Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-02-04


proceedings which were had upon it.
Il II Is well known, sir, that the annual appro
praion bills always originate in the House
OF Representatives. This is SO much the
course. that no one ever looks to see such
bill first brought forward in the Senate. 1t i,
also well known, sir, that it has been usual
heretofore, to make the annual appropriation,
for the Military Academy at West Point il
the general bill, which provides for the pay
aud support of the army. But last year, tho
army bill did not contain any appropriation
whatever for the support Of West Point.
took notice Of this singular omission when tho
bill was before the Senate, but presumed, and
indeed understood, that the house would send
ms separate bill for the Military Academy.
The army bill, therefore, passed, but no bill
for the Academy at West Point appeared
We waited for it from day to day, and from
week to week, but waited in vain. At length,
the time for sending bills from one house to
the other, according to the joint rules Of the
two houses, expired, and 10 bill had made its
appearance for the support of the Military
Academy. These joint rules, as is well
known, are sometimes suspended on the ap-
plication Of one house to the other, in favor
of particular bills, whose progress has been
Unexpectedly delayed, but which the public in
tere St requires to be passed. But the House of
Representatives sent US no request to sus
pend the rules in favor of bill for the sup
port Of the Military Academy, nor made any
other proposition to save the institution from
immediate dissolution. Notwithstanding all
the talk about war, and the necessity of n
vote for the three millions, the Military Acad
emy, an institution cherished so long, and at
so much expense, was on the very point Of
being entirely broken up.
Now it so happened, sir, that at this time
there was another appropriation bill which
had come from the House Of Representatives,
and was before the Committee on Finance
here. This bill was entitled "An act making
appropriations for the civil and diplomatic ex-
penses of the Government for the year 1885. "
In this state Of things, several members of
the House Of Representatives. applied to the
committee, and besought us to save the Acad-
emy by annexing the necessary approprla-
(tions for its support to the bill for civil and
diplomatic service. We spoke to them, IN
reply, of the unfitness, the irregularity, the
incongruity, Of this forced union Of such dis
similar subjects; but they told us it was cas-
of absolute necessity, and that, without re
sorting to this mode, the appropriation coui'
not get through. We acquiesced, sir. j,
these suggestions. We went out Of our way
We agreed to do an extraordinary and an ir
regular thing, in order ro save the public bu
siness from miscarriage. BY direction of tn,
committee, moved the Senate TO add an ap
preparation for the Military Academy TO the
bill for deiraying civil and diplomatic expen
ses. The bill was so amended; and in thi:
form the appropriation was finally made.
But this was not all. This bill for the civil
and diplomatic service being thus amended
by tacking the Military Academy upon it.
was sent back by us to the House of Repre-.
sentatives, where its length Of tail was to be
still much farther increased. That House
had before it several subjects for provision
and for appropriation, upon which it had moi
passed any bill, before the time for passing
bills to be sent to the Senate had elapsed
1t was anxious that these things should ir
some way, be provided for; and when the di
plomatic bill came back, drawing the Militar.
Academy after it, it was thought prudent t
attach to it various of these other provisions
There were propositions to pave streets il
the city Of Washington, to repair the Capitol
and various other things, which it was Deces
sary to provide for, and they, therefore, were
put into the same bill by way Of amendment
To an amendment; that is TO say, we had beer
prevailed on to amend their bill for defrayin.
the salary of our minister abroad, by adding
an appropriation for the Military Academy
and they proposed to amend this our amend
ment, by adding to it matters as german t.
it as it was to the original bill. There wa
also the Presidents gardener. His salar,
was unprovided for; and there was no wa.
of remedying this important omission, but b,
giving him place in the diplomatic servc
| bill, among charges d'affaires, ENJOYS extra
ordinary, and ministers plenipotentlary. II
and among these ranks, therefore, he wa
formally introduced by the amendment of thu
House, and there he now stands, as you vii
readily see, by turning to the law.
/ Sir have not the pleasure 10 know Thu
useful person; but, should see him, som'
morning overlooking the workmen in thu
lawns, walks, copses, and parterres whicl
adorn the ground around the Presidents resi-
dence, considering the company into which
we have introduced him, should expect t
see, at least, small diplomatic button on hi
working jacket.
Il When these amendments came from thu
House, and were read at our table, thoug
they caused smile, they were yet adopted
and the law passed, almost with the rapldit,
of comet, and with something like the same
length of tail.
Now, sir, not one of these Irregularities o
incongruities, no part of this jumblng to
gether OF distinct and different subjects, was
in the slightest degree, occasoned by an,
thing done, or omitted to be done, on the par
of the Senate. Their proceedings were al
regular; their decision prompt, their despatch
of the public business correct and seasoDable
There was nothing of disorganization, moth
ing of procrastination, nothing evincive OF
temper to cmbarruss or obstruct the public
business. II the history which ] have nov
truly given shows that one thing was a
mended by another, which mad no sort Of con
nexion with il, that unusual expedients wer,
resorted 10, aud that the laws, instead of ar
rnnpeinept mud sym,netry, exhibit anomaly