Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/172

140 United States; and use for these purposes the sum of $5,000,000, appropriated from the treasury. The administration opposed these resolutions, on the ground that there was no cause as yet to justify an act of war, and that favorable results were in prospect from negotiation. The Western senators sustained this policy. (Annals of Congress, 1802-1803, pp. 95, 119.)

Mr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, offered a substitute placing the entire control of the matter in the hands of the President, and empowering him, if necessary, to call out the militia, not only of the vicinity but of all the States. (Ibid, p. 255.)

This substitute was finally adopted by a vote of 15 to 11, all the Western senators present voting in its favor. The resolutions as amended were then adopted unanimously, February 25, 1803. (Annals of Congress, 1802-1803, p. 107.)

It may be interesting to note the sentiment of the Western people, as expressed by their senators. Said Mr. Anderson, of Tennessee: &quot;Gentlemen wished to treat the people like little children. * * * He came from a part of the country which was greatly interested in the subject, and he knew the people were not such fools as the gentlemen would make them. They will not believe that those who know them, and have taken the most effectual measures to procure safety and security for them, are plotting evil for them. &quot; (Annals of Congress, 1802-1803, p. 214.)

&quot;He knew this people and that they wished for peace, though, if justice required it, they would be in the ranks of battle while those who asperse them would perhaps be at their toilettes. The resolutions substituted would accord with the wishes of his constituents. He would therefore support them.&quot; (Ibid, pp. 140, 142.)

Mr. Cocke, of Tennessee, expressed his &quot;confidence in the administration,&quot; &quot;from real respect and knowledge of the Executive for thirty years past.&quot; He spoke taunt-