The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-11


MIR. McMULLEN said he understood that the
watchmen receive five hundred dollars year each.
Why not let them live fat and full
Mr.. GORMAN replied. the question answered it.
self.
Mr.. HALL asked why the salaries of all the em
ployes Of the Government should be increased, and
not the pay of members Of Congress, whose
penses were much larger.
Mr., GORMAN said the gentleman's mileage
he coming from the State Of Missouri-would pay
for half the messengers and clerks in one OF those
Departments.
Mr.. HALL The mileage of the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. BowIE) would not pay for
| one of them.
Mr.. GORMAN. might answer by saying that
he goes home and practices law. lLaughter;1
| Mr.. DEANS amendment was then agreed to
| ayes 49, noes not counted.
MIR. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, proposed to
| amend the section under consderation-that
| twenty per cent. be added to the per diem or
monthly pay now received by all employees of the
| Government, In any branch Of mechanics
common iaborers. He said he had been sitting
patiently and witnessing the various amendments
offered, with a view Of increasing the salary Of
| everybody save the man who labors and pro.
| duces-the man who wears the hue of the shop
the dust OF the held-who 10 10 never thought Of or
| cared for except two occasions. When the
Government needs money by taxes it calls on this
description OF persons, and also when il needs per-
sons to fight the battles Of the country. But when
money is to be voted out Of the treasury without
stint, they arc not thought Of They work in your
navy yards, forge your anchors. build your ships,
and use the broadaxc, the chisel, and the maet,
and labor not five. but ten hours a day. for dol
lar and half or two dollars for that space of time
| Thee men have not time. nor can they afford,
even had they the disposition, to besege Congress
| and assume the attitude Of imporunate suppliants
for an increase Of salary. In behalf of these men
| be asked where was the eloquent voice of his col
league. (Mr GENrRy,) which was powerfully
exered for the clerks; and said, let the laboripg,
| producing man come up for once, and have little
chance at the spoils. They are equally meritorous
| thn fNrx tab . Lat.
Mr.. GENTRY replied: He did not claim to
| possess the eoquence to which his colleague had
alluded; but whenever and in all places. in every
case, whenever cause shall be presented which
addressed itself to his sense Of justice and right
whatever Of eloquence he possessed was at the
vice Of any meritorious man, whether high or low,
rich or poor, employed in the departments, in the
| army, navy, or navy yards, or elsewhere. He did
| not cure where q man lived, or the nature of his
employment, whether his friend or foe, agreeing
differing with him in politics-show him that the
cause was just and right, and whatever of eoquence
/ he possessed might be commanded.
| MIR JOHNSON said his colleague, he knew,
| would bear him witness that by offering the amend
ncnt he meant nothing personal; and knowing
his colleagues impulses, he made his remarks to
cal! attention to the fact that there other per-
sons worthy of being included in the generous
| provision.
| MIR. GENTRY regarded the amendment Of his
| colleague assault on the section pending,
and not offered to commend it to the approval
| of the House. So far individual motives 60, he
(Nlr g y knew that nine-tenths OF the persons TO
! he benefited have been denouncing him for the
last six months. Scott Wings, in many instances,
| daughter, j and some Democrats. The appoint
mcnt Of one clerk from his county constituted the
| only patronage from that portion OF Tcnnessee-a
young man who is ready to fight any man in Con
gress who gives him cause; and who ia ndcpcnd-
ent, and brave, and willing to lose his office On a
point of honor [Laughter]
Mr.. JOHNSON would merely say, in reply to
the remark that his colleagues Constituent WAS
| y w lvh n m " he
j. did not assume that attitude. He belonged 10
| the peace party
Mr.. GENTRY. So sol.
| Mr.. JOHNSON was understood to say, II your
constituent is independent and the salary is not
enough why does he not resign his office?
Mr. G ENTRY replied that his constituent was
| young man and can live. He did not suggest
that the person alluded to wanted to fight his col
league but had merely spoken OF his disnlerestcd-
mesa. [Laughter.]
The amendment Of MIR. JOHNSON was then re-
Mr.. CHANDLER spoke on the general merits Of
the subject under consideration, and replied TO
Messrs FOWLER and JOHNSON.
| MIR. SHELTON opposed the proposition, saying
it was not generous TO take the money of the PEG
pie to pay the contemplated increase of salaries,
aud that there were not nine hundred and ninety
nine men in a thousand who earned five hundred
dollars year Ii these clerks cannot live on what
they now get let them leave, and larger mum.
Der of competent men be found to do more
work for the same compensation.
out all in the proposition after the provision for
those who do not receive over and under a thou
sand dollars. He inquired whether he had asccr.
tanned the precise difference between the size OF
the stomachs of those clerks who receive one thou
sand dollars and those who received sixteen hun
dred Laughter
Mr.. FOLK, lin a low tone You'll find it in the
! Patent Office report.
MIR. CARTIER. The physiological fact ought
to be ascera ned. If those who receive thousa nd
dollars require only twenty per cent more, it
was equally clear that the sixteen hundred dollar
clerks have had their fill, and little over He
willing to take it for granted that the honor
able mover Of the amendment had based it on
the relative capacities of the stomachs Of the
CLERKS. daughter ]
MIR. BOWIE advocated the increase of the Gala
ries; and when he concluded his reina rks-
Mr. CARTTEn's amendment was agreed to
ayes o. noes 81.
Shortly acr, point Of order was raised, to the
effect that the vote last taken was null, nasmuch
nothing said about thousand dollars in the
amendment OF Mr.. GENTRY. Pending this qucs-
ton the committee rose.
| Mr.. HOUSTON offered a resolution, that de-
bate, under the five minutes rule, shall cease in
half an hour AFTER the House shall again go into
Committee OF the Whole on the state Of the Union
on the General Appropriation bill He invoked
gentlemen TO pass 1t, as but sixteen working days
of the session remained.
Several o! jec,ons made to the considcra-
ton Of the resolution at this time
| The House then adjourned
| PETITIONS, ETC.
| BY Mr.. VIM. APPLETON: The petition OF the
| Humane Society, Boston, Massachusetts, asking
tina. life boats be placed in various places the
| coast Referred to the Committee on Commerce
| by Mr.. ROBBINS: The petition OF George l..
| Asbmcad nnd number Of other citizens Of Phiu
drpha, Pennsylvania, asking Congress to so mod
lily the act Of September 49, 1850. t. give to each
| person intended to be benefited thereby, and to
sealnen AMI marines who served in said war, at
least one hundred and sixty acres Of land
| IMPORTANT DEcisIoS.- One Of the most impor r.
tant Judicial decisions ever made in this State, as
| respccts the supposcd amount involved, was de-
! elared the week before last by the high court OF
| errors and appeals. The decision rendered in
| the Of Coulter and Richarda, executors, &c :,
Us William Robertson. trustee OF the Commercial
Bank OF Nntchez. buttwcnty one other cases were
resting on the same points and follow the ad.
| judica'icn The amount altogether involved is
| over half a million OF dollars The facts and dcci
sion are briefly thesc: In lSi5 46, by Judgments OF
the circuit court OF Adams county and OF the high
| court, the charter Of the Commercial Bank was de.
clarcd forfeited and Mr.. Robertson nppoin led
tee to collect ts assets for the purpose Of yng its
cfcditors. This duty he has been performing with
great diligence and fidelity. In the cases before
the court plea was entered that the trustee had