Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-06
Twcuty-fitth cngre.s---2d Sess.
1uesa"y Lnanly2, 1893.
.IAA ,I,L

MIR. Buchanan prese nlrd rwu memorial. from o num-
Der of tie cllizers OF The " and county ut Philsdrl
phia. stating, that 10y q recent order Of the Navy Drpart-
iirnt, $40 persons had hreu discharged FROM employ
mrnl; and praying thai they might be employed on an
unllunched frigatr called the Raritan, which was now
in a course Of decay.
MIR. Buchanan hoped the Senate would pardon him
for ssyinr n single word in favor Of the prayer of these
memnrialists A very large numbrr "t industrious and
ykiIful mechanics had been suddenly d PrVrd ot EN-
ploynen, al the Navy Yard in Philadrlphia, at this incle-
inrnl season of The year. Many Of them with large
families, were now in a suff"ring Condition., without the
hope of relief during The present winter, unless the 90.
vrrnmeut will afford thrm empl"y mtnt. They ask only
that they may be permitted 10 give a fair equivalent ~
labor wEe-e il is required 10 be PERFORMED by the public
interest, for breud Ior themselves, their wives, and tlleIr
children. It had been represented 10 him. and vas d"
stated in the memorials, thut the trigait Roriian ~ now
drca wing on the stacks at tir Navy Yard at rhIlaoel-
phia. II this were the fact. land he had no reason 10
doubt it) the interest Of the United States required that
these mechanics should be employed upon tha, iriga,e.
Public pulley was thus in harmony with the clalms OF
humanity. He begged leave, therefore, TO commend the
claims of these suffering mechanics 10 the favorable and
immediate attention of The Committee 90 Naval Affairs.
MIR. Preston said he WISHED 10 inquire OF the hnn"fa'
Bile Senator, before the vote should be taken on these
memorials, Why these pers ms had been discharged from
the employ Of the Government. IL would be rrHem-
bereJ, that at The last regular SESSION of Congress, an
unlieord of amount of appropriations had been mace IN
all branches of lnr public defence. TO which e3traVhgsht
appropriations Congress had been lashPd up ~ lheir com.
nrIltees. MIR ?. would be glad tn know whether all t1tse
had been expended; Gnd whether there was a Necessity
for this new appropriation, prnteSsrdiy tor The puoiic ser
vice, but really as a public charity.
MIR. Buchanan replied. it was The 6rst time he had
known such an objection so made, on the mere presrn-
,a,jun und reference Of u prllilnn Debates, he thought,
were frequent enough, without using such an occusinh
to increase their amount. But he might answer The De.
nalur, that he was not prepared To q INTO az account VI
the manner in which all III. appropriations" t the last re-.
gular session had been expended. Neither did he regard
H., 40 , or.ti,, ~ CHAR t. hmI n number OF nPCnaUlCS
had been employed faithfully and induslIionsly III lhe
navy yard at PhIIadpl phIa; The navy commissioners hd
thought proper, whether on good grounds or not, MI. B.
did not know, to discharge Them from the pubic EN-
ploy; and al this incleiDent srasun ot the year, when
lbry could not dispprse over the country IN guest nt eii-
ploynIent. There vas now a fIiga.r on The stocks IN rhila.
delphia, which line laemorialrsis snid was unfinished, ano
in q state Of decay; and they asked Congress whether
thew might not be uselulIy employed To complete that
frigale, and whether The claims Of humanity might not
thus consist with the claims Of public interest. u Inc
Committee OH Naval Affairs should think with The navy
commissioners, that this proposition was Ihe4ptoIeht'
they would say so; and if they reported IN It's favor, the
Senator from South Carolina would then have an oPpor-
tunily of conlesliug their opinion. MI u. therefore
hoped, TINT if there must BIZ debate on the sufJrct, II
would arise wlsn lle report should come from The coIil-
niitee.
Mr.. Preston said he thought the Senator had mistaken
the practice Of the Senate on this p"lnt. IL was not on
" competent in any Senator 10 make inquiries as ~ a
petition presented. but II was their DAILY pfact'ce-mf
r. thoupht, therefore, that lie would b. excused Tor call
ing on Ihe Senator for information as 10 these mrtno1l'
ais, as hr pIelrrred this Ia tnking up the time IN leading
them. Mr.. P.'s ohlrc! was to know how 50 eSlra"Fd!na.
nv a memorial originated. The argument was That tnese
persons wanted employ, because winter was uppr"acn,
ing, nut in charity. the Senator bad said; but he inignt
use the same argument in favor III a general system Oh
puupprism. Work WIS TO be found Tor those VINO "r'e
sufT. ,;no cold and hanger; but II was extraordinary that
the Government should be called on I" tnd mem e'-
ploympnt. The case was already IN the hands "' Tue
Executive, and the Senator DID not kno" ~he.ne, p,o t
appropriations had been expended; why, ehe"' sho"'o
they come To Congress: .,.
Mr.. buchanan replied, that certain citizens OF Tue
L. s had represented that this lrgale ou9'i 10 oe COW
pie I'd, and that such c"nplruon w"''n p'r'r"' sun
inc and want Sir. h was surprised thd' t,is Pfun'
shouId b. thus arrested. lie had explained Inc peti''"i
in The usual way, and he would repeat thai a deoa'c u