The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-09

House Of Representatives making appropriations for
the civil and diplomatic expenses Of the Government
for the year 1910 read a first and second time.
Mr. Wright stated that the Committee on Finance
had already examined the BILL and had concluded to
propose TO the Senate only three very important
amendments. He moved to refer the bill to the Com
mee ON Finance, who would be able TO report il back
in twenty minutes
The bill having been accordingly referred, and
| amendments
Mr.: Wright moved that the Senate now proceed to
consider the bill
Mr.. DAVIS expressed the hope that il would not
be done to day, though he willing that il 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, it of great
importance, embracing great variety of objects.
Mr. WRIGHT expressed the apprehension that,
II II should not be acted ON to-day, would not be
done this week II late in the session and
besides various departments Of the Government were
now suffering for the want of these appropriations
Mr.. DAVIS replied that he had not the least dis
position TO delay the bill a moment; and, if he had
secn the bill and understood its contents, he would
be ready TO act upon ii at But it was not
twenty minutes since it had been reported from the
other House. and the Senate were now called on To
act upon il finally This he thought hardly resona-
bic, however pressing the wants Of the Government
might be- though he willing the Senate should fix
on the earliest reasonable day. II was, besides
doubtful whether there was now quorum of the Sc
nate present.
Mr.. WRIGHT still expressed his anxiety to has
ten the progress of the bill
Mr. HUBBARD stated that this bill was almost
precisely the with that printed and laid
| on the table Of the Senate month ago and the
principal changes consisted in the reduction of APP
Mr. LUMPKIN demanded count and it was
soon after found that quorum Of the Senate
present
Tie Senate took up and proceeded to consi-
der the bill.
M WpJCIJT ,,o,oJ ~, -. .,,. .,,a,J,o.,,
be mere corrections of errors made in summing up
the items for the State Department-an of l5,-
600 (mcant for postage,) and Of 800 in the compcn
sation of district attorneys and marshas. The third
amendment proposed by the committee to strike
out the appropriation of 900 for the I'd and Sd
volumes Of Clarke & Forces Documentary History
of the Revolution. Mr.. w. said the object of the
committee in this amendment not to do injustice
to these gentlemen, to deny the validity of the
contract under which the appropriation required,
but to bring the matter to some definite understand
ing and determination Mr. w did not deny the
obligation on Government 10 carry out the contract
but he wished to separate the subject entirely from
the general appropriation BILL and have the action up
| on it separate and by itself
Mr.. DAVIS said he did not know much of this
subject but, if he understood the Senator from New
York there was law of Congress authorizing the
publication Of this work. and under that law the con-
tract made, which these gentlemen had executed
| to some extent. They had already published two
three volumes Of the Documentary History Of the
| Revolution in this country-a work which Mr.. d.
believed would hereafter be appreciated as Of great
value to the country--a work which could not be
complished by any individual enterprise But its i'm
portance was not now the question. A contract had
been entered into by law of Congress, and this APP
preparation Mr. ID took it. was for arrearapes under
that contract Mr.. Wright. No; only in part At
| any rate Mr.. d. said il was for executing the
tract, which the Senator from New York declared he
meant neither to repudate override, but only to
| separate from this bill. This therefore was admitted
to be Of tho objects for which was the duty of
] Government to make provision and il it their
duty, it might well be done in this bill a any
] other. The faith of the Government must be re-
deemed and If il not done now, it would be
done some other time because il and would be
the of the country TO fulfil all its If
$45,OO was not all required for payment of
ages, at least something, Mr.. d. thought ought to be
done at this time.
| Mr.. WRIGHT from recollection, went into
particular history of this matter, in the course of
which he stated that this item was not among the
estimates of the Department nor had it come from
the Committee of Ways and Means of the other
House; that either in the report of Mr. Forsyth on
this subject in 1884, in other paper, it was
estimated that this contract might to the amount
of ST. 100000; that this correspondence had
taken place between Clark and Force and commit
tee of the Senate, who, he believed had proposed to
Clark and Force to let the work run to S400 600;
| which proposition was not accepted.
| Mr.. HUBBARD added supplement to this his
tory in which he stated that the Senate consented to
ther than lose the appropriation bill but they did it
with the express provision that none Of the books
should be distributed to Senators His only wish
to separate this item from the general appro
pration bill, and he almost prepared to lose that
bill rather than this item should not be stricken out.
Mr. BENTON denounced this contract one of
the greatest frauds slipped through Congress in few
words, at the last moments of the session Lose the
general appropriation bill Show me the man, said
Mr. b., who would vote to put an end to the opera
tons of this Government for the purpose Of protecting
this abomnablc fraud.
This appropriation Of $4,000 now stricken
out, by yeas and nays, follows:
YEAS-Messrs Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Calhoun, Cuthbert, Hubbard King Lumpkin, Mou-
ton, Nicholas, NorvcIl, Pierce, Robinson, SEWER
s'STSgeSn ISRpan Wall Williams Hams; M mr
Prcntiss, Rugglcs, Smith, of Indiana, Talmadge-s.
The other amendments agreed to- and the bill
ordered to a third reading
On motion of Mr. HUBBARD, the bill now
read third time, and, the question, " Shall this
bill pass Z" There appeared, Yeas %, Nays 0. (No
quorum)
Mr. SEWER hoped that the Senate would enforce
the rules and make Senators vote that were present
Mr. KNIGHT said he had not heard the bill,
and thought improper to vote without knowing
The bill having been read at length
Mr. KNIGHT said he had learned things
unknown to him before, of which one reduc
ton of certain salaries.
The question again put and the bill was passed
by yeas and nays, follows:
YEAS-Messrs Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Buchanan, Calhoun, Clayton, Cuthbert, Dixon,
Hubbard King, Knight, Lumpkin, Mouton Nicho-
las Norvcll, Pierce, Prenss, Robinson Sewer, Stur
gcon, Talmadge Tappan, Wall, Williams, Wright
20
Mr.. HUBBARD by consent introduced the fol
lowing joint resolution, and asked that it now be
sidcrcd:
RESOLVED by the Senate and House Of Representa-
oT United Sf0frs oT