Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-17

6Oulc :
gteited that he d i notsestsho whoe, IA. s{S;
lcter from the clerk Of this House, cl{citcd " call
OF that member upon him for iniosmetio0 = It APP
pears by this document that the drafstmsn lids re-
down for all MS services Il also appess by the es-
timate Of Of your officers tho Land Office that
if the government had employed persons to do ex-
uctly the same service, at the usual rate Of pay, it
would amount to a. sum Of money there down.
On compa ring this debit aud credit il appears that we
have e,vcd just about $1,000. Does this show that
the office Is sinocursl that the government is was
ting lite treasureto pampcr an ider No sir. on the
contrary, proves that he has been faithful and dill
gent in his vocation, doing for you than ohors
would for the same measure Of pay, and that no
trcnchmcnt will be effected by dismissing him; but
we shall be exposed to heavier charges TO greater
expenditures, by the proposed change. The nation
does not demand such reform this. will not
dwell longer on this topic, but 60 to another.
Auargument has been pressed upon rs which de-
law authorizes this ap Ointment. and the inference
is that is usurpation your part, Mr.. Speaker.
resolution was passed by this House in 1921, which
authorized the appointment; but i suppose gentle
men mean to be understood TO that il expired
with the Congress that passed it. II is, however,
sufficiently broad in its terms to justify your course
and has bren deemed sufficient authority by sue.
ccssion ofSpcakers No abuse is pretended to have
resulted from this exercise of power, for the Goveru
ment has received full equivalent for its money;
but still is said to be Illegal. like this profound
reverence for the law but sir, there is much of the
power exercised by the Chair of the same character
VINO appoints the Lessenger in and out of this Hall?
Who appoints the Poslmasters of the House? Who
the persons tlattend upon the committee rooms and
the various individuals about this building, who
tribute TO the comfort of the members and the des-
patch of business, g. where is the authority by which
the appointments made, and the machinery of bi-
siness kept in motion! It is the same which an
points the craftsman; and resolution within my
recollection has been passed authorizing 1t; and We,
who doubts your power, sir, to make these arrange
ments, SO essential to the business of egisa mp,
The cases are parallel, and if the power is denied for
one purpose because 1t rests resolution of the
House alone it mus. be denied for the other have
now done with the main question .
But SIR, the debate has been very broad, embrac-
ing other matters, Which seem to have little conncx
ion with the resolution. IT seems be festive &C.
casion saturnalia. observed of debate 90
ing on in another part Of this buildings ana opportu-
nifty has been afforded to gentlemen to indulge, in wi,
and merriment, and in pointed, but ut the same time
good humored sarcasm. II is my purpose, as a mat
ter ofJustce omyscif, and TO the Committee Oil Re-
trencbment, to notice some fthcse remarks. will
begin by correcting mistake of the Chairman of
the Committee: unders,an him to saw if his Ian
guage reached my correctly across the wide and
busy populous region between us that the resolution
under consideration came into the House with the
unanimous appreciation of the committee. Sir il has
been my misfortune not TO be able to attend most of
the meetings because of Ill health, and was not pre-
sent when tins resolution was adopted and did not
give it my support. an not, therefore now on
posing what in its incipient stages, had my approba
ton.
Another gentleman from Kentucky (N1r. Chilton)
has IN two days debate, INDUCED IN much freedom
of remarks. s has occasionally made obioue shots az
the committee on retrenchmcnt. He would sun
pose, be understood TO mean that their attention had
been directed to insignificant subjects, while matters
OF great moment stood In their way and invited them
to quicken their zeal will do him the Justice To
| say, there was much of good nature in his humor,
bnt The sarcasms were occasionally somewhat caus
tic and after have done with him. shall leave the
l0I n dUp hofh N
tIce upon the Committee. While alludup TO the
works Of Rctrenchment. he took occasion TO com
pare the committee or its chairman am not able 10
determine which, to the fabulous god of the ocean,
employed IN spearing miDnows, while he was himself
drenched and suocated with spray and foam shouted
upon him by the whale, am not able sir 10 use
his exact phraseology, but will do no Injustice to
ms sentiments lie said, aso that the committee OF
the Chairman, were pursuing the track of n cricket
while the of the lion was in the ear! This il but
hgurative mode of charging upon US a dercliction
OF duty The gentleman proceeded from these ami
other circumstances, to draw the inference that re-
trenchment has become farce and in his despair
at the failure to redeem the pledges which have been
made TO diminish the number of officers he resorts
Tor consolation to the pointed moral contained in the
laDie OF the fox and flies, and concludes it is wiser
Tor suffering people to bear the stings of those now
partly satlated than to drive them away and let in
throng of successors with keener appetites. It is
not my purpose to question the truth Of his nferen-
ces, for he may know more of the sipns of the times
thani do; he may have better information than /
possess, but will assure him. This prophecies provc
correct, the committee are blameless.
VIII show the gentleman that we have not been
as needless and inatenfiye TO our duties as hs sue
gestions imply. We have launched our barque up
on the very sea where this leyiathan was represen-
tea 10 be, prepared, not with spear but iarpoon
TO put an end to his ravages, if we could discover
hin but there was no rioting in the water there no
daring to the contest, but all was calm and tranquil
III the cruise we fell in with the high admiral of your
Meet aud received for intelligence, that he too had
been cruising for the like purpose but had entered on
his log book, that the search had been vain and fruit.
iess' hthereforc this freebooter exists, he has elu
ded our vigilance.
Let me tell the gentleman also, that we have en-
tered that forest where he said the lions roar was
heard, and have penetrated to its farthest verge but
we saw not the footsteps heard the sounds of this
Deast OF prey. In this excursion mot the com.
nander Of your land forces, and he reported that he
had examined the Of the forest for the same
purpose, but his search was vain and fruitess m