Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-01
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL

BURT, OF South Carolina, In the charl and proceeded
consider the bill making appropriations for the civil and din
omac expenses Of Government for the wear ending ,bs 1
| of June, 1852, and for other purposes.
Mr. BAYLY said that be should aeain the committee
with speech but he felt it TO be his duty to call the atlsn
on OF the committeeman particularly members who bsd h.
such since the adoption of the five minutes rule
he wished to make effort TO- suspend ito IN,
fact that unless this rule suspended they would not on,
be unable to pass all the appropriation bills but would no
be able to get through with the civil and diplomatic sppro
priation bill.
He had been handed statement to show how long had
taken get through with the civil and diplomatic bill unde
the five minutes rule after the general debate had been closed
At the last session Of Congress, when il known that
very late period before the bill taken up and
when the House worried out with the protracted session.
and when the day Of adjournment had been fxed the debate
on the civil and diplomatic bill stopped the 9th Of
August, and the bill did pass until the 9th Of thai
month"; making eleven days from the time the debate
stopped until they passed the bill under the operation Of the
five minutes rule. His recollection was, that from the period
of the adoption Of this rule down the present Time they
got through with the five minutes debate in less than
| ten or twelve days.
In reference the naval BILL the very last Congress- the
gentleman from Ohio, (Mr. VIsroS,) who constantly
appealing the House, he (Mr. b. now, could
get through with that bill in less than eight days under the
five minutes rule So with the army BILL After debate
stopped it, took four five days. under the five minutes
rule, to dispose Of it.
From this statement the House sec that unless the
five minutes rule suspended would be utterly impossible
tlemen pernacousy insist upon this rule would
in his opinion make themselves responsible TO the country
for the defeat of these bills and the necessity Of special
| sion, which would be inevitable.
II might be known that the five minutes debate
origin. For many years after he had been member
the House, there existed such rule and what he
proposing that under the press Of business and with
the short period of the session still remaining, they should
return to the practice of the House which had obtained from
the foundation of the Government He felt be his duty
make this statement relieve himself of the responsibility
of the failure of the public business if it should I'm
less this rule suspended and he spoke with perfect
confidence il would be impossible to get through with the
civil and diplomatic BILL much less the army and navy bills.
II very dsagreeable to him be in the attitude Of
seeming to dragoon the House but he could not help it,
He had duty perform and, dsagreeabe as it was to
him, he should continue to perform it.
Mr. McCLERNAND then obtained the floor, stating that
it not his purpose enter into discussion Of the bill
before the committee but TO offer remarks upon the bill
to indemnify American citizens for spoiaons committed
their property by the French proto 1900 He then address
ed the House hourn argument against the French
liation bill.
Mr.. STANTON of Tennessee, then addressed the COM
mee in favor Of the bill to establish line Of mail steamers
between San Francisco and China and for other purposes
Mr.. JOHN A. KING proposed to say few words in re-
ply to the speech Of Mr. McCLLRNAsD in reference to French
sPoaon and for the purpose of doing and placing his
views before the House reference to this question: he read
from paper entitled Brief why the sufferers from
French spoiatons prior 1900 should be Unidentified by
Government abstract Of the claim in the various phases
in which it had been presented for many to the Con-
gress Of the United States.
Mr.. MOORE said that he had desired to reply TO the
marks Of the gentleman from Illinois the French spolia
ton bill but the time allowed for the debate had expired,
he would take this opportunity write out what he had in
tended to say, and TO publish it,
MI. EVANS of Maryland, said that when they should
come to that part of the bill which related to the lighthouse
system of the United States he intended show the
mtee, though be apprehensve that be would not have
the time that this Government had the most inefficient light
houses in the world, and the illuminated, well as the
expensive 10 which there ought be saving of quar-
ter of million of dollars year. At the proper time he in
tended to ask them to adopt amendment for the improve
ment of this system.
The time having arrived at which the House had ordered
debate to cease
Mr.. BAYLY said that although he had heght to close
the debate this subject and very anxious to submit
remarks in regard to certain items in the bill, yet time
precious that he should orbear do and be there
fore waived his right
Mr.. MCDONALD moved to amend the item in relation TO
the mileage of MEMBERS that hereafter mileage shall be
computed by the nearest mail route and submitted remarks
in support of bis amendment
Mr.. STEPHENS of Georgia, moved to amend the amend
by striking out the word nearest and inserting the
word !" usual"
After few remarks by Mr. STEPHENS, the amend
the amendment agreed to- also the amend
men amended.
Mr.. FITCH proposed further amendment requiring the
mileage be computed upon the usual mail route reported
by the Post Office Department which was agreed to.
Mr.. JOHNSON of Arkansas moved to strike out Of the
bill the following
s'.9nd provided further, That such member Of either
branch Congress residing of the Rocky mountains shall
receive than thousand dollars mileage for each es
sion and such member delegate residing west OF the
Rocky mountains shall receive than two Thousand dol
lars mileage for each session shall member OF the
Senate receive mileage OF that body which may
be called within thirty days after the adjournment OF both
Houses of Congress- unless the travel for which such mileage
is charged has actually been performed"
The amendment debated by Messrs JOHNSON and
CARTER, and it was then rejected.
Mr.. JONES moved to strike from the bill that part Of
which related to the mileage Of members, and to insert in
lieu thereof the following:
That from and alter the passage OF this act each Senator
and Representative in Congress- and each Delegate from
Territory shall be allowed and paid four dollars for every
twenty miles travelled going and returning from the Capt.
ol each session of Congress- Propded That the mileage
shall be computed the which the mails trans
ported from the residence OF the member to the seat OF gov
and that Senator Representative, Delegate
shall be allowed receive mileage for session which may
in thirty days after the termination OF preced-
Congress- unless he has actually travelled the distance Tor
which mileage is charged"
Messrs. JONES and TOOMBs debated the amendment,
and it then rejected
M. HOLMES moved to insert in the bill the following
And for the publication of two thousand copies OF Wkess
Narrative and the accompanying Of papers, for dsbu-
ton among the members OF the 3 Congress and the differ
ent universities of the United States, $4,000"
Messrs. HOLMES, STEPHENS, of Geo., and THOMP
SON, of Mississippi, debated the amendment, and il was
rejected.
Mr. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, moved to insert an item
providing that enable the Smithsonian Institution TO publish
edition of Wilkess Narrative, and the accompanying
ferries of papers, the plates and epgravngs which have been
retained in the possession of the United States be delivered