THE BILL. 279 



animated discussion followed ; the more interesting, as it embraced 

 the whole merits of the question. 



Messrs. Hawes, of Kentucky, Patton, of Virginia, and Dickerson, 

 of New Jersey, spoke against the bill. Their speeches have not 

 been reported, 



Messrs. Vinton and Hamer, of Ohio, and Messrs. Reed and 

 Philips, of Massachusetts, spoke in favour of the measure. The 

 speeches of Messrs. Vinton and Philips have not been reported. 

 The first was concise, but decisive, and much to the point ; the 

 latter was more elaborate, and evinced great familiarity with our 

 commercial interests in the Pacific Ocean and South Seas. That 

 of Mr. Reed was such as might have been expected from the 

 representative of a district largely engaged in the whale fishery. 

 Mr. Hamer addressed the house at length. 



" He said he concurred, to a great extent, in the views of the 

 gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Patton,) who had just taken his 

 seat. He was of opinion, and had so expressed himself the other 

 day when this subject was before the house, that each depart- 

 ment of the government ought to act independently, and upon its 

 own responsibility. Each branch, whether legislative, executive, 

 or judicial, ought to manfully meet and settle every question pre- 

 sented to it, without attempting to shrink from its duty, or to shift 

 responsibility from its own shoulders upon any other department. 

 The senate had thus acted in reference to this subject, whilst the 

 amendment now proposed by the Committee on Naval Affairs of 

 this house referred the whole question to the discretion of the 

 President of the United 1 States. He had as much confidence in 

 the wisdom, intelligence, and patriotism of the Chief Magistrate 

 as any gentleman ; but he thought we ought to decide this ques- 

 tion ourselves. He, therefore, preferred the original amendment 

 of the senate to the modification of our committee. He had, how- 

 ever, conversed with several friends of the appropriation, who 

 seemed inclined to acquiesce in the present amendment, and he 



