bearers of this communication, and of the the brother-in-law of Miss McKnight, to whose honorable Mr. PEARCE stated that it had been handed to him by character very decided testimony was borne by Messrs. WAYNE and WILDE: in consequence of which, Mr. CARresolutions adopted by the General Assembly of this SON withdrew the declarations he had made in reference State, expressive of their feelings and those of the citi- committee had been repeatedly withdrawn by Mr. WATto that gentleman. After a motion for the rising of the zens of this commonwealth with regard to the contemplat-MOUGH, it was at length renewed by that gentleman, and ed removal of the remains of Washington from Mount carried, when the committee rose, and reported progress; Vernon by the Congress of the United States. Agreeably and to the wish of the General Assembly, I have the honor to request you to receive and lay the resolutions of that body before the House of Representatives of the United States. I am, sir, with consideration and respect, your obedient servant, JOHN FLOYD. The General Assembly of Virginia view with anxious solicitude the efforts now making by the Congress of the United States to remove from Mount Vernon the remains of George Washington. Such removal is not necessary to perpetuate the fame of him who was "first in war, and first in peace," nor can it be necessary to perpetuate and strengthen the national gratitude for him who was "first in the hearts of his countrymen." The fact that Virginia has been the birthplace of the best and most illustrious man that ever lived, is naturally calculated to inspire her citizens with a strong desire to keep his remains enshrined in the land of his nativity; this desire is increased by the consideration that the burial ground was designated by the dying patriot himself. Therefore, Resolved, unanimously, That the proprietor be earnestly requested, in the name of the people of this State, not to consent to the removal of the remains of George Washington from Mount Vernon. Resolved, unanimously, That the Governor of this com- The House adjourned. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25. LIVE OAK AGENTS. The following resolutions, offered some days since by Mr. BRANCH, of North Carolina, were taken up: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be requested to furnish to this House extracts from the communications made to the department by the agents employed in the examination of the live oak lands belonging to the United States, and the preservation of the navy timber growing thereon, during the last and the present year, showing the portions and extent of seacoast which has been examined by them within the time mentioned, the quantity of said timber which has been found on them, and what reservations of these lands have been directed to be made in consequence of such discoveries. Also, that he be requested to lay before this House the report or reports of the agents who may have been directed to make surveys of the live oak plantations on Santa Rosa sound, near Pensacola, and which may show, with their opinions, the value of the lands of said plantations, their adaptation to the culture and production of navy timber; and whether, from such report or reports, it is probable the cultivation of this timber on those lands H. or R.] Live Oak Agents. [FEB. 25, 1832. will compensate the United States for the labor which forward. Whether it was designed as an attack upon the must be expended for that purpose. Resolved, also, That he be requested to report to this House, at an early period of the next session of Congress, such further information on this subject, as he may be furnished with, by the agents or others who may be employed in this service, with his views of the best means of preserving the navy timber growing on the public lands; or, if he deem it necessary, that he lay before this House a plan or system which he may think best calculated to secure to the nation an adequate supply of this material, either by cultivation or the purchase of lands now containing such supply. present very competent head of the Navy Department, he did not know: but he certainly had no objection to the production of the information called for; neither did he know whether it was intended to make the result of the inquiry the basis for future legislation on the subject referred to: he had no doubt, however, that Congress would continue to cultivate its plantations of live oak timber. He believed the gentleman from North Carolina would be greatly disappointed in the information when he came to see it. An agent had been employed by the last administration, when Mr. Southard was at the head of the department, Mr. WHITE, of Florida, moved the following amend-in reference to the preservation of this timber, with a sa ments: After the words "in consequence of such discoveries," insert- After the words "must be expended for that purpose," insert lary of one thousand to twelve hundred dollars, but had been discontinued by his successor, on the ground of a doubt as to the power of the department to employ such "And that he be further directed to report to this an agent, and also on the ground that his services were House the number of agents and assistants appointed by useless: but now the department had seven such agents, the Navy Department for the preservation of live oak in at a salary of two thousand four hundred dollars each, the last year, the data of their respective commissions, with assistants and vessels, the total expense of which the authority under which they were appointed, the sala-amounted to little if any thing short of forty-five thou ries of each agent and assistant, with the contingencies sand dollars a year. Mr. W. observed that there was and expenses of each, and the expenses of equipping and now no Committee on Retrenchment in the House, or he keeping in commission the several public vessels for the should have moved to refer the subject to them. What protection of live oak; and whether, in his opinion, the he wished was that it should be decided whether the sersaid agents have found live oak enough to pay their sala- vices rendered by this body of agents were such as to ries, or to justify their continuance in office." justify Congress in permitting the President of the United States, or the