Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-05-15
Twcmty-secOEael Gamgrcaa.- -Scsr.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Saturday, .fprit %.
APPROPRIATION BILL.
After some discussion upon the relative claims OF the
appropriation b ana the pension bill to the attention OF
the House, i'll which Messrs. Archer, Hubbard, Nj Due
Polk, Adams and Doddidge took part, the House went
into the consideration of the bill making appropriations for
the support of government for 1892.
An animated discussion took place upon an amendment
of the Senate adding $500 to the appropriation for Clerks
in the Office of the Surveyor in Illinois, Missouri and Ar
kansas, in which Messrs. Ashley, Wickie, Sewer,
Wilde, Duncan, McDuffe, Clay, Billiard, III. Everett
and Irwin took part, and which was finally concurred in
Avanety OF other amendments taken up and dis
posed ei-when the question of concurrence with the
amendment of the Senate striking the appropriation
for an outfit to Minister to France
Mr. Archer said if he confident that the sentimc
oil The House would concur with the vote Of the Commit
tee dsagreeing with this amendment he would gladly
STAN from making any remarks. From the interest that
had Deeh ieI III the question, and from his peculiar stu
alton he ought perhaps TO ask the indulgence of the House
few minutes. He it out of order to re-
fer TO the arguments that had been in committee on
tins question Bat in few words he would submit the
reasons that impressed his mind in favor of concurrence
with the vote Of the Committee last evening. That va
cancy IN this mission would take place before the next
meeting oil Congress there was no doubt There no
contingency 10 that fact. Paris was now the most
important point OF European dplomacy-and all Eu-
rope was eeming with negotiations To all appearance
II was on the Of commissions, both civil and mill
tary, and France was the great point of emanation-
The House had inserted this appropriation in the bill In
had been struck out by the Senate. What inference was
fairly TO be drawn from this act of the Senate' This
House was authorized to draw other inference but that
the return OF Mr. Rives. He was not authorized as
member of this House go into the discussions that ap
pear IN the newspapers for the of the Senate
what the duty OF the House under the only inference
we were justified in drawing from this OF the Senate
shall we give up opinion of the necessity of this
slonS Gentlemen say the Senate have not agreed TO this
appropriation, and therefore opinions be aban-
doncd Shall we give up the opinion and the dignity of
the House upon this suggestion? VIII the adherence of
the House. TO this opinion, be matter of intrusion or
nghN IL is sad' II we insist on the appropriation,
cannot force the Senate TO consent 10 send minister
France We have no such wish. No such effect results
from hls measure The question belongs to them, on
their own responsibility when it shall consutionally
come before them. But nobody doubts the proprety of
this mission 1t is said the mission should be kept up but
the outt must be paid from tho contingent fund.- and it had
been argued III support of this position that this was con-
hngent event. How event that distinctly arrang-
cd and provided for could be properly called contingent
ne would leave TO others explain The contingent fund
was set apart for unforeseen expenditures Every one
admits the existence of this fund he reasonable and pro-
per why then call on the Executive to devote il to the
Ordinary and settled service of government! We have
said, in granting this fund, that it TO be devoted to
other services He had been surprised that the Chair
- r. ii.
thought proper to explain the objects of the contingent
fund with his usual candor. From his explanation it
might be supposed, that 500 600 available for objects
oil this nature That gentleman well knows that the
contingent fund for all the missions abroad is not one
which applied to such obecs-and suggested that it
charged with paying for court dresses Sir that is one of
the ghest burhens upon that fund. applicable to
the payment oil avaety OF necessary expenditures apper
tanning to foreign issonssuch expressed books mans
and other documents necessary for the discharge of official
duty There is surplus Of that fund applicable TO the
payment OF outfits The contingent fund of foreign in
tercoursc, amounting to $50 1000, the only one from
which this outfit cOp.d be taken Shall that fund be d-
veTed from the important objects which was
for the payment OF outfits by which public interest might
greatly suer II Is said that is the usage of the govern
ment III the recent usage of the government is to be our
guide, outfits will not be taken from this fund. For want
OF specific appropriations last ministers have rome
abroad without outfits. Whoevcris sent to France TO re.
place MIR Rvcs, if this appropriation denied will be
obliged TO do the same 1t well understood that the
potipv df I;r,s-s Al
Courts very nadequate-Sha we increase those bur
dens by denying them their outfits? Outfit was required
TO deiray The expenses incurred on arrival
saiy tocsabsh the minister In his new residence Is ii
fairs it rationale wise just to deprive him OF this allow
hnce! Transfer appropriation had been alluded When
this done il in pursuance of positive law
Nohead Of Department does without Is it 10 be argued
here that the President shall do what is not authorized by
our own laws? lie was confident the President would not
do it, and the consequence would be that unless the ap-
preparation was granted no mission would be Ifthe
House concuri in striking out this appropriations will any
man say That would be the duty of the President in the
face of such decision, send minister TO France? How
Is the Executive 10 know the sentiments of Congress- but
by acts2 Could any act be expressive of our opn
ion that the minister ought be sen He would alb
stain from all discussion UTon the topic which had been
brought into the debate last evening This BODY had
nothing TO do with alterations elsewhere. Whether the
Senate were right wrong in their positions was of nc
consequence TO m-he hoped this House were not pre-
pared TO rerac their solemn opinions at the mere bidding
ofany body whatever IL due TO the dignity of The
House 10 adhere To its original opinions until some reason
assigned for abandoning them.
Mr.. McDulie said he was disposed TO have perniuet
this subject to pass of in silence had so pleased Tie gentle
from Virginia Mr.. Archer;1 that gentleman was no
satisfied with his majority last evening but must 90 int,
another argument to-day. Any supposion that hi
course was governed by Difference any other branch
the government was founded in mistake Ifhe supposed
this question Affected the rights Of his House no mar
would be more tenacious than himself But il does moi i'm
voye the rights Of the House. and does involve the po,ver
Of the Senate was our privilege to grant the none,
of the people. IT was The prerogstye Of the British
House Of Commons TO refuse grants Of money Would i
be invasion Of thcr prcrogaGye for the Peers TO re-
fuse these grants. The gentleman from Virginia seem
TO think our rights invaded by the refusal olthe Sena
10 sanction grant Of money. Are we to saw tbev shall
have the money whether they will or po2 WHO eve
heard Of the House Of Commons taking sides vifh t
King and insisting that thc Lords should ioin them in
grant Of money! The gentleman could put ato
upon the act Of the Senate, but that IL was solemn de
cdrdon OF the incXpcdency Of the mission 10 France
this the true interpretation Take il ODE So Upon tia
state Of facts shall this House grant an appropriation that
perfectly necessary? ~ the Senate do blink the mis-
sion eNpedcnt, The minister cannot be sent But III
ground OF the amendment Of the Senate heuuder
stood s That body will not decide upon this mission in al
vance. They viii not as LEGISLATORS, commit themselves up
on an Executive question. Regarding matter princ
pie, the senate cannot reccde from this amendment Ha
he been q member Of The Senate he should not hav
viewed he question in dat Hght-but after coming
such decision, Zoe never would recede Should this b
The course Of iho Senate this Important act OF II,
whole tcsion viii fill why2--bccauso the Senate rcius
10 ''se u 'pu0pi.oon which hey blink unnecessary