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

stated IL one reason III iAsof o MAKING lhis DONATION,
that Gen. Harrison had made largo Expenditures In
an slsctloneerng campaign WHAT was Congress
ney n building log cabins 7 Was Il indeed so For
himself he had doubt in the world that money had
been poured out Ikea flood for electioneeng purposes
he did not doubt that the Treasury had been emptied
| had been drained TO effect electioneeiing purposes
| Here Mr. ID. was interrupted by loud laughter and
cries Of "Who doubts it :" Very true" and " Who
had the treasury
Mr.. d. resumed. And not only SO, but that the
pockets of individuals had been emptied likewise If
the House should vote this donation, il would be
shown and proved that individuals had improperly
drawn money from the Treasury to be employed in
| this election.
| Here the laughter was renewed mingled with cries
of "No doubt Of that"-"we all know that."l
| Mr.. ID. said that he knew personally that the West
! had been flooded with documents which had come
free of expense and had been spread in profusion all
over the land If gentlemen knew of these corrupt
| practices, why had they voted down a resolution
| which sought TO bring them out TO Light Were he
permitted openly repeat in his place remark which
had been made within his hearing, he could give
very fair reason why that resolution had been voted
/ down. ..
| [Cnes of "Give it"-"give it"-"let US have it'll
Mr. d. said if it proper he could give it,
for i had proceeded from an old Wing Federast.
| [Calls to order, mixed with cries of $50 on."l
Mr. ID. said he was not to be deferred by any noise
or confusion which gentlemen might choose to get up
from giving his views of this bill. 1t was an attempt
to work upon the better feelings of to make them
do wrong but both honor and policy should place
men above all such influence. When had such pro-
position been heard of in any deliberatye body
When had it before been asserted that because
mans expenses had been immense in getting into
public Office therefore 1875 600 must be granted to his
| widows H @
4 Mr. D. he'd been little surprised at the action of the
House, though he must say that he had not before
been aware to what extent certain influences could be
made to reach the action of members on that floor
He had not supposed that any man here would ever
have given his sanction to the rules under which they
Il We're now sitting and acting; but they had been
adopted, and he was bound yield to them. They
i had resolved that petition should be received nor
any subject acted upon, such had been speci
ally referred to them by the President Now, il did
happen that the subject of this bill referred to
the Presidents Message but the rule forbade the
consideration of any other claim Now: was this not
an extraordinary feature of legislation Was it not
most extraordinary of things that they should
be sitting, legislatng ideal claim mere gratui-
ty, project to give away the public money to those
who had no legal claim to it whatever, and yet that
those who had fair and legal claim must be shut out
from presenting il? .s...
Mr. D. had, in his drawer, three petitions from old
soldiers out in the public service who had
received farthng Of the public money If these
men knocked at the door, gentlemen turned round and
said to them, depart till convenient season. we
are busy with making grant to Mrs Harrison. He
did not know what other gentlemen might think, hut,
among his constituents it was thought that twenty
five thousand dollars was an enormous sum-an am
pie remuneration indeed for the public service of any
man And was it not enough to compensate any can
didae for the expenses he might be at when election
eerng for the office? If after he had got into office
he should die he would be entitled to his legal salary
SO long as he performed the service, and no more
Mr.. d. had been surprised at the decision of the
Chair and of the House in reference to the amend
ment moved by the gentleman frsm Pennsylvania
(Mr Snyder in behalf the widow and children of
Charles Ogle. What difference was there between
the claim of Oges heirs and those of Gen. Harrison?
Were not the much entitled to the sympathies
of Federasts as the other2 Were gentlemen in ia
vor of giving bounties here, and such bounties as
should follow down to their heirs2 Was this the
retrenchment and the reform that the country had
been taught to expect2 He should like to know how
any could Justify his vote for such grant as
this. Was not the Treasury already sufficiently
Trained Had they not together under the sPe-
cious pretence of furnishing ways and means to re-
plensh drained, exhausted Treasury And was
| this one of the means? Was this bill to provide
sound and uniform currency? Was this one of the
measures that to restore confidence? Could that
be the object Of the bill Mr. D. concluded by pro-
testing against the grant Of any whatever per-
sons who had no legal claim to single dollar.
Mr.. LANE, of Indiana said he had not intended
to utter word until he ha heard what had just fall
len from the member from Ohio. Strange, indeed, il
must have sounded to every human being that heard
t-that that member himself citizen of Ohio, should
get up here to make war dead citizen of his own
State To prey like vampire on an illustrous man
now committed to the silent tomb! He hoped the par
ty to which that member belonged would not sustain
him in such course. The member had told the
House that he would forbear making any attack upon
J the military character Of VIM. Henry Harrison In
Gods name, who did he think would listen to such
attack on the floor of American Congress- He
refrain! And not that military character part
of the history of the country2 The deeds of VIM.
B Henry Harrison were given to the past-far beyond
the reach Of any puny efforts of such assalant.
The member had informed the House that among his
fheraxU thevn had
been distressed BEFORE they would be when they came
: TO read the members speech. He opposed the mea-
r sure because the Treasury was empty. And who had
emptied IL Who had wasted and squandered and pill
fered and stolen the public money by thousands and
Millions and fattened the spoils Mi. l.. trusted
: in God that party would sustain sentiments like
n these Who that had an American heart in his bo-
# could refuse grant which did equal honor to the
J. giver and receiver
d Mr. L. would put it to the vote of Harrison's own
/ soldiers. Ask them whether the widow of their old
l. commander should should not have this out Of
e the public Treasury. The member talked about log
cabins Did he not know that the log cabin stood In
g this contest the loved and chosen emblem of the
free unbought affection, and the power and majesty
of the People For what could this topic have beer
introduced but for opportunity Of ndulgng in low
o unworthy disgusting party slang Ifthese the
= aurels which the member sought to wear, Mr. L. en-
We'd them not. Long and greeny might they flourish
on his brow--a brow that seemed well worthy to
+ them. Gratui,y2 Who talked of gratuity 2 Th'
o committee proposed no .gratu!y. They had brough
e forward the bill expressly the ground of indemnif
\ cation Did the member think to achieve for himsel
n Immortality by having his name on record an oppo
i nent of this bill Yes, he might but il would be ar
d Immortality Of infamy The members vote nigh
1t stand upon the Journal but it would stand there
vote against the father Of the West it would stand
e some minute and scarcely visible speck and blemsf
upon the marble that recorded llustrous fol
d posterity. What might be that members notions o
10 fame was hard to say. Did he expect to win fam
by attacking the dead? He shared his fame with The
(; hyena and the wolf The member had asked with
Of triumph how gentlemen were to sustain them
e selves in giving vote like ths2 Mr. l.. would tel
that individual how he should sustain HIMSELF not b,
IS crnging before his constituents, but by standing be
e fore them erect in conscious integrity, and telling
g them he had acted here freeman and an Amer
l. can regardless Of the cant of demagogues He nov