The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1842-07-14
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! am informed some persons are err
dearorsng 70 excite public prrindics. ana
make political capital Out Of The spprnpr.-
aiions which Congress made 90 defrav she
funeral expenses Of President Harrison.
and 70 pay the balance Of one wears 81
larry 10 has aged and afflicted widow.
To prevent misapprehension and mis-
representation | will briefly snbmit ne
iacts and reasons which induced me an
vote for those appropriations. The his
tory Of Congressional Legislation abounds
with similar instances. approved and rvf-
ed fer By al parties. irDm the foundation
a the Government down 10 lhe present
session. ] will mention = Few promin NJ
Precedens, taken from the journals Of
CongIess-and nov for the law and shs
testimony.
een. Washington was President Of ths
United States from The Ali dlay Of March.
1889, until the 4th day OF March. I7yT
Eight years. lie died in December.
i7ey--nearly three years after his Presi.
DENTAL term expired. and when he was a
private ciiizen--and yet. ON the Cd day
Of May, 1900, Congress passed law an.
ProPrialing three thousand fUo kv,,sfr,d
dollars 70 deiray The expenses incurred
~ doing honor To the memory or Gen.
washington. (See the 81 volume of ,he
laws Of the United States, page 3g7.)
Congress likewise authorized, By Joint
resolutions, that a marble monumen,
should be erected by the United STATES
~ the Capitol, 10 the memory Of Gen.
washington, and a copy OF those resolu-
mons were directed TO be Transmitted IN
Mrs. Washington, entreatins her 10 as.
sent 10 the inIennent Of the remains of
Ten. Washington under that monument.
lSee the same volume, page 4OI.)
George Clinton, the Vice President of
lhe United States, who served during The
last Of MIR. Jeferson's and the FIRST OF Mr.
Madison's administrations, died al Wash.
lngton in the year 1912, and he was I'm.
red a. the public expense.
Elbridge Gerry, another Vice Prexi.
dent Of the United States, d ed at WASH
lngion in the year 1914, while riding i,
carriage from his lodgings TO the Cant.
tol; aid he too was buried Al the pubIic
expense. and monumen. was also erect
ca over his grave by special appropri-
alton Of Congress.
Ia The year 1912, the city Of Caraccus
III South America. was nearly DESTROYED
ana annlhllaled by an earthquake; and. ON
me motion Of Nathaniel Macon, who was
remarkable for strict economy and strict
construction, resolution passed Com
gress oy unanimous vote, which caused
az appropriation Of fifty thousand dollars
81 the public money 10 relieve the dis.
Iresses and suiferings Of hundreds and
Of human beings in that distant
md devoted city. who were houseless and
lomeless aud starving for daily bread.
Wen, II Congress had power 10 give and
appropriate fifty thousand dollars of the
'ubllc money 10 relieve suffering huma.
MY among distant strangers in foreign
ounlry, presume il was right and pro-
er, at least, TO provide one years allow
nee Tor an aged and distressed widow IN
ur own country, who was the wife or :
God and true old soldier.
From the first establishment Of the Seat
Government in this city down 10 the
resent time, whenever member of Com
fess dies here during the session, he is.
me public expense, buried in the Con-
fessional cemetery, or burying ground.
"a q monument is erected over his grave
mark the spot where the remains of
g deceased repose, and 10 indicate 20
Ear relatives and pilgrim siangers the
mbs OF those who died in the service Of
ear country, far distant from friends and
me. The death and funeral of each
emoer OF Congress in this CITY costs
Government about nine hundred dol
:. Living Is dear in Washington, bur
ing Is much dearer. Not only Presi.
nts and members, but The officers az
ngress, have been buried at the public
pense, when they died in the public
vice. will state two instances which
pear upon The public journals, and are
IN IN my own recollection. 4 allude
he cases Of 0verton Carr, Doorkeener
he House, and Stephen Haight, Ser
ny at Arms Of the Senate. They were
ltlcal friends Of President Van Buren.
died during his administration, when
had a majority in both branches of
ngress. The salary Of each Of these
GERS was fifteen hundred dollars ner
uin' 70 De estimated from the first
nday IN December of every wear.
srton Carr died in March, 1898. IS.
The fourth month of his duties had
n performed, and yet Congress direct
not only that he should be buried Il
public expense, but that his widow
ald be paid the balance OF his salary
to the end Of the session, lust a
igh he had livedto perform his wears
X Tor the public. The case Of Mr..
. stong one, but the case of Mr..
gnt Is much stronger, to illustrate and
am the appropriations now the sub,
oil investigation Sfanhen ua;,,h,