Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-10

collect relative 10 the interna, condition Of the
Sta'e or Territory tor which h NAV be ap-
pointed, and the improvements necessary to be
made therein.
In offering this resolution
MI Chiffon said, il was far from any inten-
ton OF his to cons sumo unnecessarily the time
OF the House. He knew very well that we had
already Commissioner of the Public Lands.
whose duty i, was to report annually on he con-
dition OF them. But, for himself, he had been
long satisfied that it would he matter of vast
importance to each member on that floor who
was called to appropriate the Peoples money,
to know Tor what object it was to be expended
tie could assure every gentleman in the House,
that the resolution he had offered, va. prompt
ed by the mos, solemn and most sincere con-
viction that no less was due to The best inter-
ests OF the American People. !, was strongly
recommended to every member of this bod y,
by its innate propriety and great importance.
Because, as he had once before had the honor
to state upon that floor, there were some parts
ut the American Conf deracy which had been
ieas'ed as it were upon The most ex,ravagant
appropriations 2rofusely lavished upon them,
while upon others not one se,lng beam OF the
great political lamlnary had even glanced
resolution he had enjoyed the honor Of pre-
senting 10 their notice, was one which by no
means interfered even in the most distant man
ner with the sacredness Of State rights. II did
not attempt 10 declare, either directly or infe-
rentially, whether Congress possessed or not the
power TO interfere in The internal improvem ent
Of our Territory. His Object was far different.
His great object was, that gentlemen who
reached this place and took their seats within
This hall, and were there entrusted with the So
vereign and Unlimited control Of the Treasury,
should know what are the objects On which the
public resources should be expended. He
wished il to be understood by all, and by each,
when they we're voting away public money,
whether hey were actually voting it Tor some-
thing temperance, or whether they we're not:
for, in his humble judgment, no man located
here at Washington City, could understand the
internal condition Of every individual portion,
State, and Territory, Of the Union, by any
means so accurately and so minu,ely as Conn
missioner, actually located and permanently
residing within such portion, such State and
such Territory. The result Of the adoption OF
the resolution he had now presented, would be
tina, the Congress Of the United States would
understand the true importance OF the OBJECTS
Of improvement, proposed to them. For 1t was
a notorious fact, which no gentleman would
undertake 10 deny, that. when gentlemen VINO
had long possessed seats upon this floor, and
who Justly possessed high standing in this
body, would rise in their place, and make
proposition involving ali appropriation OF puo-
| tic moneys, those who were young members:
and had as We, but little comparative expert
ence in the in,ricacies Of legislation, ielt II
debt Of gratitude TO grant the appropriation,
and often did so without that rigid scrutiny
which ough, ever to precede grant OF the
Peoples money. The consequence was tna'
| while members were young, aud possessed on,
! little experience and standing, the voices oil
their constituents were seldom heard, IN apPro'
pria,ing public money. lie feared tia. his re.
solution had not been fully unders'ood-and
he confidently hoped that it would never be su?
posed, by gentlemen, that any proposition ough
| TO be adopted, because offered by him, any
more than by any other gentleman here
He was deeply indebted to the House Tor IL
| profound attention to the very lew remark'
he had deemed il consistent with his sense o
duty 10 himself aud to his constituents to make
| upon this occasion, and regretted 10 have treu
brd them so long; nor should he have done SO
were he no, impressed with deep conviction
of the paramount importance OF the o'Ject III
| had in view.
The question now being put on agreeing t.
tie resolu ion, il was decided in the negative
by large majority.
| Mr. Manufactured of letter from Ex-