The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

/
THURSDAY, Feb, Is, 1871.
/ The Journal of yesterday was read; when
On motion Of Mr.. EDWARD DAVIES, Of Penn
sylvania, il was
Resoired That henceforh for the remainder Of the
present session, the House will daily take recess
from half past 2to4 o'clock p. M.
Mr.. JONES, of Virginia, moved to suspend the
rules and that the House resolve itself into Committee
| ofthe Whole on the state of the Union, with view
to proceed with the consideration OF the bill making
appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses OF
| the Government for the year 1871.
Mr.. STANLY requested Mr.. JONES to give way
to enable him to offer the proposition moved by him on
yesterday amendment TO the civil and diplomatic
BILL directing the Secretary OF the Treasury to report
to Congress al the next session information in rea-
on to the branch mints the better to enable Congress
70 act upon the subject OF their discontnuancc.
Mr.. JONES said the proposition of the honorable
member had been decided by the CHAIR to be of
der when offered by him amendment to the bill
and that must have been obvious at the time that
addition to the fact that it of order gentlemen
preparing debate it, And that at this late pc
Rod Of the session. with othe appropriation bills
| to act on, he could not consent that any business
should take precedence Of those bills.
MIR, STANI.Y remarked that the chairman of the
Committee Of Ways and Means and his friends had
the majority in this House. and could prevent debate
if they pleased lfthey refused to consider this
luton al this time, when rule of order nerered and
when public good was to be achieved, the heads
Mr.. s. had discharged his duty.
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
| The House then again resolved iiselfin Commit
tee of the Whole the state of the Union, and resu-
med the consideration of the bill for the civil and dipo-
matte expenses of Government for the year IS4l Mr..
Bell was again called to the chair Of the committee.
/ Mr. GREEN moved 10 amend the bill by striking
out the item, For compensation TO the officers and
clerk Of the branch mint at Dahlonega Georgia. six
thousand dollars"
/ Mr. g. in support of his proposition, said that he
considered it his imperative duty his constituents
and the country to insist upon this motion. He was
more thoroughly convinced than ever since hearing
the discussion upon this subject of branch mints, that
the appropriations for the whole of them ought be
stricken out. 1t was worse than useless expendi-
ture of the public money to the amount of upwards
OF seventy thousand dollars, because these branch
minis produced want of uniformity in the coinage Of
the United States, and immensely increased cost
His friends from Georgia thought these appropriations
ought To be continued for the honor and glory OF the
country He Mr. G D could see no honor and glory
in this wastctul expenditure OF public money. He
considered the question purely matter of dollars and
cents to the Government the only thing that could
be said TO be in its favor was that the neghborhood
around these establishments might be benefited to
some extent at expense to the balance of the peo
pie and the Government of upwards OF seventy thou
sand dollars He was for economy in the expenditures
Of the public money, and for cutting down all useless
and extravaganza expenditures, His friend from Ohio
/
establishments and greatly in favor of abolshng
them at proper time, but thought this not the
time; that should wait until General Harrison
came into power, and we have majority of his friends
and party power; and then he should be willing TO
90 into general system of economy. Mr.. G. said
no man in this House was warmer friend of Gen
eral Harrison than he was that friendship had germ
ed in his heart in early life amidst hardship and dan
ger, and would tn remain the end OF life. NO
man in this House or elsewhere fet more anxious for
the honor and glory OF his Administration than he
did. But the honor and glory of his Administration,
and Of those who assisted in bringing him into power
was faithful and honest observance of all the pro-
misses and pledges made 10 the People before his eec
ton He for one intended to keep them the letter
and spirit and should embrace every opportunity to
cut down unnecessary expenditures of public money
and he for commencing now-the earlier the
better now the accepted time. The Treasury
was without doar-borrowng money TO meet its
daily expenses
j He had had the honor Of offering resolution, the
sole object of which TO raise upon wines
and silks and luxuries sufficient to meet the economl-
cal expenditures OF the Government and pay the de-
cit of the Treasury. This had alarmed some Southern
gentlemen, and they cried out Tariff Tarif 4
These same gentlemen were unwilling to reduce the
unnecessary expenditures of Government, and sui
more unwilling 10 raise money by tax upon such ar
tices as the great body of the people would not feel
and which the Compromise act authorized and requr-
ed to meet any deficit in the Treasury. lie, Tor one
was for carrying out the Compromise act. lie was
the last man that would disturb that Compromise
Kenuckys great and iavorite son had brought about
that act moved Ivy patriotism and love of country and
saved some of the distinguished men OF the South
from utter ruin and perhaps disgrace. lie would say
10 his friends from Georgia that to no gentlemen IN
any portion of this House he attached than
to certain gentlemen Of their delegation and II II was
not duty he owed his constituents, who stood lrst
with him before all other friends, and the good OF ms
country he would be disposed TO withdraw his mo
tion; but when their interest was at stake, he must
be excused in going for their interest and the interest
OF his country in preference to all other considera-
tots earth
i Aher some further remarks from MIR. c.
| Mr. Afford said regret, Mr.. Chairman, that
nv friend from Kentucky has made this motion 10
strike out the small appropriation for the branch mint
in Georgia am surprised as well as mortified we
hear from these silk and wine gentlemen these old Ia
n men an eternal complaint OF want OF money and
vol sir they are moving to strike out every place
,cbsre Donsu is or can be made lohject hold that
the policy oencouraging the development OF our inter
nal resources nv this Government, IN tins manner y
lust and ought not to bc abandoned
hold sir it is the last best resource 'or national
sunpor IN the event of actual non-intercousc by war
or bph tariffs with other nations; and certainly those
VIII, favor atarf ought to husband ouf resources al
home hope, SIR the motion will not prevail
The debate was continued by Mr.. NlSBEi, VINO
alluded TO Mr. ALroaD's speech the Treasury note
bill relative 10 hi view of the tarl question
Mr. Afford explained. The difference be-
tween myself and my colleague is not very material =
] object TO the time hold this great measure VIII be
better settled session object to the source from
whence il comes said before repeat now, u Is my
opinion there is effort here to lay the foundation OF