The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-23

work devolving upon this House as the gen.
tleman from Mississippi will deem desirable.
| And now, Mr.. Chairman, a word on the
main question before us. ] know very we'll
knew from the frst-what low, contempti-
bic, demagoguirg business this of attempting
to save Public Money always is. 1t is not 5
task for gentlemen-it is esteemed rather dis
reputable even for Editors. Your gentleman
~ work is spending-lavishing distributing
| taking. Savings are always such vulgar, beg
carly, two-pennv affairs-there is a sorry and
stingy look about them most repugnant to all
gentlemanly instincts And besides, they new
er happen to hit the right place-it is always
Strike higher Strike lower TO be gener-
Gus with other peoples homogeneous to
self and friends especially, that is the way 10
be popular and commended. Go ahead and
never care for expense If your debts be-
come announcement, you can repudlate and
blackguard Your creditors as descended from
Judas Iscariot All Mr.. Chairman, was
not rocked in the cradle of gentiity
A word now for the gentleman from O.
hio Mr.. Root who also addressed the Com
mittee on Tuesday. Either he has greatly
changed, or have been sadly deceived; for ]
think there was time within my knowledge
of him when he-would not have made that
speech ! could bear my part in it very quiz
city; but was sorry for his. We do not cas-
lily part with our illusions.
The gentleman told US at the outset that he
had seen good many Of these propositions OF
Reform, and that he had seen how they were
all disposed of-by piling amendment upon a.
mendment, retrenchment upon retrenchment
until the affair became perfectly odious if not
absurd-'rupning the Thing into the ground,
and there burying it. That was the gentle
mans text his speech and his proposition were
the fitting commentary. They showed him an
adept in the arts he so proclaimed his know
ledge of. He must know-no man better
that his scheme of charging by the hour for
Members travel TO and from this city will new
er be adopted. There is no real equality A.
bout it. Many man travelling on Railroads
spends dollar per hour for mere passage mon
ey others, travelling in stages, hardly spend
a shilling. Who will say whether necessary
detention awaiting conveyance or the subsi-
;ience Of swollen rivers should be paid for
anu Z. it should, how much of it there would
be ? Beside. no pan would know how much
Mileage to charge under this rule. lie might
know how many hours he had been coming
from Iowa or Texas to this CITY in November,
Dul that NOulQ never uetcrInlne now lOnp "
would take him to return 20 Iowa or Texas
in March. 1t would be all guess-work; and
who guesses for the Treasury? No, sir; the
most direct Mail Route is the fairest standard
yet suggested.-It is not exactly equal-it is
not perfect-no plan can be-but it is the
nearest approach to it. 1t was the route con-
templated by the Congress that passed the Or
iginal Mileage law before Steamboats, and Rail
roads were invented. Some Members will
come here easily and swiftly on Railroads and
Steamboats,; but their routes are either cir
cutous and short, so that their Mileage will
be trifing, or they will travel more miles than
they will be paid for Those who have the
hardest riding will generally come straightest
or come farthest. If the House says, Reduce
the Mileage also, l am ready for that-but in
any case let it be estimated by the shortest
Mail-Route. You can draw no line fairer, in
its general application, than that. l entreat
the Committee to meet this question frankly
and manfully-to adopt the amendment or re-
ject it-but do not let it be killed by any such
side-blow as was foreshadowcd by the gentle
man from Ohio.
Mr.. CHAIRMAS-I have done my duty in
regard to this matter, regardless of obloquy
and misrepresentation. 1t only remains for
me 10 exhort the Committee and the House
to do theirs.