Mr. BROOKS.R. Chairman, I know that it is a melancholy task, and one which I am very reluctant to undertake. to suggest a reduction of these large appropriations, but still I must express my conviction that an appropriation of $50000 at Oswego, or at the outlet of Lake Champlain, as provided in the next item, cannot be Justified by any national necessity. These are appropriations for fortifications on the lakes. flow, sir, is anybody liviu in the lake country in the least afraid of invasion from Canada or elsewhere? Or if there be any such fear, are fortresses at these particular places good for anything except barracks for soldiers and for storage of artillery and armsL What is the defensive value of a few forts on that vast line of frontier. where men can at any time be marched around any particular point which it may be desirable to avoid? the chief de fense of this country consists in its brave men, its trained and veteran soldiers, who can be called forth at a moments warning. Hence. to in judgment. all these appropriations, except or mere repairs, seem to be 60 4.4(: much money thrown away. But what is the use of my talking? Here is a bill containing appropriations amounting tomore than a million and a halfof dollars. Thereis something for everybody, and a very large slice for some of my constituents. Wh should Ine t go in to secure for them a share of the general plunder? Our Treasury is rich! The SecyTreasury has now at his disposal $200,000000, which he does not know what to do with. hy not invest it in fortifications? Why not invest it in anything that will make money lentiful by a general diffusion of dollars throng out the whole country? Why not now, when labor is commandin $3 50 to 5 dollars perday, go to work and gspend all the money we can os sihly raise because wages are high, and pby these expenditures we can give remunerative emiloyment to large numbers of persons? at I know, Mr. Chairman, that in objecting to these appropriationsl am simply wastin sly breath. I make this appeal as a matter of duty.