The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-04-01

The convention adjourned sine die at 0 o.
clotk Friday night.
REM ARKS OF MR.. burgess,
On the "Bill making appropriations to pay
the expenses Of holding certain Indian
Treaties" h
House Of Representatives., .Mcrch l6.
Mr. SPEAKER: The very few remarks of.
fered by me on the amendment of the gen
tleman from Ohio (Mr. vance, were not
made with any intention ofmoving, or ming.
ling in any extensive debate on this ques-
ton. | do not believe the amendment was
proposed, or that it had heeu examined
with any reference TO partyAfeeling, by a
single member Of this House, until the gem
tleman from Tennessee (Mr. Polk was
pleased, in bis oien peculiar manner, to
turn the smooth current of debate into that
troubled stream. This appears from the
fact freely admitted by all. The whole j.
TEN Of appropriation, Of which this amend
ment touches a small part only, is intended
TO cover q very inconsidcrable portion, of
the expenditure incurred the last summer
in forming treaty with the Winncbogocs.
No appropriation had been by Congress
made for holding that treaty; and the ex
peEses of the negotiation, so far as paid,
have been paid out Of the contingent fund
of the Department, appropriated for other
purposes. Although this procedure was
contrary to that law, which provides
that no money shall be drawn from the
Treasury, unless in virtue oflegnl appro.
prlaton; yet for various reasons, as sugges.
ted by gentlemen on all sides ofthe House.
no objection has been made, nor, as | per-
sumo, will any be made to'ths aplropria.
ton on any such account. The objection
offered by the amendment, is distinct and
differs from this; and goes merely to pre-
vent one OF the Commissioners, then Gen.
eral Of Brigade in the national service, from
receiving, ksih Military pay end diploma.
tic salary uFthe same time. Is not this a
legitimatcd question, at ell times, and n.
mong al hohest men, without accusation
of party excitement or party purposes
What title then has the gentleman from
Tennessee (mr. Polk. to accuse me par.
ty intentions or party feelings.
"Gratuitous" seems to be iaVorite term
with the gentleman. II when applied to
language "gratuitous means words, and
sentences, and ideas, uttered without any
reference to the subject, then are all the
words spoken by the gentleman, so far as
any ideas may be found among .hem, per.
fectly "gratultous." tell the gentleman
that his accusations against me are totally
disconnected with fact. To what | said
they have none of that relation by logi.
ians called veri sinllltude. There was
nothing, in all he uttered against me, ger.
man 10 any of my words, or feelings. or
sentiments. The gentleman told us in his
eXordum, that he would not enter into any
debate concerning the question raised by
the amendment. lie has, with most log.
ical perseverance,, kept his premise, and
said not single word that can fairly be
construed into any connexion with that
question. Who, besides the gentleman,
has brought into controversy the correct.
ness of this whole expenditure; or objected
10 this appropriation TO cover it, because it
was made without any legal appropriation,
and from fund by law assigned to other
purposes? What gentleman has objected
to holding the treaty under such circum-
stances? Who has deemed il necessary
to apologize for doing it? The explana-
tons made by the gentleman from Kentuc.
Ky. (mr. Wickhle) have neither been OBJ.
iected to or questioned. Those explana.
uons, and all others offered on all sides of
tho House have, ill the gentleman took up
the subject, been made and received, as |
thought, in the falrest spirit Of enquiry and
discussion. Why then all this shivering
and shrinking and agitation, so manifest in
the gentleman; Has his Imagination sus-
pended him over magazine gunpowder,
with lighted fusee plunged into its crater,
and burning gradually down to the tremen-
dous volume at the other end of III Does
the gentleman hope 10 be canonized for his
political zeal? am not the bigot to hast.
en- bis auto dc fe; or enkindlo with the
lightest breath the flame ofhis martyrdom.
Straw and iaggots are worth moro to his
friends and adversaries for other purposes;
and the gentleman must wait for his pro.
motion until some other kind of merit may
purchase IL FOR him.
Concerning the President Of the L.
States or his Cabine. minister no question
has been raised IN THIS debate by me, or by
the gentlemen with whoa | have had the