The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-13

OF INDIANA,
In the House Of Representatives., August 7. isls, loi
O'Clock, P MIN Committee OF the Whole on the state
OF the Union.
Mr. WICK said The friends and admirers of the great
senator from South Carolina make their boast that his
logic always accurate and his conclusions
Bile Those not his admirers answer this claim of pre-
emInence by representing that, although it may be true
that the arguments and conclusions OF the senator lust
named refutable is also true that the Of his
perfect may be found in the fact that he
boldy-ln other words, begs his premises. Without
pauslng moment to express opinion of my upon
this question: desire TO say that for the reason last
stated the speech OF the honorable member who has
Just addressed the committee, is perfectly unansweabe
He has assumed facts to suit his inerenoes and they
(the inerences) drop naturally from his assumptions
as do the drops from the clouds Sir, there is but one
way to respond to the honorable member; and that is
mode which ought to be avoided among gentlemen, |
doubt not the honorable member is perfectly unaware
that bis assumed facts merely the gatherings of the
small wing presses for the last years, BY him taken
for granted, and condensed BY his otherwise very fair
Neither do doubt that the honorable member is perfectly
unaware that majority of well Uniformed gentlemen in
the country dispute the truth of the most of his facts, and
hold the residue to be the very gross perversions of
party press, too Insignificant to have character to pre-
serve by an appearance OF decency.
have obtained the foor, STA consummaton often de-
vouty wished Tor hereto speak. And 10 whom? To
the country? At this late hour your reporters have all left
the hall but one and he is fast asleep do not believe
that either time or inclination will stand in stead
to write out my hours exercise. Therefore, cannot
imagine myself as speaking TO the country To the
House would willingly speak to the House if il were
here but aack where is the House? Not here GER
tany nor; sir, is wonderful that is absent under
the circumstances Whence, then, shall derive insp-
ration! thought strikes me will speak the gal
lerles and draw inspiration from the galaxy of beauty
and elegance which there, throwing a halo of glo-
around all within their sphere, and clothing this hall
IN the garniture of Paradise.
hat which propose TO say shall be partly apologize,
partly erplanatory and partly denuneidtory; and eau
ton my audience that shall so minge these elements
that will require some attention to discriminate and
m spnt ar nn1pr tharra ,to k,,l
First, make the ameade honorable to the members of
the wing side OF this House. Some few weeks ago. |
wrote letter to an editor at home, and which has ap
peared IN many places representing that by their votes
the allowance OF three months pay the discharged
officers and soldiers had probably been defeated and pre-
sumo that the natural inference from nv statements
that such had been the intention of the alluded to-
Herein erred in Judgment. Subsequent votes and
events have developed the TACT that the honorable mem
bes did not intend 20 defeat the allowance of the three
months pay but to force this (he democrac) side of
the House to include in the bill provision for the
retention OF numerous corps OF officers, (tor whose
Of the House0 at heavy expense to the country In
this they successful They fastened the extra off
to the extra three months pay, in such manner as
TO force us to lose the latter, unless would also take
the former. The three millions which the three months
pay took from The treasury, for the benefit OF the
worn soldier returning from his fields of glory and Of
suffering, was to nothing We thought of the gal
ant returned, and OF the glorious dead and had it been
ten millions, our votes were ready But when we
thought OF the uncounted and only.to be- guessed-a
d
caldatoy appendage, in the shape OF corps of officers
beyond the necessities of the SERVICE hearts scke ned
at the thought OF the horns of the dilemma between
which forced 10 choose We screwed our
faith up to the sticking point and rather than lose the
three months pay, swallowed the corps of
sary officers
Mr. COBB of Georgia. Not all of us
Me- WICK. True not all but the most of us. l.
Tor one, acknowledge that | took the dose most
,uelahh.ly, II | erred hope my constituents will re-
In consequence of having subjected myself to the ap-
Pelrdnce Of having voted against the grant of bounty
land and forgive me.
Sir, wish to make an apology for Congress. 1t is
said in the country that too long. If it
be so, the evil ought to be remeded Let us examine.
Once the organization OF government Congress has
always adjourned every alternate on the same day
the third of March AT the long sessions every alternate
year, the day OF adjournment has varied much and
the whole the sessions have gradually become more and
more extended In 1910, the day OF adjournment was
May LIST in 1878, ii Goth April; in 1928, it Goth
Mays in 1880, was alst May; and in 1892, was July
OF the period of every alternate session not without
good cause In the early days of our national history,
population about one-fourth what it now is. Our
national interests formerly few and simple. Now,
they diversified and complicated Then, this House
would order public document to be printed for the
of the members and two or three extra copies for dsr
buon which each member would send to his favorite
editors. Now, we order documents to be printed, and
from thirty to four hundred extra copies to be furnished
to each member. These he must frank, and direct to
his CONSTITUENCIES work OF much labor and time,
occasioning much absence of members from the
House. and consequent delay OF business. Then,
editors throughout the country published few
standard speeches for the information of constu-
ences, and then few members made speeches. Now,
every member who does not desire to make his name
Obvious, must make one, two, three speeches. The
speeches numerous, that the sper press
not publish any considerable portion OF them, and have
abandoned the practice almost entirely. 1t has grown
into established usage for a member TO publish his
speeches in pamphlet FORM and distribute the same
among his constituents To this end, he must write out
his speeches. superntend the printing Jay, and pay for it
tool compare the proof Sheets and when the little
pamphlets have been enveloped he must go TO work and
frank, and direct them, by the thousand and ten thou
sand and after all, be faued for not sending out
OF them The labor incident to this operation
often occupies the attention of members while the House
OF committees or of the House, is the necessary result
And not only his but he is expected to frank, direct,
and send tens of thousands of speeches and documents
besides his speeches and the documents furnished al
the cost of government To accomplish this he will st
at his desk in the hall Thanking and directing, while
motion made and stated resolution offered and read,
or a bill amendment reported by the Clerk; and when
pen, perfectly unconscious of the matter before the
House. and of calls for the reading OF the propo
s'tlon Time is wasted in reading it, SO go.
dr. forty years ago predecessors came to this hall
every day full Dress at 10 o'clock at their desks
Two or three hours without shaking the powder from
their locks mmplng the rutfes which garnished their
bosoms, soing their fingers with ink, or compromising
soon as the committees act upon the propositions before
tnen, and bring the before the House, there
Alter we change the hour of meeting to III o'clock and
afterwards to 10 and adjourn at various hours
generally from four TO ten o'clock, p. The mornings
are occupied IN writing letters franking and directing
n O.. H.