The daily union., 1852-09-05

month His friends on, claim that he was here week
IN each month Put II al week For that we paid
him 81 500 year II now seems that he has hfen un-
fortunate, and has lost his life is that any reason why
we should put his widow upon The civil pension list
aud pay her for services which he rendered Has
ever been done before' L there solitary precedent
r anything OF the sort Did not the honorable senator
from Massachusetts himself make speech against pre-
ciselg such a case And why are we now not only
asked TO pay for services which Mr. Downing never
dered but 10 pay for eighteen months service after he
was dead
A SENATOR Not so much.
| Mr. CLEMENS How much
a SENATOR Eight or nine months,
Mr. CLEMENS Well, The principle IS the same ii
| il were but one month or one week. Why pay his
widow for services which he could not render and did
not reDderl He was here upon competent saary--a
salary which gratfei hm-which he was glad TO accept
and now we are required not only 70 pay that although
il is admitted he did not render the service, but we
required pay him for eight nine months service after
hs M was dead saeh @ case was pevs hsafl o. beiars
for the yeas and nays on the amendment
Mr. SUMNER. The laborer is worthy OF his hires
and believe al this moment there is no question of
charity to the widow OF the late Mr.. Downing. The
smi lie proposition is TO make compensation for services
rendered to the United States by this eminent artist
petntendent of the public grounds n Washing on. And,
since the plans he has lett behind and the impulse
he has given to improvements here by his ncompar-
able genius will continue 10 benei: u.s. though he
has been removed, il is thought reasonable to continue
his salary 10 The close OF the unexped year from which
commenced These plans alone have been valued at
$5 600, and TO have the advantage Of them. In
pursuance Of these his successor will be able to pro-
ceed arranging lbe public grounds and in embelsnng
the national capital without any further expenditure 10
procure others instead Thus as said at the outset, it
is question of charity but OF compensation and
this ground submit that the estate OF the departed artist
deserves the small pttance which il is proposed 10 sup
ply For myself, should be much happier to vote for
larger appropriation believing that, and above the
services actually rendered in the discharge OF his duties
these plans amply worth it, and that shall all feel
better by such recognition OF our debt
IN, hap liz ,nJ, tad ~
to regard above Mr. Downing. AT the age of thirty
he has passed away, "dead ere his prme"ke Lycda.,
also sretched watery rleavng behind reputa-
superior to that OF any other citizen in the beautiful
department OF art to which he devoted His labors
and his example cannot be forgotten. know oi
among us, in any sphere of lie, young he at
his DEATH who has been able perform services OF such
true, simple, and lasting benehcence. BY his wide and
active superntendence OF rural improvements, by his la
orally, he has contributed essentially to the OF hu
man happiness And sir, by practical services here
Washington, rendered at the call OF his country, he
has earned II seems 10 me- this small appropriaon--not
charity TO his desolate widow but as compensation
for labor done hope the amendment will be agreed 10.
Mr. CLEMENS am glad that Mr.. Downing has
found advocate in the senator from Massachusetts,
Mr.. SUMNER because that satisfies me that am
trely night in opposing this approximation What has he
said, He has told that evidence has been submitted
to the Senate OF the extraordinary capacity OF Mr. Down
ing. What evidence have we had
Mr. SUMNER; Evidence Of his services and plans
evidence have we had private letter here from
private man and who is there in this country low
that cannot S. and is By his ~ d Office a.
mitted OF his extraordinary capacliys None. But sup
pose we had the most conclusive evidence OF his
pacity, is that any why we should go beyond
The limits OF duty and put his widow on a civil PEN
SION list for il amounts TO thala II we intend 10 es
tabsh civil pension list, let us establish il openly.
Ii we go beyond the bounds OF the amount which
we agreed to pay him, and pay bis widow for civil
services, who there the land that may not apply for
the like assstance Who is there that may not ask that
HE ha viIed Tho af
the United States and where these appropriations TO
end Who is to pay Tor them finally? They must come
from the pockets OF the people; they must come from
your constituents sir and mine; not from those oil the
senator from Massachusetts, Mt SUMsERl because his
manufacturing constituency, and we pay them
bounty They get the benefits OF all taxes levied by the
government am not at all surprised that he wants taxes
levied by the government His constituents get them.
You and sir, have 10 pay them, and II Is very mate
rial difference between Sir, insist there shall be
economical administration OF the government That
senator told today, in one OF the most Infamous
speeches that were made anywhere, that he was
democrat deny IT. tie never had particle oil de-
mocracy him None OF that breed democrat,
and you cannot make democrats out oil them But he
said he was democrat II he is he is opposed 10 this
extraordinary expenditure OF the public money. We are
all opposed TO IT, because who live n the country and
have to buy our clothes, and only send occasionally
pound OF meat barrel OF TO market, have 10 pay
all these duties They get them insist that this one
of the most extraordinary propositions that hayeeg been
made TO Congress insist that Il is great deal more
extraordinary than that proposition which opposed
by the senator from Massachusetts on my right hand,
Mr DAvIsl who has the fortune TO be gentleman,
which bis colleague Mr. SUMSERl has not
Cries of q Order 70 +" order ="
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senator must not
indulge 10 such language.
Mr. CLEMENS I insist that we have not had before
US proposition extraordinary that one which is
now made. We called upon TO do-whatf To pay
he widow OF public officer who got money than
he entitled to any how who got az 500 year for
few days service In month"; 10 pay Tor nine months
service after he was dead Such thing was never
heard Of before II is worse than that civil pension list
upon which the from Massachusetts, Mr. DAv1s
dIscoursed so eloquenty the other day. | am willing
pay the lu amount Of salary up 10 the day OF Mr. Down
ing's death, although II was extravagant and out
rageous contract He ought 10 have had It,
than entitled TO- Still il contract. and
am willing abide by the words OF the bond, but be-
yond that do not intend to GO
The call Tor the yeas and nays was here withdrawn by
Mr. CLEMENS.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. | had formed very high estimate OF
Mr.. Downing. think he unequalled in the line of
his profession, and man who ornament 10 his
country His death really public loss and misfor-
tune Sill, IN consequence OF this fact. this
examplehis precedent OF continuing the salaries OF
public officers alter death. Ii commenced with Presi-
dent OF the United States. This, believe, the second
instance OF II. III Il be ngraied on the country,
incorporated 10 its policy there will be stopping polnt
for IT; and consequently feel bound to resist such an
appropriation
Mr., WELLER This is new Office which never
heard OF before desire information OF some senators
as TO the time II was created.
Mr.. CLEMENS II never was created
Mr. WELLER. Rural architect - never found
socb an othcer IN the Blue-b desire TO know who
appointed the officer
NJ r~I- n