Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-04-02
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MARCH 10, 1880,

Mr.. Speaker The very few remarks offered by me |
On the amendment of the gentleman from OHIO M r.
Nance) were not made with any intention of moving,
or Inng!ng III any extensive debate this question.
do not believe the amendment was proposed or that
it had been examined with any reference to parry /
feeling, by single member of this House, until the /
gentleman from Tennessee, MIR Polk pleased in
his O,cn peculiar manner, the smooth current of
debate into that troubled stream Th, appears from
the facts freely admitted by all. The whole item of
appropriation, of which this amendment touches
dcrable portion of the expenditure incurred the last
summer in forming treaty with the Winncba goes. |
No appropriation had been by Congress made for |
holding that treaty; and the expenses of the nego
taoD. so far paid have been paid out of the con-
,ingcnt fund of'he Department, appropriated for other
purposes Although this procedure was contrary to
that law, which provides that money shall be
drawn from the Treasury unless in virtue of era D.
preparations yet for various reasons as suggested by
gentlemen on all sides of ;be House, no objection
has been made, nor as presume, will any be made
10 TINS appropriation OH any such account The OBJ
Jccti"n offered by the amendment is distinct and d.
verse from This; and goes mercy prevent one of the
commissioners then General of Brigade in the ma
tona service, from receiving both military paw and
diplomatic salary at the time Is not this L.
gtimate question, at all times and Among all honest
men, without suspicion, and without accusation of par
" excitement or party purposes? What title then has
the gentleman from Tennessee, (AIr Pok) to accuse
me OF party intentions ;:arty feelings?
''Gratnltous' seems to be favorite term with the
gentleman. Ifwhen applied to language gratuitous,
m"cns words, and sentences, and ideas, uttered with
out any reference to the subject, then are all the
words spoken by the gentleman, far as any ideas
may be found among them, perfectly ''grauous -
tell the G ueman that his accusations against mo
are totally disconnected with fact. To what said
they have of that relation by logicans called vcr
finihtude. There was nothing in ali he uttered
against me- german to any of my words or feelnns
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 n,
nes win most logical perseverance, kept his prom
sea n n,yln hat
s'rued into any connexicn with that question WHO
besides the gentleman, has brought into controversy
tho correctness of this whole expenditures or objected
to this appropriation to IT. because it was made
without legal appropriation and from fund Inv
law assigned to other purposes? What gentleman
hns objected to holding The treaty under such circum
s.anceS no has deemed it necessary to apologize
Tor dong IT! The explanations made by the gentle
man from Kentucky, (Mr Wickliffe) have neither
been objected TO or questioned Those explanations
ana all others offered all sides of the House have
I'll the gentleman took up the subject been made
and received, as thought, in the iirest spirit of en-
qTlry and discussion. Why then all this shyeri.e
anu shrinking aud agitation, so manifest in the zen
teman' Has his imag inatiou SUSPENDED hin, oynr
magazine or gunpowdcr, witt lighted fisee plunoed
INTO Its crater, and burning gradually down to ihe
tfeihGhaoiS volume at the other end oft? Does the
entieman nope to be canonized for his political zeaP
an not tn bigot to hasten his auto de fc or ,ntn
Gle with The ligLtest breath the fame of his ,artr
a m, Straw and faggots are worth more to his
iienas ana advcrsaries for other purposes; and the
10 lfI
or KIND OF merit may purchase il for him
Concerning the President of The United States or
his Cabinet Ministers, question has beer raised in
I'ils dcoate by me, or by the gentlemen with whom
nave mao tAc honor OF acting in this House. When
ever duty may call us to raise that question il will
trust. be conducted in such manner as the repyese,
tatIVcs OF the American people may question the
Executive Department of their Government Al
though no man more deeply or sincerely On
posed to the election of Gen. Jackson, vet be bcipo
chosen, will not disparage that choice. or the cie
catcd character OF that office, those honors con-
tered by 1T. The President is a high diontarv If
tls nation the representatives of the peope canno
without descending from their own station aunroacb
thls distinguished officer with words of contumelv
ana reproach Cabinet ministers are not entitled IN
any ofhese imnunities; and stand cI,arceabo - ,h
utmost latitude OF constructions under anv severity of
tEearc' LOT any executive procedure conducted and
all ale so conducted, under their atvisepent "'
shall not follow the foul footsteps of those who
Ia past years have travcrsed this Hall in the full crv
OF caluInny and reviling. The throne shall secure
nm VINO sits upon IT. Let the Presidential Chair be
inc sanctuary, and consecrate the man who has re
ceiVed the JUNCTION of national suffrage Those who
nave been accustomed do So NAV now erec, tb;s
elevated seat into pllory, and, if thew like smu.e
themselves with dischargng their losthsome missiles
at IT, Let the gentleman take notice, that whenever
may suit the interest and convenience of tho Amer
can people, TO inspect the administration of tba;
government then may be be assured that biob defer
ehce TO Official station will secure corresponding i'm,
hdhtes to the Chief Magistrate; but let the hchio
Pel whoever he may be, standing at the E,;ecut;vo
elbow, then "set his house in order"
Appropriations were formerly made in tl,is Hopse
under all the scrutiny ofarden and protracted debate
money no'1 passes out Of the Treasury as the dew
vans from the atmosphere, without noise, and if the
system OF me gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Polk
should obtain, it might well be without notice For
what objection, like those made by him. can be made
TO tue question raised by this amendment? Il does
hot propose 10 look INTO the Winnebago treaty or the
general expenditure in that negotiation: and tborn
{" mineral tract may have been acquired in Huron
and half million expended in the acquisition. and
tfat too without any appropriation by law; vet this
wisdom and integrity of ministers who advised this
ineasure does now pass silently all these yeiobtv
nl1ers, and offers only to exempt the Treasury from
paying to one OF the Commissioners who formed this
treaty double salary for his services CsneraI
MNelil, receiving by brevet the pay, forage and
ratons OF General of Brigade, was employed in /
negotiating this treaty. While in that service. bo /
render nd