Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-05-08

Mr.. Briggs then moved resolution lot meeting OH
Monday, at o'clock, with view to their djournlng
over TO Thursday Ito allow of cleaning of the hail.
taking up carpets, &c.)-which was finally agreed to-
hy vote of l07 to u.
IN SENATE.
.Nondag, .H0g !, 1910.
The VICE PRESIDENT communicated TO the Sc
nate letter from the Governor of Michigan, trans
hitting works in relation 10 the geology of that State
Mr. DIXON presented memorial from the Marshal
Of Rhode Island PRAYING that the proceedings mesnc
and final process, under authority of the United States
NAV be- made To conform to the laws OF the several
States respectively. Some remarks made by
Mcssrs. DIXON and KNIGHT, (not heard BY the re-
portcrl in relation 10 this memorial, when, at the stg
aes,ion Of Mr. CLAYTON, ii was laid on the table,
the bill reported from the Committee the Judiciary
in relation 10 The bankrupt law being deemed sufficient
10 provide for all cases.
GENERAL ApPROPRI ALTON BILL"
On motion of Mr.. WRIGHT, the bill from the House
of Representatives making appropriations for the civil
and diplomatic expenses of the Government for the
year $40, was read first and second time.
Mr.. Wright stated that the Committee on Finance
had already examined the bill, and had concluded 10
propose to the Senate only three not very important
amendments. He moved to refer the bill TO the Com.
mittcc on Finance who would be able TO report back
in twenty minutes.
The bill having been accordingly referred and
after reported from the committee with three amend
menis-
consider the bill.
Mr. DAVIS expressed the hope that il would not be
done to-day though he willing that 1t should be
done at the earliest proper and convenient moment
But for one he wished at least to the bill before he
should give his vote upon it, as II was one OF great I'M
purtance, embracing great variety Of Objects
Mr. WRIGHT expressed the apprehension that, u 1t
should not BE- acted to-day would not be done this
week l. was now late in the session, and besides va
os departments of the Government were now suffer
ing for the want Of these appropriations.
Mr.. DAVIS replied that he had not the least DISPOSE
ton TO delay the bill moment; and he had seen the
bill and understood its contents he would be ready 10
act upon il at But it was not twenty minutes
since il had been reported from the other House. and
the Senate we're now called on act upon il finally
This he thought hardly reasonable, however pressing
the wants Of the Government might be- though nc was
willing the Senate should fix the earliest reasonable
day 1t was besides doubtful whether there was now a
nunrun Of the Senate present.
Mr. WRIGHT still expressed his anxiety to hasten
the progress of the bill.
Mr. HUBBARD stated that this bill was almost pre-
cisel, the same with that printed and laid on
the table Of the Senate month ago. and the principal
changes consisted in the reduction Of appropriations
Mr.. LUMPkIN demanded count and 1t was soon
after found that quorum of the Senate was present.
The Senate now took up and proceeded to consider
the bill.
Mr. WRIGHT stated the first two amendments to
be mere corrections Of made in summing up the
Tor The STATE eSCesS VI Sio,ooo
npant for postage and Of 81 90 in the compensation Of
district attorney and marshals The third amendment
proposed BY the committee TO strike out the apPro-
praton of @ 900 for the I'd and Sd volumes of Clarke
and Forces Documentary History of the Revolution
Mr. said the object Of the committee in this amend
mcn was no. to do injustice to these gentlemen, nor 10
DENY the validity Of the contract under which the ap-
preparation was required, but 10 bring the matter 10
some definite understanding and determination. hr.
w did no, DENY the obligation Government TO carry
no had IN tc
entirely from The general appropriation bill, and have
the action upon il separate and by itself.
Mr. DAVIS said he did not know much of this sub
ect hut If he understood the Senator from New ork
there was law ofCongress authorizing the publication
of this work and under that law the contract was made
which these gentlemen had executed TO some extent
They had already published two or three volumes OF
the Documentary History Of the Revolution IN THIS
country work which MIR. d believed would hereai.
ter be appreciated of great value 10 the country
work which could moi be accomplished by any IndIv
dual enterprise But its importance was not now the
question A contract had been entered into by law
of Congress, and this Appropriation, Mr. u LOOK H.,
was for arrcaragcs under that contract MT. wright.
No; only in part At any rate, MIR. d. sad 1t was ior
executing the contract which the Senator from New
York declared he neither 10 repuda'e nor over
rule but only to separate from this bill This, there
fore was admitted Ia be of the objects for which 1t
was the duty al Government 10 make provision; ana
fit was their duty, il might well be done in tins bill
redeemed and If it was not done now, it would be done
some other ,inc because il and would he the sense
of the country To fulfil all lis contracts II 11,GO0
was not all required for payment of arrearages, at least
something Mr.. D. thought, ought TO be done at tins
time.
Mr. WRIGHT, from recollection, went into par-
cular history of this matter, in the of which he
stated that this item not among the estimates OF
the Department, nor had il come from the COMMITTEE
Of WAYS and Means of the other House that either IN
a.. al -
in some other paper, it estimated that this contract
might run to the amount Of 100000; that this,
correspondence had taken place between Clarke and
Force and committee ofthe Senate who, he believed,
had proposed 10 Clarke and Force to let the work run
TO Sl00,000; which proposition was not accepted
Mr. HI BEARD added a supplement to this history,
in which he stated that the Senate consented to the ap-
preparation for the first volume OF this work, rather
than lose the appropriation bill but they did with the
express provision that of the books should be dis
rbuted TO Senators His only wish now was TO sepa.
rate this item from the general appropriation bill, and
hr was almost prepared 10 lose that bill rather than that
this item should not be stricken out.
Mr. BENTON denounced this contract one Of
the greatest of frauds slipped through Congress in a
few words, at the last moments of the session. Lose
the general Appropriation bill! Show the man, said
Mr. b. who would vote to put end to the operations
OF this Government for the purpose OF protecting this
abomnabe fraud.
This appropriation Of 900 was stricken out,
by yeas and nays, as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Calhoun, Cuthbert, Hubbard, King, Lumpkin, Mou-
ton Nicholas, Norvel Pierce Robinson, SEWER Stur
seon, Tappan, Wall, Williams, Wright-2o.
.Naas-lessrs Clayton Davis, Dixon, Knight, Prem.
tiss, Rnggles, Smith of Indiana, Tallmadge-S.
The other amendments were agreed TO, and the bill
ordered to third reading
On motion of Mr. HUBBARD, the hill was read
third time, and on the question "Shal this bill pass"
There appeared Yeas 25, Nays 0. (No quorum)
Mr.. SEWER hoped the Senate would enforce the
rules, and make Senators vote that were present
Mr. KNIGHT said he had not even heard the bill,
and he thought it improper to vote without knowing
more Of H.