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


great socude for the safety Of the Appropriation bits
which had not been acted ppthaps the more soci
tude, from the position lac 81 hat time had the honor
occupy in the House. chairaan of the Committee Of
Ways and Misunderstanding, rs lac had charge of some
of these bills and Feeling s,ni, responsibility de-
voved upou him. liis attention had been cos,iy di
rected to them ne ds r"meis,r, up,n that occasion,
when the three million appropriations 1ved, that in
casual conversaon, tvs members Of the House,
OF his own colleagues from rcmnesscc who also
members OF The present sfonse and Vic at that time uc.
cupied seats immediately in his rear, asked him
question IN relation 10 that appropriation and that he
ped that he thought il proper appropriation aud
the precise language he made Of but he had said i'm
answer to the inquiry of his colleague substantially that
he thought the that the Executive
had been consulted and that met the Executives wish.
es--or something to that effect As chairman Of the
COMMITTEE OF Ways and Means inquiries had often been
mace o him IN conversation, by members of the House,
IN relation to different appropriations and he had always
the in his possession us he had in this
The Chair would then state what he had not perhaps
thought il necessary, that time be stated TO the
ouse, and il this that he had conferred with the
Chairman of the Committee OF Foreign Affairs and
With members of the Executive upon the subject
OF this appropriation As Chairman of the Committee
" "ays ana heans was ms duty, heavy apPro-
priaton was proposed to ascertain be able give
the Information TO the House. IL required whe.
tner the treasury was in condition to bearit He had
nways iet 1t to be his duty, whilst Chairman Of that
COMMITTEES TO consult different incinbers of the Execu-
1--WE branches OF the Government when he thought it
necessary to obtain information in regard to all appro-
patons for the public service And when the question
was asked OF him by his colleagues regard 10 this
appropriation, the Individual occupying the Chair
hao answered, IN substance, that lac thought the appro
pration altogether proper, and that met the approLa
ton Of the Executive He did not remember adddne
any tnng OF the purport stated by the gentleman from
Virginia, though he may have done So and would not
say ne mad not though ii he had, it had escaped his
The Chair would respectfully remark tina, he was re-
ally unable 10 conceive how this could be matter of
any sort Of Importance II had important bearing,
ne was al loss to perceive it, The Chair felt a deep
sense Of obligation TO the House, for the opportunity OK
sered him of giving this brief statement
II the House would permit him, he would add sim
gle suggestion 1t must be evident, that the debate
wnieh nad sprung up that day, had given rise great
excitement ard .ss,.g, ri would require grea, for
bic him to preserve order He would repeat the gen.
teman from Virginia, that in reminding him. a few
moments ago, that il was against order refer ho-
norable members of the last Congress who were
also members of the present House, and in their
seats by their Names it was far from the a,ention of
the Chair interfere with any of the rights OF the Gen
tlemau from Virginia and he would exceedingly rcs,ret
TO interfere with the rights ofany member upon the floor
The Chair thought il out of order, and supposed such
course OF debate If suffered TO proceed likely To pro-
duce excitement and collision, and lac had The reiore
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
an his efforts to preserve the order harmony of the
proceedings of the House,
MIR. Luke Lea of Tennessee rose 10 make an exni,
nation Upon the occasion to which allusion had been
made, he had conversation with colleague who sat
near him. (Mr Bunch,) and they deter mined To nonre
OF their colleague who was the chairman of the Com
mittee OF Ways and Means, (Alr Polk) whether he
tought was proper appropriation and whether was
desired by the President. He inclined To vote for
the appropriation in any event. but order more fully
to satisfy his mind the subject and at the su-
gestion OF the colleague TO whom c had referred he
applied to 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 (Ar
Polk) the appropriation proper lie was informed
IN reply that his colleague thought it proper aud that
the appropriation met the appreciation the President
He under the impression that his colleague added
IN hi ~.
views OF the President This information formed an adj
ditional reason with his colleague (Mr Bunch) and him
self forthe vote they gave that occasion The state.
men 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 sympathse with the situa
ton of the Chair for know its difficulties in PRESERVING
order and shall at all times be prepared To sustain its
efforts 10 do so. -
Mr.. Speaker, this not an important fact What. sir
mat the chairman OF the Committee of Ways Means
shall come TO the of members in this House and
disclose the fact that the Executive Department Of the
Government wants three millions of money but il is To
be kept secreP Great God, sir this not mailer of
imPorance wish not to upon this fact till have
q fair opportunity
The Chair said that he had stated that he had no re-
collection OF adding in the alluded TO with
his colleague that nothing be said of his state
ment regard TO the Executive views wishes in rca-
ton 10 tue appropriations 1t casual conversation
ard he may have done and il have esca ped him
But If he had done SO, inference be drawn from
IT. that any lntimaton wish had been expressed TO him
by any member of the Executive that was the desire
OF the Executive any member Of it, that their views
or wishes should be concealed. Such was not the flc
he did understand the Executive And if the re-
mark was made, il was probably, from an impression
that IT was unnecessary TO express the wishes of The
Executive TO the House
Mr. Wise then rose proceed, but gave way to
Mr. Feyton, on whose motion the House adj ourned
Thursday, January %.