Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-16


his earnest laboSs and disinteresied efforts 90 reduce
his own pay in this House, and his total failure. (uo
doubt very much 20 his Unsatisfactory ss the cause
for his change Of opinion aud opposition to this inca
sure. AR. SPrAxra, every member who has witness
cd the efforts Of my colleague to rid hmsefo OF por
ton of his own pay, lot that portion TO which he
thinks his services here do not cnt,tlc him. beloved
him perfectly sincere. They could not but witness
the deep, deep yegycf which he manifested Ut the loss
of his proposition.
We arc invited by some gentlemen, TO como en-
with proposition for the rctrcuchment Of the use
less expenditures OF the government, or the abolition
Of useless Offices worthy che attention Of Congress-
and they vii operate. will thank them 10 direct
US where we shall begin-what ot6ce--what
expense do they desire TO lop of? We invoke them
TO assist in correcting the abuses in this House
first and when that is done, 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 moro
important objects. Let however. put things right
at home first. do not design, Mr.. Speaker, in what
have said, to impute corruption, improper motive,
to any officer in this House. II is every commits
sion Of error, NAL dmnistra ton by officer,
which necessarily carries along with 1t corruption
still repeat the deliberate Judgment OF the commit
aud that OF my own that the appointment Of this
officer and the payment OF his salary, not only
without law but against law; and in the discussion Of
this resolution, we arc not called upon to point out
the inuy Of his past services or to provide for the
longer continuation Of them. The resolution which
have read was temporary-it expired with the
sion at which it adopted; and this. am persua
ded, was the understanding Of those members who
voted for it.
But, sir, If were disposed to accept the chai-
lengc given to investigate the important labors Of
this quasi officer this officer who wants 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 greatly beyond the
value of his labors. Is it not fact known to this
House. sir, that ever since he has been in the receipt
Of this salary of 500 per anuum. that he has been
employed, during the sessions Of Congress, by the
editors Of the Inte'gencer, their reporter of the
debates in this House, upon average OF four
months in each year, Has he not been for the last
four months ut Richmond, reporting the debates in
the Convention,
In order to have some idea of the abors of this of
fcer, addressed to your clerk letter of inquiry,
to what maps. drafts &c. this man had copied-ihc
number IN each yer? The Clerk has given me
list Of 80 ALL but says he is unable to designate
the time year in '.ich each any completed.
He has also voluntarily furnished with his estimate
Of what these maps would have cost, If he had EN-.
ployed somc one to do them by the 'job do not
pretend to be judge of this description of labor
but know enough to satisfy my mind, that the cstt-
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.
The process is this, if I understand it: a call is
made by the House, upon the Department of War,
bay-t IS fnsed and You order to be- %
engraved, at considerable expense. At some time.
this craftsman as he is called when he has notbin
else to do, copies the maps or drawing and il is ss
pended IN same committee rpoul for the information
Of the members, all Of whom have been furnished
with one engraved at public expense. Now, sir.
it cannot be necessary longer TO continue mi COM
h0vnynr- -
to place manuscript copies in any of the Committee
rooms 1t is only necessary TO require the Secretary
Of War TO furnish as many copes as you may desire
without any additional expense. In order that /
might relieve this subject from an direction ,rocJ .,
gainst it: by some ofmy friends who think that these
copies of maps &c. may be required hereafter 7 nd
dressed to the Secretary of War aletter. His
swer have, and which desire the clerk will read
II was read,1
propose, Mr.. Speaker, so to amend the resolu.
tion that the Clerk SHALL from time to time If reoui
red by the House, any Of the committees call non
the toPosaphcai corps, already in the pay and EN-.
poyment OF the government, for such maps, charts
and drawings, as may be required for the safe and
efficient action OF this House. In Offering this amend
nent, wish it understood, that do Il to obvia,e
the objections oil some Of my friends not that believe
there ever was or Is now, any necessity for such an
officer this craftsman. "
With the amendment which now send IN tho
Chair, hope oil opposition to the passage of the re-
solution will cease. In the mode proposed bv IL 700
shall get the same description Of work done, bv
men competent to do il, already in the public service
and wtout any additional expense, or very little
Such understand to be the communication from the
Secretary of War. which has been us, read.
Mr.. Chiffon said, conscious as he wac os HE
inability TO do justice to the subject which was under
consideration 1t would scarcely be expected of him 10
attempt, at the present time, labored defence of
the principles which actuated him in the course he
pursued: But he felt il due to himself--he felt !,
due TO the freemen whom lie had the honor Of ren,e
senting--to make some observations in excnloat;on
OF his motives; and, in doing 30, he hoped for con.
tinuation OF that ienity, on the part Of the House
which had usually been extended towards him. and
which ne concevedto be due to every individual who
was honored, by the voice Of free people. with a
seat in that Hall. Mr.. G.. said he thought no ve,v
well understood the object and character Of tho ~
mendment which had just been offered; and he also
believed he understood, equally we'll the motive oil
the gentleman who had proposed it. The same some
said Mr. O., has been sung on former occasion. in
the District which represent, TINT Of oil the rcgou
tions introduced by me into this house, no mart of
them are suffered TO stand except the word pRc.oI
ved" lie hoped, in charity, his colleague was no,