The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-09

MED that there any thing in ID about paupers He
dsclaimed any hostility 10 the Districts but insisted
that there law providing for the support oil Ia
natics IN this District by Congress.
Mr.. BRIGGS understood in reply 10 the con-
stitutional question raised by Mr. Hand, to argue
that the same principle upon which Congress could
make appropriations for the support OF Criminals Would
Justify, also the appropriation foi the confinement OF
lunatcs. The most degraded criminal might accord
ing TO the argument of the gentleman from New
York, be provided with food and ramentt but
the moment the question was whether relic. should
be extended those unfortunate beings who had been
deprived of their reason the Constitution of the UNI
ted States nterposed, and the door TO be shut
against them. In making an urgent appeal TO the
committee TO pass this bill, Mr. Is. alluded TO the
wretched condition of these lunatcs, and especially
the case Of female in one of the apartments of the
jail
Mr.. MONROE also hoped the bill would pass Il
he had ever entertained any doubts 60 the proprley
and justice Of the law those doubts would have been
put to flight after hearing the argument which his De
mocratic friend from New York Mr.. Handy had, no
doubt with the best intentions, submitted He MIR.
Nj was satisfied that the bill ought To pass. He be-
leyed that not man among his constituents or
the constituents of his colleague Mr. Hand,) would
vote against it, if he understood il,
Mr.. HUBBARD opposed the bill principle
which he thought, notwithstanding all that had been
said, gentlemen had lodged. In his State they sup
ported their paupers by direct and how could
they be called upon not only support their own pau
pers, but those Of the District Of Columbia He re-
erred to the immense burden which this thing would
throw upon Congress, when the population of the city
should swell up TO two or three hundred thousand
bu, Il was to the principle that he opposed The
funds OF the Union ought not to be appropriated TO
carry on the police system of this District; the Dis
tct ought to support its charities of all descriptions
and the people of Alabama had just much right 10
make this request as the people Of this District.
Mr.. II. contended that the people here could not be
too poor to support their parishes and in carry
ing out his argument, spoke of the vast amounts of
money which We're spent in the District in various
ways through the contingent funds of the two Houses
through the public officers, &c. lie believed that
Congress had no power in legislation here than
il had over the Territories.
Mr.. AFFORD, in reply to the constitutional OBJ
jections taken by MIR. Hand and Mr. Hubbard, said
that for his part he held the Bible to be tho high
est constitutional authority which Christian nation
could know. He believed, he taught by the
doctrine inculcated by Lord and Saviour that the
greatest OF all virtues was charity and when he heard
constitutional law urged against the supreme law Of
Heaven ITSELF and against the principles of charity
which that law enjoined, he, as Christian, !,
onished 1t seemed to him that not only did the
mon principles Of charity recommend this bill to the
adoption of the committee, but that the persons TO
whom il had reference peculiarly the proper OBJ
ecs of their solictude Ii he egslating in Geor-
gia he would not hesitate for moment to make pro-
vision for these persons within the ursctonal limits
of his own State; and he would not hesitate here,
where Congress had exclusive power to egslate, and
when charity, religion, and the wants of those who
suffering alike called upon him TO act He hoped
the bill would pass without dissenting voice Ii the
gentleman from Alabama and the gentleman from New
York, had proper feelings and would pay visit the
jail here, their conscientious scrupes would all melt
away before the sight which would there present itself
he hoped the debate would close here, and that the
House as q set of Christians ought to do, would 20
ahead
The committee then and reported the bill with
the two amendments, they concurred III and the
bill was ordered to third reading.
1t was then read the third time and the question on
its passage was taken by yeas and nays and decided
as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Adams, Afford, Jstson Allen, j.
W. Allen, Andrews Baker, Barnard Boardmnn
ler WIN. o. Butler Calhoun, William B. Campbell,
Carr, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Chitenden, Cranston
Curtis, Gushing, Davee, Edward Davies, John W.
Davis G, Davis, Dawson, Deberry, Dellct Doc, Doig
Edwards Ely, Everett Fillmore, Fine, Fisher Floyd
Gabraith, Goggin, Goode, Graham, Granger, Graves
Green, Grnnell, John Hastings, Henry, Hill, Of Va
Hoffman, Holmes, Hook Hunt James, Chas John
son, w. G. Johnson Kemble, Kempshall King
Lane, Lcet, Lincoln, Lowell, Meredith Mallory F.
Mallory, Marvin, Mason Monroe, Morgan, Morrow,
Osborne, Palen, Parmenter, Peck Pope, Randall,
Rariden, Rayner, Reed, Ridgway, Edward Rogers,
Russell, Satonstall, Sergeant slade, John Smith,
Truman Smith, Stanly, STUART Sumter, Sweeny, Ia
liaferro, P. F. Thomas, w. Thompson, Tillinghast
Toland, Triplett, Trumbul, Underwood, Warren
Weller, John White, T. w Williams, l.. Williams,
J. l.. Williams, Christopher II. Williams, Winthrop,
Wse-ll0
NAYS-Messrs. Anterior, Banks Black, Black
well, Aaron V Brown, A. G. Brown, Burke, Cliff
ford, Coles, Conner, Crabb Crazy, Cross, John Da-
Wis, Doan, Duncan, Earl, Eastman Garland, Grlifn,
Hand, Halves, Hawkins, Hill, of ~ C., Hopkins,
Hubbard Jameson G. Johnson Kem, kille, Lewis,
Lucas Mcclellan, McCuoch Medill, Montanya, S,
w Morris, Parrish, Paris, Payntcr, Prentss, Rey-
olds, J. Rogers Rya Shaw Shepard, Steenrod Strong,
Swearngen, Taylor Jacob Thompson, J. B, Thomp.
son. Turney, Watterson, Wick, Jared Williams, II.
Williams Worthnoton-59.
So the bill was passed.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.
The SPEAKER laid before the Houae the fellow
ing communications, VIZ
l. A letter from the Treasurer of the U ned States,
Mr. Selden transmitting his quarterly accounts for
the service of the Post Office Department for the years
1887, 1888, and 1882 each year ending on the Both
June
The letter of the Treasurer states that the balance
to his credit for the of the Post Office Department
in the late deposte banks is s22 S41 of that amount,
22 S27 is in the Bank the Metropolis and detained
by the bank in satisfaction Of certain alleged claims
against the Post Office Department. The balance IN
his hands and in the hands of subreasnrers belong
inc TO the Department is $l2,92l. Referred TO the
Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Depart
ment. =
. letter from the Secretary of the Treasury,
Transmitting the annual statements showing the con-
dltion OF the several banks of the District OF Columbia
Laid on the table
3 letter from the Secretary of the Navy, with n
printed copy of the Naval Register for 1871 for each
member.
letter from the Postmaster General, accompa-
MED by list of the clerks employed n ms depart
ment IN the wear 1910 with the pay of each There
were 50 clerksthe salary Of each clerk Is named but
the aggregate amount paid during the year is not
given. Laid on the table.
B. letter from the Postmaster General, accompa-
MED with list of regular and temporary agents EN-
oil ,,, thn DppartmCnt