Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-04-12

Pio' iuS ioi Tie payment OF
certain Commissioners appointed bv the
PRESIDENT to negotiate Treaty with the
Porte.
In SENATE, February g. 1881
On the motion of Mr. SMITH (of MaryIandl the
general appropriation bill for the support nj o,arr
ment, was again taken up for consideration The
question depending before the Senate was tba mo
tion made by Mr. TAzEwEIL. TO amend the ar,ond
ment thereto proposed by the Commute e TO whom
this bill had been referred by striking ont of This
amendment all from the Goth to the 33th lines incu
slVe. These words were,
"For compensation to the Commissioners en,,lou
ca IN negotiating a Treaty with the Sublime Porte
10 Charles Rhnd. outfit of 81 500 deductinp
thereirom Whatever sum may have been paid 20 hun
for his personal expenses: To Charles hind David
Oliley and James Bddle, at the rate of S4.5OO per
annum, Tor the time that each of them was ENGAGED
in the said negotiation.
for compensation TO the Commissioners employ
cd on a former occasion, for similar purDose: IN
William M. Crane and David Ofllev at the rate of
$500 per annum, for the time that each of them
was engaged in the said negotiation"
This question being announced bv the President
MR. L AZEWELL rose, and SAID:
Mr. PREsIDENr-If had consulted nv feelnos,
rather than my of duty, certainly should not
have made the motion did a few DAYS since bv
which the discussion then commenced has been pro-
duced In this discussion the infirmity under which
labour, prevented me at hat time and fear. will
still disable me, from doing Justice to the subject
But as have commenced the task However Iabori-
Gus and even painful 1t be in my present sua-
ton will now endeavour to complete il. corfdincr
In the Senate, who well know how am connected
with this matter and who witness my present condi
ton, to pardon this ungrateful obruson upon their
attention
In moving 10 expunge that portion of the amend
ment proposed by the Committee, which goes to pro-
vide for the payment of ''ou,fit and salaries to
S'the Commissioners appointed well by the late
as by The present President. 'to negotiate Treaty
with the Sublime Porte" | stated most explicitly
n IN
the money which the Committee proposed TO award
as compensation for the services they were supposed
90 have rendered But that my object was to ex-
press in this manner, my decided Instrumentation
OF what had been done in this behalf. as well as of
the mode in which this remuneration was now pro-
posed to be awarded to them. [ said that if bill
having tor Its object the compensation of these per-
sons, should be introduced into the other House
where 1t ought to originate, and should receive the
sanction OF that body, such bill would meet nv cor
dial support here fit should bestow upon these
individuals more than the committee propose to allow
them by their amendment This explici declara-
ton, repeated more than had supposed would
have projected against the mputation of the
Senator from New York, (Mr Sanford) which was
strongly implied in the question he propounded when
he emphatIcally asked, if meant to claim for tho
U. s., the full beneft of the abour and time of these
persons, and to deny to them any equivalent therefor
To this question, thus asked | will again answer
with equal emphasis No. 1t Is not my wish re
fuse to these men one single cent. So far from IT.
uncomfortable, nay doubtful, believe the benefits
to be- which they are supposed to have rendered vet
will 60 hand IL hand with the Senator from New
York, or any other, IN awarding for their SERVICE not
mere qttantuDl meY2tit, but liberal and annie al
lowance for all their time and all their abour n ay
even for their honest though mistaken efforts in this
regard
Having said thus much must take the liberty OF
slgnifying to the honorable Senator from New York
the very wide distinction (which to my mind is quite
obVious) between such voluntary award of com
pensatlon, 10 those who intended we'll and acted no.
nestIy, and voting appropriation of money! upon
the application of the Executive in redemption of
the iath OF the State said to be pledged, by those
who cannot agree had any authority so to commit
1t. One, would be 'he acknowledgements of debt
OF demand of strict justice, which although Con
greSs may have the physical power, they have not
the moral right to refuse The other is mere ar-
plicatlon to equity not addressing itself in any
way to our pllghted fah.-One, is a common exer-
else OF our power OF appropriation, connected with
nothing but the special merits of the particular case
and constituting obi gatory precedent for any
other even OF like kind The other is direct sane
ton OF what believe to be unconstitutional act OF
the Executive and voluntary abandonment on the
part OF the Senate Of its rights and privileges One
mode OF proceeding, would furnish to the other
1ouse, all the facts existing i'll the case and necessa
ry to correct exercise of their discretion over it,
The other, is we'll calculated misead that body by
holding out the idea, that the appointment of the
persons tor whom compensation is thus provided, has
received the confirmation of the Senate and that the
public faith is thereby pledged, to award to them the
allowance customary upon such occasions.
! The Senate cannot fail TO understand the broad
difference between the two cases; and whatever may
be their opinion Of the correctness of the principles
upon which this distinction depends they will never
theess see IN the distinction itself the for the
course am disposed to pursue. This course will lead
J me 20 co-operate willingly, with the most LIBERAL, in
awarding compensation to these individuals for what
! they have done, whenever that subject shall be
| brought properly before me, but will not permit me
| to vote cent, in the mode now here proposed.
! If any Senator shall concur with me, in the opin-
ion have thus expressed that the power which has
been exercised by the President uFon the occasion,
is granted, but forbidden TO him by the Constu-
ton and thct its has been in fragrant viola
ton of the rights and privileges of this body confer
ed upon 1t for the wlsest purposes, then know that
! my motion will receive support. But fla majority
of the Senate shall differ with me in this opinion, it
| will be rejected as 1t ought to be. In any event
| however, | shall have the satisfaction Of bringing
! this much vexed question to u conclusion. Preseu.
! ed as It IS, II must be decided one way or the
other. Their exists no mode Of GLIDING it II is the
conviction Of this, which gives to the present discus,
sion all the interest has for and which alone
could have induced me to trespass upon the atteu-
| ton OF the Senate, at this time.
Mr. President, it has now been so long since !
presented to the Senate statement Of the facts