Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-15
coSoHEssIoSxL.
FarpAr. June 10. is4s.
IN SENATE.


that provision in the appropriation bill which q
elared that no appropriation should be applied
officers not appointed under Pre-existing laws
The motion having been agreed to
Mr. MERRlCk moved to amend the bill b
adding Ella, 900 Tor payment OF clerks in the Aud
tors Office OF the Department. who were simiari
situated With others, and who had not received
single dollar since the LIST Of January last.
MIR SEWER wanted to know how many clerk
were requisite in the Post Offee Department.
seemed TO hi m there must be some four hundred
least there already, and he could no necessit,
for any additional force. The cry OF retrenehmen
was rife in the country; the other branch had no
provided for these clerks. ltappeared to him there
were more now than was necessary TO do all the
business OF the Department
MIR MERRICK explained the duties Of these
clerks and read letters showing the necessity that
existed for their services in the Department, with.
out which the business could not possibly be carried
on. The letters from Major Hobbie and Mr.
Whittlesey. These clerks were not in addition,
but had already been in the Department Tor years
Mr. NJ. felt pursuaded there we're not more than
the number OF persons absolutely required. Ii
should be recolectod there were $4,000 post ofices
in the United States, and somewhere about S,ooo
contracts; so that the Senator from Arkansas must
sec what great force rius necessarily be required
Mr. NJ. read from the letters the specific duties on
which each individual clerk was employed.
Mr. SEWER thought, with regard TO contracts no
additional force could be required, as they were
made every four years. and rs TO the accounts, Why
IN that way. With regard to the number OF post
Offices he could say nothing about them; all he
knew was, that there had not been asinse new post
Office in his State for the last SIX or eight years,
though he had made every effort to have them. Tie
could not see for the life OF him how the office
should be run to death, as the letters which had
been read by the Senator seemed 10 intimate.
What were the duties enumerated OF these clerks
Some of them to file papers; others TO register let
tiers. IL struck his mind very forcibly there were
,f 49, fF.oa Do ra n
Ii had been said that the army was too large, and
1t had been cut down bv the popular branch TO
what it was in 1921. While this spirit of reform
and re,renchment was at work on the military, he
hoped might be extended to the civil army OF ONCE
holders about which they had been accustomed TO
hear so much, and that the should he reduced
pdri PasSu. He hoped the Senator from Kentucky,
who had charge OF the subject OF retrenchment,
would look TO it, and give them some evidence OF
the practical reform about which the Wings had so
much boosted.
MIR MOREHEAD replied tina, he was satisfied
the business Of the post Office Department was in
creasng and that II additional clerks were neeessa-
~ any where II must be IN that Department. MIR
nj. avowed the intention go on with rerenchment
rs far practicable, though little could be done
without the cooperation OF the Executive.
Mr. SEWER regretted 10 hear the chairman OF the
Committee on Retrenehment speaks so co.dy on
the subject. There had been great hue and cry
about reform and retrenchmeni, and all that sort OF
thing, when the Wings came into power, but II would
appear that little was TO be expected. His (Mr Ss)
party had been represented to the people as pro
hIgate set Of fellows, that were wasting the public
money by appointing hosts OF public officers, aud
now they were told that there were more ia Of
fee than when the Democrats were in power. Mr.
). thought the other party had il to reform all
abuses, rerench all unnecessary expenses which had
been increasing; but now they were told 'we shall
get on as well as you have done"
MIR MOREHEAD had no doubt that retrench-
ment was necessary, and that It might I've carried
into all the Departments with benefit TO the country.
That movement, however, would require the cor
dial co.oneration of another branch Of the Govern
ment. With regard to the Committee on Retrench
ment, he would say It was no party move; 1t was
instituted TO inquire into all abuses, and should
pursue its duty ia good faith, and do all that in it
lay 10 make IT'S work effectua.