Navy Department, to appoint, by virtue of a mere letter, seven public agents, each with a salary "Together with the report of the navy commission-equal to that of the Governor of Florida. The whole serers made to the late Secretary of the Navy, showing the vices could as well, and better, be accomplished by the quantity of live oak on the public lands, and not commu- United States' surveyors; or if the collector should be nicated to Congress in the report of last session, with any forbidden to permit any vessel to clear with a cargo of correspondence and documents in the department since timber until the captain should produce evidence that it the last session, relating to the reservation and purchase had been cut on private lands, and not those of the United for the purpose aforesaid." States. He did not seek to embarrass the gentleman's reMr. BRANCH said that the object he had in view in solution. There was not a maritime nation in the world presenting the resolution had been to present to the House that did not possess plantations of timber valuable for the and to the nation information intimately connected with a use of its navy; none which did not take means to prevery important subject. He desired to repress no in-serve such timber. The policy was adopted in this counformation relating to it. The object of the gentleman try as early as the days of General Washington. The who had offered the amendment was too manifest: it was plan has been expressly recommended by him. It had to make an attack upon an administration of a depart- lately been suspended for a time; but it was now resumed. ment that never yet had shrunk, and never would shrink, Mr. W. desired to know whether forty-five thousand dolfrom scrutiny. lars a year was to be expended from the fund set apart for ous. Com The object of his own resolution was simple and obvi- the gradual increase of the navy, in employing a number It was to inquire whether there existed, without of agents on the coast of a district where the water waз the use of artificial means, an adequate supply of live oak not deep enough to float any craft drawing three feet, timber for the uses of the navy. If the information it and from which no timber could, by possibility, be carmight elicit should satisfy the House that the natural sup-ried off. What might have been reported to the departply of that timber was abundant, then it would be for the ment, he neither knew nor cared: the Government had, House to decide whether they would enter into the artifi- for some time, been trying very hard to get a report uncial cultivation of it or not. The only object sought in favorable to the continuance of the plantations, but had the resolution was that the nation might act on this subject not been able to get any, unless it might have been from intelligently. Why, then, did the gentleman from Flo- one very young man who was here seeking office. rida seek to interrupt or embarrass its adoption? Was it modore Rodgers and Commodore Ridgely were both dethat the gentleman apprehended that the facts when dis- cidedly in favor of their continuance. Mr. W. said, what closed would reflect upon him, or on his friends? He he wished by the amendment was to bring before the would not say that the gentleman did so apprehend: that House what he considered a great abuse, in the creating was for others to judge. Commissioners had been ap- and maintaining of seven public agencies which were usepointed to examine a site for the plantation of this timber less, and without authority of law, and which had not renear Pensacola; the information obtained was in the Navy sulted in the discovery of enough live oak to pay the salaDepartment, let it be produced: and let the House know ries of the officers employed. He asked for information whether it was necessary to go into the artificial cultiva- on that subject. If the gentleman from North Carolina tion of this species of timber or not. He had hoped, since intended to make an attack upon the present Secretary the resolution asked only for information, that there would of the Navy, the defence of the administration would, have been no objection to it. Why this effort was made he presumed, be committed to some other hands than to embarrass the resolution, he could not conceive: he his. waited to hear the gentleman's reasons. Mr. BRANCH said that he trusted the House, perceiv Mr. WHITE said, in reply, that he had not the slightest ing that the department over which he had lately presided, desire to embarrass the passage of the resolution: on the was openly charged with sanctioning abuses, would incontrary, he was much pleased that it had been brought dulge him with an opportunity to defend himself when FEB. 25, 1832.] Live Oak Agents. [H. OF R. the attack was made. He would therefore narrate some had found it. Yet the House were told he was guilty of of the circumstances which had taken place in reference an abuse of power. to the live oak plantations. The resolution was not of a nature calculated to elicit During a former administration, the gentleman from the remarks which had been made, nor had he, when he Florida, who now offered the amendment, had sold to offered it, anticipated the smallest opposition. It merely the Government, to be occupied in those plantations, asked a question respecting the timber to be found on our some very poor and barren land, and had pocketed by public lands. The agents employed to investigate the the speculation upon his own constituents some hun-subject, had made report, from which, although but one dreds of dollars. This fact he pledged himself to be hundred and fifty miles of coast had been surveyed, it able to prove in a court of justice. The House would would appear that an indefinite supply of live oak had readily appreciate the sensitiveness displayed by the been discovered. His purpose had been to stimulate the gentleman, and would perceive the true reason why he Government to search for such a supply. If the gentlesought to resist the inquiry proposed. Mr. B. said that man believed that the resolution had been offered from the public mind had, he knew, been greatly abused on any intention to make an attack upon the present head this subject. Paragraph after paragraph appeared in of the Navy Department, he was greatly mistaken: he the