Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-02
HOUSE OF RESEN7.4TYVES.

holding certain Indian Treaties"
Mr.. Speaker: The very few remarks offered by me
on he amendment oithc gentleman from Dino Mr.
vance, were not made with any intention of moving,
or mingng in any extensive debate on this que sticn
do not believe the amendment proposed, that
1T had been examined with any reference to party
feeling, by SINGH member of this House, until the
gentleman FROM Tennessee, (Mr Polk pleased, in
his peculiar mnnncr the smooth current of
debate into that troubled stream. This APPEARS from
the facts freely admitted by all The whole item of
appropriation, of which this amendment touches
small part only, is intended to cover very incons-
dcrable portion of the expenditure incurred the last
summer in forming treaty with the Wnnebagoes
No appropriation had bern by Congress made for
holding that treaty; and the expenses of the nego
,iaon, so far as paid have been paid of the con-
iingcnt fund ofthe Department, appropriated for other
purposes. Although this procedure contrary to
that law, which provides that money shall be
drawn from the Treasury, unless in virtue of legal ap
preparation; yet for varIuus rcasonS suggested by
gentlemen OF all sides at the House, no objection
has been made, nor, a. presume, will any be made
10 this appropria ion on any such account. The OBJ
lection offered by the amendment, is distinct and d.
from his and goes merely to prevent of the
Commissioners, then General of Brigade in the ma
tional service from receiving both miiitary pay and
diplomatic salary at the tinlc Is not this le-
climate question, at all times and amoug all honest
mon, without suspicion, aud without accusation of
~ excitement party purpose? What title then has
the gentleman f ON Tennessee, (Mr Polk) 10 accuse
me OF party intentions or party feelings?
seems To De fdNorlte Term with the
gentleman. lfuhen applied to language 'graiuitous'
means words, and sentences, and ideas, uttered with
ont any reference to the subject then are all the
words spoken by the gentleman, far as any IDEAS
may be found among them, perfectly "gratutous."-
tell tho gentleman that his accusations against me
IRE totally disconncc:ed with fact. To what said
they have that rea ion by ugcans called vcr
slnlilitude. There was hing all he uttered
against me. german TO any of my words or feelings
or sentiments. The gentleman told Us IN his cxor-
dunn, that he would not enter into any debate con.
corning the question raised ty the amendment. lie
has with most logical persc\ crauce, kept his prom
Ec, and said not sing c word that aIrly b. con
sFucu into any cIuncNlOn with t.IUt question. Who,
bcsldrstkc gentleman, has brought INTO controversy
thG correctness ofths whole expenditure; or objected
10 this appropriation TO IT. because it as made
Without legal appropra ion, aud from fund by
law assigned to other purpose: What gentleman
has objected to holding tho treaty under SUCH circnm
stances? Who has deemed 1t necessary to apolopizr
for doing it: The explanations made Icy the gentle
man from Kentucky, (Mr. Wicklihe) have neither
been objected TO or questioned. Those explanations
and all others offered ali sides OF the House have
til tho gentleman took up the subject, been made
and received as thought, in the farcst spirit of en-
quiry and discussion Why then all this shverilg
and shrinking and agitation manifest in the rem
-tcmaH Has his imagination suspended him uyer
magazine OF gunpowder, with lighted flsce plunged
ldto its crater, and burning gradually down 10 the
tremendous volume at the other end oft, Does the
gentleman hope to be canOnZal for his Dotjcnl ysoP
I'm not the bigc; to hasten his auto de ie or enkn-
die with the lghtest breath the fame of his nnartvr-
DIN. Straw and iaggots are worth more TO his
trends and adyersarics for other pu p0scs and the
gentleman must wait for his promotion Until some OH,
or KIND OF merit may purchase it for him.
Concerning the President OF the United Sates mr.
his Cabinet Ministers, 10 question has beer raised in
tAls debate BY me, or by the gentlemen with whom
Lave had the honor OF acting in this House. When
ever duty may call us to raise that question: il will
trust, E. conducted in such manner as the reuresl-
tallrGs o. the American people may question The
Executive Department their Government AL
though no man was more deeply, or sincerely op-
posed to the election of Gen. Jackson vet he being
chosen, Val not dsparage that choice or the eie
vsicd character OF that office, or those hopois com
ierrcd by It. The President is a high digntary of
ts nation; the representatives of the people cannot
without descending from their own station apnroacb
this distinguished officer with words of contun,ev
and reproach Cabinet ministers are BOT entitled TO
any OF these nmunties and stand charoeabIe IN The
utmost latitude ofcoTstruetion under any severity Of
cGasure' ior any executive procedure conducted and
ell ale so conducted, under their advisemcnt
shall not follow the foul footsteps of those who
IN past years have travcrscd this Hall in the full cry
Of calumny and reyilng. The throne shall secure
Inn who sits upon It, Let the Presidential Chair be
the sanctuary, and cousccTate the man who has re-
ccived the JUNCTION Of national suffrage. Those who
lave been accustomed 10 do so, may NOW crec, this
elevated seat into plory, and, if they like, amnse
themselves with dlscharging their oathsome missiles
at II. Let the gentleman take notice that whsnever
it may suit The interest and convenience of the Ameti
can people, to inspect the administration of their
government, then may be be assured that higb defer
Cnce to official station will corresponding i'm
Dunitles to the Chief Magistrate; but let the Achiio
lhel, whoever he may be, standing at the Executive
elbow, then "Set lis house in ordcii"
appropriations were Formerly made in this House
under all the scrutiny ofarden and prolracted debate
Money nop passes out Of the Treasury as The dew
falis from the atmosphere without noise; and if the
system Of the gentleman from Tennessee MIR poLl
should obtain It might os well be without notice. For
what objection, like those made by him. can be made
ID the question raised by this amendment: At docs
not propose to look into the Wnnebsro rcatv or tho
general expenditure IN that negotiation; and though
mineral tract may have been acquired in Huron
and hdlt million expended in the acquisition, and
ihaI too, without any appropriation by Iaw; vet This
hnendm NJ, with very conidng reliance on the
wisdom and integrity Of ministers who advised this
eaSue' GOES no" pass silently over all these woghty
m't;ers and oaers only TO exempt tn, Treosnry t.
paying to one oitnc Commissioners who formed tb,s
trG9iy a d'utie salary for iUs services General
VI Neiii' receiving by breIct the paw FORAGE and
f1tiOns OF n General Of Brigade ty,s ,r,,,l,,,,J =;