Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-21
congressional.
HOUSE on REPRESENTATIVES,.
Reire,,cl.,acnt.


The House again proceeded TO consider the re-
solutions of Mr. Chilton-ogether with toe a.
meidments offered by Mr.. Blake and Mr. Dorsey.
MIR. Everett took the floor and said: beg leave
to return my sincere thanks TO the House for ac-
cording me the indulgence OF an adjournment.
AZ this stage Of the discussion, nothing but ply
steal inability 10 proceed should have induced iIic
10 ask this Indulgence. l will now endeavor to
requte it, by the only means in my power: that is,
by introducing no matter into the debate, which
shall have tendency 10 protract il. l took the
liberty, yesterday, TO observe, that when motion
was made by the gentleman from Virginia. Mr..
Randolph. 20 lay this resolution on the table,
voted in the affirmative upon that Question. did
thinking foresaw the character of the debate
which was likely to arise, IL the resolution re-
manned before the House. To a resolution for
inquiry, OF this nature, could have no objection,
except that OF some little cruditv in form which
has been objected 10 this resolution on every side
OF the House. With that exception, and could il
nave passed without debate, should checliully
have voted Tor it,
The House was not pleased 60 make that DISPOSE
ton of the resolution. The debate has been pur-
sued; aud the ground, in my judgment, has entire
~ shifted beneath our feet. IL is not now an i'll
curry INTO the pracucabity Of rctrcnchment, with
view TO the more rapid payment of the public
debt do not say that no allusion 20 this matter
Is lett III the resolution; ii may remain there in
, form; but the substance is changed. The topic
now put forward, Is the expenditure Of the con-
y,
course; and taking the debate as an indication of
the character Of the resolution IL is one of gene
raj elimination OF the measures of the Adminstra-
ton
caunot, therefore, agree with the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, Mr. Ingham,1 that the sub
Ject matter is not changed, but merely enlarged
About forms, repeat, sir, will no: contend; but
submit il TO the judgment of the House. whether
the substance has not undergone an entire change
Neither can agree with him. that il is the friends
~hr
, tisan character TO the debate. The gentleman has
specihed my honorable friend from Indiana Mr.
Bakel as having been The first to give it this cha
racter For two or three days, the discussion was
not strongly Of that description. The resolution,
believe, was first debated on Tuesday of tie last
week, and on Friday, for the first time, if have
correctly watched its progress, the gentleman Fl ON
: Virginia Mr. Floyd,] with force and pungency
almost peculiar to himself introduced into his ad-
dress TO Che House, a number of tle tOpics Of ac-
cusation. which have been most earnestly pressed
against the Administration. When the gentleman
IRON Indiana took the floor he stated with per-
iect justice, as thought,) that such had been
the course OF the gentleman from Virginia and that
ne ieit himself called on now 10 meet the question
on that ground. i mention these things not by
way of complaint, but as matter of fact Since
: then, the friends of the Administration have en-
tered, but only on the defensive, into the debate
debate, of character, freely confess seriously
TO be deprecated; not because the friends of the
Administration fear the strictest inquistion that
can he made, but because it leads TO waste of time
sacrifice othe public, and postpcncmcnt of private
interests.
] again beg leave 70 observe, that am friendly
10 inquiry, in any and every foprn-I care not with
what severity and strictness it be instituted /
know that all human establishments (especially
so vast and complicated an establishment as that OF
this Governmest,) are liable TO abuse. am will
ing 10 admit, on these general principles that
there may be abuses in the government ~ AZ nre
Oftrit I;f,.I,
be abuses Of restriction, OF extravaganza; espe-
osaliy as the one generally leads to ie other i'll
timed and misplaced reduction often leads in the
end, TO more lavish expenditure; and judicious
expenditure, "a memorable instance has been late
~ stated to the House in relation 10 the Post Of
hce,) as often proves TO be true economy. But,
retrenchinent Is popular theme, and the pruning
knife has sometimes been SO fully applied TO our
establishments, that their vital sap has flowed
cut of the wounds. Sill however sir would
never oppose an enquiry into the abuses that may
exist, and whether they be those OF redundance
or deficiency, am equally ready 10 apply the
remedy.
Permit me to make one other general remark.
The gentleman from Tennessee TAIr. Bell in his
liberal and eloquent address to the House, made
remark, which he justly offered as sound in itself,
no Fcyer paradOKical in its terms, that there were
states OF things in which that which is naturally the
health and strength OF People becomes source
OF decline and decay. The gentleman applied
this wise remark to a profuse expenditure Of pub
lie money There is another application OF IT,
which seems TO me TO be equally lust and pertinent
This branch Of the Government-the Ierisla-
tive branch-is, has been, and ever must be- the
great centre Of power in the republic IL is the
heart OF the political system, out Of which all life
and power, as they have been imbibed from the
People, must flow back, through the various
channels Of administration, to them. There are,
however, other branches of the Government
which cannot be dispensed with for the public good
these lUlpll m t1pir urlaY
and functions. Now, sir, if the tremendous power
Of this House be brought to bear unduly and dis
proportionatcly on other branches OF the system:
aud especially if it be put into an extra-legisIa-
tive action, (by which mean an action wholly
disconnected, from It's functions either as branch
OF the legislature, or the grand inquest of the
nailon0 then what is naturally our strength and
safety, again becomes source Of weakness, de-
cay and ruin.
have already observed, that the prominent
point oil tht inquiry, as now before the House has
become the foreign service of the country and the
expenditure Of the funds appropriated for defray-
ing ITS expense. The resolution puts forward that
as the leading topic, in its very terms and this Oh
lection, must confess, applies also to the amend
neni as modifed) giving character TO the mode in
which that part OF the service has ever been adj
f.inistered unWarTanted By the Constitution the [
law, and the usage under IT, We are to inquire |
into the amount Of the paid out of the con
tngCnt fund for foreign Intercourse, and settled at
the Treasury without specification; and also into
tie amount paid out OF the same fund.- and set I
tied at the Treasury in The usual mode, accord 4
ing 10 law. 80 u seems that there are two
kinds Of seienent-one usual, and according TO /
law; the other by specification, and implicitly |
neither usual nor legal. This, sir. i an important
topic. The foreign service Of the country is an ey-
ccedngly responsible branch Of the public scfy ice
Unless we adopt the Chinese policy, we cannot
but stand in relations with foreign nations highly
important 10 the yVeJfafc and broeonrifv ri fTc