Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-03

ried on. that there must be more in it than met
the eve; and he now discovered, to his infinite
alarm. that the President of the United States,
on the faith of an appropriation by that House,
of 200, 900 dollars, had gone on and pledged the
faith of this Nation for 1885, 900 dollars, Now,
if the design of gentlemen was to ratify this
sporting with the public faith, that House was
called upon, by every sacred consideration, to
protest against any such purpose, and not to
lend it even the momentary sanction that might
seem to be implied, in referring the present bill
to the Committee on the District.
Mr.. WAYNE said that, if the facts were as
the gentleman from South Carolina supposed
them to be, the House might have been indebt-
ed to him for his remarks. But the gentleman
had collected his information from statements
made here, which he no doubt believed to be
correct, but, which were not so, in point of fact
AT the last session. when the appropriation for
this work had been made, communication had
been made by the President, that he had adopt
ed the plan of making the upper works of the
bridge of wood But before he invited contracts
for the work. he submitted the plan to Congress
for the necessary appropriations. 1t was true,
that in the meanwhile, difficulties had occurred
and another plan had been submitted for con-
structng the whole bridge of stone. This latter
had been adopted, but the Secretary of the Trea-
sury had informed them that no change had
been made beyond the letter Of the law of the
sdent had not determined that more money
should be expended than the law allowed, he
would ask the attention of the House to a report
made by the Secretary Of the Treasury to the
President
Mr.. w. here read from the report.
From this, it appeared that the contract had
not been signed, but the plan had been examin-
ed and the estimates approved. He was glad
that the whole subject had been brought before
the House for revision, and, as the whole of the
requisite information was now before them and
as it was important that they should act speedi-
ly, he hoped the subject would be permitted to
remain where it was.
Mr.. STEWART said he had made no impu~
tation on any body, and had cast no blame in
any quarter
Mr.. WAYNE replied, that he had not acccus-
ed the gentleman of doing so.
Mr.. STEWART said that the gentleman
from Georgia seemed to doubt the fact, that he
had stated. The statement he had laid before
the House, he had himself received from Mr.
Dibbles own mouth but the evening before.
Mr.. WAYNE said, it was all true but all the
expenditure had been within the amount of the
appropriation
Mr.. MERCER said, he owed it, as an act Of
justice to the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
(Mr STEWARD to read to the House what the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. WAYNE) had not
had time to see inasmuch as he had just cut the
leaves OF the document.
Mr.. WAYNE. knew it all ten days ago.
Mr.. MERCER continued. The House would
remember that the present Secretary of the
Treasury was not in office when the appropria-
ton had been made. In this document Secre-
tary fancy reported to the President what he
had done, ard went on to state as follows:
{" The plan proposed by Mr.. Dbbe was deem
ed by you the President of the U. S. preferable
to the one before adopted, and the proposed
changes approved. And, as no doubt a0as enter
tanned of you right to sanction the modification
proposed in the original plan, and to accept
bid more favorable to the United States than
any before made, you informed Mr.. Dibble that
his plan would be adopted, and his offer accept
ed, upon his entering into the proper covenants.
and giving security for their performance to the
satisfaction of this Department.; and that in the
mean time, he might begin to make his prepa-
rations for the commencement of the work"
The CHAIR here interposed, and pronoun-
ced Mr.. MERCER not to be in order This was
going into the merits of the subject.
Mr.. MERCER commended that it was strictly
in order to state these facts in order to make the
House sensible of the necessity ofprompt action,
and this was fair argument for referring the
bill to a Committee ofthe Whole, without first
sending it, as proposed, to the Committee on the
District of Columbia
The CHAIR said, in that view, it was admis-
sible
Mr.. MERCER resumed. His colleague (Mr.
CHINN) had said that he understood Mr.. Ms only
motive in wishing the Presidents communica-
ton referred to the Committe on Roads and Ca
mails, to have been, that he might learn the a.
mount the bridge was to cost. Now he put it to
his colleague, if, afer having discovered the real
state ofthings, that committee was not in duty
bound to take immediate measures to put stop
to such procedure. A gentleman from New
York (Mr WARDwELL) had intimated that the
Committee had no right to report the bill they
had reported.
Mr.. WARDWELL explained He had only
said, that when the subject was referred to the
Committee on Roads and Canals, they had not
been called upon to report bill.
Mr. MERCER. Very true; but the gentleman
ought to know that every standing committee of
this House has right to report on any subject
referred to them "by bill or otherwise" How
else than by bill could the House interfere to
limit this expenditure? If the House will 60 on
to sanction this am done. | am fauctus o6cio,
and will gladly return to the station of private
member 1t will be useless to labor in my pre-
sent station, because this one source of eXpen-
diture will enguIf all the resources that ought to
be distributed on the various works of internal
AS to the object of erecting a
bridge am perfectly friendly Oft Ifthe Dis