The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-06

penses-for its splendid building, auditors, post
masters, &c.
Mr.. PHELPS read from the report of the Post
master General, to show that the Department has
betrayed It's expenses during the past and proceed
ing year.
MIR. GREEN, however, insisted, all things con-
sdered, that the Department has never betrayed
its own EXPENSE; and he proceeded to speak in OPP
position TO the line of mail steamers, which, he
said, was for the benefit of mail agents and con-
tractors,
Mr. CROWELL inquired when this postal ar
rangement was entered intoS
Mr.. GREEN replied, during the first session OF
the thirtieth Congress.
MIR. CROW ELL said that Cave Johnson was
Postmaster General at that time.
MIR. GREEN was understood to remark that Mr..
Johnson would have nothing to do with the steam
crs, and that Thomas Butler King had caused them
10 be attached TO the navy. He asked the gentle
mau whether he voted for the bill
MIR. GROVE ELL referred him to the records
The gentleman had denounced these postal ar
rangements unconstitutional and II is fact that
his own President (Alr. Poik) signed the bill.
MIR. GREEN voted against IL.
Mr. CROWELL. presume l voted for it'll
don't know.
Mr.. GREEN said that the gentleman had voted
10 be taxed thirteen hundred thousand dollars for
the running of the mail steamers from New Or
leans to Havana, &c, for no advantage, under hea-
ven, TO his constituents.
Mr. CROWELL remarked that the gentleman
had charged the late OK President with doing an
| 49, '''N~~N''
tiona
MIR. GREEN denied having so expressed him
self. He designed TO say that the appropriation
for these steamers WAS tied on to the navy appro
priation bill. Mr. CRowELL: "An omnibus. u
That is invention of another Abolilionist from
another place. The ter,u originated with one whom
he had denounced in his State a traitor and
as he now did here and before the nation. \
voice: 81 ood."l
Mr.. CRoWELL To whom do you rerere
MIR. GREEN. Thomas Hart Benton, OF Missouri.
The question occurred to Mr.. Polk, will you stop
all supplies for this important branch of the public
service, will you approve this bill, which con-
tains appropriation for running a line of mail
steamers? This being the case the President APP
proved the bill He never said that the President
did an unconstitutional act. Congress has no more
power TO appropriate money for the benefit of com
merce, for which this line ia urged, than for the
benefit OF agriculture and the mechanic arts The
House did wrong when it undertook to vote thir-
teen hundred thousand dollars for this purpose !;
to do that which taxed the genteman's constitu-
ents and gave them no benefit.
If he wants to make an explanation, let him go
home aud talk to his hard working constituents,
and refer to their living by honest industry not by
dealing in scrip and speculations; let him tell
them that he voted thirteen hundred thousand dol
| lars to run mailstcamers without receiving any
| recompense for the outlay. What benefit Id it TO
| them, except that they taxed? They will never
receive or send a letter by that conveyance. The
return from these steamers Is about twenty thou
sand dollars per annun, not two per cent. on the
| by which they have carried bills through this
House, by the means of suppers, cigars, and cham
| payne, and by their department and genteel de-
| meanor. He had refused every invitation to par
take OF special suppers; not that he was easily
tempered with than others, but because he wished
TAR as he could TO relieve the House of such an
imputation He did not believe that any Of the
members had been thus inf uenced, but while agents
do succeed, they have pretext for the assertion.
A man has a right 10 be agent, but no right u
boast of having tempered with any member of this
! House.
Mr.. WHITE moved that the committee rice.
| Mr.. GROVE wished to make an explana-
ton and asked the gentleman from New York to
| withdraw his motion
! Mr.. WHITE said that the gentleman would have
an opportunity to speak at some other time.
The committee then rose when
MIR. BAlLY offered a resoluton-that the de-
bate on the Post Office Appropriation bill shall
ccasein fifteen minutes after the House sha again
20 into committee.
Mr.. STANTON, Of Tennessee, desired to say
something the subject, and moved TO amend the
resolution, extending the period of debate 10 two
hours.
Without taking the question, the House adj
journed.