Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-20

considered The bill in Committee.
The House again went into COMMITTEE, when
sundry amendments were agreed TO, and which
were subsequently reported TO the House.
The bill, as amended approPrIates twenty
thousand dollars, il SO much be necessary, lot lhe
purchase of furniture for The Executive Man,
sion, in addition TO the proceeds oil Inc SAFE oi OH
furniture; and that the new furniture DC OF Anne,
rican manufacture, provided can oe purchased
on as good terms as the foreign article; anu IKE
wise, that eight thousand dollars, or SO inuch Oh
the sum as may be necessary, DC aPpNeo 70 lhe
repairing OF the buildings and The improvement
OF the grounds.
The question being on The enSrossmcnt OF Inc
bill for third reading
MI. JONES, of Tennessee, moved 10 lay ii
on the table,
The yeas and nays were ordered and taken,
and the result was--yeas 60, nays 81.
So the bill was not laid upon the table.
The question recurring on the passage OF the
BILL the yeas and nays were ordered, which re-
sulied-yeas 62, nays ~.
And the bill was rejected
GENERAL aPpoRToNMENT BILL.
The House resolved itself in;o Committee Of
the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. Saun-
ders in the Chair) and proceeded 10 the consider
ation Of the bill making appropriation for Inc
civil and diplomatic expenses of the Government
for the wear ending June 80, 1876.
Mr.. G. J. INGERSOLL moved 10 strike out
in the Odd and 9th lines being The, appropria-
ton for the purchase Of books for the library OF
Congress, the words "lwo thousand live hundred
dollars" and insert "fve thousand dollars"
After some remarks in favor Of the amendment
by Messrs C. j. INGERSOLL, HOLMES and
DOUGLASS
Mr.. E. J. MORRIS spoke in its favor The
annual appropriation for the purchase OF hooks
for the library had always been $4,000 until the
last year, when il was cut down one-haf lie
hoped the same spirit would not prcvail,his year,
and that rctrenchmcnl would not he carried u
such an extent as 10 reach the library.
He referred TO the vote Just taken on rejecting
the bill making appropriations for furnishing the
Presidents mansion, and censured the want OF
moral courage which induced The friends Of The
President 10 vote against that bill. When he saw
the majority voting in that way, he was mol going
10 place himself in false position before The
country BY voting for it, and thereby allow
the charge of extravaganza 10 be brought up
against him. He thought the appropriation
ought TO have been made, and he would now vote
$4,000 10 furnish the Presidents House if the
majority had moral courage enough TO go for il.
Mr.. MCKAY sa id that if the gentleman from
Pennsylvania would look al what had already
been appropriated, and what had been asked for,
he would find that there were appropriations OF
300, 900 for books alone They had library
for the use of members Of Congress, and they
were called on 10 appropriate Sll 900 in addition,
besides 1000 that was asked for Tor Inc law library,
II was not in this seat of Government alone, and
for the library Of Congress, that books were annu-
ally purchased Congress had its library; The
Executive Departments had their libraries; every
Committee room had its library; and there was
not national vessel that floated on the ocean for
which library was not provided al cost OF
81 900 and more. After all this liberaity in the
purchase of books, he thought gentlemen could
with little justice complain of the want OF appro-
priations for the encouragement Of literature.
Mr. CHARLES ]. INGERSOLL asked flhe
gentleman from North Carolina objected 10 the
purchase Of books; il SO, he was sorry for il.
Mr. MCKAY said he did not object.
Mr. c. J. INGERSOLL said he was glad Il
hear it, He said at midnight of one of the clos.
ing days Of the last session, this appropriation
was cut down one-half and he hoped it would
now be restored. Books were one Of the greatest
comforts he enjoyed here; and it, as the Chairman
of the Committee Of Ways and Means Lad said
every ship had 81 900 worth OF books, surely The
Congress of the United States should have IS ,00C
worth. He voted for the purchase Of MIR. JEFF
terson's library, which was the basis of the exist
ing library; and they had gone on maxim. Il col
lection Of valuable books by moderate additions
which he should vote 10 continue for the credit d
the country.
The debate was continued by Mcssrs MCKAY
c. J. INGERSOLL and TUCKER, and then the
amendment was agreed toll voting in the atfir
NATIVE and lS in the negative.
Mr. WINTHROP offered an amendment for
the purpose ofproviding for The payment for those
books which had been sent to the members OF the
House under resolution some time since passed
and in some remarks which he made in sup
port Of il, he stated that he was not interested
having no books but the Congressional Globe
which he had already in his possession. The
books were delivered, and those who had receiy-
ed them ought not TO repudiate payment
Some conversation ensued, in which several
gentlemen took part
Some further conversation took place between
Messrs. G. DAVIS, WINTHROP, and Nc
KAY, as 10 the fact whether these books had been
ordered by the authorities oflhe House: and il so
By what sanction.
Mr.. MCKAY knew it was vain to oppose this
amendment He made no imputation on those
gentlemen who voted Tor it, But il was time that
practice was put an end to- One single volume
Documentary History OF the Revoluion-was
to be furnished TO 200 persons, former members
OF Congress, and Others and this, alone, would
COS, nearly million Of dollars. The Clerk call.
ed on them TO appropriate for one volume of This
work $4,000, and there were fourteen more vo-
lumes These books had been sent, he confessed
10 his room. He did not kick them out Of the
house, (laueh.er,) but he told the messenger The
next day 10 take them away. He did not come
(Renewed laughler)
Several voices, THE gun" "lhe gunnl
Mr.. MCKAY. | never had gun lie fell
rather mean, (great laughler,) having received
these books to oppose their payment, or their dis.
tribulon among oher members He wished he
had done as he heard friend from Pennsylvania
Mr.. Biddle, (not "Nick, y who was formerly on
this floor, declare from The place where he now
stood, that sooner than receive one of these books
he would lets his RICH, hand fall powerless. lie
thought that, perhaps they would be obliged ic
raw for the books already distributed, and then
that this iniqui!ous practice would be put an end
TO- II continued, it would in the end, cost this
House some two or three hundred thousand dol.
lars per year.
Mr. RRENGLE inquired whether The persons
who furnished these books had been directed to do
so by the Clerk Of the House
In reply TO the request Of Mr.. Mckay, several
letters Of the former Clerk Of the House were read
conveying al affirmative answer.
Further conversation took place between Messrs
MCKAY and RHETT.
The blank in the amendment was filled BY in.
serlng the sum OF SS17, 7755.
Mr. WINTHROP modified his amendment
by inserting, after the word dollars" the words
"or - much thereof as may be necessary"
Some further remarks were made BY Messrs
WINTHROP, TUCKER, and PATTERSON
when
The question was taken on Mr.. Winthrop,
amendment, and decided in the afrmative-ayes
81, noes sc.
On motion Of Mr.. J. w. DAVIS, The Com.
miitee rose.
Mr. MCKAY submitted resolution 10 termi-
nate debate in the Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union on the bill under consideration
at2 o'clock on Thursday next
The House adjourned.
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