Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-02-23

J
without service of any king rendered to
the nation for it. The Secretary does
avow, in the Message, that the, "powcr
to leave the Russian Court for the ad-
vantage Of a moro genial climate, was
given to MIR. R. in consideration OF the
extent to which his constitution had been
impaired in the public service" What
were those services? The duties Of a
member of this House or of the Senate,
and for which he received his legal COM
pcnsation, like every other member.
Was "his constitution impaired by these
services? Were not the constitution of
others impaired, and even their lives
consumed, in like scrvices' Is this gen
teman alone selected for place where
he may, Gin consideration Of the extent
to which his constitution has been I'M
paired by those services, "rcc ccivc in one
year the sum of Sl8,O ,OO0i This, sir, is
the FIRST PENSION for CIVIL
SERVICE on our records. How many
hearts sofrevoutionary soldiers would this
have made gad2 Into how many abodcs
of dcsolation and widowhood it might
have carried the light ofioy, and brought
on you the blessings of how many now
ready to perish? Such a system of sin.
ccuro appointment and cirit pcnSionagc
may be extended alike to the Courts of
all civilized nations, and to the hordcs of
Nomadc barbarians, requiring no resi-
dcncc, either near the palaces or tents.
Of the foreign power; the formality of n
visit and presentation may soon be o.
mittcd, and the Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plcnipotentiary will, Gin
consideration of his public services" be
permitted to receive his outfit and salary,
while he continues to reside on his plan
Itation.
What scheme. of speculation does this.
system open to the crafty and unprnci-
pied, to men always at market either to.
sell themselves or to buy others! by this,
unstable politicians of every variety of
creed may be kept to the true faith. BY
this, tempest beaten partisans, shipwrcck-
ed in principle and fortune may be tow
ed into port, and laid up and preserved
for future use. Establish this system,
sir, and add to it Government Treas
into the Presidency with your own mon
cy; nor, like that Roman who bought
the Imperial Purple at auction, be oblig-
ed to lay down his own gold and silver
for the purchase. Shall we, sir, through
any fear ftransccnding our jurisdiction,
give our sanction to such a system? "A
boldcr stand than is now required was
taken 16 years ago, on this floor, by an
honorable member, now high in Office,
and presiding over the deliberations of
the other House Of Congress. Il will,
said he, vote no appropriation for the
! Navy until the Secretary of that De-
| partmcnt is removed What was the
! result The Secretary was removed;
! and the Naval branch ofthc service did
receive, as il always has received, his
cordial and efficient support. In 1875,
when the appropriation was under con-
sidCration for carrying into effect the
second treaty with Great Britain, Mr..
Gallatin declared, in this House, that
treaty had no binding force as law of
the land until such appropriations were
made; and that this House, holding the
power to control such appropriations,
held the constitutional power of reject
| ing treaties. Mr.. Madison contcndcd
that this House had the right to Judge
concerning the cxpcdiency of treaties:
and, as they might decide that question
to grant or refuse appropriations for car
| .ryimg them into effect. This case does
not require the aid of these doctrines; !;
| for public faith will not be touched in our
foreign relations if Mr.. Randolph should
not receive a salary for residing in Eng
/ land as Minister at Russia
/ Has the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
/ J. :. Barbour forgotten that the motion
to strike out the enacting clause of the
| bill approprating salaries for the Pana-
/ ma Mission was sustained by siXty-onc
members of this House, and that he him
/ self, with nine of his colleagues, voted
for it; Will gentlemen still contend for
| their own incompetency to question this
/, appropriation? Sir, we arc, by the Con-
! stituton, vested with high competency
/ and discretion on these important mat
ters; and to these constitutional attributes
of this House has this motion been ad-
| dressed.
1t is humiliating, but | must reply to
the gentleman from Newly ork. For
myself, | would let him pass 1t is a
kind of Domitian amusement, this killing
flies with a bodkin. Gladly would | say,
with the commiscration of Uncle Toby,
to the little buzzing Inconvenience,
! (whcn | have in my hand,) "Go, poor
insect, go; the world is surely wide c.
nough for thee and me-"
! ] have some apology for giving some
! attention 70 the specch of thc centlcnnn