Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-17


niuaser ycat. end continued to 10 ,ha ratio
thew hac only 10 look forward a;I tina; this would
soon become contrn cent Go%tsau1cDt-a GoVc!Hient
at contingencies. lie wanted spechc estimates i'ot
the Departments Tor thest fen>'% lie d'G ot WISH
TO en,barrass the Governments His "'9~cl VAS TO
STRENGTHEN !, in the only source .; reliable strength
which any free Government could nave an" ,"at was
in the conf lencc o the srea. mass oil the peoc anu
the only way 10 effect thS waS 20 make II t"nest-io
make II rrspoaShle ard ,e II be known what lhey eA'
nendet he public money tar, bY cniung 81 these op'
pTopraiions nr contingencies, and calling Tor sPec'nc
estimates from tac Departments Ih's was TIE way
!e would take reform and he ventnred 10 say i"I
,te OF the Dependencies without iavlng con.
suited them, that they would cooperate mt ii "ouo
puzzle no head OF DepaE tmcnr and not even the
chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, 10
say how much Of these contingent expenses could ne
dispensed with. Any member OF the committee could
Tell the chairman of the Committee ot ways aho
Means how he could retrench. lie (Nir o. would
saw knock ont the sBrdS of America, and many
other Of the unnecessary items which he had read
He hoped they would rrcomnit The bill IN some form
or other they chose strike out these approPria'
tons for contingencies III the bill, nothing was easier
than that the chairman of the committee Of Ways and
Means should call for specific estimates these various
TENS LET them pass that portion Of the bill 10 winch
there was exception, and then bring IN another o
for winch the estimates for these contingencies shouio
be furnished. They must put the hook IN the nose OF
this leviathan. 80
MIR FILLMORE said he confessed the speech of the
gentleman who had just taken has seat was muller OF
10 little surprise HIM, however 1t might have affected
the House What the situation OF the House anu
OF the country with reference 10 the appropriation bill
II had been in committee about four weeks and every
opportunity he had had he had moved TO take It up;
and he owed the House 10 say they had in almost
all cases granted his request and nov they had only
pot to the 18th o about 20 sections IN the bill
and al las, a gentleman this floor who was supPos
ed possess information iTc'a the Executive Depart
nep,s Of tins Government, came and told US that he
could answer for them, and that we should Str!he Out
the contingent expenses IN this ball $50
e.oianaton] sad he did moi know what authority the
the chairman of the Committee o.! Ways and Means
had 70. defining has (Alr Gs relations 10 the EXecu-
tive
MIR FILLMORE he had said that i, supposed
that the gentleman had authority from the executive
Departments to recommend this course.
MIR GiLMER SAID he represented The people he
did not acknowledge the authority otany one 10 orect
HIM What he had said was, that from hs knowledge
of men at The head Of the Departments, and IRON their
position before the country he thought lie could ven
inre without their authority, 10 say they would coope
rate in any Of this sort 10 ard IN reform
He would TO the gentleman ~
rCr.es OF That's enough; "ths is not ez explanation
MIR FILLMORE said that in speaking of the pecu-
liar relations supposed exist between the gentleman
and the Executive portion OF the Government ne mao
not intended 10 any offensive language lie sup
posed hose relations perfectly honorable out wha
roubed HIM was tina, estimates that had been sent
for the appropriations had come from the Executive
Departments IN the usual way and they had supposed
they MIGHT rely them; and that now the gentleman
m his peculiar relation 10 the Administrations had gone
for striking out all the contingent appropriations IL
he (Sr F could be governed 10y his feelings, instead
OF his dsmen after this notion he would say, strike
out all the appropriations for contingent expenses at
once.
ICries of "Agreed, "agreed.'
Mr. CUSHING called 10 order remsfking that gen.
iemen about hn were exc!anlng IN audible voices,
"agreed"
fLoud cr,es of "A greed "strke out" "acreed J
The CHAIRMAN called the Committee 10 order
Mr. FILLMORE continued If such course
should be taken, after the speech OF the gentleman
from Virginia he washed his hands from the conse
onences Of IT. tie only sad that the Committee OF
Ways and Means had reported the amounts Tor these
contingencies from the estimates ot Executive Depart
Inents and in instance had they exceeded the de-
mands, but had strictly scruiinzed the various items
WHAT would BE- ;he consequence OF pursuing the course
indicated by peculiar fre ads OF the Administrations
There indie contingencies 10 light the various De-
yarimens, the requisite fuel aud thugs lndspenSa
bic 10 carry he public service and yet here came
motion from the supposed peculiar friends OF the Exc
oa;ve TO deprive the Department Of the Government
these requisites.
Mr. WISE sad another gentleman (Mr. Caruhers)
had made the motion, and no, his colleague (Mr. Cd
rnrr)
Mr. FILLMORE SAID he admitted that; bat the mo
most warmly endorsed by the gentleman IRON
Virginia, (Nlr Gmerl
Mr.. GILMER Withou, my knowledge
Mr CARUTHERS Mr. Fillmore having yielded
the gentleman from Virginia intended to mahs notion
ot this kind He had maze the motion on lbs own re-
sponsblity and he directed being called peculiar
friend of the Administration.
MI GlLMEk (Mr. Fillmore yielding him the iioor)
referred to Mr. Fillmore remarks Of yesterday, as re-
ported in the lntegencer Of this morning. IN which
he MIR F had said tina, the Committee OF Ways and
Means had bill under consideration relative 10 the con-
tingent expenses at the Departments os Government
He asked why they should not defer lis subject Til that
tll reported.
Mr. FILLMORE sad that the he had
urged The committee and the peculiar friends Of the
Executive not 10 press the committee these motions.
because the COMMITTEE OF WAYS and Means had under
consideration this subject and, although he could not
pledge himself for the action OF the committee, IN due
time, he believed bill would he presented regulating
these contingent funds But what had been the
OF proceeding here Her" the Administration on
side calling tho House To act with expedition,
because the public service suffering, and on the
other side the peculiar friends OF the Administration on
this floor interposn- motion after motion To OBJ
the progress OF tins bill. He had made appeal
Yesterday morning 10 the gentleman from Virginia,
MIR. Wse,l to Withdraw his amendment 10 the amend
men and 10 the gentleman from kentucky, MI u
Davs,l to withdraw his amendment that they might
proceed with this bull The gentleman from Virginia
withdrew his notion and then the gentleman from
Kentucky Withdrew his; and what was then done:
Then the gentleman from Virginia Mr. WISE, who
was supposed also to entertain peculiarly friendly rea-
lions the Executive Department OF tins Government
and he Mr. spoke Of tins honorable point OF
yiew-moved the subsequent amendment which had
gwen this debate; and might be int rninabe.
Mr.. WISE (Mr. +. having yielded the floor said
that he had offered his amendment simply 10 get clear
of the provso Of the chairman Of the Committee Of
WAYS and Means, MIR, Fillmore, which he had INTRO
dnceo from that committee, and which he could not
withdraw II the amendment, of the gentleman could
be withdrawn, he would Withdraw his.
Mr.. FILLMORE SAID If he could withdraw his
amendment he would, because he satisfied that
bill would be reported from the Committee of Ways
and Means this subject which would do ample Just
ice But he had not the power to do II, (hls amend
ment having been adopted by the comm,,,eel The
gentleman from Virginia had the power to Withdraw
ms and If he did hc knew that the bill would come
from the Committee OF Ways and Means, and they
might pass through this blil and dispose o! the pub