Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-29
DEBATE
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.



cgii and diplomatic appropriation bill was rejected
Mr.. SMITH, Of Indiana, resumed the debate. He com
menced by stating that the position in which the House was
placed the bill under consideration somewhat necu;sy
He supposed the fr time in the history this country
that the civil and diplomatic BILL by which provision s
for the service Of the Goyernmen heen defeated n tbs
House. Every understood that this bill ndispensa-
BILE to the Government Every knew that the bill must
be passed and he presumed would be passed lis defeat
yesterday was owing 10 particular ccumstance which he
would notice.
1t true, gentlemen ON that side of the House did
against the bill who opposed IT, and was
because they the other side Of the House disposition
to vote against the bill and throw whatever responsibility
there might be in its passage Wing members Gentle
that side of the House, seeing this disposition mani
tested the other side to vote against bill necessary carry
the ordinary operations of the Government concluded If
they willing to vote The supplies necessary for an
Administration of their CHOICE they would allow them to
have their way They willing to whether gem
temen the other side would carry their opposition
ment
Many gentlemen the other side Of the House have been
in the habit of voting against all appropriation bills and the
course of those gentlemen reminded him Of old Of his
own State who, for fifteen sixteen years, member Of
the State Legislature He was of particular note
he had shining qualities eminent Abilities and yet he
invincble. He known oil the State very
shrewd and cunning rack and had been defeated
The old man, when asked the Of his success had
piled IT to be found in the fact that he voedfor
cent Of tax the people, and he voted for appop
alton BILL He said he knew the tax bills and general appro
priaon bills had pass and that they would pass and he
voted against them without risk Of injury 10 the Government
But when they passed he went the stump and
ragned those who voted for them who proHigately
voted away the public money and imposed burdens and
on the people. Now it might be supposed that gentle
this floor actuated by the motive, and
deavored to retain popularity by the On look
ing at the yeas and taken the naval appropriation BILL
he found ory-one votes recorded against il Of which thirty
four Democratic votes. It was the ordinary appropria
ton BILL making the necessary appropriations for the support
Of the Department and why, therefore, these Demo-
cratic votes recorded against it Why members Of that
party desrous stop the operations of the Government
But again he found the passage Of the fortifcation
bill, which contained unusual appropriations nothing which
could excite constitutional alarm, that there sxtyone
votes recorded against it and Of these ynne Demo-
cratic votes only two being Wings They the side
Of the House pursuing the the civil and dplo-
matte bill and of bis friends thought they would
how far their opposition would carry them, and they therefore
voted with the other side, and the bill defeated Great
complaint has been made because gentlemen voted in
favor of striking out in Committee Of the Whole the appro
praon for the Savannah river and afterwards voted against
concurrng in that amendment in the House. Those who
made this objection knew il not only common, but strict
ly parliamentary, that gentlemen voted way in Commit
tee of the Whole and another way in the House thus
that parties sometimes tested, the gentleman from
Michigan well know 1t only by striking out of
bill in Committee of the Whole any clause TO which there
might objections that the members upon that clause
could be entered the Journal Those who favored the ap
preparation complained Of had desire TO shrink from any
responsibility. They desired opportunity of recording their
the Journal the questions here invoved and
yet charged extraordinary that they should adopt the
only by which that object could be effected. The
House had been assured by the gentleman from North Caro-
lima MR. MckAr) that If they would consent to recommt
the bill the Committee Of the Whole the state Of the
Unon and there strike out the item Of $50 900 for the inn
provement of the Savannah river every gentleman his
mr. McKArs) side of the House would vote for the BILL
The controversy regard the bill then narrowed down
to that point and gentlemen had taken ground that this
indispensable bill should be defeated and the operations Of the
Government suspended, rather than this small appropriation
should be made.
he would for the bill unless great deal more was
stricken out than that item.
Mr.. SMITH was merely repeating what the gentleman
from North Carolina told them That gentleman said II this
item stricken they would pass the BILL although ap-
propated four five millions Of dollars The only objec
honabe tem then, that OF $50, 900, and they were
brought consider the question whether this
House should strike out that item persist In the bill as s
He would say word relation 10 that appropriation The
Savannah river the navgsble communication with Sa-
vannah, the commercial metropolis OF the State Of Georgia.
Of the important cities the southern Atlantic
The navigation OF that the means OF much OF
the prosperity Of that portion Of the State and proper
that they should have needu facilities Of communication For
shereof. had been diverted TO other
points, the great injury Of the patriotic citizens Of Georgia
And what the obstruction Why, 1t was conceded
was occasoned by sunken vessels which sunk during
the Revolutionary For what purpose Why, for the
great and patriotic purpose Of defending common country
lie surprised and pained yesterday 70 near genean
from Georgia (Mr IyERsos assert that this appropriation
was to remove local obstruction, which placed
there for the benefit the city Of Savannah alone He asked
there was nobody interested in that river being ascend
ed by British fleet during the Revolutionary war, with
British army Nor the blood Of Georgia alone that
flowed in defence Of Savannah Many patriotic citizens from
States FASTENED 10 their counys Standard and 10 the
defence Georgia Of Savannah alone, but Of the COM
mon country which assailed in the Savannah river.
Il was no local question. The whole country interest
ed These vessels placed there for the common good OF
the common country for the good Of the whole country
But when they appeal for the removal OF these obuctons
they were met with the argument that they had consu-
tona power to distractions which created under
the conederacy Where, permit him TO ask, did gentlemen
find constitutional power pay pensions to the old, decep
worn out soldiers Of the revolution Where did they nd
authority TO give pensions their widows and orphans II
Congress had no power under the constitution to discharge
the obligations which the country bad incurred to States
during the revolution they had power discharge the
obligation due TO the survivors Of the patriotic soldiers BY
whose services that revolution made successful And yet
those obligations had been recognised and discharged IN
thousand instances And he regarded this appropriation as
one which eminent degree deserves the favorable con
derston OF this Government The obstruction having been
placed in that river in time Of for the common welfare
and defence Of the country, the Government was bound
by every honorable obligation 10 H. But the gcns
man from Virginia (Mr. BArLr) told them that was an
unprecedented appropriation and that they might scscn ne
records vain for solitary item of this character n me
civil and diplomatic appropriation bill Now, ne would can
that eenemsns attention the civil and diplomatic spp'o
praon bill for the year 1899, which passed by Demo
cratic Congress- time when department OF sns