The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-17

their hands by touching him. but they would cast
upon him scornful and whitening look OF honest
and Just indignation, which would give 70 hisysage
more cadaverous aspect than il even now has
But who is this man who thus impudentiy arrays
himself against the peoples Why, sir, he is him
self reprievsd debtor" OF the very bank which he
is every day reviling. Do gentlemen require proof
The files OF this House furnish it, A paper reported
or filed by one of the committees of this House shows
that this same Francis p. Blair, who was brought
here from Frankfort in the State OF Kentucky, owed
the Bank of the United States the sum Of 800, 7fi-
SO. 1t is true, that only part of this sum his
own debt; nevertheless, on his own account, and as
security for others, he was debtor TO that bank on
the 3Oth day Of November, 1880, for the whole
amount OF the sum which have mentioned Did
he pay it, No, sir Does he yet owe IT. No, sir,
How was he discharged He compromised, If the
terms on which he was released are Justly entitled
to be called compromise. What were those termsf
Why he held clerks fee bill, amounting 10 1897 AZ,
and note on gentleman by the name of Gratz for
300, say, together 1927 AZ, which he gave up to
the bank, and was released from $40, III SO! Now,
sir, think Francis P. Blair may justly be called a
"Ieprieved debtor"
Such a settlement proves that Blair was utterly
insovent at the close of the year 1880 If his insol
vency was occasioned by misfortune, he should be
piied rather than condemned on that account. OF
the circumstances OF his failure am ignorant |
refer TO his insolvency for what esteem perfectly
Just purpose In this debate We find him brought 10
Washington in 1881, aud employed as the publisher
or editor of the Globe, which is made the govern
flowing In upon him from all the Executive Depart
meuts. The extent and character Of this patronage
have before alluded to. In a brief space of time
we see him living and entertaining extensively and
going all the rounds OF the court society at Washing
ton. If Mr.. Blair had no connection with this Go
vernment patronage, he might do all this, and no
man would be justified in alluding TO or comment
ing on IL. II is high prerogatiye of every freeman
to do with his own as he pleases. But Mr., Speaker
the sudden change in the fortunes OF MI blalr,
connected as he Is with Executive patronage ms
single leap from insolvency TO wealth, impel me 10
inquire If " there is not something rotten IN Den
mark2" Upon the whole, sir, think his case most
strongly illustrates the necessity OF passing the rcso
luton now under consideration, and, il possible,
making total separation Of the newspaper press
from the Government
At all events il this shall be found impracticable
at leas destroy the pet system OF exclusive ia
voritism, by inviting competition, and giving The
contract TO the lowest bidder, as the reforming re-
port Of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Cam
breleng) and his friends induced the people to be-
lieve would be done. When the retrcnchment
resolutions which produced the famous report al
ready mentioned were under consideration, the
friends of the then administration denied the exist
of any abuse but invited investigation, and the
resolutions passed almost unanimously. Now how
ever, when the reformers are in power, and an in
vestgation is proposed, they admit the existence OF
the evils referred TO in the resolution but resist the
inquiry because as they alege, the abuse cannot be
corrected
The gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Cush-
many may deem this end mpracticabe. / do not |
would rather follow the example of the gallant Col.
Miller, (of the gentlemans own S,ate,) who, when
ordered on perilous service on the Niagara from
tier; during the war OF 1912 did not say II was i'm
practicable but said I'll try sir" to the command
ing General He did try, and he succeeded. The
achievement not only rendered essential service at
that crisis, but honored his counirys arms, and ee-
In the attempt which the resolution under con-
sideration proposes, no danger awaits as but great
civil triumph may be obtained by it. ! invite the
gentleman from New Hampshire 10 adopt the words
of his gallant statesman and, instead of thinking
" impraciicable," let him say CPL try"
But, sir we have been greatly disappointed in the
failure Of this promised reform in many other re-
spects besides that which regarded the public print
ing and the Executive patronage Of the press. And
to establish this, will state briefly few items con-
rasting the prect with the practice Of the reormers
Initiating The example found in the report already
alluded TO, may be best understood by division Of
the subject into few prominent heads But, In the
language Of that report am 4 far from thinking
shall now exhaust the subject" shall have only
opened it." lpreend TO nothing more at this lime
than to lay the foundation of system TO be followed
up and completed hereafter" BY the People.
The prolonged sessions of Congress formed con-
spicuous chapter in the book OF reform. The COM
mttee denounced the usage as one of the most
serious evils attending the national Legislation of the
country" and, by way of correcting il, recommend
ed that the compensation of the members, during
the first session Of each Congress, be reduced totwo
dollars per day from and after the first Monday in
April il Congress should sit beyond ha, time This
was the precept, for the practice. The sessions
of Congress, far from being shortened have been
prolonged, no remedy applied, and the People of the
country ought TO know that the gentleman from New
York, MIR. Cambreeng,) SO early as March, $780,
when an attempt was made to carry into effect the
remedy proposed in the report of the committee of
which was member, by reducing the pay Of
members, did himself actually resist and vote against
the measure. -.
The report alleged that abuses had "iakcn place
from the various and arbitrary manner in which
members estimated their mileage" This abuse
ascertained TO have been pracSed by the reformers
themselves; and they have continued the practice
without any restraint will give you sir illus
tration, which may not be thought inappropriate. In
the days OF promised reform, the two Senators from
the State Of Missouri differed in politics; one of
them the great retormer, Mr.. Benton the other,
Mr.. Barton, who thought the promised reform was
mere humbug. The first session of the twentieth
Congress commenced the Sd of December, 1927 and
ended on the Goth May, 1923. These gentlemen
severaY attended through the whole of the session;
their pay per diem allowance was 81 400 each, be-
ing l75 days, at 8 per day but for mileage reckon
ing rs for every twenty miles, Mr.. Barton charged
$939 20, whilst Mr.. Benton charged 81 ,344 &C. Mr.
Barton charged his mileage by the great mail route
over land; but Mr.. Benton, who was railing out and
condemning all abuses, counted his miles by all the
crooks and turns and tortuouS windingS of the Mis-
sissippi and Ohio rivers! Mr. Barton was left at
home because he did believe in the propre,y of
protesting one thing and practising another; and
Mr.. Benton was retained to correct abuses and carry
out the great principles of his report Executive
patronage. Ten years have intcrvencd since the
session of Congress just referred 10; the report
sleeps unheeded, and, in the mean time, Mr. Benton
continues TO count his miles every year by the way
OF the river, which has given him upwards of 81 900
more than Mr. Barton felt authorized 10 charge under
the same law. T..
Another precep-The committee reported that
the privilege Of newspapers to the members ought
TO be abrogated ]" and "that the practice too often
INDUCED in by the House of voting TO themselves
copies of books" ought 10 be discontinued The
priNilepe and nraclce cnnlinnnd and rui