Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-29

am ready abide whatever share Of responsibility NAV
have assumed and predcated the course which have
sued on consderatons Of expedency have been one q
those who have stood up here 10 opposition this BILL and
who ready TO the last to defeat il by all the facilities
which could be afforded them TO affect that object But The
opposition which have directed against this bill being
founded upon principles of constuionaiy, bound
to stand up to and defend those principles which had
assumed, and to avail ourselves OF every left in our
in order crush and bring tho ground those items
by which the bill before is made vehicle of the u-
biushing corruptions that attempted under free
Government The object Of the amendment is to bring
ne notice oftas people the true situation Of the country with
respect to the appropriations which this bill is intended
~ out and lhopet will be adopted ask the yeas and
nays on the question.
The yeas and nays were ordered
Mr. BELL. Mr.. Presidents will not say one word
upon ths subject if there is prospect of coming
now, OF any Senator in opposition desires speak the
merits OF The bill desire to decision. beg leave
TO say that think the honorable Senator from Georgia (M
DAwsos did represent the friends of This bin correctly
and properly in stating that, when 1t was moved oil the
business OF me session, which had priority was dsresarded
10 order % take II up and that the friends bill declared
their determination that every other should fail I'M
less this succeeded heard such from auy
friend Of this measure upon this floor eewhere All thew
asked was that there should be deliberate and fair e1
preston OF the opinion of the Senate upon the BILL Nor was
there any disposition preclude the obrDg discussion Of
and voting upon amendments If had been their temper "a
exercise such tyranny the body they had not the pow
nor 40 feel that would be doing justice to the members
Of this body who favor the passage of this bill say that any
of them had any such disposition 1t has been said that this
bill made TO Overay other that had precedence
What it that had precedence Of this bill,
/ Mr. FOOTE. The civil and diplomatic bill.
Mr.. BELL. ask the Secretary what time the
civil and diplomatic bill reported the Senate and at
what time this bill reported that may know which
bad precedence want to know which bill had precedence
according to the regular order Of the business Of the Senate
IN fho
that and then want gentlemen to stand by their assertions
Sir this bill and the proceedings Of the majoriiy in favor
OF have been denounced In every term that gentlemen
been pleased invent and employ may characterize an
improper motive and vicious measure wish to test by
facts and If the enemies of the stand before
the country in this Of denuncaon the facts of the
They have had hours expose what they
call the enormities Of this bill and may say truly that all
friends Of this bill who have spoken have occupied
than that time Some gentlemen opposition have
spoken three and four times very briefly either several
OF them ndugng free discussion Of the general principles
and merits of the BILL and others critical examination Of
particular items believe the honorable Senator from Georgia.
DAwsoN who speaks in tone though he acted upon
higher disinerested, and patriotic motives than other
members Of the body has honoed with his views upon
the subject twice thrice He sometimes founded his sug
gesons and remarks upon the real Of the case but
other times resorted freely to his fancy and imagination
pose what he denoinated the enomes combinations, and
corpting tendencies of the misunderstanding with empha
upon the peculiar circumstances under which is brought
forward. Gentlemen who have spoken two three, and four
times upon the BILL have been the oudest in complaining that
they have not had opportunity Of examing the BILL Why,
within the twenty -four hours during which II has been dis
cussed they have had twenty-five hours investigate the
BILL not in regard its general principles ony but in regard
to particular and selected items and those which, in their
opinion they could make the most Of before the country
Of questionable proprety and 6 to be incorporated in the
BILL wish to know which measure had priority accord
ing to the orders and rules Of the business and proceedings Of
this body want to hear reported from the Chair at what
time this was introduced and what particular
a CHI hash
clude Let whether we, who have been listening
patiently and voting consistently TO bring this
the test of final decision, to be justly subjected to the
denuncations which have teen hesped upon Can the
Secretary report what time this bill presented to the
Senate 4v
The PRESIDENT. Theseeretary will state
The SECRETARY. It appears from the minutes Of the
Senate that the river and harbor bill reported the 25h
of February
Mr.. BELL. When was it sent from the House and
referred
The SECRETARY. On the 10th Of February.
Mr. BELL When was the civil and diplomatic bill re-
ceved from the House, and when it reported from the
committee ,
The sEcnErARr. It appears from the signature Of the
Clerk Of the House of Representatives that the bill making
appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses Of the
Government passed the House Of Representatives the 18th
Of February. 1t referred to the Committee Finance
on that day, and reported the 2Sth February.
Mr. BELL. So the civil and diplomatic bill reported
three days after the river and habor bill reported by the
committee and notice given by the honorable Senator
from Massachusetts, mr. DAVIS, who reported it, that he
woud call it up the earliest moment But for his dispose
ton not TO obsruc other important business he would have
called up Immediately This bill had strictly precedence
priority of the civil and diplomatic bill With what pro-
prey, them be said that this bas been forced
upon the Senate Of ORDER and made to overay other
measures which were entitled to be first takensup!
How honorable Senators speak Of this measure
which they have had no time investigate and discuss
The general principles Of this bill have been discussed
nualy for twenty years in succession believe the discus
sion commenced in 1884,; that for almost thirty years. in
fact the general principles connected with this BILL and their
tendencies have been familiar to every public in the
United States speak positively as 10 all the items
of this BILL but most of them old acquaintance to the
older members Of the Senate. They familiar acquan
ances of mine for the last twenty years. Nearly all OF
them have been surveyed Appropriations have been here
ofore mode most Of them and the work partly executed.
This is the nature and history Of the which ia de-
nounced being sufficiently discussed and when the
enemies Of the bill have for twenty hours at this late
Rod the present session been permitted to discuss it's gene
raj features, as well as its detas-
Mr.. CLEMENS. wish to ask the Senator from Ten
nesses, if be tell where hs habor Of New Della
ware. is 4 &fta t.7
Mr.. BELL donot know that am sufficiently acquaint-
cd with the geography of every secen to designate the par
an appropriation for such harbor in the BILL not think
there Is liz
Mr.. CLEMENS. There is appropriation for the har-
Dor Of New Delaware but my knowledge of geography does
not extend to it. tt
Mr.. BELL There harbors provided for in the bill,
of which the Senator might inquire of me the precise loca
tion and which may be unable to point TO enumerae
by lake Ontario, lake Erie, the lakes
of the northwest, with which not sufficiently familiar