Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-04-23

PyIluUIg,
and without report or argument to support
i. An
II may be enquired, why il wns not opposed
with spirit and why no speeches were made
against it? The time was short. There
were then pending before the House a num-
ber of important bills, in which many mem
bors felt deep interest, and debate would
have defeated them all. A debate therefore,
could not be tolerated. All that could be
done, was done-the nyes and noes were cal
led and recorded. I well remember the pri-
yate conversation with the members. Seve-
raj gentlemen asked-"will you not vote for
it-viz: the proposed amendment for $4,000
OOO?" ] aIiswered-No, could not. 1t
was then suggested-"you have always voted
for all appropriations for Fortifcations, and
YOU had better vote for the amendment. 1t
will be safe in the Treasury. The President
will not spend a cent of it." replied, if the
money is not to be used, it is useless to ap-
propriate it. But nun opposed to it because
it does violence to the fundamental principles
of our Republican Government. If there be
no danger of an abuse in the present case,
(which by no means adnlit) we ought to
make specific appropriations. 1t is our pecu-
liar duty to SEQ to the appropriations, and it
is establishing precedent of the most dan
gerous tendency Cor all future time"
You know, and the people generally know,
,I,, IoIl ka
section, above referred to, passed the House
of Representatives.: About one third Of the
lIonSe,was absent on account of ckncss and
fatigue. When the bill was sent to the Sc
nate, it was Immediately taken up, and tho
second section was resisted and after short,
spirited and able debate, was rejected. This
disagreement on the part Of the Senate was
Immediately reported to the House. 7 he
House of Representatives insisted upon the
three million amendment, aud returned tho
bill to the Senate, but did not ask n confer
cnce, az is usual in such cases. The Senate
adhered to their amendment, rejecting the I'd
section. The House of Representatives then
desired conference, which was promptly
granted by the Senate, and committees on
pointed. The conference Immediately took
place, and in Il short time it was agreed to
strike out the second section referred to, and
to compromise the difference, by making ad-
ditional appropriations
For arming the Fortifications, $3CO,OCO
For repair and equipment Of
the ships of war of the U. States, 100000
SsOO.OOO
This amount together with the sum before
agreed upon, was about four times as mnch
'as the sum tho House of Representatives APP
propriated in the first instance. This report
was in the hands of the Chairman of the
committee of conference on the part of tho
House, Mr. Cambrclcng: but there seemed
no disposition on the part of Mr.. Cambrelcng,
or the Administration members, 10 report and
act upon the bill after the failure of the three
million section. Their conduct could not be
misunderstood by those who were present,
nnG who Ind long known the proceedings Of
the House and the manner of doing business.
II was" Adopt the second section we have
proposed and the bill will pass: Reject it, and
the bill will fail. fit fail, and the Fortifica-
tons of the country fail to be prosecuted for
the ensuing year, the fault will be on the
part of the Senate" In pursuance of this
strange and unjustiiabIe notion, in my view
OF the subject, this extraordinary attempt to
coerce the Senate and the minority Of the
House by threats and lnenaccs, was follow
ed up by the most tri1ng and captous objce-
tions To the power of the House to act. The
Chairman found the hour Of twelve had nr-
rived, and, under the influence of that panic,
refused to report Mr. Lewis, however, did
report. 1t was objected, that twelve o'clock
had arrived, and VIC had no longer any power
to act 1t was said, we had 10 quorum; and
yet quorum was found to pass the Cumber-
land Road Bill, and believe some others,
latter twelve O'Clock by most watches in the
liouse) and the President signed it after il
was passed. Indeed have been present on
several occasions, when Congress expired on
the 4th of March, and have often known bills
to pass after l2 o'clock the Sd of March, and
know of no law to forbid it. The Govern
mont commenced, and the President was first
sworn into Office about IL o'clock on the 4,h
of March; and every President chosen since
the days of Washington, has been sworn on
the 9TH of March, and about that hour. II
there be no intcrmission between the end Of