Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-04


for their relief more than double those of former
years.
With the greatest respect
JOHN COKE.
To the Honorable, the
Speaker of the House of Reps.
Mr.. Washington said he would not take up
the time of the House in explaining the necessity
for acting Immediately on the application just
made. The letter sufficiently explained itself,
and he should content himself with simply sub
hitting the following resolution:
Res0lged, That the Clerk of the House is
hereby authorized and directed to cause thirty
cords of wood to be delivered to the order of the
Mayor of Georgetown for the use Of the suffer
ing poor of that town.
MIR. Polk said, he knew ii was an ungracious
task to oppose resolution in behalf of the suffer
ing poor of this District, or any other country.
He must be permitted to remark. however, that
the precedent of appropriating the public funds
for such purposes was bad one. The resolu-
ton now before the House had come upon it sud-
denly. and it was not of sufficient consequence
to move its postpOnement. He recOlected that
some years ago, there fire in the District,
to be seen from the windows of the Capitol. and
and an application was Immediately made tor ex-
tending relief to the sufferers. While he was
prompted members, on that occasion, to draw
money from the Treasury for the relief oft the suf,
ferers he would ask was the course adopted pro-
per one! Was the obligation to contribute to the
relief of the sufferers within the ten miles square
greater than to those of other parts of the Union
The very same day that the fire occurred in
Alexandria, property to far greater extent was
| DESTROYED BY the same element in Cincinnati.
Ohio; but he had never heard that those sufferers
applied to Congress for relief. There were ma
nv sufferers in the United States-many objects
of charity-but they did not call upon Congress
to help them. Continue to pass resolutions of the
character of that now before the House, and what
would be the consequence? Why, every winter,
when the snow fell. or the Potomac was frozen
over, application would be made to Congress, and
members would be engaged in the dignified object
| of buying and slowing wood, to give to the poor
of the District of Columbia. Mr.. p. remarked
that, in opposing the resolution now under con
sideration, he did it on principles: the House had
not the power to make the donation requested
He might be told that Congress was the exclusive
Legislature for the District. Belt so. But was
that any good reason that they should give away
all the revenue of the alton to the people of the
District of Columba? If so, the poor of the other
sections of the country had nothing to do but 70
come and sit down here. in this District and APP
ply to Congress for relief 1t was not to the amount
proposed to be given that he objected-no, not the
paltry cost of thirty cords of wood; but he would
state that gentlemen came here 10 legslate OH
the great concerns of the Union, and not to give
away the public property. 1t was not money from
the Treasury. but the expense was to be betrayed
| BY the contingent fund of this House. That fund
| was voted for the use of the House; there should
be some discretion in its application; and if we
may give away part oft for purposes other than
for what it was intended, we may give away the
whole. He might well address himself on this
occasion, to those who. by the operation of the
previous question, had cut off all opportunity of
remark on former similar subject. Their mo-
motives were kind, no doubt, and he gave them
credit for them; severe storm was raging. and
they yielded to their feelings as men. No such
reason could be urged now, however; for the pre-
sent was one of the most pleasant days they had
enjoyed for some time. But it was said the poor
of Georgetown were suffering-somayb be the poor
of New-York, and other sections of the Union
In conclusion. The trusted that the House would,
by its vote to-day, put check to legislation on
matters of this sort.
Mr.. Blair. of s. G. contended, that it was not
competent for the House to vote donations of fu-
ell for the people of the District. If so, it would
have power also to vote millions of the public
money to feed and clothe the suffering poor of the
District. The House had no right to give away
the public money for any such purpose; and il
gentlemen were disposed to be liberal, let them
be liberal out of their own money. He, there
fore. moved the following substitute, by way of
amendment, viz
.'That the Sergeant at Arms be required to
deduct from the compensation of the members of
this House one DAVIS pay, and deliver said sum
TO the Mayor of Georgetown, to be applied to pur-
chase fuel for the paupers of that town. Provid-
ed, nevertheless, that such deduction shall be
made from the compensation of such members
only, as vote in favor of this resolution.