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

MED that there was any thing in il about paupers He
dscaimed any hostility to the District but insisted
that there law providing for the support OF u
natics in this District by Congress.
Mr. BRIGGS was understood, in reply to the con-
stitutional question as raised by Mr. Hand, TO argue
that the principle upon which Congress could
make appropriations for the support Of criminals would
justify also the appropriation foi the confinement o
lunatics The most degraded criminal might, accord
ing to the argument of the gentleman from New
York, be provided with food and raiment; but
the moment the question was, whether relic. should
be extended to those unfortunate beings who had been
deprived of theirxeason the Constitution of the Uni
ted States interposed and the door was to be shut
against them. In making an urgent appeal TO the
committee to pass this BILL Mr.. B. alluded to the
wretched condition of these lunatics, and especially
the case of female in of the apartments OF the
jail.
Mr.. MONROE also hoped the bill would pass II
he had ever entertained any doubts to the proprey
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 Mr..
M was satisfied that the bill ought pass. He be-
lieyed that not man among his own constituents or
the constituents Of his colleague Mr. Hand would
vote against ii, if he understood it.
MIR. 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 taxation and how could
Lley De called upon not only their OWN
pers but those of the District of Columbia He re-
ferred to the immense burden which this thing would
throw upon Congress- when the population of the city
should swell up to two OF three hundred thousand /;
but il to the principle that he was opposed The
funds of the Union ought not to be appropriated to
carry on the police system of this Districts the Dis
trict ought to support its charities of all descriptions
and the people of Alabama had just much right TO
make this request as the people of this District.
Mr.. H. contended that the people here could not be
too poor to support their parishes and III carry
ing out his argument spoke of the vast amounts of
money which were spent in the District in various
ways through the contingent funds of the two Houses
through the public officers &C. He believed that
Congress had power in legislation here than
it had over the Territories.
Mr.. Afford, in reply to the constitutional OBJ
jections taken by Mr.. Hand and Mr.. Hubbard, said
that for his part he held the Bibleto be the high
est constitutional authority which Christian nation
could know He believed, AZ he taught by the
doctrine ncucated by our Lord and Saviour that the
greatest of all virtues charty 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, Christian, was as.
tonshed 1t seemed to him that not only did the COM
principles of charity recommend this bill to the
adoption of the committee, but that the persons to
whom il had reference were peculiarly the proper OBJ
jects of their socitude. If he legisating in Geor
ga, he would not hesitate for moment to make pro-
vision for these persons within the urisdicona limits
of his own State and he would not hesitate here,
where Congress had exclusive power to legsate 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 Ifthe
gentleman from Alabama and the gentleman from New
York. had proper feelings, and would pay visit to the
Jail here their conscientious scruples would all melt
away before the sight which would there present itself
He hoped the debate would close here and that the
House, as a set of Christians ought to do would 60
ahead.
The committee then rose and reported the bill with
the two amendments they were concurred I'M and the
bill was ordered to third reading
1t then read the third time, and the question on
its passage taken by yeas and nays, and decided
follows:
YEAS-Messrs Adams, Afford, Judson Allen, j.
w. Allen, Andrews, Baker, Barnard, Boardman,
Bond, Brewster, Briggs, Brockway, Sampson H. But
Ter, VIM. 0. Butler, Calhoun, William B. Campbell,
Carr, Carroll, Carter Casey Chittenden, Cranston,
Curtis, Cushing Davee, Edward Davies, John W.
Davis, G. Davis, Dawson Deberry, Dellet, Doe, Doig
Edwards, Ely, Everett, Fillmore, Fine, Fisher, Floyd
Galbraith. Goggn, Goode, Graham, Granger, Graves
Green, Grinnell, John Hastings, Henry Hill of Va
Hoffman, Holiness Hook, Hunt, James, Chas. John
ston, w. O. Johnson, Kemble, Kempshal, King
Lane, Leet, Lincoln, Lowell, Meredith Mallory F.
Mallory, Marvin, Mason, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow,
Osborne, Pelen, P armentor, Peck Pope. Randall.
Rariden, Rayner, Reed, Ridgway, Edward Rogers,
Truman smith, Stanly, Stuart, Sumter sweeny, la
liaferro, P. F. Thomas, w. Thompson, Tillinghast,
Toland Triplett, Trumbull, Underwood, Warren,
Weller, John White T. w Williams, l.. Williams,
J. L. Williams, Christopher H. Williams, Winthrop,
Wise--ll0.
NAYS-Messrs Anterior, Banks, Black, Black
we'll Aaron v. Brown, A. G. Brown, Burke, Cliff
ford, Coles, Common, Crabb, Crazy, Cross John Da-
Wis, Doan, Duncan Earl Eastman, Garland, Griffln,
Hand, Halves, Hawkins, Hill, Of N. c., Hopkins
Hubbard, Jameson, G. Johnson, Keim kille, Lewis,
+ Will. al =
w Morris, Parrish, Paris, Paynter, Prentiss, Rey-
Odds, j. Rogers Rya Shaw, Shepard Steenrod Strong,
Swearingen, Taylor, Jacob Thompson, J. b. Thomp
son. Turney, Watterson Wick, Jared Williams Il.
Williams, Worthington-59.
So the bill was passed
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.
The SPEAKER laid before the Houae the fellow
ing communications, viz
A letter from the Treasurer of the United States,
Mr.. Seden transmitting his quarterly accounts for
the service of the Post Office Department for the years
1897, 1888, and 1885, each year ending on the 3Oth
June
The letter of the Treasurer states that the balance
to his credit for the use the Post Office Department
in the late deposte banks is SD OF that amount
S22 1877 is in the Bank Of 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 subtreasnrers belong
ING to the Department is $l2,92l. Referred to the
Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Depart
ment.
D letter from the Secretary of the Treasury,
transmitting the annual statements showing the con-
don of the several banks of the District of Columbia
Laid on the table,
g. letter from the Secretary of the Navy, with
printed copy Of the Naval Register for 1884, for each
member.
a. letter from the Postmaster General accompa-
MED by list of the clerks employed in his Depart
ment IN the year 1910, with the pay of each There
were So clerksthe salary of each clerk is named, but
the aggregate amount paid during the year is not
L aid H..
g. letter from the Postmaster General accompa-
MED with list of regular and temporary agents
ployed by the Post Office Department, with the
amount paid to each from July / 1889, to November
80, 1910.
The regular agents are Arthur Nelson, Howard
Kennedy, VIM Tanner, c.. g. McHutton, James