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

| in which il then stood. He in favor Of the BILL
provided such an alteration made IN the phrase
oogy as would carry out the real objects which il was
intended to accomplish ~
| The previous question was moved ny MIR. MAR
WIN, and demanded, put, and carried
And the question of reconsideration was then taken
by yeas and nays and decided IN the ainrmauye, as
follows Yeas So nays g.
| The reconsideration being carried
Mr.. FILLMORE moved that the bill be recommit-
ted TO the Committee Of the Whole House on the state
| of the Union for the purpose of amendment.
| Mr.. JAMESON moved that it be recommitted to
the Committee for the District of Columbia.
The question was first put on committing 70 the
Committee Of the Whole on the state OF the Unien,
and carried Yeas 95 nays not counted
| Mr.. FILLMORE then moved that the rule be sus-
pended so as to go Immediately into Committee OF the
Whole on the bill carried Yeas 81 nays 81
The House then resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole on the state Of the Union, Mr.. LINCOLN
in the chair)
The bill was then read by the Clerk
! Mr.. FILLMORE moved to add the following sec
ton
"That this shall continue in force until the 4th
day Of March lS43, and no longer"
Mr.. PECK moved further to amend SO as to con-
tnue the operation of the bill to pauper lunatcs of the
District of Columbia whose support is legally charge
able thereto this was also agreed to.
! Mr.. FILLMORE moved that the committee rise
and report the bill to the House.
Mr. HAND opposed the Dill at cOnslueraDle leng IN
but explicitly disavowed any hostile feeling the peo
pie of the District of Columbia, collectively ndi
yidualy. He did not know by what right he could
sit here and vote away the money of his constituents
for such purpose. His constituents supported their
own paupers out of their own means. 1t was an OBJ
| legation resting upon every community to support its
paupers well unatics, but the burden of the
pense should not be suffered to fall where it did not
Justly belong. He had no objection that the bill au-
thorizng the removal of lunacs should be passed. but
/ HI nad dor m of han
considered the provision in the bill it stood
! u unconstitutional and wfong.
| Mr.. w. THOMPSON replied to the constitution
al objections of the gentleman from New York, Mr..
| Hand and to his opinions on State rights which he,
Mr.. W., regarded not applicable to the present
case. There circumstances connected with the
situation and condition of this District which render
ed it proper that discrimination should be made on
question of this nature Why did this city support
its paupers very large proportion of the pro-
perty of the city was owned by the Government, and
! was therefore fee from taxation.
The city could not tax this property for its own
citizens and this account it certainly entitled
to some equivalent at our hands. Congress was the
domestic Legislature of the city and he, for one,
would rather walk in mud from here to the Presidents
! House, Ca walk, however, which he had not taken
often of late) than he would meet lunaic in the
! st eet; for relief could not be given If you met
pauper, you might make him happy for the time by
trfing sum-which was twice blessed, blessing him
that gave and him that took " but you could not thus
relieve lunatic Rather than provide the Tequi-
site means to accomplish the object designed by the
| BILL he would pay quota of the amount out OF his
own pocket; and if the gentleman from New York,
| Mr.. Hand, would offer amendment providing that
each member should contribute days pay for the
purpose, he, Mr.. IT,, would vote for it. For his own
part however he had scruples about voting Tor the
| bill.
/ Mr.. W. C. JOHNSON said that there regu
lar appropriation made by Congress for the safe keep
ing of prisoners in this Dstrct and that under the
law making that appropriation, Laurence was now
| confined in the prison of Washington for having
snapped two pistols at the then President the United
States, Gen. Jackson. From the mere accident of
having false caps the life of the President was saved
and the individual who attempted it was now confined
| in the common Jail of the county, and the expenses
were paid out of the money of the nation There was
also small appropriation made by the Corporation OF
Washington for of their unatics; but there was
fund set apart in the appropriation bill for this
specific purpose.
IMr. j here sent 10 the Clerks table and had read
the law which makes appropriation for the Judiciary
system of the District the sae-keepng Of the prison
| ers &C.
Thus it would be seen that gentlemen who felt so
very solicous to find matter on which they might
exhibit their strict views of economy, would not End
4 such vast prodigaty here as they supposed and
that the only question whether the money should
be paid out Of the public treasury for the confinement
of these unacs here, whether the little expense
should be incurred by combining them in asylum
1 more large, comfortable and airy where, also,
they would have the benefit of the best medical aen-
dance.
Granting that this were really tax upon the public
treasury (Which the law he had read showed il was
not still did the gentleman know that the General
Government the great landed proprietor herei Its
vacant lots free from taxatlon as were also Its
public edices. Mr. J. here alluded to the condition
of holders of lots in this city, in illustration Of the ex
tent to which taxation upon them was necessary, and
of the Iuinous results which often ollowed Let the
| property of the Government here be taxed IN The
ratio was the property OF individuals, and the
District of Columbia would never again come here y
| ask Congress for dollar of donation or apprF
pration Mr.. J. then alluded to the use which was
made of this District by young asprants In the points
cal arena 1t used sort of experimental farm
las species of polemic society In which young oral
tors puaged their powers before they made their APP
pearance larger scale, and before more extern
| sive auditory
Much that had been said about the people of this
/ District was unjust and if the gentleman from New
York (Mr Handy would extend his walks beyond
Pennsylvania Avenue, and see the misery which pre-
sented itself almost every where, he would then be
disposed to think that Congress should be less pars-
monious in its legislation and that in supporting such
bill as this righteous it was in its provisions, he
was doing nothing more than an act of justice.
i Mr.. DAWSON knew something, he said, about the
condition of the District Of Columbia. 1t was known
to every observing man that therewas more unacy in
this District, in proportion to its population, than In
any other part of the United States and the question
naturally arising was, how this misfortune happened2
1t was, however easily to be accounted for.
In the first place the Penoion Laws went into oper-
alton here. Here was the power of dispensing charity
to those who had fought the battles of the Revolution
Claimants Of this character-all old men-concenra-
ted here to ask for justice, and they were frequently
disappointed. They thus thrown upon the char
ity Of the District they became pennless, and finally
often lunatcs. Here they were in the midst of gen
erous and Christian people; and what was done
with them2 They were sent to jail, there to receive
the benefits of your laws
Another class of men who found their way to this
District men in the pursuit of schemes-of the
mechanical arts and who came here for patents
wild. visionary theorsts-men unaccustomed to the
common avocations Of life, and engaged in the pur-
suit of matters beyond their reach. When they
disappointed, they also were thrown upon the charity
of this generous but worn-down community. Added
to this class were all the men engaged splendid