Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-02


socilue for the safety of the appropriation 1lle
which had not been acted on; perhaps the NOR sur.
tude from, the position hr at that lnlc nau Ne ~. f
occupy in the House chairman oil Inc So'iWst "
Ways aud Reans,-haring, as "' na' norsib;li,v dc.
of these bills and feeling that some respon''o'l
yoIved noon him Ills attention bad pee" el'e.2 W
recsed to Is, tic did rnena;r' upon ,h. ~
- when The three million appr'pfi'to" maS "|, -, $780,,
o,.,,I .,,ye-s.,,op two mbers ni the HOUSE, W.
80 b;s oup c,,l,arucs from Tennessee, who were aso
obe,s or The present House. and who al that lime 'c
,nnied seats imre datey in his rear asked MN soine
question in relation to that approPrlau"n ana tha' nc
MED that he thought i, proper appropriation and one
that ought pass. He had, he SAID, no recurrence
the precise language he made use OF, but ne hau
answer the inquiry of his colleague,
hethought the appropriation proper lnat th wish:
had been consulted and tkat ,nct the Exfcutv s bc
es-or something to that effect. AS cn"'nan On bcrn
Committee Of Ways and Means, inquiries ,b House
made Of him in conversation oy md he had always
in relation to different appropriations anu h had this
given the information in his possesssoh' 90 "
instance. -" -, he had not perhaps
me Cnat "oulu . =, that time TO be stated to the
Hnuss and !, was ths that he had conferred win the
Cbarman of the Committee OF Foreign Ana"s, anu
with members OF A se Chairman Of The Committee
% W.. ppnd Means it was his duty, if heavy appro-
os proposed ascertain and to be able 10 give
The information to the House, 1t was required, whe
ther The Treasury in condition TO bear it, lie had
oIwavs felt it be his duty, whilst Chairman OF that
Committee consult different members of the Execu-
tive branches Of the Government when he thought 1t
necessary to obtain information in regard to all aPpro-
prations for the public service And when the question
was asked of him by his colleagues, in regard TO thus
appropriation, the individual occupying the CHAIR
had answered. substance that he thought the nPpro-
pation altogether proper and tina, met the aPproba'
ton Of the Executive. He did not remember adding
any thing of the purport stated by the gentleman from
Virginia. though he may have done and would 'sot
say he had not though if he had 1t had escaped his re-
The Chair would respectfully remnrk, thathe was re,
ally unable conceive how this could be matter OF
any sort of Importance If it had important bearing,
Of obligation to the House. tor the opportunity OIL
fered him of giving this brief statement.
If the House would permit him, ne would add SIN
gle suggestion. 1t must be evident, that the debate
which had sprung up that day. had given rise to great
excitement and feeling and would require great for
bearance the part OF the House and the CHAIR TO ena
bic him preserve order. He would repeat 10 the gem
temap from, Virginia, that in reminding him,:'a few
moments ago. that it against order TO refer to no.
nosable members Of the last Congress who were
also members of the present House, and IN their
seats, by their names, was lar from the intenon Of
the Chair to interfere with any of the rights OF the gen
teman from Virginia, and he would exceedingly regret
to interfere with the rights oany member upon the floor
The Chair thought Of order, and supposed such
course Of debate if suffered to proceed, was likely pro-
duce excitement and COLLISION and he had Therefore
wished to arrest it, He felt assured that the gentleman
from Virginia. and every other member, would see the
necessity of such course and would sustain the Chair
his efforts preserve the order md harmony OK the
proceedings Of the House.
Mr. Luke Lea, Of Tennessee, rose 10 make an exp'a-
nation. Upon The occasion to which auson had been
made he had a conversation with colleague who sat
near him, Mr. Bunch) and they determined to inquire
of their colleague, who was the chairman OF the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means, (hlr Polk) whether he
thought it proper appropriation and whether 1t was
desired by the President He inclined to vote tor
the appropriation in any event. but IN order more fully
to satisfy his mind OIL the subject, and at the sug
1ck t,a an hod hn
applied 10 the chairman of the Committee Of Ways and
Means in order to ascertain the Presidents views and
also whether, in the estimation of his colleague, (lr
Polk y the appropriation proper He informed
in reply that his colleague thought it proper and that
the appropriation met the appreciation OF the President
He was under the impression that his colleague added,
that not worth while to say any thing about the
views of the President This information formed an ad
d,ional reason with his colleague (Nr Bunch) and Him
self for the vote they gave that occasion The state
ment just made by the Speaker substantially correct
Mr.. Wise. Now, sir, consider this most import
ant fact Permit me, however, to say, before come
upon this fact, that truly sympathise with the sua.
ton of the Chair for1 know its difficulties ia preserving
order, and shall at all times be prepared to sustain its
efforts TO do so. ...-
Mr. Speaker, this not an important fact What, sir,
that the chairman of the Committee of Ways ard Means
shall come the of members in this House, and
disclose the fact that the Executive Department of the
Government wants three millions OF money but Is to
be kept secret Great God sir, ind this not matter of
Importance! wish not to upon this fact till have
a fair opportunity
The Chair said that he had stated that he had re-
collection Of adding in the conversation alluded TO with
his colleague that nothing to be said Of his state
ment regard to the Executive views wishes in rra
ton the appropriation. 1t casual conversation,
ard he may have done SO, and it may have escaped him.
But if he had done So inference TO be drawn from
it. that any ntmaon wish had been expressed 10 him
by any ,ember of the Executive that it was the desire
Of the Executive any member of it, that their views
or wishes should be concealed Such not the fact
he did not SO understand the Executive And if the
mark made, it was, probably, from an impression
that unnecessary to express the wishes of the
Executive 10 the House.
Mr.. Wise then rose to proceed, but gave way to
Mr., Pcyton on whose motion the House adjourned.
-. IHursaay, January q.
49,. IN SENATE. e:
The Chair laid before the Senate communication
from the War Department on the subject of the i'm.
provement of the Ohio river below Shipping Port; and
also another communication on the subject of iortying
the Delaware Breakwater.
Mr. Swift preseued petition from citizens of Yer
ent praying tor the abolition Of slavery in the District
Of Columbia
On presenting this petition MIR. Swift made some re.
marks which will be given at another time. The peti.
ton having been read,
Mr.. Calhoun said, whatever the motives by which
these petitioners actuaed the effect the same