The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-07
HON. JAMES N. MASON.

The following letter explains Mr.. Mason's
vote on the Treasury note BILL
WAsuNGroN, s5th May, 1885,
7otl< EdiiorofA ne TirgiRiaa.
STA In your paper OF the aad, observe quoted the
annexed paragraph from the Globe OF the l4h INSTALL
protesting to sketch the proceedings OF The House oil
Representatives the Saturday preceding during the
deba,e the bill for new issue Of millions Of dol
lars m Treasury notes
seems from The report OF the Intelgeneer, which
have before us, that Mr. Mason Of Virginia, about
down on Saturday, began the work Of Illustration
Of the known intenioEs OF the msjonty. Alta quarter
past six, told &, the lntegencers report, "Mr
Mason moved that the committee rise which motion
rejected by sixty -four yeas eighty-six nays
ThSwas after full debaie-afler all amendments were
disposed Of and after the had been pro,Isc,ed
much beyond the ordinary period any day. hut espc-
cially on Saturday. From this Mr. Mason, and every
mcmbcr in the House that the House considered
the discussion exhausted and was resolved TO vote
Mr. Mason proceeded until o'clock, and then gave
way TO motion to adjourn"
Ii was rejected by still stronger vote.
MIR Mason continued until after o'clock and
then gave way for another motion 10 ADJOURN"
MIR Mason then resumed, and finished
This the first attempt 10 drive the House to an
adjournment, against its will"
However wlltuy false, all that is there said in refer
encc TO the part bore in the debate Is, should never
have descended to notice the cnlunny, but that its
Translation 10 your paper would seem carry
OF authority at home for the facts il profe sses to
state, were 10 remain silent.
cannot feel at all offended at the motives ascribed
TO me by the Globe, for taking part in the debate
sprnging they do from utterly inc apable
OF comprehending any honorable incentive in public af
fairs seek only to correct the misrepresentation Of
fact &3
II is stated in the paragraph that my motion for the
committee tn rise after o'clock in the evening,
made, after full debae"-after all the amendments
disposed Of" and after " Mr. Mason and every
member in the House saw that the House considered
the discussion exhausted, and resolved to vote"
Whether the debate had been I" FULL" or whether
the honse considered the discussion exhausted, and
were resolved TO vote, will best be inferred from the
fact that the debate had commenced only on the day
before, on so important bill; that 1t continued
the night for than four hours after had con-
cludcd-was resumed again on Monday, and not ended
until after dark on the "Wednesday night succeeding.
Next as to the declaration Of the Globe, that | did
not take The floor uttil after ell the amendments were
disposed Oft facts are, that vote action Of
any kind had been taken any amendment whatever
except that offered by my colleague (Mr Hop
kins) had been ruled ou-and, Gas the columns of the
SAME paper show, IN which the iasehood is edtorally
voGched) amendment offered by another colleague
(Nlr Rohertson) was pending. when rose to speak
And again, il is farther true that several amend
ments, proposed by many different gentlemen,
printed before US, and all undlsposed of when they
were cut off by the previous question "Wednesday
night, three days after my speech was made
SO much for the facts Of the Globe /!
/ will say only 10 addition, that much as was OPP
posed to the expensive mode Of raising the money y an
issue of Treasury notes, when thought demons,ra
bic, loan until the Government prepared TO can
Gel the debt, would have been far cheaper mode of
raising it yet, when by the previous question, the
House refused entertain the bill any other FORM
could see proprIey in voting against tand accord
lngly gave my vote for the bill it stood.
You will do me the honor to publish this letter, and
thus oblige
Yours, very respectfully, &c. &c
/ JAS, M. MASON