The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-30
In THE SENATE OF THE U. STATES.
ECIAL SEES SION.
MONDAY. MARCH IS, 1853.
IN CONTINUATION.

I'm cokIIRuATIok.l
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Mr. JAMES introduced the following resolution; which
was considered by unanimous consent, and adopted
Rssousd That the Secretary of the Navy requested
inquire whether IL will not be advantageous the govern
Newport Rhode Island and that he report to the Senate at
its next session.
WITHDRAWAL OF PAPERS.
MIR. SHIELDS asked leave to withdraw from the files
OF the Senate The papers in relation TO Col Milley which
was agreed TO.
ROBERT BEALE,
Mr. SHIELDS. | ask the Senate 10 take up the reso-
luton providing Tor the payment OF the salary OF the late
Sergeant at arms OF the Senate for the residue OF the
year, which was lad on the table The other day. on
motion OF the senator from Virginia, lMr MAsos,l IN
order TO 60 into executive session,
The resolution accordingly taken up. II is as fol-
lows:
Resolved Thatthe Secretary of the Senate pay Robert
.e Sergean-at-aun The salary for The residue Of the
present year
Mr.. SHIELDS. hope there will be no opposition to
this resolution II there is none do not wish to say
word in relation to it, The only object had in intro
ducng this resolution is THE Mr. Beae has served IN
the Senate with great fidelity since have had the honor
10 have a seat in this body, and has done every
thing that officer do in my opinion, TO make
himself useful to the Senate, and TO senators. He
has been removed without any notice. II is well
known that there has been any specified term set
Tor The service OF officers Of the Senate and the removal
sequeny been left in the midst OF years service with
considerable OF property on his hands, which he Will
OF course be unable 10 dispose OF to any advantage TO
himself Ii there had been term OF service specified or
understood, as, for instance, four years, each offcer
would, when elected know that he was subject to re-
mova at the end OF that time, and the would then
be quite different from what il is now. But there Is no
definite term OF services and when officers OF the Senate
elected, they considered almost holding their
place for life 1t is true that the Senate had perfect
right TO elect another person in the place OF Mr. Beale
IN N has ia Ham
late officer who has discharged his duties IN The Senate
faithfully TO be thus Unexpectedly thrown out OF our
situation. trust The resolution will pass without oppo.
sllion.
Mr. PETIT. am opposed to this resolution for
the reasons stated The other day, and shall mol trou-
bic the Senate to repeat them now. II seems to me
without precedent and without proprety We have dis
missed the officer who held his office by tenure created
by, and dependent upon, the will OF the Senate. The
Senate have expressed their will They did not want
him longer and why ne should be paid Tor any longer
time than he performed service am totally unable 10
shall ask for the yeas and nays on the passage OF
the resolution.
Mr. WALKER /. too am opposed 10 this resolution.
II ought not 10 be adopted. 1t is by adopting such Teso.
utioHs this that constitute presidents Tor almost
everything that can be considered as grauhy. NOW,
any senator in this chamber tell me upon what pTln-
cple this allowance should be made TO Mr.. Bealc Up
what principle sit proposed pay him his salary for
almost year alter he has been discharged think no
once can state any good or plausible ground upon
which such allowance should be made, except II be
that stated by the from Illinois, Mr. SHIELDS
And is that good one Have we displaced an ofhcer
who is left destitute and pennlless and without any
means OF supports Not at all. We have exercised the
privilege that belonged 10 the Senate OF eecng Ser
geant- TO supersede Mr. Beale but we have not
left Mr. Beale in destitute condition. or without, ANY
means OF support by any means HE'S not le as UNDER
stand it, in The condition OF bel pless poor oce- holder,
who has been suddenly turned out and taken totally
by surprise. We shall have in all probability IN every
department OF the government cases which Will excite
our commseration much more than this and why
he leyis q
up with equal popriety other OF persons TUNED
out of office Unexpectedly, or by surprise and left with
out any employment, 10 fall back upon Why not vote
years salary 10 every clerk of department who is re-
moved, as well as TO the late Sergeant at-arms OF The
Sena,ef Sir it is bad precedent, aud your treasury
would not be able 10 bear yhe appropriation that woald
be required IL you should carry out the principle hope
the Senate will not set an example in this case which
will lead TO such abuses. We have paid Mr. Beale as
officer OF the Senate, and we have eced successor
who is 10 discharge the duties and receive the same
pay. -
MIR SHIELDS. II the senator will permit mel do
not to 60 into this subect-but will state this II
il the end of term, and this officer was removed
and elected, il would be very different thing
The Sergeant is compelled 10 procure stabiing
forage, and various other preparations connected with
his duties an officer OF the Senaie and the additional
allowance which propose to make viii not hall COM
pensate him for the loss he will sustain by being re-
moved What s the allowance proposed 10 be giveni
His salary is only 81 500 year. at best and this resou
ton only proposes 10 give II I'LL the end OF the sca year
Here be is, left 10 dispose OF the forage, sabling, and
various other things, which be had prepared In order to
discharge his duty this body HIS horses and carry
alls left his hands Why, sir, IN my humble opn
ion-and am not going to argue the case-,here are
strong grounds for equitable claim. DO not say tha
The Senate bound TO pay this money but say ibais
equitable and just that he should be paid Tor the loss he
has incurred
MIR. WALKER | think | understand the senator's
argument well enough sorry that this last matter
has been brought up Sir, feel little disposed TO say
hing which might be hurful TO the feelings OF MT
Beale any senator upon this floor, but must mention
TACT IN connexlon with this matter since thls allowance
based upon the ground OF expenses which have
been incurred in providing forage stabling, &c. Not
long since procured from the Secretary OF the Senate,
whose duty II had been made TO furnish II, information
that during year, embracing the long session OF Con-
gress, there paid 10 Mr. Beale Tor services OF his
horses and carryas upwards OF IS 900. Sir, the Com
mee on the Contingent EXPENSE OF the Senate have
been making Their best exefons to reduce these charges
and feel constrained 10 say TO the Senate that IN
defiance OF that committee he employed his extra horses
and carryalls, and when refused to allow him com
pensaon Tor them, he logged us iron one end oil this
Capitol to the other 10 get US to pay Tor he extra service
And within the last hive or SIX days he has been
doggng me 10 get to my influence as member oil
the Committee Contingent Expenses TO allow him the
last batch OF charges for extra service oil horses and
canyalls. These the last things IN my opinion that
he should be paid for, and hope nothing more will be
said upon that matter ground OF claim Tor additional
allowance Indeed TO speak plainly the less kat ~ SAID
about, it the better for should be extremely sorry IT, IN
justification OF my and that OF the Committee on
Contingent Expenses, should feel obliged 10 bring forth
other matters that may be found in my desk
Mr.. SHIELDS. SO far a. am concerned the honora-
BILE senator may bring forth what be pleases ! know
nothing about what the Committee on Contingent Ex-
penses have done made charge against that honor
able committee far from IT, presume Mr.. Beale never
got any money out OF the contingent fund that was not
allowed him by The Senate Whether II was allowed
him by the committee or not know not The Senate
must have supposed that the money paid Tor some
L cannot