The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-19


and II they had. wss Il pfopsr % do sof Mr. P.wss
one Of thoss who believed that Congress had no con.
sutional right 70 appropriate the pubic money for
such an object He quoted the language the Con-
stuton, and then inquired whether this was an APP
preparation to pay the debts the Union to secure the
common defence, to promote the general welfare
He denied that precedents ought be considered
IS settling constitutional question. II they could
then the People had no remedy. II was not pretend
ed that this money was to be given reward for
Cen Harrisons public services but 10 reimburse him
for the expense of an electioneering campaign This
infinitely worse
how many Others had shared the same peril and were
entitled TO the same reward The humblest man
among those gallant spirits who had stood side by side
with Harrison In the bloody fields were equally eni-
tied with him to the gratitude Of the country. Mr. p.
denied that there was any privileged class in this
try but II some humber family had been deprived of
its head. would bill have been reported here making
grant for their reef2 If the dead man had lost his
life in endeavor to better his situation not by an
eeconeeiing canvass, not by some hazardous enter
prise, would his family demand pension Surely not
Why then grant it in this case2 What was the con-
dition of the families of other Presijentsa The de-
scendens of Jefferson very poor il not insovent
and had not they as good claim upon Congress as
the widow of Gen. Harrson2 Mr.. p. concluded by
observing that he was neither be cajolea on one
hand dragooned the other into voting for what
he believed to be wrong. His constituents would be
pleased with any thing he should do in the case, and
he should take that course which he believed to be
right
Mr.. STOKELEY said that, when he came here,
he had determined not to trouble this House at the
present session but, coming from the State of Ohio
as he did, he felt himself called upon enter his prof
test against the doctrines advanced by his colleague
Mr. Dean.) He had not expected to hear any OBJ
econs raised by gentleman coming from that quar-
ter of the country, but he under the impression
that there might possibly be some made by those who
came from the South and who were sometimes desig-
mated as the guardians Of the Constitution. In short
he had not expected any objections except from thote
who dealt in constitutional AFFECTIONS.
Itappeared to him that the gentleman from Ala
! bama Mr. Payne) had e1fircly mistaken the algu-
ment Of the gentleman nom Massachusetts (Mr.
Adams) who did not say, the gentleman supposed,
that the appropriation asked Tor " this bill opay
the expenses Of the late eectioneerng campaign but
the gentleman from Massachusetts did argue that
appropriation ought to be made order to defray the
| extraordinary expenses of General Harrison and
family, consequent upon their journey from Ohio to
the seat of Government and also services rendered
by the General assuming the reins of government,
as President ofthe United States. Now, he (Mr. s.
professed to be great stckler for abiding by the
provisions of the Constitution of the United States
the gentleman from Alabama himself and he would
not give his sanction to any measure which, in his
| Judgment would be in violation Of it. But he would
ask if it would be unconstitutional to give outfit and
years salary to an ambassador to foreign Court,
who did happen to lemain abroad that time in that
capacity? If minister put his foot on board the
ship that to carry him to foreign Court his out
fit and salary paid him. by the constant practice
of the Government. Here, then, was outfit given,
equal TO years salary for expenses which were not
incurred but which likely to be incurred in the
performance ofhis duties Was this unconstitutional
He apprehended not. 81 .@.-t% ~
Other presidents have been cited, equally conclu-
sve, in favor of the proposed to be pursued IN
the case of the late lamened President and among
the that of the widow of the late Major Ge-
neral Brown who allowed the first quarter of the
salary received by her deceased husband. This was
| Iaptth M rva1 N he fall ApdU WAS
there, he asked any danger to be apprehended from
Congress following this example, of its becoming
precedent in relation to another Presidents He i'm
agined not for he regarded il next to impossible
lily that like calamity should befall the country and
particularly under such circumstances those which
had attended our late lamented President. With re-
gard to the petitions which the gentleman had said he
had in his possession from old soldiers praying for
pensions for services rendered their countrv he Mr
81 would say that he would 60 with him to do them
justice and he would relieve them matter whether
they officers priyates. This was Of that
class of duties which representative of the People
could overlook and which he bound to attend
to. And, as his friend from Cincinnati (Mr Pendle
tony had observed, If we could pay the privates, we
surely could pay officers. .@S1 #" ~
He wished to make remark or two to the gentle
man from Pennsylvania (Mr. Snyder who had made
an attempt TO break down this bill by proposing an
amendment to it SO as to make an appropriation
for the widow of the late Mr.. Oge. He (Mr.
4 So would say that no man entertained more respect
for the memory ofthe late Mr.. Ogle OF sympathized
more with his family than he did. But he would ask
if the case Of Mr. Oge bore any comparison to that
of Gen. Harriscn2 He imagined not. The services
Of the two % very unlike and ds;ms in in
death in the discharge Of public duty and he died at
! home during the recess of Congress And neither
had he incurred heavy expenses like General Harr-
son when called upon by the People to fill high and
responsible station in the Government Indeed the
two totally different in their character And
he would say that honor, patriotism, and proper
spect for the ilustous dead prompted to renume
rate the family Of the late President for the expenses
to which they had been necessarily put on the
sion Of the elevation Of General Harrison. He hoped
that this bill would be passed without any amendment
being tackled it, and in order to prove that the COM
mon remark that Republics are ungratefu is not
true. He had sincerely hoped that the bill would
have been passed sub siientio. .... '.#.s.
Mr.. S. next adverted to the pension laws which
grant in many instances to the widow of pensioner
the compensation that her husband received, put
ting her in his place. as il were, after his death.
Take one instance also where you give pensions to
widows whose husbands never were on the pension
list. In the times of the Revolution, the Continental
Congress promised hafpay for life to those brave
who entered the service to remain In 1t, and who did
remain in it, to the end Of the Yet this plain
promise was commuted for ull-pay for five years But
this the hardy veterans did not receive during their
life time But your tardy justice has at length given
: this pay, and Justly and honorably redeemed this
promise the surviving and unmarried widows ofthese
Revolutionary patriots. Upon what principle was this
done Undoubtedly upon the principle that the wife of
the officer soldier partook in measure, ofthe
merit ofthe husband, often the partner ofhs priva
TONS took ofhs family during his absence the
service of his country. Does not the present po.
siton of Mrs Harrison address tselfto the same feel
ings, and to the proper, humane and patriotic
: principles Gentlemen will remember that she was
in the West before Gen. Harrison that her fathers
house became his home in the West !; and, when his
sword alone his fortune, and his commission his
dependence, she married him.
Mr.. s. said that, suspecting and fearing that this
bill will be further amended by attempt to strike
out the Of Mrs Harrison, and insert illegal rep
rcsentatives" heirs" he would take occasion 10
say another word on this subject. There peculiar
fitness in passing this bill it is reported Gen Har-
rson was married quite young, and during the whole