Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-04-10
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,

4 piSoShtSO ny Mr. IlCkSrnS, from CERTAIN
merchants of Salem and Marblehead, en-
gagged in the India trade, praying relief
from the ruin which impends over their
trade from the adoption of the proposed ia
| riff on imports /;
| On motion of Mr.. Barbour,
RESOLVED, That the commit of ways
and means be instructed to enquire into
the propriety OF providing by law for com
pensating the services of such OF the As
SCISSORS as shall have begun to perform the
duties of their office, and shall have been
prevented from completing the same,
either by reason of an assumption of the
direct tax, or by order from the proper of
t1cer of the u. s. not to proceed further
therein.
Mr.. Lowndes, after few prefara.ory
remarks, offered the following rvsolu-
ton, which was agreed to, without objec-
ton.
ResoiOed, That the committee on Ma
val Affairs be instructed to enquire into
the expediency of so amending the laws
relating to the Marine Corps, as to reduce
the number of that Corps TO be retained
on the peace establishment to number
which shall bear AUST proportion to the
naval force which it is proposed to keep in
service
The amendments of the Senate to the
bull IN addition to the act regulating the
Post-Ofhce establishment, were taken
up. One of these amendments being to
increase the compensation of a particu-
lar Deputy Post-Master, gave rise to
desultory debate of some length, on the
merits of other Deputy Post Masters, and
their claims to additional compensation,
&c.
The House then proceeded to that "a
mendment of the Senate which struck out
the Sd section of the bill, which section
granted to the members of both Houses and
their Secretary and Clerk, the privilege of
thanking during the recess as well as du-
ring the session.
Mr.. Randolph hoped the House would
not concur with the Senate in this amend
ment--and proceeded to argue at some
Isngth in opposition thereto. He said sub
stantially, that there were many OF the pet
~ oificers of'the government who posses
sed.eh privilege of franking that the
members of Congress were great officers
OF the state, at all times liable to be called
mere at moment't warning upon national
concerns that the Clerk of this House
and the Secretary of the Senate were also
high and responsible officers, constantly in
the public service, and men better entitled
to tie privilege than many who possessed
1t; and concurrence in the amendment,
would be consentIng to take rank below
thersubordinate officers of the government
He knew that great clamor had been at
tie pied to be raised on the subject of a.
mother (the compensation bill which late
ly passed the House (; but what political
materials are there, said Mr.. r. which
factious printers w,l not work up to serve
their purposes Was there shadow OF
reason why the Vice President of the Uni
ted States should be invested with this
privilege, that was not equally strong in
favor OF the presiding officer of this House
a privilege possessed by the highest and
lowest officer In the public employ-from
the President of the United States, to a
Deputy Post-Master, who doesnot receive
five dollars year in postage, Compare
this privilege. said he, with the exemption
from the militia service, which is confer
red on post-masters, and then decide the
question. He could not agree to the prac-
tlce OF stripping the members of Congress
OF a necessary privilege, like so many i've
ry servants, twenty days after the end of
the session.
MIR. Cuthbert was in favor of concur
renee. If the privilege of franking were
claimed as matter of compensation,
then as matter of compensation he was
opposed to tiff as matter Of privilege,
then as matter of privilege he was oppo-
sed to it. He thought also, that instead of
maintaining the dignity of the members by
contendiDg for this power, they were put
ting themselves on a footing with the sub
ordinate officers of the government by it.
The President of the United States, he
said, was the chief executive magistrate.
constantly engaged in corresponding on
national concerns. and required an exemp-
ton from the payment of postage. What
ever privileges are necessary to aid in con-
| Quoting public business, and not TO suit
| private convenience, for the purpose of
corresponding with friends, was proper,
| but none others.
| Mr.. Webster spoke against concurring
! with the Senate In their amendment. He
thought if there was any necessity OF pro
| priety in the privilege during the session
It was equally proper during the recess. il
1 members were TO be regarded as public
men. The power Of abusing the privilege
was no argument-how many thousand
deputy post masters were there who could
abuse the privilege, yet it was not urged
against granting it to them. lie thought
it was proper to con6ne the privilege strict
ly to the session, or TO extend il to the re
cess also.
Mr. Rcyn | Is was alio in favor Of re-
lung the privilege. An important rea
son for 1t was, the resolution this very da,
adopted, to make the standing committee
! permanent during the whole Congress
which would involve them i'm CORE spon
L Il d. -. l..