Mr. WRIGHT said they were about to add Gle
ven clerks at salaries Of sl2O0 each II these clerks
were 10 be made permanent, that amount was too
much. MIR w. referred 10 the law under which
these clerks had been temporarily employed to show
that their appointment was TO meet a contingency,
and that they never were intended TO be made per-
manent
Mr. MERRfCK again referred to the letters, and
the pressing call there was for the continuation of
the services Of these clerks; when the question was
taken on the amendment and agreed 10.
And the bill was ordered 10 be engrossed for a
third reading.
APPORTIONMENT BILL.
The Senate then took up the Apportionment bill
when
MIR TALLMADGE moved to reconsider the vote
taken yesterday, ordering the amendme hts to be
engrossed and the bill read a third lime; where.
upon
Mr. WALKER called for the yeas and nays,
which were ordered.
Mr. KING inquired what was the object OF the
Senator in making the motionl for he desired to vote
uncerstandingly. They had been for a long time
employed IN the consideration of the bill. so as TO
give Il accept ole shape and form; and now nf-
nj fnr Ike nd hap ared ~
out TO what It now was, why should they again go
into committee on the bill, and consume Trey knew
not how much more timer He wanted to know
why they were asked to retrace their steps
Mr. TALLMADGE replied that the reason for
making the motion was, that some OF the features
Of the bill were such that he could not approve OF
them. be had voted against them at the time they
were proposed and he was now DESTROYS 10 have
them made different from what they were.
The yeas and nays were then taken, and the vote
was reconsidered: Yeas 90, nays IS, as follows:
GEAS-Messrs. Archer Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Choa.e, Clayton, Conrad, Crafts. Evans, Graham,
Henderson, Huntington, Kerr, Mangum, Merrck,
Miller, Morehead, Phelps Porter, Preston, Sim
mons, Smith, Of Indiana, Sprague, Tallmadse,
White, Woodbridge-26.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Berrien Cuth.
bert, Fulton, King, Linn McRoberts, Sewer, Smith,
OF Connecticut Rives, Sturgeon. Walker, Wilcox,
Williams, Woodbury., Wright, Young-Is
Mr. WHITE then moved to reconsider the vote
by which the following amendment was eoncuned
in, VIZ:
"PrOpided, That each district shall contain. as
near as may be, an equal number Of inhabitants to
be represented"
Mr. WRIGHT called for the yeas and nays,
which were ordered.
Messrs. BENTON and TAPPAN spoke against
the reconsideration, and in favor Of the proviso.
MIR TALLMADGE replied.
Alter a debate Of more than five hours Duration
IN which Messrs BUCHANAN, TALLNADGE.
WALKER, ALLEN, SIMMONS, WOODBURY..
ARCHER, CONRAD. RGVES, WHITE, BAG
BY, WRIGHT, BAYARD, and SEWER, par.
ticipated-
Mr. BUCHANAN said that he hoped !, would
not be considered dIsrespectful in him 10 ask the
Senate that the vote the bill be taken this after
ternoon. lCries Of "AgreeJ, agreed."I He had
received numerous letters from Pennsyiyana mn
king many anxious inquiries upon the subject. nj
the bill should be sent from the Senate To- div II
would not probably be finally disposed o. IN the
House until the close Of the next week. lie there.
fore begged the Senate, and he would beg the
House IT he had the power 10 do So not 10 delay
the passage OF the bill.
Mr. ARCHER said that If the Senator would
induce his lDemocrauel friends To take the ques
ton, this The Whigl side Of the House would ac-
qulesce ICries Of "Agrsed, agreed."I
Mr. CUTHBERT submitted q few remarks; and
the vote on the amendment was then reconsidered,
o. follows.
YEAS-Messrs Archer Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Choats, Conrad, Crafts, Evans, Graham, Hender-
son, Kerr, Mangum, Msuck, Miller, Morehead,
Pho ps. Porter Preston. Rives Simmons Smith Of