Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-09
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, FEB. 8.
Mr.. Mvean offered by consent the following

resolution.
Resolred That the Committee on the District
of Columbia be directed to report to this House
the amount expended by said Committee under
the resolution Of the 9th of January last, author
izing and instructing them to ascertain the
amount of fuel that might be necessary for the
relief of the suffering Poor of the city of WASH
ington, and to place the same, at the disposal OF
the Corporation for that purposes and also that
said Committee be instructed to desist from FUR
ther expenditures under the authority derived
from said resolution.
Mr. Evans demanded the question oil consld'
Grafton upon the resolution.
Mr.. Hamer called for the Yeas and Nays which
were ordered.
Mr.. Mcvean moved call of the House which
was rejected.
Mr.. McVean appealed to the gentleman from
Maine (Mr Evans) to withdraw his motion in
order to permit him to state the reason which
had induced him to offer the resolution
Mr.. Evans thought, he said, that tho gentle
man had better withdraw his resolution. But
if he would strike out the last clause OF the res
oution, providing that the resolution OF the 9th
Of JAN should be expunged from the Journal,
he would withdraw the motion.
Mr.. MVean said, that at the suggestion OF
several gentleman around him, he would modl-
fy the resolution by leaving out the last clause.
Mr. Evans withdrew the motion tor the ques-
ton OF consideration.
Mr.. Wilde renewed the motion for the ques-
ton of consideration.
Mr.. Hamer called for itbe yeas and nays on
the motion, and they were ordered.
Mr.. J. G. Adams rose 10 offer some remarks
on the question when
The Speaker pronounced that it was not in
order TO dicuss it.
The question being taken, it was decided in
the Acknowledgements l24, nays "a.
So the House agreed to consider the resolution
6E
expenditure under the resolution OF the 9th ut
should be continued to be made. The emer-
gency which originated 1t has gone by. Inc
objection which he had to the resolutions as it
was at first offered was, that it proposed to ex-
punge from the Journals of the House resolu-
ton, & as it now stood, because it cast censure
upon the House for having adopted the resolu-
ton of the 6lh Itused the phrase supporting" 10
authorize and ''under color of authority" as if
the resolution of the 9th contained no authority.
He proposed to amend the resolution by striking
out the word supporting" so as to read author
zng and inslructng, and by striking out " I'M
der color or"
Mr.. MVean opposed the motion to amend, as
it woHld, he said, defeat the object Of the re-
solution. twas not his purpose to reflect, either
upon the course Of the committee on the District
Of Columbia, or upon that of the House. or
any Member OF the House, but he believed the
resolution OF the 9th of Jan. was passed without
any authority, and was palpable iniracton OF
the Constitution, which required that no appro-
priation of the public money should be made
but by law. The resolution of the 9Th Of Jan.
was not law. 1t was separate regulation of
this House, and, in his opinion, was as inopera
tive as if it was merely the dicium Of an indvld-
ual member of the House
The appropriation made by this resolution
was paid out Of fund which was Sc! apart for
the contingent expenses Of the House. 1t might
I Il 10 Iafr
expenses attending the transaction OF the proper
Legislative business OF the House, though such.a
fund was liable to great abuse. But be would
ask whether the support of the poor formed
part the necessary expenses attending the dis
charge of the legislative business of this House?
1t was too absurd to be maintained. 1.-THE House
had the right to support the poor, they had also
the right to educate the poor, and to establish
colleges and asylums for their reception. instuc-
ton, and care. He was well aware that this
was small matter, and that the resolution was
adopted as charitable deed. But charity did
not excuse nor justify breach fthe Consttu-
ton.
Mr. Chinn said it was due TO himself and to
the Committee to make brief statement 10 the
House. For HIMSELF he would say that he voted
against the original resolution of the House, be-
cause, however much his feelings might have
been enlisted, he did not consider himself au-
thorzed to vote for it, For the Committee on
the District Of Columbia he would say, that,
when the original resolution Of this House was
taken up by the Committee and considered, they
found that the direction to them was positire
that they had no discretion, except as to the "a
mount; that they had no right to disregard the
positive command of the House. They there
fore made the proper inquiry ofthe City authori-
ty, and upon receiving an answer, showing an
appalling degree and extent of distress, and that
one hundred and fifty cords of wood were want
ed, the Committee directed them to draw upon
the Clerk ofthis House for fifty cords, upon two
occasions, amounting, in all, to one hundred
cords. This was during the recent season of
intense cold. Since that, the Committee had
done nothing, nor did he believe thatthey intend
ed to do more under that resolution which was
for immediate relief"
Mr.. McKennan said it seemed to him to be now
too late to effect any good purpose by this propo-
stion. The proper time to urge the constitutions
al objection to the resolution, was when ii was
under consideration. Now that it had been pass
ed, and the expenditure authorized by it made,
and the poor relieved it seemed to him to be idle
to attempt to urge any objection to the resolu.
ton. The committee had stated what they had
done; and the whole amount Of wood which they |
appropriated under the resolution did not allow