Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-23

thing like fuIsome panegyric in regard to that gentle
mans speech. He had said, and would here repeat
that those portions Of his speech which related to tn
subjects of distribution tariff and the proposition t
impose immediate duties silks and wines, unan
swerabe, and yet unanswered that they were dis.in
gushed by great power and ability, and that his argu
ient against distribution cogent and complete
than was that Of eminent Senator at the other end
the Capitoi, MIR Calhoun distinguished rs he was 10
close logic mud power of condensation. Now this wa
what ne thought of that gentleman 5 speech, and 1T
mao not expressed his of it on former occasion
WIN the VAN hope of ''catchng" him. lie knew In
SUBJECT too well to have been capable of ndug an,
such idle hope Could he ever have entertained IT. h,
would ilrst have suffered little embarrassment 10 h
own mind MS to the most eligible means attain h OBJ
ject-whether the cato nine tails or more emog cn
means would be- most available. A moments refec
iion-the mere recollection of that genemsns higl
spirit, would teach him that The first Of the above alter
natives would be than useless. Here, then
would have been puzzcr ut the outset. But suppose
this preliminary difficulty TO have been overcome; the
next question he would have nooted in his mind
would have been, whether, after getting him, W.
had any guarantee that we could keep him, or thai
he would prove TO be worth any thing TO us; whe
Their it might not turn out that had caught
Tartar. Mr. V. said, that he and the gentleman from
Virginia (Nr Wise) entered Congress together in De
cenber, 1893 and from that day lie had watched, with
no little interest, his brilliant and cratic career You
and |, Mr. Chairman, (Mr. Bell) well rccollect Tho
maiden fort of the gentleman on this floor, upon the
great question Of the removal of the public depostes
You and sat together during that protractcd session
and candor requires 10 say that with my knowledge
of your great ability, thought you little too tacuri
for the times say SIR that heard this first and mos
extraordinary and characteristic effort of the distinguish
cd gentleman from Virginia. lie and l. Sir, were boil
young men, and for weeks competitors for the floor
lie at length succeeded in getting it, The fact that hi
elected Jackson man, and was young man o.
genius and great PROMISE had preceded his advent here
had learned too, THAT he had manifested some little
bellions symptoms, an therefore waited tor his speech
with anxiety commngled with somewhat Of fear
He delivered it, Sir; and such speech There was
thing like it Gin the heavens above, or in the
earth beneath, in the walers under the earth" ii
truly sui 9encrs. Al lis clcse it would have been
very difficult state account of profit and loss Ia
either party Both were well bclaborcd received
box aside the ear while the other was saluted with
kick a liump in the body He had, then, known
the gentleman from Virginia too long and too well IL
be weak enough 10 attempt 10 caeh him. al least
without first well celebrating TO the best means to
be employed and the value Of the end to he attained.
After Mr.. v had concluded his remarks be said he
owed explanation TO the gentleman from North Ca
rolna, MIR Sanly.l 1t had been whispered that he
had alluded TO that gentleman as seeking Office Mr..
v said he had right to say; he had never heard from
any quarter, that that gentleman seeking office.
When he spoke about office seekers, he had merely
drawn fancy SKETCH and did not at that time, think
il would give umbrage. lie had evidence, direct or
hearsay, that that gentleman wanted sought office
much less the Office of Solicitor of the Treasury
After some remarks from Messrs MORGAN, WISE,
and others,
Mr. WELLER said he had not risen to participate
in the irrelevant; debate going on, but simply to
say word in relation 10 remark made by the gentle
man from North Carolina, (Alr. Stanly1 He said he
regretted very much that that gentleman had pro-
per to assail public officer, and denounce him
ssincompelent wretch, when he admitted that he had
no personal acquaintance with him, and his only fault
seemed TO be that he had ranked speeches or docu
mcnts into North Carolina. Mr.. w said he was per-
sonaly acquainted with the Solicitor Of the Treasury,
(Mr. BurchardD and knew him to be as highminded
and honorable any member on this floor.
Mr. STANLI said, having no acquaintance with the
Solicitor he made the remark in general terms, and did
not assal him personally
Mr. WELLER continued. The gentleman from
North Carolina had spoken Ct the conduct of the Soil.
ctor, and said he hoped such "incompetent wrctchcs
would not be retained III Office by The next Admins
tration. If the remark not applied personally 10
the Solicitor, thcn Sir, (said MIR. W. confess do
not understand the gentleman from North Carolina.
Mr. STANLY replied that he said the Solicitor had
ranked speeches OF incompetent wretches into North
Carolina. This, said he, was my expression.
Mr.. WELLER resumed. He had perhaps misun.
derstood the gentleman. IT. (said Mr.. w have to
appoint committee to investigate the subject OF
ranking, doubt it would be found that many honor
able gentlemen this floor had used the frankng
privilege TO 4 much greater extent than This officer
lie said lie had doubt many abuses of this privilege
had been committed by gentlemen on this floor, who
at the time receiving eight dollars per day from
the public Treasury. do moi, (said MIR. W. com
plain Of gentlemen Tor franking speeches, &c. to their
constituents for have, said he, exercised the right
freely myself and shall continue to do it long as
have seat here but, Sir, the law confers the So.
cilor the privilege, and he has right 10 frank
what documents he p.cases either into the gentleman
State or any where else.
The Wing Executive Committee, composed Of men,
bers of Congress, remained here during the whole OF
last summer and ranked speeches and circulars and
addresses all the country. The State, said MIR.
W. which have the honor in part to represent, was
literally shingled over with them. If the documents
sent b. the Solicitor, about which the gentleman from
North Carolina complains, Of love. character
than those sent out by The Executive Committee then,
said Mr.. W., they must have been dirty stuff indeed
But, said Mr.. W., if the gentleman from North Caro-
lima can show that this officer has neglected the duties
enioined upon him by law, then, Sir, | would be the
last man on this floor to defend him. IT, however, said
he he has all times discharged his official duties faith
fully then, Sir, if he has seen proper, in his leisure
hours, to frank few documents, gentlemen have no
right to COMPLIMENTARY they will not claim the right
to dictate the in which he shall spend his lei.
sure tlne the sort of documents he shall send out
when lie sees proper TO exercise the ranking privilege
which the law coners on hun.
Mr. W. said he had simply risen to remove the i'm.
preston which the remarks Of the gentleman from
North Carolina were calculated to make on those who
were unacuuainted with Mr.. Burchard. He mir. W.
knew that ,an well; and efficient public officer
could not he found, more honorable and upright
man. Thus much (said Mr.. W. have felt il neces-
sary TO saw in Justice to officer who comes from my
own State ard whose character at home is above sus
pcion in every respect.
Mr. WISE after some preliminary remarks, observed
that if devating little from both parties, and acting
on an independent ground, "erratc, then in the
language of the gentleman from New York, (Mr. Van
derpocl,) he was "erratic.'
Mr.. w. went on 10 say that he feared great many
of the Wing party 10 had hitherto been crying against
the s'spols' system with much earnestness, were
now going for the "spolls' themselves. But he took
this opportunity to give them notice, that such should
prove the case, he would lash them as he had done
others. lie stood he had always stood tie
stood precisely the he did before the election,
and a, the election. He Wing then, and Wing
now and he would take the TO say that nei-
Their sugar sal, could catch hun in acting contrary
TO his conscience.
After some further remarks, MIR. w went on 10 say
that il time for the Wing party 10 20 back to the
good old principles, and TO take fresh start but when