The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-19

candda,e for the Presidency. IL had been observed
n The committee, and II must be known to all mem
hers of the House that IN the situation in which lie
neral Harrison had been paced-iar from the seat OF
Government and for eighteen months or two years
exposed to a heavy burden Of expense which he could
mol possibly ayoid-it was more than equitable thai
he should TO reasonable degree, be Undermined ne
Ind been thus burdened while IN circumstances mol
opulent but on the contrary, had been one ground
on which he had received decided proofs OF the peo
Piles favor that through long course OF public ser
vice he remained poor, which was In Itself ademonstra
tive proof that he had remained pure also Such had
been his condition before leaving home to travel To the
seat of Government. After his arrival here, he had
been exposed another considerable burden OF ex-
pense far beyond any amount he had received rom
the public purse during the short month he had con
timed 10 be Pr, sdent His decease had left his tani-
ly in circumstances which would be much improved
by this act of justice done TO him by the people through
their Representatives. The feeling was believed TO be
very general throughout the country ana without dis
tncton of party in favor of such measure. Appll-
cations had from the most respectable sources,
and among others, from the city OF Charleston, por-
| ton of the country where the support gwen to Gen
Harrison political candidate had not been so strong
! as in many others with a megnanmity which that
CITY had often manifested its citizens had come forward
and peoned Congress that this sum should be appro-
priated as indemnity. There had, he believed,
been other petitions of the same character offered
during this session. He would thank the Clerk TO
state whether such had not been the case.
The Clerk through the Chair responded to the IN
| auiry, and stated that there had.
| Mr. A. said that gentleman from Pennsylvania,
near him. had Just suggested that he had In his hands
a petition praying for much larger grant than that he
had moved, and which he would read when he came
10 speak to the resolution. The reason why Mr.. r.
had moved insert this was, that as lar as ne
| could understand what the public opinion was, this
was the sum which preferred by great portion oil
the American people. A larger OF smaller sum
| might be proposed in which case the question ny
usage OF the House would hrst be put on the arees'
| sum
The grounds and reasons for this appropriation had
been so long and fully discussed in the papers ana
journals of the country that he presumed the minds OF
| all the members of the House were made up IN regard
ITO ii he should not, therefore, add any iuither re-
marks >,
Mr. COOPER, of Pennsylvania, said he should
not trouble the committee at great ength IN the re-
marks he had to make in this case lie had risen
merely in obedience to the request OF pubic meeting
held within the district he had the honor to REPRESENT
and which had directed him to ask that Congress would
make appropriation OF public money Tor 'he pehe
fit of the family of the late President An account OF
the proceedings of that meeting he then held IN his
hand and should ask that it should be read at the
t Clerks table. He presented this paper now Tor the
purpose of showing the state of public feeling ana pup
lie opinion in Pennsy lvania among persons OF all Po
Utica parties for the meeting 10 which he had ailud-
ed had been composed exclusively OF the friends
of General Harrison; on the contrary, members oil
both the great political parties which divided the coun-
try had been present on that OCCASION and To theif
honor had all agreed that such appropriation ought
To be made In regard to the sum with which 1t Lad
been proposed to fill the blank, he should move no
amendment, although the appropriation recommended
al the public meeting in his district had been mach
larger than that proposed from the JOINT commit
tee He trusted that objection would be made rom
any part OF the House. The sum proposed was little
enough-Iess he was persuaded than the great body
of the American People could they be ndiv duay con
8 suited would be willing to give, Let us said Nj "
act generously this occasion, and in such manner
as shall give the lie TO that Teproach often made
by the despots of Europe that republics are always
ungraeiul. The Government, as gentlemen all know
has made such appropriations various OCCASIONS.
The honorable chairman will readily recoect the
grant 10 Laiayete-a giant much larger than this,
and for services certainly not much superior.
: Mr. C. said he had nothing further 10 add, save to
ask that the record of the proceedings Of the meeting
of his constituents be now read by the Clerk.
1t read accordingly,
Mr. SNYDER, of Pennsylvania, here moved an
amendment to the resolution, which, on being read,
sT4SLY called Mr. Sn ny ri to oP1e2 Ihe
amendment not within the resolution appoint
, ing the select committee.
The CHAIR ruled the amendment to be out of
order. Mr. Snyder, however kept his feet, and was
going on 10 remonstrate and TO argue that the amend
ment stood on the same ground with the resolution,
nasmuch as Mr. Ogle had done more service towards
: eficctng the election Of Gen. Harrison than Gen.
Harrison himself had done-bu lie loudly and
repeatedly called to order and at length resumed his
, seat
II
the honor efa seat in Congress at the time 9th
death the late amented Gen. Brown, at which
time resolution vas introduced, making an appro-
praon of five thousand dollars to his surviving wild
ow, Gentlemen all political sides of the House had
, come up on that occasion IN manner which did them
. | honor, and had passed the bill by an almost unan
nous vote. Mr.. w willing TO perform similar
TO the widow of the late President by voting APP
preparation to give her oneyears salary other husband
He understood that part Of the salary had been
already drawn, and inquired whether the twenty
five thousand dollars moved by the gentleman from
Massachusetts, was to be understood independent OF
the balance. Being answered as the Reporter I'M
derstood) in the affirmative, MIR. w. said he should
vote that amount with infinite pleasure and he conf
IDENTITY trusted that the same unanimy would be man
Tested on this occasion had been displayed IN the
Of Mrs Brown.
! Mr.. BRIGGS hoped the question would at once be
taken; when
Mr. GORDON, Of New York, moved to fill the
blank in he resolution with the sum of Sc $50
MIR. DEAN, of OHIO said he was opposed To voting
any sum whatever There something extra
ordinary in the proposition that the moment he heard
it he startled the views OF the rul ne party
Congress had been convened for extraordinary pur-
pose but was 1t for the purpose Of granting reiei to
the heirs OF Gen. Harrison Was 1t for purpose
like that the country had called upon them to assem-
bic Was tins to be the first measure proposed Tor
their public action Mr.. D. said he had DISPOSE
ton speak here Of the acts OF the deceased he did
not at tins time desire To review the history of that
man he was wiling that in his the usual fate Of
men should be reversed Let the evils he had done be
buried with his bones and let the good only which he
had done for his country live after him Mr. d. should
set that all aside, until some gentleman should get up
and attempt to express eulogy uron the valor pari-
otsm, and public worth of William Henry Harrison ;
should any thing like this be attempted Mr. d. would
then claim the night of expressing his views the
merits OF that man distinguished and ,ustrious
patriot In the meanwhile he had serious objections
TO this bill and such as came home to his bosom The
passage OF any such act barred by the principles
If this Government and the restrictions of the Con-