The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-01


all its parts is not gennane TO the bill c,; - 4.
The PRESIDENT That is not ior the Char 10 De
eide. -,.,.. :, o,d.,
should be raised upon this amendment What - It's Cd
iecl To test how far that responsibility OF which 70
much has been said during mrs debate wi pss ssnJ
ment has for its object TO impose upon Tue treasury
partmsnt the obligation OF bringing to The notce OF me
people the true condition OF the country, AS anected ~
means of appropriations like those contained IN mus OIL
and have doubt that those who have 30 boldly iscso
the consequences OF this bill tonight VIII not Ieeeus
before the obligation which this amendment imposes upon
the department OF letting the people know where the es
lies and how deep is. That is my object am ready
to abide by whatever share of responsibility may have
which have pursued upon considerations OF expectancy
alone, should not have been counted amongst those
to the last to defeat it, by supporting all the amendments
which may be offered to effect that object But me oppo-
si,ion which we have directed against thus bill was
founded upon principles Of consitutionay; and our
duty to the last stand those principles which
we have endeavoed TO defend, and TO avail ourselves OF
every means left power in order TO crush those at
temps by which the bill before is made the vehicle OF
the most unblushng corruption that was ever attempted
under free government Our object has been 10 bring
10 the notice of the people the true situation OF the coun
Try with respect to the appropriations which this Dill
intended TO carry out ask the yeas and nays on the
amendment
Mr. FOOrE. Mr.. President, regard this amend
ment one OF very great Importance II Is ample In It's
provisions, and, in my opinion, exceedingly wholesome,
and calculated most conservative effect upon
the country. Sir the proceedings which have been oc
curing here for several days past ought to admonsh US
do believe from slight examination OF the page Of his
tory regard 10 such matters as this that such proceed
have occurred here for the last two or three days
have desecrated the annals Of any civilized coun
try before Such attempt as has been made here. so
long continued and with perseverance worthy OF al
cause 10 force upon areuctant Senate crude IN
wholesome, ndigested, unconstitutional plan OF egsla
ton, involving millions of the public money, has GER
tainly never been witnessed before AT time when the
10 puase he q BIZ
thrust upon which is the result OF compacta regular
arrangement for obtaining the votes of nney-odd mem
on for the purpose Of local improvements there being
double understanding that the appropriations thus applied
should also have the blessed effect of converting dema
ing in the country, into something like the sembance
Of statesmen. Sir, challenge gentlemen TO show
me parallel to this in the history OF any civilized
country. There is nothing in the history Of Greece
or Rome or of the mother country Great Brittany like
this There is nothing, in my opinion, in any former
legislation upon the face of the EARTH marked with
enormity az this plan which is thrust before 1t is
fraudulent diversion OF the public revenue for unwhole
some purposes measure communicating to the public
tons, and to consgn to hopeless dsced great people
people OF noble origin and lofty aspirations, and who
entitled 10 hope to transmit the noble inheritance
which they haye derived from their ancestors TO the
hottest poserity All this is proposed mature scheme
of legislation, and in opposition TO every other meas
ure however impeoasy necessary for the safety OF
country Gentlemen willing not only to impoverish,
but TO bring upon the verge OF bankruptcy. They
have almost avowed their Willingness TO stop the |
wheels of government, and to deprive the President and
his cabne, OF the OF performing the ordinary func
tons Of the government.
The whole course Of proceeding for the last foryeght
hours has been marked by spirit of dictaton which
we'll calculated to excite Indignation Adult two hours
ago honorable senator got up and delivered himself OF
certainly the most extraordinary doctrines ever heard in
repehensble, in my opinion, than that which was
preached by that senator. He solemny undertook to
preach sort OF funeral sermon upon those whom he
imagined to be dead and buried already. And what did
he say in that will not undertake to partieu
ariZe but be said in one instance, Why, il is the
most extraordinary thing in the world thai gentlemen
should make amendments TO the bill Why don't they
come vote" And several senators around him saId,
" Yes why don't they" Sir, the doctrine imbodied in
tina, nterrogatory certainly the most extraordinary
tina, ever came from the lips OF Christian that has
pretended 10 egisate, in any age of the world What
does i, meant Why, il means this, and nothing else:
bill is 10 be introduced into legislative body; and how
ever absurd it may be, however dangerous in its
dency, however repugnan its provisions though be
long as the most extended volume TO be found IN our
library and full OF nonsense you must vote either for
against il at once Really had thought that the bust
of legislation had TO some slight extent, approxima
ted towards perfection had supposed that, among the
civilized nations OF the earth, some OF the principles OF
paamen ary proceeding necessary to the perfection OF
bills before they assumed the solemn character OF law
the
ness OF law-making had supposed that when bill
brought up, IT was the business OF every man who
happened 10 De member OF DOuy 10 IL
print them for that purposes is IT not our duty to
examine and scrutnze them for the purpose OF ascertain
ing whether not they ought TO pass in their existing
shspel But according 10 this phase OF the higher
law" doctrine, Legislation must absolutely be confined TO
voting atirmatively negatively on each proposition with
any being permitted to strike absurd provision
a dangerous principle from the bill Sir, conceive
TO be my duty look into every bill that is introduced
and examine il from end TO the other. Being
in,rusied with the functions OF legislation conceive
to be my duty 10 that correct legislation is adopted
and that bills which brought forward here should be
properly dgested and put into reasonable form, with
view of mparting TO the legislation OF the country Dig
nifty and efficiency, without which the whole business OF
law making instead OF being beneficial and sauary
mschievous and huTtful
Blu, am sorry 10 see that many senators here do not
think They seem 10 suppose that we have only 10
look upon bill and then vole IT, either Tor or against
told them thousand times that did not wish to come
upon this proposition in it's present shape because
contains many provisions 10 which we are not ANXIOUS
10 give our sanction We ANXIOUS to put IN opera
ton system OF in regard TO internal improve
menis in accordance with the constitution OF the country
upon that subjects and while do that we anxious
that the system itself, which we give TO the country,
should be worthy OF the dignity OF the legislative body
which it, and OF the country for whose benefit
is passed These the doctrines we have held forth
from the beginning and whether senators satisfied
or with the amendments, they are such "a we deem
important and necessary 10 the perfection OF the bill For
myself have declined for some time offering any amend
ments leaving il TO others TO offer those which are
deemed indispensable to give that character to the BILL
without which. law. il must be utterly mschie vous
in its operation. say that mysef have determined to
offer further amendments. still adhere to that De.
termination, Notwithstanding had occurred to me that
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