Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-16

know him best have right 10 expect lie refers to
his earnest labors and dinieresfed efforts to reduce
his pay i'll this House, and his total failure, quo
doubt very much TO his dissatisfaction, the cause
for his change of opinion anu opposition to this
sure Mr SPEAKER, every member who has witness
ed the efforts of my colleague to rid himself of por
ton of his own pay, (of that portion to which he
thinks his services here do not enttc him. believed
him perfectly sincere. They could not but witness
the deep deep regret which he manifested the loss
of his proposition.
We are invited by some gentlemen, to come on
with proposition for the retrcnchment of the use
less expenditures of the government, the abolition
OF useless Offices worthy the attention of Congress.
and they vii operate. Twill thank them to direct
US where shall begin-wbat ofice--what
expense do they desire to lop off? We invche them
to assist us in correcting the abuses in this House
hrs, and when that is done, we will conduct them to
other departments of the government which require
the correcting arm of Legislation. The bills already
reported by the committee, look to other and
important objects Let us, however put things right
at home first. do not design, Mr.. Speaker, i'll what
have said, to impute corruption, improper motive,
to any officer in this House 1t is not every commits
sion of error, or mal-admnistration by an officer
which necessarily carries along with it corruption
still, repeat the deliberate judgment of the commit
tee and that of my own, that the appointment of this
officer, and the payment OF his salary, not only
without law but against law and Ill the discussion OF
this resolution, not called upon to point out
the nutty of his past services, provide for the
longer continuation of them The resolution which
have read, was temporary-it expired with the
sion ut WHICH IL was ed; anu TINS. am perSua
ded, was the understanding of those members who
voted fr it.
But sir, if were disposed to accept the chal-
enge given, to investigate the important labors of
this quasi officer, this officer who every legal
ingredient to create officer the salary which
he illegally receives, should not, in that case, des
pair OF satisfying many gentlemen in this House,
that the compensation paid him is greatly beyond the
value OF his abors Is it not fact known to this
House, sir, that ever since he has been in the receipt
of this salary of 81 500 per that he has been
employed. during the sessions of Congress- by the
editors of the lnteiligencer, their reporter of the
debates IN THIS House, upon an average OF four
months in each year, Has he not been for the last
four months at Richmond, reporting the debates in
the Convention.
In order to have some idea of the abors of this of
hcer addressed to your clerk letter of inquiry as
to what maps, drafts &c. this man had copied-the
number IN each year? The Clerk has given me
list OF AZ III ALL but says he Is unable to designate
the time or year in which each any was completed
He has also voluntarily furnished with his estimate
of what these maps would have cost, if he had EN-
ployed some one to do them by the lob do not
pretend to be Judge of this description of labor,
but know enough to satisfy my mind, that the esti-
mate is extravagantly high, and greatly beyond the
value OF the maps, charts, &C., which have been re-
ferred to-
will not detain the House by reading this sched-
ule of copies, made ou from the original drawings
sent to this House by the Typographical Corps. His
work is that of copying, say, unnecessary copying,
the drafts, and maps, made out by that Corps.
made by the House, upon the Department of War,
for the report of the Typographical CORPS of some
Improvement of road river harbor or
bayit is urnised and you order it be printed and
this craftsman, he is called, when he has nothin
else to do, copies the maps drawing, and it is sus
pended i'll some committee room for the uor lion
of the members, all of whom have been furnished
with one, engraved at public expense Now, sir,
it cannot be necessary longer to continue h copy
ing of maps. If, however, it is though. expedent
to place manuscript copies in any of the committee
rooms, it is only necessary to require the Secretary
of War to furnish as many copies you may desire,
without any additional expense. In order that l
might relieve this subject from objection urged a.
gans it. by some of my friends, who think that these
copies OF maps, &c. may be required hereafter, ad-
dressed to the Secretary of War letter. His an.
swer have, and which desire the clerk will read
1t was read.]
propose, MI Speaker, SO to amend the rcsolu-
ton, that the Clerk shall from time to time if reo1i
red by the House, any of the committees call upon
the Typographical corps already in the paw and en-
ployment OF the government, for suci maps, charts
and drawings, as may be required for the safe and
efficient action of this House. In Offering this amend
ment, wish 1t understood, that I do it to obviae
the objections osome of my friends not that believe
there ever was or is now, any necessity for such an
officer this craftsman.
With the amendment which I now send IN the
Chair, hope all opposition to the passage of the re-
solution will cease. In the mode proposed bv it. we
shall get the same description of work DONE by
men competent 10 90 IT, already III the public service
and wtont any additional expense, or very little
Such understand to be the communication from the
Secretary of War, which has been just read
Mr.. Chiffon said, conscious as he was of his
inability TO do justice to the subject which under
consideration it would scarcely be expected of him to
attempt, at the present time, labored defence of
the principles which acuated him in the course he
pursued. But he felt it due to himself--be felt
due to the freemen whom he had the honor of renre
senting--to make some observations in excupation
of his motives; and, i'll doing So he hoped for a con-
tinuation of that lenty, on the part of the House
which had usually been extended towards him. and
which he conceived to be due to every individual who
was honored, by the voice of free people, with
seat in that Hall. MIR. G. said he thought he very
well understood the object and character of the A.
mendment which had just been offered; and he also
the gentleman who had proposed it. The same sono.
said Mr.. c., has been sung a former OCCASION in
the District which represent, that of all the resolu
tons introduced by me into this house. no part of
them are suffered to stand excent The 1nrd -