papers, (by whom written, he could not say,) charging had no such purpose. The gentleman at the head of the late department with having abandoned the policy of that department stood well with the nation, and Mr. B. the preservation of the live oak timber; whereas, the entertained towards him much personal respect. He did real fact was, that more had been done to further that po- not doubt that the gentleman would administer the affairs licy by those lately in control of the Navy Department, of the department well: far be it from him to call in than had ever been done under any preceding administra- question the qualities either of his head or his heart. tion in the same time. During the year 1831, from thirty But if it should be found that there was an abundant supto forty thousand dollars had been expended with a view ply of live oak timber, both upon the Atlantic and the to preserve that timber, and to ascertain where a supply Gulf of Mexico, could there be any necessity for a system of it could be obtained. He admitted, and he was proud of artificial cultivation? But, if the fact were not so, he to admit, that money had not been spared in prosecuting again repeated that he was ready to advocate the system that object. Five or six additional agents had been em- of plantation. ployed, besides two or three vessels, in that service, and The House had heard his conduct misrepresented by what had been the result? The gentleman from Florida those who knew better. He never had opposed the poliwell knew what the result was. He knew that within the cy of preserving a supply of this timber. On the conspace of one hundred and eighty miles from the mouth of trary, he thought that 30, 40, 50, or 100,000 dollars would the Mississippi, (and so much only had yet been exa- be well laid out in discovering the existence of such a mined,) there was an indefinite supply of live oak, more supply. He was not for spending money in purchasing poor than would be needed for a century. Between the Acha- lands from members of that House, who might have an falaya and the Sabine there were ample stores of it, with-interest in making speculations out of the Government, out the necessity of cultivating a tract of poor, sterile land but in discovering the most eligible sites where the timber which a member of Congress might have sold to the Go-might be procured. When this was done, he was ready to vernment. If on this subject he should be found to be in er- expend 100,000 dollars upon the object. ror, and the fact should turn out to be otherwise, then Mr. Mr. B. concluded by requesting the House to excuse / B. would be as willing as any other gentleman to go into the any warmth he might have betrayed-he had been so reartificial cultivation. He should then be willing to pur-peatedly assailed on this subject, and in such a dastardly chase the land necessary for the plantations from indivi- manner, that he felt himself called upon to vindicate the dual land owners, at whatever advance: then he would be course he had pursued. What he had asserted he was ready to go all lengths in obtaining an article so valuable. ready to maintain, either there or elsewhere. But, first, let it be seen whether there was not an abundant supply, without resorting to any such means. This was all he wanted. Mr. WHITE said that it had not been his intention to go into any examination of the history of the plantations of live oak timber, nor should he now do so, but for the The gentleman had said that agents had been employed attack which had, in a most unjustifiable manner, been at salaries of two thousand four hundred dollars. This made upon him. In consequence of a statement which had been roundly asserted for fact. He denied it to be had been made to the Government respecting the rapid fact. He said it was not true. The agents employed disappearance of the live oak timber from the lands of the now had the same allowance as those employed under a United States, it had been proposed to establish a plantaprevious administration. The agents he had found in em- tion of that valuable timber for the future use of the navy. ploy when he came into office were receiving an allow- After Mr. W. had come to Washington, the former Seance of five dollars per day. Those now employed re-cretary of the Navy (Mr. Southard) had decided to adopt ceived the same. Yet the gentleman had had the hardi- the plan, and, without consulting him, had determined on hood to represent their salary as a public abuse. He purchasing a site for the new establishment near Pensacola. appealed to the House to say whether the assertion was it happened that he and his friend, Judge Breckenridge, warranted. He trusted they would excuse him if he be-owned a tract of land in that quarter. The Government trayed some warmth on this subject, arraigned as he had was desirous of purchasing 1,600 acres of it. The Gobeen by that gentleman and his associates, as guilty of im-vernment itself applied to them, and proposed the terms. proper conduct in office. He was willing to be cut down The contract was submitted to the House, and by it ap that instant, and to forfeit the regard of all honorable and proved. The department acted on the report of Commovirtuous men, if he could be convicted of a single disho- dores Warrington and Bainbridge; and what they did was norable act, or the smallest abuse of power, while he had sanctioned by a special act of appropriation, which passed been at the head of the Navy Department. No doubt he both Houses. Shortly afterwards the administration passmight have often erred. But the error was one of the ed into other hands a new Secretary of the Navy was head alone. He repeated the assertion, that he was ready appointed; and in thinking upon various projects of reto be cut down, if he had ever been guilty of intentional form, the Secretary fell upon that transaction, and he inabuses, and he declared before that House that no such troduced into his report the suggestion that his predecesabuse had ever happened as the gentleman asserted. sor had made the purchase under an erroneous construction The number of agents had indeed been increased; but of the act for the gradual increase of the navy. their total allowance was the same, indeed less, than he ferred the House to the section of the law which had thus He re |