Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-05-07

take a SllcIt@ vote On the rec eSS, DuL LOT INC
proposed amendment. Should bein order
sir, (said he) if Isaid that this amendment is
idle and ridiculous? The Speaker apprehend-
ed it would not be in order; and not the less
out of order from the gcntleman's having ask
ed the question, II the Speaker had decided
it to be in orders said MIR. w. should have
gone further. If it be out of order to say that
I it is ridiculous, it is not out of order TO say
that it is disrespectiul to ourselves. Itfullils
one declaration recorded on high authority,
that there is nothing new under the sun for
never was there an instance before OF such a
resolution attached to a motion to ADJOURN
Is it useful or necessary? Is there amy gentle
man who doubts upon it Or does the gen
tleman think we are made Of such stuff that
| we can be diverted from our course by it /?
| The man who dares not vote his sense on that
amendment is disgrace to the house There
! is law on that subject which declares, that
! the allowance for travel backwards in case OF
| recess shall not exceed the per diem allow
ance for the same time leaving the inference
| that the peridem shall be paid We shall begin
when we meet again precisely where we left
| off there will be continuity OF the session.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania is too can
! did to say, that his proposed amendment IS
! not intended to defeat the motion for recess.
| 1t could not be considered as patriotic dona-
| ton to the Treasury of SO much as the pay
would amount to, because it would operate
too unequally on those who live adjacent to,
, and those who are very remote from, the seat
of government. The gentleman would, if
that were the object, find one near him who
would not be behind him in such donation
No, sir; it is in fact Intended to defeat the
recess, and not to secure the public veal or
benefit the treasury l hope the gentlemen
in favor Of an adjournment are not to be scar
ed from it by such a scarecrow as this.
Mr. Roberts said he thought himself called
upon to reply to the honorable gentleman last
up, whose eloquence and zeal he so much ad-
mired on some occasions. There was no mo-
tive in his breast for offering the amendment
that he was ashamed to avow or afraid to sup
port He did not view it as an idle PROPOSE.
%ion, but as measure of imperious duty
Are we not, when called here to decide on
war measures, and a proposition is made to
adjourn, to consider as serious question in
volving thirty or forty thousand dollars? Such
language would not pass in my country, how
ever 1t may elsewhere. have made no Sc
cret Of my sentiments solemnly and seri-
ously think the resolution for al journment
improper, particularly il we receive compen-
sstion from the public treasury during the re-
cess As to the inequality of operation of
this REIMBURSEMENT of pay, Air. r. said it was
Incidental to the state of things under the con-
stitution for, under that instrument, those
most remote from the seat of government
~, Of
aud receive proportlonable pay therefor, sc.
In this respect therefore the amendment IN
troduced no new principle. 1t was not new.
1t was moreover a proposition he could not
give up merely because it did not please the |
fancy ola gentleman whom he much respect
ed.
Mr.. Macon said, the gentleman, his col. |
league (Mr. Blackledge) approved this "a
mendment because it would take away all |
chance from the opposition of saying that the |
majority had done worse than nothing. 1t |
could not be said that they had done much !
more, Mr.. NJ. said, if they adopted the pro-
posed amendment. He thought the occasion
of the adjournment might be handsomely us
ed by the ma jority, or those SO disposed. Let
the majority individually reinquish their nay
for the period Of the recess, and this would |
surely answer all the purposes of popularity. !
Mr. VI. said one main reason with him in vot- |
ing for recess was, that the executive de. |
partmcnts of the government were now over
loaded with business. He had himself had |
little business with one of the secretaries he |
had made one or two attempts 10 see him; he |
always found members with him, and left |
them with hirn and his business was not |
done yet. Ifcongress were to adjourn, he be-
lieyed their absence would expedite the work (
of preparation. He had heard it said that the !
man who planned this city put the public
buildings SO far apart in order that the depart
ments might not be crouded by members of