Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-08-16

SPEECH
aAIBD =. Su1TH, Of Indiana,
A. ehe Veso PoweS,-DeDivcrcs In
I - D0Oose - Representatives Of
- ". Scales, JoDy n, lS1S.

The pending question being the motio'
n reconsider the vote on the Civil AM
Diplomatic appropriation bill
Mr. CALEB Il. SMITH, of Indiana
said:
M. STEAMER: An event 50 cx.raordi
sssv o. the defeat Of the Civil and Diplo
.,et;c Appropriation bill-a bill hnds
a<sea6le 10 the ordinary operations Of the
Government-h naturally produced some
sensation in the lIodse. OF course it is
~ 70 be supposed that majority Of the
Houss are unwilling to vote the appropri.
: Stieas necessary to carry Oh the Govern
nest. The vote by which the bill has
Sses lost must &c rcconsidcrcd. Before
evoceeding 10 the vote | will. however, a.
"a myself Of this opportunity to present
~ yiews upon some Of the questions con-
Ascled with the bill, aud involved in the
Sebaae upon this notion.
viii, in the first place, explain that
thjch seems to have created so much as
hoajshmcnt on the other side Of the House
[ahe fact that some Of the Wings voted
- yesterday against the passage Of the
10 have taken il for granted that all the
Wings should have voted for the bill. and
% h soreIy disappointed because this side
II the House did not pass il in spite Of
thcir opposition. II is true, that the Wing
members generally vote for the appropriate
fion bills necessary for the support Of the
Government. They are not in the habit,
of playing so poor game that Of court
ing popularity by a pretended opposition
10 measures which they know should and
must pass. is il 80 will, gentlemen on the
other side! II is but a short time since
ne Naval Appropriation bill passed.
That bill contained no unusual or extra
ordinary appropriations. II contained
SOly such appropri afiOnS as were recon-
mcnded by the Administration, and to
which no objections whatever were made
by the friends Of the Administration here
6eit, il will be found, on reference to the
ipumsl, that there were forty -onc votes re-
corded asant the bill. OF these thirty
fur were Democrats and only seven were
Wings. Il cannot be supposed that those
Democrats who voted against this bill were
they wished to withhold the necessary an
hsal supplies. without which the Navy
could not DC kept up. Still their votes
were recorded against il.
The same state Of affiirs will be found
N reference 10 the bill making appropra-
lions for the continuance and repair Of for
sifcations, which passed the House a short
time ago. II would be but reasonable to
suppose that our Democratic friends, who
seem 10 have u natural love of war. and
talk loudly CT preparing. not only the
eOuNtry. but ''t,c hearts of the people.
Er war;" would have been found ralIying
in support Of this bill. and recording their
names IN its favor. But the journal tells
different story. OF >iXty-onc votes re-
corded against its passage. fifty were
given BY Democrats, and only two bv
Wings. The course Of these gentlemen
reminds INC Of a man who was long IA
mcmbcr Of the Legislature Of my own
State. Although possessed of no great
abilities. or shining qualities to attract tile
= popularity which, was invinciblc. Year
after year he was elected over all opposi-
ton, and. il he failed to establish rcpu-
tation for ability. he at least acquired the
character of a very shrewd and cunning
elcctioneercr. a gentleman once asked
hisn the reason Of his uniform success be-
kss the people. The old man. replied.
il is easily explained: IL have bccn," said
he "a member OF the Legislature some
eight or ten years, aud | have never vet
voted for bill imposing a tax upon the
people. or general appropriation bill
When ] go before my constituents as a
candidate for reelection point 10 the tax
bhis and appropriation bills. and tell them.
this Is the way you are taxed 4 YOUR money
Prohigatelv expended, hut NV vote is re-
corded against them ALL" The old man
said ne always knew the bills mus, pass.
and that there would be enough to vote for
them without him, and he could always
make capital out ofhis opposition TO them.
n woald seem. Mr.. Speaker. that the
same system OF tactics. so successfully
Fesortcd 10 BY this person. has been a,iop-
Ted on the other side of the House. They
know that the General Appropriation bills
must pass; they rely upon Wing votes TO
carry them through, while they can find IA
heeic elecfioncering staple in their votes
against them. On yesterday. when this
bill came NJ on its passage, some gentle
men q" this side Of the House. seeing that
this game. which had been played before.
was likely to be played again. concluded
that, Il gentlcni en- on the other side were
Unwilling to vote for the supplies necess-
airy to sustain the Administration OF their
ose choice. they would 60 with them.
ana let the bill be defeated. Some of
mem did accordingly vote against the bill.
ana u vas defeated. They concluded, if
gentlemen on the other side were sincere
= their wishes for the defeat Of the bill.
mey should. for once. be cratfed. The
gentleman from North Carolina M,
MCKAY has announced to tie House the
willingness Of the other side to vote for
me bill IL il can be recommittcd and a.
mended BY striking out the appropriation
efoSO.OOO for the Savannah river. They
are willing now. it seems. to take all the
appropriations contained in the bill, a.
mounting TO some four or five millions Of
dc":ss. II re will consent to strike out this
single item. The controversy is. then.
narrowed down to a point. The question
70 be settled is. shall an appropriation he