Washington sentinel., 1853-12-16

arc not au,norizcd 70 speak, certainly the legisla-
ture Isl and the Legislature has repeatedly spoken
and said she will not cede jurisdiction.
Mr. CAMPBELL said that was a more logical
way of answering the question of power.
Mr. GIDDINGS, !by permission Of his colleagueI
inquired, whether, II we should get the land, the
gentleman intended to extend the Wilmot proviso
over it. Laughter.
Mr.. CAMPBELL replied, he had understood
from some limitations which had been thrown
out, that probably the Union will soon again be
endangered, and he did not know that il could be
better saved again than at Mount Vernon.
Mr.. BAYLY reminded the gentleman that he
stood on preci ely the same ground assigned by
his colleague, (Mr. LErcHER.
Mr.. CAMPBELL said he did not understand
the gentleman referring TO the action of the Vir
ginia legislature at all but only TO the delegation
in the house. The resolution provides that the
Secretary of the Interior shall make the purchase
of Mount Vernon, if Virginia shall be disposed TO
cede her jurisdiction over the territory. If she
does not cede jurisdiction, matter of course
no difficulty will grow out of the passage Of the
resolution. Inasmuch as il is n matter of com
plant the world over that the tomb of Washington
is neglected, and the beautiful grounds which he
cultivated are overgrown with brambles This OF
itself appeals TO the national legislature in favor of
some steps being taken to purchase Mount Vernon.
Mr.. YATES was in favor of buying the property
first, and then applying to Virginia for the cession
ofjursdiction. There is too much patriotism i'm
the Old Dominion to deny this The fame Of
Washington is the nations. He wished Mount
Vernon 10 be the property of the government,
where every American can make his pilgrimage,
and pay lifting honor TO the character and services
of the Father of his Country. He did not agree
with his colleague, (Mr. Bssell) He did not care
if the estate comprised thousand, or four thou
sand, or million. of acres; he would have the
money Of the people poured out in the purchase
OF the ground, as a boon to the American people.
Mr.. RICHARDSON opposed the resolution,
and no amendment would cause him TO vote for
il. His colleague (Mr. Yates) was for pouringout
the public money He expected that the gentle
man, while canvassing their State illinois, would,
if the power TO purchase be authorized, allude TO
it as matter of prodigality on the part of dem
ocratic Congress. He had heard these things be-
fore, and expected to hear them again. Suppose
we buy Mount Vernon, did not the same reason
operate to purchase the battlefields on which our
liberties were won? Voices "No" ano."l And
would not the same reasons apply to purchasing
the residences of all the Presidents whose memo
ries we cherish?
Mr.. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, inquired whether
the gentleman did not vote for an appropriation of
money 10 pay for the equestrian statue of Jackson
Mr.. RICHARDSON did not remember.
Mr.. CAMPBELL thought that the gentleman
thus voted.
Mr.. RICHARDSON resumed. He did moi see
the applicability Of the question. If any mans
name is immortal in history is that of him who
gave to the world the Declaration Of Independence
II there was reason for purchasing Mount YER
non, there was as great a reason for purchasing
Monticello.
Mr.. TAYLOR advocated the resolution. He
thought it due TO the gentleman from New York,
(Mr. SAGE) that the proposition should be referred
to q select or TO some other committee to make
the inquiry. If the committee and the House
should reject the resolution, there the matter
would end.
Mr. BlSSELL opposed the passage of the reso-
luton in its present form, being averse to confer
ring the monstrous power to one man to purchase
Mount Vernon at any price he might be pleased
TO pay for
Mr.. SAGE, in supporting the resolution, said
he was aware of the unwillingness, on the part of
the Legislature of Virginia, TO cede her jurisdis-
ton, but he had hoped and still hoped, that expe
rience and the lapse of time would modify her
opinion. The people Of New York had shown
their love for Washington by purchasing, through
their legislature, the Headquarters of the distn-
guished chief at Newburgh; and he believed the
object of the resolution which he had to-day offered
was in accordance both with the people of New
York and of the country.
Mr.. YATES replied TO his colleagues, (Messrs.
Bissell and Richardson,) and explained his posi-
lion by saying that he would expend money free
!y not extravagantly, to show respect for the
Mr.. CLINGMAN suggested to the gentleman
from New York to modify hia roselasien - ..
inquire into the expediency of purchasing Mount
Vernon, so as TO be used In manner consistent
with the public interests, and with due regard TO
the memory of George Washington.
Mr.. SAGE acquiesced in the suggestion.
Mr.. WASHBURNE, of Maine, made a few re-
marks in favor OF the proposition.
Mr.. DISNEY said that after the display Of SYM
pathy for Washington and enlarged patriotism,
gentlemen, TO some extent, must feel relieved.
Supposing that the House were perfectly salts
fed, and that there was disposition to proceed 10
work, he moved that the House now proceed 10
The business on the Speakers table,
The motion was agreed 10.
crnarp3c
The bill from the Senate regulating the disourse-
ment of the contingent fund of the Senate, and
Tor other purposes, was taken up, when
Mr. MACE moved that the sergeant arms of
he House be placed on the same footing as the
Secretary of the Senate with regard TO the dis
place its fund in the possession of broken banks
Mr. HOUSTON said precisely the reverse if
his was the intention of the bill.
II was referred to the Committee of Ways and
Means.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
The House next proceeded to the consideration
,fthe bill from the Senate, prescribing the manner
# appointing the assistant secretary Of the
Treasury.
Mr.. EWING moved that the bill be referred to
he Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Jnion and assigned his reasons for making the
notion. He believed that it was the desire of the
House andt the country that the the Secretary
'houiu pC "uNoHSCu oPCHiy3 Hot ny Inc BucIHla1
node. Let the good national democrats come out
With true courage. Mr.. Guthrie is the best Off, q
Whole band, and that gentleman might exclaim with
'alstaf, "vilanous company has been the spol If
me-" [Laughter.l He is an honest, reliable. and
courageous man. He has been forced into the
New York arena; but all have thcir faults and
weaknesses. In the language of rogberry, ato be
well-favored man is the gift Of fortune; but read
ng and writing comes by nature" [Laughterl It
nd therefore Mr.. Guthrie may have been unforti,.
ate He felt for him as Kentuckian. ILaughterl
The bill did not assa the Secretary of the Trea-
ury directly, but indirectly, through his assistant.
lie did not know but what he would himself enlist
. the war, if hosttes should be declared against
he administration. [Laughter.]
Mr.. HOUSTON had noticed the res tlessness of
is friend from Kentucky for seversi days, looking
with great deal OF anxiety to he democratic side
! the House, IN the hope tbat little war would
pring up IN that party, As the gentleman had
ot seen war as sorn as he expected, he now
.lenP'ea &c, 20 .hro" fire-brand among the demo-
rats. Inc geD,,eman was welcome TO his with
,<,n ,,ipa fha IA bn