The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-12
UNITED STATES SENATE.
EXTRA SESSION.


day) at ~ o'clock, the Senate proceed W 'So u'ee
Seryean at Arms and Door keeier
Mr. BUCHANAN should vote against the reso-
lntion Al the death OF Judge Haight (the late ger
geant- at Arms, the Senator nom New 10Th maue =
strong appeal this body in behalf OF ms anu
arrangements were at that time made uhoer "heh
he was 10 receive the entire salary OF the term Tor
which he was elected The Door keeper at that time
agreed 10 perform the duty OF Sergeant-at. Arms
This course was pursued from motives OF the Purest
cbarty-that the Government OF the United States
might not be compelled TO pay two salaries, and at
,hs same lime the widow might receive that OF which
she stood greatly in need, Now, at the very close OF
this Executive session, when there was no earthly
need OF Sergeant at Arms why should be imposed
on the Treasury the payment OF double salaries =
When they had the power they RETAINED from this
election; for the purpose OF doing this charity, deter
mining that they would not elect Sergeant-at- Arms
They had right TO have elected one-there was no
such officer. Now, when the election might as well
be slponed to the meeting Of the 9th Congress- he
should moi vote for and respectfully called the yeas
and nays on the question.
Mr. MERRlCk should not discuss the question at
length. ~,
The Office was Of great Importance That
Congress had granted sum of money TO the widow
of the late Sergeant Arms, was very good IN Itself
But il certainly formed reason why they should be
desriyed of such an officer. The office
cant and proper that 1t should be hled, and Oh
this account he had moved 10 fill 1t.
Mr.. ROBINSON read the rule Of the Senate, pro-
vidng that on the second Monday of the first session
Qeant- at Arms, &c.
Mr.. KING said that, after having given to their
preceding officer the salary of whole year, when
there apartce OF business TO be performed, they
determined to 10 into the election OF an oificer,
they about TO give salary for the discharge Of
no duty whatever. Ii this was the reform that had
been promised, really the new Administration party
Here an officer Of the Senate, not wanted for
solitary duty to be forced on them merely togve
him the salary.
He spoke plainly. No gentleman could deny it
No gentleman could get upin his place and say that
this officer was wanted-and if not, why elect him
They had got along ia the business and confusion
and transacted all the business during the past
sion with their present officer
Ii this was to be a specimen of what might be er-
pected from this Administration many estilnabe ci
Gems who gave Them their support under the impress
sion that economy was 10 be the order of the day,
would turn with regret from what they had done.
Senators must remember that they responsible
to the people, and to the people he would leave them
Mr.. CLAY, OF Kentucky, said it really appeared TO
him that gentlemen on the other side, were disposed
to make great deal out Of small affairs On what
authority The asked) did The Alabama Senator ven
tuIe The assertion that this resolution if passed,
amounted to nothing but to provide an office tor the
purpose of fllingit?
Mr.. KING said, The fact Itself.
Mr.. CLAY. There was none. There an
existing Office with certain duties attached to It, IT
vacant IL the office was unnecessary, bring for
ward proposition to abolish ,t-dispense with it al
together. And if that done, they would not I'M
derlakc TO fill the Office whilst such proposition was
under consideration. Here was an existing Office
with all its duties attached to il. There might be,
and in all probability would be, extra session OF
Congress. He spoke on common rumor- inorma-
ton attributed to the President Of the United States
himself on a recent visit Richmond, when he de-
clared his intention to call extra session. Sup
pose extra session took place was it not Of some
consequence then that this office should be filled p
And II by a new person, was It net OF consequences
hat he have v tn bpcnm ted wit
its duties
If there was an extra session, he believed no one
would deny that there should he Sergeant at Arms
appointed. If there was an extra session two months
hence, the salary being $500 per year. the salary TO
that time would amount To $3.50.
twas not with little matters Of this Sort that they
pendiures, those monstrous leaks on the Treasury,
which had reduced il to state of bankruptcy this
was the kind of reform which the administration
would benefit the country by making
But gentlemen talked about having used the salary
BY grant That to say, that gentlemen those
In the majority, had made charitable grant the
widow OF Judge Haghl, and because they had exer-
cised their charity in this way the public not to
be furnished with officer whose duties neces
sary. Wac this the sort Of reasoning by which they
were to be detained from the performance of neces-
sary duty2
He did not complain of this charity; but he denied
that on this account they should not fill all Offices
the duties Of which might be necessary and in ali
human probability would be necessary in the course
of some forty, fifty or sixty days from this time.
As TO the rule i was standing rule requiring
biennial elections of certain officers. And what was
the purpose of the rule7 To bring these officers in
review periodically before the Senate that the Senate
might decide on the expediency of their reelection
Did any human being suppose if vacancy occurred
by death In the office of both Sergeant at Arms and
Doorkeeper the day alter their election that the Sc
nate were to wait till the expiration of two years be-
fore these offices filled No. Here was an
ONCE to be hlled the duties Of which, in all human
probability would become indispensaby necessary in
short time, and 1t was proposed to ill this office He
hoped that gentlemen would perceive that il was not
case IN which any thing could be gained hy pro-
tracted argument
the time Monday, the 9Th March, all o'clock
Mr. KING farther opposed the resolution.
Mr.. SMITH, of la, should vote for the resoIu-
ton. lie adveried TO what had taken place in the
case Notwithstanding they did not fill this office
notwithstanding the Door epcr agreed he would
perform the duties of the station and notwhstand-
ing the amount given to the widow of the late Ser
geani from that quarter, resolution giving to
the present door Keeper 81 COO extra for about six
weeks service, in dschargng the duties of that office
II passed this ody, giving $500, thus giving double
salary TO one officer.
He advocated the resolution therefore on the ground
Of economy.
The Discussion was farther continued by Messrs
KING, SEWER, BENTON, and MERRICK.
Mr.. BENTON moved that the resolution be post
poned Till the second Monday of next session of Con-
gress, and this called the yeas and nays which
were ordered and resulted thus
YEAS-Messrs. Allen Benton, Buchanan, Cal
houn, Clay, Of Ala, Cu,hbert, Fulton, King, Linn,
McRoberts, Nicholson, Sewer, Smith, of Conn
Sturgeon, Tsppan, Walker, Williams, Wright,
Woodbury., and Young 20
NAYS essrs. Archer, Barrow, Berrien, Bates,
Bayard, Clay, Of KY, Choate Clayton Dixon, Evan,
Graham Henderson Huntington Kerr, Morehead
Mansum, Merrick, Miller, Porter, Preston, Rives,
Simmons, Smith, OF Ind, Southland, Iallmadge, White,
and Woodbridge. 20
Thus the motion failed
The question then recurring on the resolution, af.