The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-07-14
To the Freeemea of the nrelfh Congress
sionai District of North Carolina.


FELLOW CITIZENS: am informed some
persons are endeuvoring to excite public
prejudice, and make political capital out OF
the appropriations which Congress made
TO deiray The funeral expenses of President
Harrison, and to pay the balance Of one
years salary TO his aged and afflicted
widow.
To prevont misapprehension and misrep-
resentation | will briefly submit the facts
and reasons which induced me TO vote for
those appropriations. The history Of Con-
gress;onal Legislation abounds with similar
instances, approved and poted for BY all
parties, from the foundation of the Govern
ment down 10 the present session. | will
mention few prominent presidents, taken
from the journals of Congress-and now
for the law and the testimony.
General Washington was President OF
the United States from the 4th day OF
March, 1889, until the ith day of March,
l1197-eight years. He died in Deem
Der, l799-nearly three years after his
Presidential term expired, and when he
was a private citizen-and vet, on the Sd
day of May, $500, Congress passed law
appropriatine three thousand tTO hundred
doilars to defray the expenses incurred in
doing honor to the memory of Gen. Wash.
ingion. (Sec the Sd volume of toe laws
of the United States, page 397.
Congress likwse authorized, by Joint
resolutions, that marble monument should
be erected by the United States, in the
Capitol, to the memory of Gen. Washing
ton, and copy of these resolutions were
directed to be transmitted to Mrs. Wash
ington, entreating her TO assent to the in.
torment of the remains Of Gen. Washing
ton, under that monument. (See the same
volume, page 40l.)
George Clinton, the Vice President OF
the United States, who served during the
last of Mr.. Jefierson's and the first Of Mr..
Madison's administrations, died at Wash.
ington in the year 1912, aud was buried al
the public expense.
Eldridge Gerry, another Wee President
Of the United States, died at Washington
in the year 1914, while riding in his car.
riage from his lodgings TO the Capitol and
he too was buried at the public expense
and a monument was also erected over hi:
grave by special appropriation Of Con
gress.
! la the year 1912, the city Of Caracas,
in South America, was nearly destroyed
and annihilated by an earthquake; and on
the motion Of Nathaniel Macon, who was
remarkable for strict economy and slric
construction, resolution passed Congress
By unanimous pOte, which caused an ap
preparation Of ffty thousand dollars Of ihC
public money TO relieve the distresses ant
sufierings Of hundreds and thousands o.
human beings IN that distant and devoted
city, who were houseless and homeless anC
starving for daily bread. Well, if Con
gress had power to give and appropriate,
fifty thousand dollars Of the public money
to relieve suffering humanity among dis
tant strangers in foreign country, | pre-
sumo it was right and proper, at least, Il
provide one years allowance for an aget
aud distressed widow in our own country
who was the wife Of a good and true ole
soldier.
From the first establishment OF the Sea-
Of Government in this city down to the
present time, whenever member Of Con
gross dies here during the session, he is
at the public expense, buried in the Con
| gressloGol cemetery, or burying ground
| and a monument is erected over his gray,
to mark the spot where the remains Of Tho
deceased repose, and to indicate to neal
relatives and pilgrim strangers the tomb,
of those who died IN the service of then
country, far distant from friends and home
/ The death and funeral Of each member OF
Congress 10 this city costs the Government
about nine hundred dollars. Living is
dear in Washington, bet dying is much
dearer. Not only Presidents and mem.
bers, 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
public journals, and are fresh in my own
recollection. ! allude to the cases Of Oy.
erton Carr, Doorkecpcr 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 majority in
both branches Of Congress. The salary
OF each of these officers was fifteen hun.
bred dollars per anaum, TO be estimated
from the first Monday in December OF ey.
cry year. Oyerton Carr died in March,
s3s, before the fourth month Of his duties
had been performed, and yet Congress dI.
rected, not only that he should be buried at
the public expense, but that his widow
should be paid the balance Of his salary IN
to the end of the session, Just as though
ne had lived to perform his wears work for
the public. The case of Mr.. Carr i, n
strong one, but the case Of Mr.. Hairhl Is
much stronger, 10 illustrate and sustain tho
appropriations now the subject Of inycsti.
CATION. Stephen Ilaight, citizen Of Yer.
mont, was the Sergeant at Arms of the
Senate; his annual salary was fifteen hun.
bred dollars his time Of service began on
The first Monday in December. $40. he
died on the 18th day of .Iapuarv IalJ