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

hny dseussion Ia The Committee Il scanned 10 bs tho
general sense Of thoss composing H. that some prosis
sion ought to be made for the family the late Pres
dent in the nature of grant, but indemnity
for actual expenses incurred by himself FIRST when
candidate for the Presidency IL had been observed
in the committee and il must be known to all mem
beers of the House. that the situation in which Gre
neral Harrison had been placed-far from the seat of
Government, and for eighteen months or two years
exposed to heavy burden of expense which he could
moi possibly avod- more than equitable that
he should, TO reasonable degree, be Unidentified He
had been thus burdened while in circumstances not
opulent but, the contrary, 1t had been ground
on which he had received decided proofs of the peo-
Plies favor, that through long course of public
vice he remained poor, which in itself demonstra-
tive proof that he had remained pure also Such had
been his condition before leaving home to travel to the
seat of Government. After his arrival here he had
been exposed TO another considerable burden Of
pense far beyond any amount he had received from
the public purse during the short month he had
nued to be President His decease had left his fami
y in circumstances which would be much improved
by this act of justice done TO him by the people, through
their Representatives The feeling believed to be
very general throughout the country and without dis
tnctiOn of party in favor of such Appli-
cations had from the most respectable sources,
and among others from the city of Charleston, por
ton of the country where the support given to Gen.
Harrison political candidate had not been strong
as in many others: with msgnanimity which that
city had often manifested its citizens had forward
and petoned Congress that this should be appro-
priated as an indemnity. There had, he believed,
been other petitions of the same character offered
during this session. He would thank the Clerk to
state whether such had not been the
The Clerk, through the Chair responded to the in
quiry, and stated that there had.
Mr.. A. said that gentleman from Pennsylvania,
near him, had just suggested that he had in his hands
petition praying for much larger grant than that he
had moved, and which he would read when he came
to speak 70 the resolution. The reason why Mr.. A.
had moved 70 insert this was, that far as he
could understand. what the public opinion was this
W., Was tas sr wlsa y
might be proposed; in which c.ase the question by
usage Of the House would first be put on the largest
sum- s."
The grounds and reasons for this appropriation had
been long and fully discussed in the papers and
journals Of the country that he presumed the minds Of
all the members of the House made up in regard
to it; he should not therefore, add any further re-
marks
Mr.. COOPER, of Pennsylvania, said he should
not trouble the committee at great length In the re-
marks he had to make in this case. He had risen
merely in obedience to the request of public meeting
held within the district he had the honor to represent
and which had directed him ask that Congress would
make appropriation of public money for the bene-
fit Of the family ofthe late President An account OF
| the proceedings of that meeting he then held IN his
hand, and should ask that it should be read at the
Clerks table. He presented this paper now for the
purpose of showing the state of public feeling and pub
lie opinion in Pennsylvania among persons of all po-
ca parties, for the meeting to which he had allud
ed had not been composed exclusively OF the friends
of General Harrison; on the contrary, members OF
both the great political parties which divided the coun-
try had been present that occasion, and TO their
honor had all agreed that such appropriation ought
to be made. In regard to the with which it had
been proposed to fll the blank, he should move no
| amendment, although the appropriation recommended
at the public meeting in his district had been much
larger than that now proposed from the joint commit
tee He trusted that objection would be made from
any part of the House. The sum proposed was little
enough-less he persuaded, than the great body
ofthe American People, could they be individually con-
suited, would be willing to give Let us, said MI G.,
generously this occasion, and in such amanner
shall give the lie to that reproach SO often made
by the despots of Europe that republics are always
ungrateful. The Government, as gentlemen all know
has made such appropriations on various occasions
The honorable chairman will readily recolect the
grant TO Lafayette-a giant much larger than this,
and for services certainly not much superior
Mr.. G. said he had nothing further to add, save to
ask that the record Of the proceedings of the meeting
| ofhis constituents be now read by the Clerk
1t was read accordingly. T..
amendment to the resolution, which, on beng read,
proved to be proposition to make appropriation
for the family of the late Charles Oge.
Mr.. STANLY called Mr.. Snyder to order. The
amendment was not within the resolution appoint
4 ing the select committee. # %.
i The CHAIR ruled the amendment TO be out OF
order. MI. Snyder however, kept his feet, and was
going on to demonstrate and argue that the amend
ment stood on the same ground with the resolution
inasmuch as Mr.. Ogle had done more service towards
efecting the election of Gen. Harrison than Gen
Harrison himself had done-but he was loudly and
repeatedly called to ORDER and at length resumed his
/ seat. ..-gg W.
the honor of a seat in Congress at the time ofthe
| death of the late lamented Gen. Brown, at which
| time resolution introduced, making an appro
prraton of five thousand dollars to his surviving wild
ow. Gentlemen on all political sides of the House hat
come up on that occasion in manner which did then
honor, and had passed the bill by almost unani-
nous vote. Mr.. w. was willing TO perform smilal
act to the widow Of the late President by voting an ap
preparation give her oneyears salary other husband
He understood that part of the salary had been
already drawn, and inquired whether the twenty
| five thousand dollars moved by the gentleman fron
Massachuse to be understood as independent
the balance. Being answered Jas the Reporter un
dersood) in the affirmative, Mr.. w. said he shoult
vote that amount with infinite pleasure and he conf
IDENTIFY trusted that the same unanimlty would be man
fested on this had been displayed in tn
! case of Mrs Brown
Mr.. BRIGGS hoped the question would at once b.
| taken; when
Mr.. GORDON, of New York. moved to fill tn
blank in the resolution with the sum of Sc, $50.
| Mr.. DEAN of Ohio, said he was opposed to voting
| any sum whatever. There something SO extra
ordinary in the proposition that the moment he hear'
it he was startled at the views of the ruling party
Congress had been convened for extraordinary pur
pose but it for the purpose Of granting relief
| the heirs of Gen. Harrison Was it for a purPos
like that the country had called upon them to assem-
be2 Was this to be the first measure proposed 70
their public acton2 Mr.. D. said he had no DISPOSE
ton speak here Of the acts Of the deceased he d
not at this time desire to review the history of tina
man he willing that in his the usual fate
men should be reversed. Let the evils he had done b
buried with his bones, and let the good only which h
had done for his country live after him. Mr. D. shou
set that all aside, until some gentleman should get
and attempt TO express euogy upon the valor, patr
otism, and public worth of William Henry Harrison
should any thing like this be attempted Mr.. d. wou
then claim the right Of expressing his views as to tn
merits of that man distinguished and ilIustrou
patriot In the meanwhile, he had serious objection
to this BILL and such home to his bosom TIL
passage of any such act barred by the principle
| Of this Government and the restrictions Of the Con