New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-03-07
The steaiings Of Congress Exfras.'


In here presenting some farther calculations o.
one branch OF the great tree Of Congressional cor
ruption and proHigacy, based upon the votes OF
extra allow ances during last nights protracted
session. shall endeavor to avoid personal offence
by calling no names. The chief fault found " 18th
the Mileage Expose was that OF personality-lt
not merely said that money had been taken from
the Treasury as it should not have been, but
showed very nearly how much and who took It,
This time shall 20 upon the other tack, and en-
deavor to call attention to what seems to me a
fragrant and dangerous public wrong without
showing who in particular the authors OF IT, II
anybody chooses to 90 back to the journals and
daily reports to see who moved this that, or
who voted thus and so, cannot help it. | deal
only with principles and measures, dsclaimlng |
any but inevitable illusions to persons.
lit is not yet fortnight since the House &c
lberately affirmed, by a Yea and Nay vote, yeas
l57, Naysl6J on the passage of Gen. Mcksys |
Straight Mileage bil that all gratuites or extra
allowances from the Contingent Fund OF either
House were wrong and should be stopped at
once. True, 1t was not desired by many nor ex
pected by any that the Senate would take up and
pass the BILL but the moral effect of that vote is
not weakened by this fact 1t stands on record as
averdict of selfcondemnaton by the punderers
Of the Treasury last night.
On Monday last a motion was made when IN
order that the usual extra allowa nee of $3.50 to
eachl should be made to the sub Clerks, Post
masters, Messengers, Pages, &c. &c Of the House
at this Session. The Yeas and Nays were with
some difficulty obtained on this, and it was fairly
sks
voted against it was induced to move recon
alteration, and this the Yeas and Nays being
once more obtained) was also voted down. Thus
the matter rested till last night.
And here let me explain the origin OF this
usual iniquity. informed that 1t com.
menced at the close OF one of the earlier OF the
long Sessions now unhappiy almost biennial. IL
was then urged, with some plsusibility, that
number (perhaps half of the sub-oiicers and en-
ploycs OF the House were paid fixed sum for the
Session-that, having now been obliged to labor
an unusually long term, they were justly entitled
TO additional pay. The Treasury was iall--the ex
pectants were assiduous and seductive-the Mem
bers were generous (t is so easy for most men To
be flush with other peoples money and the rcso
luton passed. Next Session the precedent was
aud the resolution slipped through again. never
saw how till last tight. Thenceorward the thing
went easier and easier, until the disease has be
come chronic aud only to be cured by the most dc
tcrmined surgery.
Late last night-or rather early this morning -
while the House was waiting the final action Of
the Senate on the Territorial colision--a fresh at
tempt was made to get in the usual extra allow
ance again Beine objected to aud not IN order,
direct attempt was made 10 suspend the Rules
Il think | cannot be mistaken in my reoolieotionl
and defeated--not two-thirds rising in It's favor,
although the free liquor and trimmings provided
by the expectants OF the bounty had or hours stood
open to all corners IN a convenient sde'room and
great many had already taken too much. In this
dilemma the motion was revsmped into one TO
suspend the Rules to admit resolution to pay ne
Chaplain has usual compensation for the Sessions
service, and was personally and urgently en-.
treated not to esst this, and thus leave the Chap
lain utterly unpaid | dad resist it, however, not
believing it true that no provision had TIL this hour
been made for paying the Chaplain and suspecting
some swindle lay behind it. The appeal was more
successful with others, and the House suspended
its rules to admit this Chaplain-Payins resolution
out OF orue1. Ane moment TINS was done MOTION
was made 10 amead ths resolution by providing
another allow ance Tor somebody or other and upon
this a. piled still another anne ndment- Monsieur
Tonson come again Ito pay the usual extra com
pensstion to the sub-Cerks, Messengers, Pages.
&c &c As soon this sme ndme Mt was reached
for ation-in fact as soon as could get the
foor 70 do i'll raised the point of order that it
coald not be ia order, when the Rules had been
suspended Tor particular purpose, 70 let IN under
cover Of that suspension an entirely different pro-
position. for which by itself it was notorious that
suspension could not be obtained. This was prompt,
" overuled, the Ayes and Noes on the amend
ment reiused-dltto on the Resolution as amend
ed-and the whole crowded through under the
Previous Question in less than no time. Monroe
Edwards wolld have admired the dcxteriy and
celebrity OF the performance. Al! that could be OBJ
tanned was a vote BY Teers, and ninety-foar Mem
bers voted in favor TO twenty two against-a bare
quorum in ALL great many being then in the Sc
nate-none, | believe, az that moment IN the
extra retectOry. But had no such reiec.ory been
opened in either end OF the Capitol, believe the
personal collisions which disgraced the Nation
through its Representatives would not have oc-
Cured. shall no, speak farther of them-I would
not mention them at all if they were not unhap
ply notorious already. truss the world viii IN.