The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-13

the credit of the States and Of State Institutions,
and OF individuals, at period when every ef-
fort should have been made to sustain il, deserv
ed an early discussion. But. sir, another oppor-
tunity may be found to recur to it. ] pass il
| here
| There has not, then, been the fit and proper
occasion for general discussion. And, sir, is
Il matter OF wonder that individuals Of all parties
should take any occasion in order or out OF order,
which the presiding officer Of the House, or the
| House itself, would permit for the discussion
| OF subjects deemed Important On one occaJ
sion, sir, since you have been in the Chair,
| took the liberty Of calling gentleman to order
for discussing the Sub-treasury. You decided
him 10 be out Of order. Perceiving desire on
the part Of the committee that he should proceed,
withdrew the objection You, however, adj
hered 10 your decision, and il was by a vote OF
the committee he was permitted TO proceed
mention this to show that you are not response
Bile for the vagrancy Of this debate, and that il
was permitted by the House, presume, on the
ground that as the fiji occasion had not been
made, every member should be at liberty to
| choose his own time.
In my opinion Mr. Chairman, our debates here
are more impotent, and certainly more harmless
than our acts. They afford an opportunity for
the Administration TO justify their course and
to the Opposition, to expose their errors. The
freedom of speech here is the great safeguard Of
the Liberties Of the country Close your doors,
debate and act in secret, and how long, sir, do
you think this Union would continue? Wrongs
IN silent Governments, are redressed by insur-
rectlon, rebellion, revolution. But where the
Legislature speaks, and the People think, they
will resort to no other remedy than the baot-box
An early and full debate on the real state of
the Union would have been Of some use to the
Executive himself. In his message, singular as
II may seem, he undertakes to tell us what are
the opinions of the People on the Sub-treasury
that they are fast coming TO the support OF this
thrice-rejected project. II did not probably oc-
cur to him that we we were fresh from the PEG
pie; and, had the fit occasion occurred, might
most probably have given him some information
on the subject, and in time TO have given new
direction Of his course And now, sir what
must have been his surprise TO be left to learn
their opinions from themselves? Ay sir, from
Connecticut and Rhode Island2
But suppose, sir, we talk too much, partcu-
ararly on this bill-which il is admitted is Of
great urgency--who are responsible on whom
does the blame rest? On the Opposition, says
the Executive press. II seems to be the fashion
to put the responsibility OF all the acts of this
House on their shoulders. But how stand the
facts? Who has introduced irrelevant topics
into this debate | will hold him, whoever he
may be- responsible for all the debate that has or
may follow in reply--for all the delay il may oc-
casion.
If recollect right, sir, this debate commenced,
and was continued for some time, In perfect or
der. then ,reH hoped that we should have so
continued to the end; but noac, so IL pds that a
subject that had been many times before intro
duced with equal relevancy was again brought
before the House-the election OF Gen. Harrison
| But, sir, perceive ! am making too much
haste 10 the question in order. ! must relieve
the fears Of the House by DEPRESSING little to
the right. / am speaking now not TO this House
IN bllt III hauiu
voice enough to reach half across this Hall, am
obliged TO ask the aid Of the press And, sir,
| congratulate myself and the country that It IS
now ascertained that the Executive press can
report half speech of an Opposition member,
when it suits its purpose so to to. | refer TO a
report of half Of speech Of the honorable chair
man Of the Committee on the Public Buildings,
| (Mr Lincoln,) Of which half publication the
people, as well as that gentleman, have some
| reason to complain. The case was this: An
honorable member from Pennsylvania Mr..
| Ogle had made an dd hOn,inem argument
He made an issue between profession and prac-
tee. He introduced the famous East Room let
ter, written in 1928 by member Of Congress
TO the editor of the Richmond Enquirer now
the leading Administration paper in Virginia.
That letter stated as a fact that the East Room
of the Presidents House was furnished in style
of even regal splendor (though in point of fact
it had not been furnished at al) The Enquirer
as well as the eter-writer, made this the ground
of Il charge OF anti republican extravaganza
against Mr.. Adams The letter and charge
went the rounds of the party press. The gen.
tcman from Pennsylvania then proceeded to
show that the East Room was now more gor-
geously furnished even than had been charged
in the East Room letter. He then made the
issue between the professions of the party out Of
power and their practice in power. But strange
as it may seem, the honorable gentleman from
Massachusetts, supposed the issue to be between
the honorable gentleman and himself, who, as
member Of the committee, had reported a small
appropriation for additional furniture. He was
led into the most probably from the fact that
the gentleman, to make his remarks strictly in
ORDER and to give his argument some additional
force, had moved to strike out that appropriation.
The gentleman from Massachusetts very ably
defended himself against the supposed attack,
and proved, no doubt to the satisfaction of him
self and many others, that in this particular there
was no extravaganza. Having done this he pro-
ceeded to point out what he deemed real erfra-
pagance. Heinstanced the alteration Of the plan
of the General Post Office, which increased the
expense from $3.50 900 to over $400,000 and at
the same time impaired the usefulness Of the
building. He noticed the change Of the plan OF
the Treasury building, which increased the ex
pcnsc more than $500000, &c. the want of all
responsibility in the direction Of the public build
lnSo, ~ nc LAeCutiVc paper puouSneu INC
first half Of the speech, but omitted the other
half, though slightly referring to it as having re-
laton TO abuses.
This increase Of expenditure, by change Of
plan, brings to mind case that happened dur
ing the last Administration Congress made
an appropriation Of $4,000 for purchasing the
right Of the Washington bridge, and erecting
new bridge This was made on an estimate
furnished by the Committee on the Public Build
1 ..x- Cx~ l~.l l. -
priation, the President made contract for build
| ing a bridge Of granite for one million three hun