Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-11-26
II IL r Al. l. A ID 1 u M
10 PRINTED PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY, ny
D.. p. HOLLOWAY,
at tie So,l-easf corner Of Main and Front streets,
Riehmond, Wayne county. Indiana.
GENERAL HARRISON'S FUNERAL EXPENSES.

Tho fact Of tho appropriation by Congress o
money TO defray the expense attending the Flu
neral Of the late President HARRrsoN having beer
made IN elec,ioneering topic in some OF the
States, and especially in North Carolina, during
the late canvass in that State, drew forth from Mr.
GRAHAM ono OF the Representatives, in Congress
from that State, the following Letter, which We
take tho earliest opportunity TO publish, as fur
nishing a conclusive vindic ton Of the Wing pa
~ from blame that score.-Nnt. Inteiiieencer
Iothe Freemen of the 9Th Congressional Dis
trict Of North Carolina.
FELLOW CITIZENS: I am informed some person,
are endeavor,ng TO excite public prejudice, and
make political capital out Of the appropria lions
which Congress made to defray the Funeral ex-
penses Of President Harrison, and to pay the bal
snce Of one years salary to his aged and afflIct-
ed widow.
To prevent Misrepresentation and misrepreseD-
tai,on, will briefly submit the facts and reasons
which induced vote for those appropriate ons.
The history Of Congressional Legislation a hounds
with similar instances, approved and roted for
by all parties, from tho foundation Of the Govern
ment down 10 the present session. | will men,
ton few prominent precedents, taken from the
journals Of Congress. And now, for the law and
testimony:
General Washington was president Of the u.
States from the 4ih day of March, 1889, until
the 4,h day Of March, 1897, eight years. He
died 10 December, 1899, nearly three years after
his President ial term expired, and when he was
a pr,vnte citizen and yet, the Bird day Of May,
1900, Congress passed law apPropratng three
thousand tpo hundred dollars to defray the expen-
ses incurred in doing honor to the memory Of
General Washington. (See the Sd volume Of the
laws Of the United States, page 397
Congress likewise authorized, by joint resolu
ions, that a marble monument should be erected
hv thc I'D tat in ne ol tn he me m
ory Of General Washington, and copy Of those
resolutions were directed to be transmitted to
Mrs. Washington, entreat'ng her TO assent TO the
incrment Of the remains Of General Washington
under that monument. (Sec same volume, page
4Ol)
George Clinton, the Vice President Of the U.
States, who served during the last Of Mr.. Jeffer-
sons and the first Of Mr.. Madison's Adnnstra-
tons, died at Washington in The year 1914, while
riding in a carriage from his lodgings to the Cap.
itoI; and he TOO was buried at the public expense,
and a monument was also erected over his grave
by n special appropriation Of Congress-
In the year 1912, the city Of c raccas. in South
America, was nearly des,royed and annrh,la ted
bv ca earthquake, and, on the motion Of Nathan.
;eI Macon " no was remarkable for strict econo-
my aud strict construction, resolution passed
Congress, by unanimous rote, which caused an
appropriation Of fifty thousand dollars OF the pub.
lie money to relieve the cs,resses and sufferings
Of human beings in that distant and devoted city,
who were houseiess and home less and starving for
daily bread. Well, il Congress had power TO
give and appropriate fifty thousand dollars of the
public money 10 relieve suffering humanity a.
mopy distant strangers in foreign country, |
presume il RICH, and proper at least to pro-
vide one wears allowance for aged and dis
Iressed widow IN our own country, who was the
wife Of a good and true old soldier.
From the first establishment of The seat Of CO.
vernmen, in this city down the present time,
4 ,k,. ,FfN I,ash 3D.
the session, he Is at the public expense buried IN
the Cong essonal cemetery, or hurying ground,
and a monument erected over his grave to
ark the spot where tho remains of the deems
ed repose, and to Indicate 10 near relatives and
pilgrim strangers tho tombs of thnse who died in
tho service OF their country, far distant from
friends and home. The death and funeral of each
member OF Congress in this city costs he Govern
ment about nine hundred dollars. Living is dear i
IN Washington, but dying is much dearer Not /
only Presidents and members but the officers Of
Congress, have been buried at the public expense
when they died in the public service. | will /
state two instances which appear upon the pubs
lie journals. and are fresh IN my recoec ton. |
! alluds Ia the cases Of Overton Carr, Doorkeep.
er Of the House, and Stephen Haight, Sergeant
at Arms OF the Senate. They were political !
friends Of President Van Buren,. and died during
his Administration, when he had ma iortv in
both branches Of Congress The salary Of each
Of these officers was fifteen hundred dollars per
Annum, TO be estimated from the first Monday in
December of every year. Over,on Carr died in
March, 1888, before the fourth month Of his du
lies had been performed, and We. Congress drec-
led, only that he should be buried at the pub.
lie expense, but tha, his widow should be paid
The balance Of his salary up to the end Of the SEES
lion. just AS though he had lived to perform his
ears work for the public. The case Of Mr. Carr
> a strong one, but the case of Mr.. Haight is c
much stronger. TO illustrate and sustain the ap
'ropri~,ions now the subject of ,nves,iga,ion.- $
Stephen Haight, a citizen Of Vermont, was the a
Of the Senate; his annual SAL +
ny was fifteen hundred dollars; his time OF ser
ice began the first Monday in December, Is Z
10. he died on the 18th day Of January, lS4l, a. o
out ono month and thirteen days after his public
abors commenced, and ten months and half be- $