Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-05-15

move inc PRESIDENT does not possess this power! The n
variable practice OF the government at with the
statement OF the gentleman from Virginia If he was
called on to give definition of the contingent fund.- he
would say it was fund for the payment of outfits and
other similar expenses The gentleman from Virginia
says this is not contingent expense, because Mr. Rives
had leave to return.
MIR. Archer said that was not his argument.
MIR. McD.-What is contingency? That which may or
may not take place. The OF Mr.. Rves was per-
ecy contingent His leave may be recalled-hc had un-
dcrstood this appropriation denied the leave given
would be recalled. As TO the objects OF the contingent
fund.- he would call upon the gentleman from Kentucky
(Mr Wckie) explain the views of the Committee of
Rcrenchment upon that fund The doctrine upon which
we into power, that the fund for secret service
was an excrescence principles then were, that 60
vernment had secrets, and should have none That
COMMITTEE either introduced threatened introduce
bill abosing the whole fund for services He was
not prepared to go the whole. lie then thought it would
turn out hoax In the of his observations he had
come to the conclusona unless men have very stable
principles OF public economy the cxavagant of all
administrations those which into power upon the
principles OF retrcnchmen This fact capable of
philosophical explanation. We came into power as pro
essed opposcs of liberal expenditure of public money
our antagonists who held contrary opinion, could
urn suddenly abouand contradict all herown arguments
hoSe who take power upon these principles have one
10 oppose their prose expenditure Unless decisive steps
were taken TO check the increasing expenditures of this
government the consequences could not fail to be dsas
rous In relation 10 this amendment he regretted the
committee had not concurred in it, He satisfied that
enlargement between tho two Houses would lead TO
delay extremely prejudcal 10 the public service
Mr. Wlckllie went into extended explanation of the
e"soi inc committee oil Retrenchnent the subject
the contingent fund. He quoted from the report of the
Committee passage where the payment of outfits from
mat iund was stated TO be abuse He was of opinon
that the practice of paying outfits from the contingent FIND
was entirely wrong Alter discussing grounds taken
oy those who preceded him, Mr. w contended that moth
ing was TO be inferred from the amendment the Senate
excepting that II vacancy occurred some so or 40 DAYS
before the meeting OF the Senate the President should moi
I'LL the vacancy before the meeting OF Congress In this
opinion ne concurFe' unless an emergency abroad should
require minister 10 be dispatched Immediately
MT f. everett dld not regard the
a' one Inc question is not whether shall, or shall
not have Minister Paris it was mere matter of form,
turning on THIS point shall the appropriation be made i'm
advance: or shall the outfit be paid from the contingent
lund He had voted Tor the appropriation originally i'm
tue bill has been struck out by the Senate The gen
ean from Virginia (Mr. Archer) says the President has
decided that an appropriation is made he will not Or
der any outh TO he paid TO the to Mr. Rives
Inns was neither just, equitable fair. He would not
sanction such decision by any vote of his Such a case
might occur where the necessity could not be forcseen
a Minister abroad might suddenly die Shall the sue
cessor be sent in all such without outfit? He had
some reason TO remember the labors of the Rctrenchmen
Committee. IL had been called farce. lie could as
sure gentlemen he found it farce the time laborino
as lie ma day alter day from morning till night for five or
SIX weeks together, as member of that Committee The
opinion oil majority OF that Committee had been stated
by 'he gentleman from Kentucky, (NIr WicEline) The
minority OF the Committee thought the contingent fund
properly applicable 10 the payment OF outfits TO Ministers
ne thought so then, and had not changed his
OPINION III had been said that the return of Mr. Rives
was not contingent event. He had recently noticed
mat discomfort had arisen in the French Chamber of De-
PuuSS IoidlNe 10 inc convention concluded by MIR
WIN uhat Government. Such a circumstance might in
duce nm stay at Paris longer than be had intended
we nave seen the present session. Minister at Bogota
who had received leave return choose TO remain onoer
At MS post IL Is not certain that the Europe will
not induce Mr.. Rives to change his intentions The
CHAIRMAN oil the Committee of Foreign Relations (Mr.
rchel has intima,ed that the whole contingent fund NAV
be wanted for other purposes He was apprized of the
object TO which the gentleman alluded which he was az
ANXIOUS TO promote as any other person, but he con-
Vlhced that alter satisfying all expenses on that head
enough OF the contingent fund would remain to pay this
outfit. ~ ~
Mr.. Ingerso could not agree that bv voting TO concur
WIN inc senate IN this amendment the House took the
side OF the Senate in controversy with the President II
IL was so the argument might be turned 1t was equally
improper TO take sides with the President against the Sc
nate as with the Senate against the President HI
of the doctrines stated by the gentleman from Ken
lucky r Wcklidc that outfits could not be taken from
the contingent fund.- but must be specifically appropriated
But he would ask how the outfit of Mr. Rives paid
in 1929?
Mr.. wicknre said Mr.. Rives' outfit was NOT maid fiji
le30--aiter an appropriation had been made.
Mr. Wayne considered this question TO involve an i'm
portant principle. He not disposed see the House
array itself upon any side, but upon the side of the Cons-
tuition Wilt be commended that where vacancy occurs
in the of the Senate the President has no power to
M this vacancy? Is not this power granted in terms
What principle required to recognize? Is
that we shall not provide for the expenditure necessary
TO the filling vacancy which will probably occur in the
recess OF the Senate? In the present unsettled condition
oil the European world, present Minister should
turn from France ought to furnish the President with
the pecunary ability to supply his place without delay
ochde nave no night TO the
ment shall not be made Gentlemen have minated AN in
tenton OF voting from respect TO the Senate He would
vote from respect the Constitution alone would adj
here TO the appropriations and willing the Senate should
adhere TO its amendment 4 Committee Of Conference
between the two Houses would then be able to
the subject without difficulty.
Mr.. Dayton had listened with great anxiety to learn
the grounds upon which this appropriation for outfit for
minister to France rejected The Committee of WAYS
and Means had inserted in this bill 100000 the con
ingen fund.- and $4,000 for this outfit In the absence Of
all evidence TO the contrary, believe that the ap
preparation TO the contingent fund unnecessarily
large. Why should the outfit be stricken out Of the bill
and charged upon this contingent fund? This House
could not abandon its measures without reason was
assigned and he felt bound to insist upon the original
appropriation voted by the House.
Mr.. Adams said in the course of his remarks i'm Commit
tee yesterday, he had stated at he deemed the question
so deeply important in point of principle that he should
feel bound to call for the yeas and nays record his
vote upon the journals. He accordingly requested the
decision of this question by yeas and nayswhch were
ordered.
Mr.. Adams procceded-at so late hour his great en-
barrassment was not how much he should say-but how
little he could say in the discharge of his duty TO himself
and 70 the public III would orbear entering upon the
great range OF debate that had been gone into. Among
other subjects the abors of the celebrated Committee on
Retrenchmen had been alluded to. He had some occa-
sion 10 recoect that Committee. man celebrated for
his talents well his vanity once said that the Craa-
tor of the world had consulted him when the system was
arranged he could have given important advice upon the
subject Without mourning the suspicion of similar
gance he might be permitted say that the Committee
of Reronchmen had thought proper have consulted
him upon their abors he could have given them impor-
tant advice As TO the change Of opinions that individuals
bad shewn there was physical explanation which might