The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-10-04
rhir,y-First Consress-1s. Session.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S, 1850.
Tho EsoaSe of Representatives met at III,
,n; i,v.eati,.-r y rpcos. ri twn hnnrS; continued

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- i.a ...,.; ,anagrsrt i.,~i.s..ss which ocrn.
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r.... :. ..io, y: til day WAS the several ap-
Co.,. i ,ioa Till l. ,in;iice It to say, without
..,s..i.,a it,,n :. d..taii OF tic proceedings by
.fa;rh - rrs |, vss arrived 1T, t!iit these bills
,.eg. s,y~s4A,, ;:oS>rd; sad. with the exception
- -, ;,ii :a,' ii, lomr'ic. have been signed
nv fac f.e-;G2r,t ~ 'r.aIi IA Tie ciHil blli
,',nr. W.. ..o3ei::esa' i "c#t,"rer>r and excite
l.c-, a. bad feeling i,r;yveoo ti'c two li"n:es.
'i..a %n.ta I'D ;:r:,,-d i3 dis bill SON" :iattf
a.!,9atIa.":s ;avo,l.i: ~ ag:regate oi %%pFo-
nriaiio1 q! ai,,.ut $l.0n3 900 lacla;!td III
which. WAS 4 provision III regard to the mlieage
Of Senators and Representatives, fixing maxi
mum ofmilaaee to the delegates and represen-
tatives west of the Allcgbany mountains at
$4,000 and east OF said mountains at 81 ,0GO
going aud returning to the seat of the federal
government and having for its effect to save
many thousau,ts of dollars to the public treasu.
ry. 1t also contained three sections, intended
to re,nunerate the contractors for the public
printing (Siessrs. Trenholm and Belt, or other
wise Mr. Ritche,l for their losses in executing
the same. . -
These sections inden,sifed for actual losses
for all the work executed, and made an addition
ften per cent. for profit, to be determined up;
on by the Secretary of tbe Treasury, &c. And
also provided that the work for the next session
and that remaining unexecuted for the present,
should he proposed for and awarded to the
lowest bidder, &c. These provisions formed
the principal cause of controversy between the
two fiouses; and which came well nigh losing
the general appropriation, and thus putting
stop to the wheels of Government. After three
several committees of conference, the House
rcceded from its provision in regard to the
mileage, and this left it under the old law,
enacted before railroads were in operation
1t however adhered a. It's amendment which
sirnck ont the entire provision Of the Senate
intended to indemnify Mr.. Ritchie. So strong
was the feeling of a considerable majority of
the House, that they even refused to accept
mercful proposition reported to the two Houses
bv the conferees, (of which Messrs. Finton,
GrinneIl, and McLane, of Maryland, acted for
the House,) intended merely to cover the actu-
nj losses of Mr. Ritchte, inclusive Of a per cent.
age for the wear and tear of types and presses
The last conference of which Mr.. Staply was
Chairman on the part of the House, could not
agree Finally, upon the motion Of Mr.. Stanly,
the House at q l-2 O'clock. A. NJ, adhered to
its dis green,ent to the Senate's amendment in
regard to the printing, and threw the response
bility on that body Of receding or of losing the
appropriation bill.
The Senate also amended the Civil and d.
pomatic bill so as to appropriate $4,000 to
commence laying the foundations for the add.
ton to the capitol-that is, of a new Hall OF
Re, resentatiyes and new Senate Chamber, and
new Library all of which ara much needed.
The House refused this appropriation. twas
SO managed, however, by the conterees as to
induce the House to modify its action and allow
100000 to commence this very important and
appropriate improvement The additions pro-
posed will increase the fronts Of the Capitol
east aud west three hundred and fifty feet The
conjectural expenditure for this Improvement
is about 5 100000, which will make this edi.
ice OF sech extent and magnifcence as to sat-
isty the waits of the Legislative branch Of the
Government, and in some degree reflect the
vastness Of the Republic and and its growing
wealth. This is an appropriation Tor which
the people OF this country vii! never complain.
The money expended is not l"st-ior it accu.
Elulates property in another form 10 the Gov
ernment, and transfers the money TO the pock-
cts OF the honest merchant and laborer. ln-
deed il is a great misfortune, lit may prove
some day. that Congress is aroused to the i'm,
poitamce %! having tireproof buildings to the
state War and Navy Departments at Washing
ton, l.. W.:icu TO prcser, its valuable memorials
such rs the manuscripts of our departed patriots
and statesmen, aud the trophies gathered upon
the land and the ocean by our heroes.
To return to the action of the last days of
tine session. would mention in commenda-
ton the passage law by which the surviving
officers and soldiers Of all the wars in which
the United States have been engaged will re-
ceive bounty land: and in certain cases their
widows or children. The administration of the
l.W ,tos i; is nov :, law, having been signed by
the pre,ite"t,) viii absorb nearly 6O,00O,000
of tae punlic domain to those intended to be
heneftted, nr to SPECTATORS 1t will deprive
the government of any accruing revenue from
the sale of public lands for the ten Or fifteen
years to come The rules of evidence will be
such, no doubt, as to deprive, the departments
of the ability to issue warrants to cover. more
than 5000, 900 of acres per annum
Should this amount issue, it will bring down
the price of the warrants much lower than the
.,,,,,+ ,,.;.o, Gov III, Lon nd. and thuo ono