The question for allowing five hundred dollars a year being negatived, four hundred was proposed and carried—46 to 34.
The question being on the bill being engrossed for a third reading, Mr. Blount called for the yeas and nays upon it. It was carried—55 to 25.
Monday, January 15.
Lemuel Benton, from the State of South Carolina, appeared, and took his seat.
Expenditure for Naval Service.
Mr. Livingston called up for consideration and decision the resolution which he had laid upon the table a few days ago, for the appointment of a committee of inquiry into the expenditure of money which had been appropriated for the naval service.
The House having agreed to take up this business—
Mr. Harper said, he believed that the appointment of such a committee was very unusual, without having some ground stated to the House for the proceeding. A vote of this kind would imply a censure upon the conduct of our public officers, which certainly ought not to be done hastily, or without first having, at least, some ground of suspicion laid before them upon which to act. The House had not yet received the statements which had been called for relative to this business; they were directed to be laid before the House in the last week in January, and might, therefore, be soon expected.
[Several gentlemen said it was the first, and not the last week in January, in which the accounts had been ordered to be laid before the House.]
Mr. H. said the delay, he supposed, had been occasioned by the officers having been obliged to remove from the city during the fever. He had, however, been informed that these statements would be ready in a few days. And would it not be extraordinary, he asked, if, before they received these statements, they were to appoint a committee of inquiry? He thought it would. He believed the officers of this department of Government were very desirous of the inquiry taking place; but this was not a sufficient reason for the House to proceed in the business without having first some ground to suppose the money had been misapplied, and this he believed could not be ascertained until the expected statements were before the House. When these were looked into, it was possible the House might be satisfied with respect to the expenditure of the money, and it would, therefore, be improper to appoint a committee to inquire into a matter which might so shortly appear satisfactory. If, on the other hand, these accounts should not be satisfactory, he would readily concur in the appointment of a committee of inquiry.