Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-28

days. II the provision is proper one at all is Just as
proper to say within forty days, fifty, sixty days Yes
s and so much the more proper because there is much
longer time within which they may have an opportunity
do this travelling, important the nation and yet they
have contumaciousy refused do it, Therefore, the longer
the time. the more proper certainly that member should for
felt bis mileage for default of travelling.
sorry, really sorry, that provision in this BILL
is bad enough that members of this body should be subjected
to the assaults Of demagogsmn every quarter Of the country;
that sumps should be mounted and that twopenny
papers should be engaged in endeavorng make capital by
attacks upon members Of the Senate by Of their mileage
an extra session. That is enough quite enough but to
have the members Of the House of Representatives for
ward and take sides in this assault quite much Per-
NIT me to say, hat while would be willing enter into
nvesugauon OF TINS subject upon proper occasion and IN
proper manner, l. for one, will be willing TO submit to
such an attempt as the present interference with the
pensatlon OF Senators, established by law.
Mr. CLAY. hope may escape the impuaton Of dema-
gogsm IN the expression Of opinion of the most decided
appreciation OF the provision which is proposed to strike
out Sir differ entirely with the Senator from North Caro-
lima on the subject Of the allowance for mileage. It
tered into the mind Of Congress that mileage part of the
compensation for services rendered here II intended to
defray the expenses which member might incur in travelling
from bis home to the seat of government At the time was
first fixed at six dollars for every twenty miles it not at
all unreasonable The of facilities for intercourse
dered proper that should be fixed at that amount at
that period And even in l8lS when The power of steam
was not used both upon and land 1t is now, when
they received eight dollars for every twenty miles travel it
was proper allowance. But owing to the great alteration
which has taken place In the locomotive powers Of in
consequence of the facilities Of intercourse which have
think the sum is higher than il should be. But there
intention on the part Of the House, in this proposition,
to disturb this allowance. The Senator from North Caro-
lima says that the House has not shown proper Of deli
cacy towards the Senate because the Senate alone is 10 be
operated upon by this provision Cases arise in which
the House may be affected by it also. There may be ccum
stances requiring call of session of the House Immediately
after the close of session. at
Mr.. BADGER. That makes the indulgence the more
proper. se
Mr.. CLAY. differ entirely. We are legislatng here
upon common subject and each House has right to
slider of what may be proper and necessary in respect to the
other The honorable SENATOR in the of his observa
tons this morning, remarked that ftwenty hundred dol
lars added what he receives both for per diem and
mileage would be inadequate for his expenses for year.
Sir if this is the case recommend my friend to practice
little Of that economy which would like to introduced
more extensively into the operations of the Government His
situation reminds of anecdote which beg pardon for
relating voted for that compensation bill and that
cason addressed audience which in favor OF all the
provisions Of the BILL who be the recipients of the al
lowances made. Then every body pleased with the
Speech every body pleased with the speech which
the honorable Senator from North Carolina has made this
morning And happened to say what my friend said, that
at the end the session could not make both ends meet
Some time afterwards travelling with my family in the
State Of Pennsylvania and recoec incident that occur
red at Unontown. was in my carriage and for
venence happened to have four horses not very expensive
horses to be sure though they looked very WELL and were
quite pert My broherin-aw, Mr. Brown, also travel
ling in company with me, with his carriage, and his estab
lishment was much finer than mine. While we stopped at
Uniontown stepped into conectioners shop, near the
hotel purchase articles for the Of the children and
while there the carriages driven by the shop and boy
standing by me- not knowing who said to me, Look
at that look at that have you any thing like that
in these mountains before It is wonder that fow
make both ends when he such carriages"
Laughter Now, my friend from North Carolina incurs
little expense than is absolutely necessary when he
ques addition oftwenty hundred dollars to the liberal
allowances made US here. have nothing more to say.
But the proposition revive the practice Of constructive
mileage Sir without desiring to give offence to the present
company would say that in my humble opinion, per-
sonal abuse Of the privileges which pertain member Of
Congress, they exist under the present Government
greater than that growing Of constructive mileage will
not into technically Of the law The principle Of mileage
was founded upon the actual travel That is the basis
travel, real supposed, in every Neither in suppose
ton n'realy there be any thing but travel to form
the basis Of the allowance for mileage members Of Con-
gres These my individual opinions and express them
without intending to reflect upon any other gentleman who
has taken different view. They convictions which is
impossible to eradicate from my mind shall therefore vote
with pleasure to retain the provision made in the House Of
Representatives that terminate this system of
tive mileage
Mr.. BADGER. am extremely obliged to the honorable
Senator from Kentucky for the advice which he has given
me in regard TO the regulation of my domestic but
SOme
relation 10 the subject which, in my opinion he would
do well to follow.
choose when come here to bring my family with
choose to be at home here's do choose for eight nne
or ten long months of year live myself in place,
and to have my family in another. bring them here
live where have to live. cheerfuy admit that could
live here at much less if choose deprive myself of
the privilege of asking friend dinner, and to cut myself
off from the enjoyment of all the domestic and social rea
tons of life. If to live here alone if were to refuse
myself the exercise Of that reasonable Of hospitality
which, without osenaon extravaganza, accustomed
to dispense at home, freely concede the honorable Sena
tor from Kentucky that could live upon less than
now do and perhaps upon less than my page but that is
mode Of living do choose. This subject, however,
on which every gentleman Judge for himself For my
SELF while am not knowingly profuse, trust shall always
be liberal, while have the of liberay at my
msnd.
Now Mr. President to return from this Short but neces
DEPRESSION about personal matters the question before
the Senate The honorable gentleman from Kentucky
ceves that constructive mileage Of the greatest abuses
ever practsed and he considers it clear and undenabe
proposition that this allowance for mileage made for the
purpose Of covering the expenses of actual travel The ho
noabe Senator certainly has much right to entertain and
express his opinion any other differ from him.
however, in both particulars; and may be permitted 10 say
that at distant day in the past every member Of this body
with the exception perhaps Of or three entertained the
opinion which enteran and not that which the honora
Bile Senator from Kentucky has expressed.
This question has been consideredfuy and ably consi
deredby gentlemen who had personal interest in what
The late Vice President of the United States (Mr
DALLAs and the late Attorney General Of the United States
M JoHNsor,) and may add that both by the latter and
the former gentleman the opinions which entertain and
ing, my understanding absolutely conclusive will say
Also that gentlemen members of This bov If the h;uhees