Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-06
CONGRESS-.

and, on the :. Bill making appropriations 10
nav the expenses of holding certain Indian
Treaties.
Mr.. Sneaker: The very few remarks offered
nv me on the amendment of the gentleman from
0h;o Mr.. Vance) were not made with any IN
tcntion of moving or mingling in any extensive
debate ON this question. l do not believe the
amendment was proposed, or that 1t had been
examined with any reference to party feeling, by
n single member of this House, until the gentle
man from Tennessee, (Nlr. Polk was pleased.
in his o,cn peculiar manner. to turn the smooth
current of debate into that troubled stream
This appears from the facts freely admitted by
all. The whole item of appropriation, OF which
this amendment touches small part only, Is IN
tended to cover only very inconsiderable por-
ton of the expenditure incurred the last summer
in forming treaty with the Winnebagoes. No
appropriation had been by Congress made for hold
inc that treaty; and the expenses OF the negotla-
ton, 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 mo-
ney shall be drawn from the Treasury, unless IN
virtue of legal appropriation; yet for various rea-
sons. as suggested by gentlemen on all sides of
The House. no objection has been, nor, as | pre-
sumo, will any be made to this appropriation on
anv such account. The objection offered by the
amendment. is distinct and diverse from this; and
soes merely to prevent one of the Commission
es, then General of Brigade in the national
service, from receiving both military pay and
diplmofiC salary at the same time. Is not this
a legitimate question. at all times. and among
all honest men, without suspicion, and without
accusation of party excitement or party purpose?
What title then has the gentleman from Tennes-
see. (Mr. Polk TO accuse me of party intentions
or party feelings?
:. Gratuitous'' seems to be fayorite term with
the gentleman. Ii when applied to language
ssgratuitous" means words, and sentences, and
ideas uttered without any reference to the sub
iect, then are all the words spoken by the gen.
tleman, So far as any ideas may be found among
them, perfectly "gratuitous. l tell the gem
teman that his accusations against me are totally
disconnected with fact. To what | said they
have none of that relation by logicans called veri
,imilitude. There was nothing in all he uttered
against me, german to any of my words or feel
ings or sentiments. The gentleman told US In
his exordium. that he would not enter into any
debate concerning the question raised by the
amendment. He has with most logical perse-
verance, kept his promise, and said not Il single
word that can fairly be construed into any con-
gentleman. has brought into controversy the cor
rectness of this whole expenditure; or objected
to this appropriation to cover it, because it was
made without legal appropriation, and from a
fund by law assigned to other purpose. What
gentleman has objected to holding the treaty UNI
der such circumstances: Who has deemed it
necessary to apologize for doing it: The expla-
nations made by the gentleman from Kentucky.
MIR. WickliAe) have neither been objected to or
Questioned. Those explanations and all others Of
fered ON all sides of the House, have, till the gen.
tleman took up the subject, been made and re-
ceived, rs thought, in the faireSt spirit of en-
curry and discussion. Why then all this SILVER
ing. and shrinking. and agitation, so manifest in
the gentleman Has his imagination suspended
him over magazine of gunpowder, with lighted
fusee plunged INTO its crater. and burning gradu-
ally down to the tremendous volume at the other
end of its Does the gentleman hope to be can
onzed for his political zeal? am not the bigot
to hasten his auto de fe, or enkindle with the
hehtest breath the flame of his martyrdom.-
Straw and faggots are worth more to his friends
and adyersaries for other purposes; and the gen
teman must wait for his promotion until some
other kind of merit may purchase it for him.
Concerning the President of the United States
or his Cabinet Ministers, no question has been
raised in this debate by me, or by the gentlemen
with whom have had the honor of acting in this
House. Whenever duty may cali us to raise that
question, it will, trust, be conducted in such
manner as the representatives of the American
people may question the Executive Department of
their Government. Although no man was more
deeply, or sincerely opposed to the election of
Gen. Jackson, yet, he being chosen, will not
disparage that choice. or the elevated character
of that office, or those honors conferred by it,
The President is high dignitary Of this nation;
the representatives of the people cannot, without
descending from their own station, approach this
DISTINGUISHED officer with words of 'contumely
and reproach. Cabinet ministers are not entitled
to any of these iInmunities; and stand chargea-
bic, in the utmost latitude of construction, under
any severity of censure, for any executive pro-
cedure conducted, and all are So conducted, un-
der their advisement
I shall not follow the foul footsteps Of those
who, in past years, have traversed this Hall IN