pectation. Unless we violate all the rules and
practice of the House, the order would be exe-
cuted as it had been previously directed, with-
out any change in the manner of doing it.

Mr. WICKLIFFE called for the previous ques-
tion: which motion prevailed.

The question being then -- "Shall the main
question be now put?" It was decided in the
affirmative -- ayes 105, noes 75.

The question was then taken, on the passage
of the resolution, and agreed to -- ayes 108,
noes 69.

Tuesday, February 12.

Navy Appropriations and Expenses.

On motion of Mr. MCDUFFIE, the House
went into Committee of the Whole on the state
of the Union, Mr. CONDICT in the chair, and
took up the bill making appropriations for the
Naval service for the year 1828. The bill was
read through, and then taken up by sections;
and the clause of appropriation for the pay and
subsistence being under consideration --

Mr. HOFFMAN, Chairman of the Committee
of Naval Affairs, requested Mr. MCDUFFIE,
Chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means, who had reported the bill, to state to
the House what was the increase in the num-
ber of officers in the estimates of the present
year, over the number of officers in the esti-
mates of last year.

Mr. MCDUFFIE replied, that he had imper-
fectly understood the gentleman from New
York, but would state, in reply to what he had
understood to be his question, that the increase
in amount for this item was about $20,000;
which difference grew out of the increased
number of officers.

Mr. HOFFMAN then went into a lengthy de-
tailed statement, in which he compared the
estimates of this year and the last, as they ap-
plied to each grade of officers. The number of
Captains, in 1827, was 27; for this year, 32.
Those in commission in 1827, were 8: those
for this year, 9. Captains waiting orders last
year, were 9; this year, 13. Lieutenants wait-
ing orders last year, were 83; those waiting
orders this year, 111. Surgeons, two more
this year than last -- 12 waiting for orders.
Surgeons' mates were increased from 28 to 32;
waiting orders last year, none; this year, 11.
Pursers increased from 21 to 23 -- 4 waiting
orders last year; 8 this year. Midshipmen
waiting orders last year, 20; this year, 85. He
summed up the increase for the present year as
follows: 5 Captains, 1 Commandant, 55 Lieu-
tenants, 17 Surgeons, 14 Surgeons' mates, 6
Pursers, 3 Chaplains, and 156 Midshipmen.
After stating the reasons given by the Secreta-
ry for this increase, Mr. H. insisted, that, if
any alterations were to be introduced in the
management of the Navy, those changes could
be more easily effected if the number of offi-
cers was few than many. The only limit to
the number of appointments was in the re-
stricting the appropriations for their pay and
subsistence. We expressed his willingness to
increase the number of officers so far as might
be necessary for vessels actually in commission,
but was opposed to increasing the number of
those waiting for orders. The Navy now cost
about one-seventh of the whole expenditure of
the Government. That arm of the Govern-
ment was at present highly popular; but would
not continue to be so if it were suffered to
grow too expensive. Mr. H. concluded by
stating that he was unable to designate what
particular sum should be substituted for that
now in the bill, as he had not received the ne-
cessary data for that purpose from the Navy
Department.

Mr. TAYLOR congratulated the House that
this subject had received the attention of the
Naval Committee. He deprecated the omis-
sion, on the part of Congress, heretofore, to
fix the number of naval officers, as it had done
that of the officers of the Army. He thought
it highly improper that their number should be
left discretionary with the Executive branch of
the Government, and pressed upon the Naval
Committee the propriety of bringing in a bill
fixing the Navy Peace Establishment.

Mr. MCDUFFIE sent to the Clerk's table a let-
ter from the Secretary of the Navy, explaining
in detail the estimates from that Department
for the present year.

Mr. WILLIAMS inquired of Mr. HOFFMAN,
whether he considered the total number of
officers, proposed to be employed, as too great
in proportion to the services proposed to be
performed, and whether the whole number was
any greater than was requisite for that service
which was authorized by law.

Mr. HOFFMAN replied, that the number would
be far too small if all the vessels in the Navy
were actually in commission, but not more than
half our vessels were in actual service; and, in
reply to the other question, he said, that if the
estimates of last year were to be taken as a
standard of judgment, the number of officers
proposed for the present year was too great in
proportion. The estimate contemplated an in-
crease in the service, which Mr. H. did not
think necessary.

After some explanations from Mr. TAYLOR,
Mr. HOFFMAN continued his speech, and op-
posed the expediency of fixing a Peace Estab-
lishment, thinking it better that the number of
officers should be regulated, from year to year,
according to the contingencies of the service.
He was opposed to every thing like a sinecure
office. He would pay the officers liberally
when in actual service; but not retain large
numbers of them, upon salary, waiting orders.

Mr. STORRS (who was last year Chairman of
the Naval Committee) went into an explana-
tion of the causes which had led to an increase
in the extent and expenses of the Navy. He
insisted that the expenditure was economical,
having been more than made up by the value
of our commerce which it had protected. The

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