Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-02
TWENTY-SIXTH CoNGREsS---2d SESSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Wednesday,, FeJ. -.

civil. AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL
The question pending being on the following amend
ment:
"For annual repair of The Presidents House. garden.
salary, horse and cart aborers and TOOLS and for
amount due F. Mast and Company for repairs on furni.
ture, S2,625, it was agreed to-yeas 1l2, nays 49,
After the adoption of several other amendments.
without division,
The amendment appropriating SO, 900 for completing
the courthouse at Alexandria, was concurred in-Yeas
los, nays7.
The question then recurring on agreeing with the
Committee of the Whole in their amendment striking
out the appropriation for "a Minister 10 Mexico, and
inserting appropriation for Charge only
Mr.. WIN. COST JOHNSON wished to know
whether the Connittee on Foreign Affairs had Sc
conded this amendment, striking off the Minister to
Mexico.
Great confusion here arose, owing 10 many members
attempting to speak at once
Mr.. MONROE in a very loud tone, propounded a
question to the Speaker the effect Of rejection
of the amendment.
The noise prevailing great that the response
Of the Speaker was not heard
But several members now calling on Mr.. Monroe TO
sit down, aud not ask such simple questions,
MIR. MONROE insisted on his right to ask any ques-
ton he might think proper, before he called upon
Mr.. WISE. Well then, will the Speaker please 10 tell
me how to spell apple pie
After some remarks from MIR. sTASLY, in which he
asked to be excused from voting,
Mr.. GRAVES took the floor, and was proceeding
with some remarks, when
Mr.. WISE said he insisted on having order, and re-
quested the gentleman to take his seat.
Mr.. GRAVES said, well, then, let him state his
point of order for the decision of the Chair but will
not take my seat at his (slr. Wise s. command.
Mr. WISE Well | submit my point Of order,
which is whether gentleman has right for the pur-
pose of evadlng the previous question, to
Loud cries Of ''order sssit down, ETC., arose from
various parts Of the hall
Mr. WISE. It's OF gentlemen NAV cQll
.sorder much they please; cannot be put down
on my point of order.
Mr. GRAVES. What is the point of order'
Mr. WISE. Hear it, and do not call upon me to sit
down before you know what it is The point of order
is, whether gentleman can, 10 evade the previous
question: ask be excused from voting, and then give
his reasons?
The SPEAKER said it was obvious that ,uch a
course was not in order.
Mr. GRAVES desired to know if, under the consi-
deration of bill making appropriation for the civil and
diplomatic expenses of Government for 1S4 the gen
tleman from Virginia in order in asking the Speak.
er ssto please to tell him how to spell apple-pe:'
After some further discussion of a conversational
character, the question taken agreeing to the
amendment Of the Committee of the Whole, and deci.
ded in the negative-Yeas &C. nays l0l.
So the House refused to strike out the appropriation
for n Minister TO Mexico.
The question then taken the following amen ID
ment of Mr. Underwood
After the word dollars in the 535,h line, page 49, in
sert the following proviso
Resoiced, however, That in addition to returns now
required to be rendered by postmasers It shall be the
duty Of the postmasters Mt New York. Boston, Phila
delphia, Baltimore, and New Orleans, and the other
several cities of the Union each and every year here
after, 10 render quarter yearly the Post
master General under oath, in such form the latte
shall prescribe for the purpose of giving full effect
this proviso, of all cmouments sums by them re
apectively received for boxes pigeon holes, othe
recepaces for letters papers, and by them charged
for 10 individuals; for the delivery Of letters pa
pers at from any place III either of the said cities
other than the actual Post Office Of such city, ane
of all emoluments, receipts, and profits, that have
10 their hands by reason Of keeping branch ofce
in either of said cities; and if from such accounting
shall appear that the nett amount received by either o
the postnasers at either Of such cities for such boxe
and pigeon-holes and other recepaces for letters
papers, and for delivering letters papers at from
any place, in either of said cities, other than said pos
Office, and by Of keeping branch post office il
either of said cities, SHALL in the aggregate exceed The
sum of three thousand dollars in any year, such excess
shall be paid to the Postmaster General for the use
purposes of the Post Office Department; and no post
master shall hereafter, under any pretence whatever
have or receive, retain for HIMSELF in the aggregate
more than live thousand dollars per wear, including
salaries or commissions allowed and limited by law
The amendment was agreed to--Yeas l52 nays ~
The amendment of Mr.. Jacob Thompson appropri
ang $4,000 for continuing survey Of the Gulf o
liexico, was also agreed to--leas "a, nays II.
The BILL as amended, then ordered TO 4 thir
reading and being read third time by It's title, wa
passed.
The House then adjourned.