The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-02

call of the officers Several hours were occupied in
conversation among those present and awake, as 10
the best mode OF procuring quorum, and the pro-
eiy of stopping the evidently frultless attempts, and
adjournIng In the meantime many Of the members
in the hall rcsored TO the sofas and the benches in
the gallery, and TO couches made by laying cushions
ON three four chairs and snatching few hours OF
restless and disturbed sleep As the absentecs Were
brought in and reported by the Sergeant Arms the
Speaker addressed them sueeessivcIy thus, "Mr. -
YOU have been absent from the House in violation u
It's order lfyou have any excuse to offer, the House
will now hear il. -
some OF the excuses were quite eomcal-some yer,
grayc-and the most OF them amounted simply TO the
allegation thai the abJentce had remained in the hall
iii midnight had then become tired and sleepy or
opprcgsel by the Wholesome atmosphere and lad
gone home and TO bed, believing that no good would
come 10 the country, the House, or himself by sitting
all NIGHT listening 10 long speeches.
The sick excused the sleepy and tired Were
discharged payment OF the ices TO The Sergeant at
Anns--those who had become disguised with the
cd's play Of midnight session. were also let OIL on
the terms.
At this STAGE Of the proceedings il being eight
O'Clock we escaped from the troublesome air of the
Hall and enjoyed the luxury of a walk through the
beautiful grounds. IL glorious spring morning
The pure breeze played round languid and almost
exhausted frame waiting the fragrance of fresh flow
ers-the head furnished refreshing shade
from the fryours Of the sun, then shining with Too
dazzling lusirs-thc birds were singing al owe and
around Us, in ebuIence of heart How sweet and
soothing was the scene and what a contrast to the
spectacle VIC had cftl
Tuesday, April q
About nine o'clock the members who had been al
sent began to come in numerously and very
shortly afterwards there evidently large quorum
present. Several attempts made and r..
jectcJ after another TO suspend further proceed
ings under the call Of the Iouseto dlournto take
recess until eleven o'clock The business of bring
inn w the abscntees--and eycusing-or dscharginu
them after the payment of fees, continued until
after twelve O'Clock La the meantime the Sergeant
al Arms made report Of all the members he had
iound-and those who he learned sick-and
those who out of the city, could not be found
and those who he believed in the city, but
could not he got at Finally the proceedings
suspended. Those who persisted in staying away
therefore, escape Srot free-whe those who attended
and submitted themselves to the judgment of the
House fined before they regarded discharged
from custody The effect of this must be TO bring the
authority OF tho body into contempt. The whole af
fair perfect farce; both because the House at
tempted that which il never carried out, and because
ifan adjournment had taken place at the time the call
ordered the Bill would have been far by this
time has reached under the call and the members
would have had their usual rest, and the country
spared the spectacle of the tom coery enacted by
who ought to remember more constantly the respect
due from them to the national character and honor if
they do forget their dignity and sefrcspect
About halfpast twelve o'clock the House
again into Committee of the Whole Mr.. Casey, of
Illinois, in the Chair
Mr. OGLE, who was entitled to the floor,
waived his right, and said he would defer his speech
until the bill had been gone through.
The CLERK then proceeded To read the items Of
appropriation, which voted upon in succession
The clause appropriang 3 COO for the salary of the
Commissioner OF Pensions having been reached, Mr.
Jones, Chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means, moved to amend it by reducing it TO R,,50O-
that being the amount of salary provided by law for
that officer since the Bill reported. The amend
ment was adopted.
Some Of the Opposition members continued their
exerons to reduce the amount Of money appropriated
for contingencies for extras additional clerk hire sc
but the tranhands came up in solid column, and de
cated every attempt at retrenchmcnt
The discussions to-day, after the House went into
committee, chiefly upon the appropriations FOR
the salary of the Commissioner Of Pensions; for the
" additional clerks" of the Post Office Department
limos finding It important in this his last year Of
ofiice-hoding to pay OF many of his hrelings" as
possible in addition the half dozen of his blood re
ations now feeding at the public crib) and for the
branch n,ints.
About half past six o'clock, jority of The mem
bers determined that the committee should rise and
the House Immediately adjourned.