New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-02

distance by the shortest Mail roase, s SET
forth in book Issued by the Post-Ofice De-
partment, with the amount of Mileage In either
case. This transcript and comparison we're
made. and the table they composed was printed
in The Tribune Of Dec. 22d.
Its appearancein Washington raised a storm
about nv ears of course, and the utmost bit
terness of hatred against me was eyinced by
large proportion of the Members. They as
sailed me on the floor with every vituperatiVe
epithet-how creditsbly or servicesbly to them,
the public has already judged. Pretexts were
diligently sought (but never found) for my ex-
pulsion from the House; and the very last effort
of the kind was that got up BY DR.. Edwards oil
Ohio (who had been thrown out of his seat
few weeks before on this very point OF Extra
Mileage-he having charged from his home In
Central Ohio around by Cleveland, Buffalo and
New-York, or twice as far as BY the direct
road) Mr.. Hudson had likewise figured IN
the Mileage Expose as charging from his home
in Worcester Co Mass around by Boston, and
he felt sore about it, Mr.. Darling figured In
the same list as having pOcketed some 500
Mileage per session more than the shortest
Mail Route would have given him. So DR..
Edwards got up the scene of which just so
much as suits its purpose is quoted by Ihe
Times, and brought in Messrs. Hudson and
Darling as his assistants. He called also Mr.
Putnam of this State, but Mr.. p. rose aud
stated that he could render him no aid what
ever.
Nov here is the exact and literal truth as
to the Book business
Congress has habit of voting to its new
Members a set Of Books, including the U. 5.
Revised Laws, Congressional Debates, DiPlo-
matte History, &c worth some $500 to 500,
and for which some 800 is paid out of the
Treasury. The ayOwed object Of this grant is
the diffusion of these standard works through
out the country, so that any one who may have
occasion to consult them need only ask where
the nearest x.Member lives, and he can either
find them at his house or be directed to some
Public Library, Atheneum, or the like wherein
he has deposited them for the use of the Dis
trict. Now | hold that such distribution oil
these standard Books is wise and proper
one-that they ovght TO be accessible IN every
part of the Country-and that, If they are so
deposited or held in trust for public use (as
the object has been set forth at different times
by Hon. Geo. Evans of Maine, Hon. Samuel
f. Vinton Of Ohio, and others) it is lawful
and laudabe use of the Public Money Such
was the drift of my share IN the conversation
with Mr. Hudson of which Mr.. Darling was an
auditor, and which is very imperfectly summed
I'D by them. Had 10 suited my assailants' pur-
pose 20 quote my responses to these gentle
men, | need not have made this explanation.
But il is perfectly notorious at Washington
that gross abuses have grown up in connection
with this Book distributing business-that
many Members sell the Books and pocket the
money-thet they often fail even 20 carry them
TO their Districts at all-and that some OF
them nerer sren take the Books, but sell their
claim 10 them to one Of the harples always
proving about the Hobbies aud pocket $3.50 or
$500. for which the Treasury is bled some
500, and no book stirred from its place The
iobbers pocket the $500 or $50; the Mem
Der bis proportion; and that is the end OF the
matter. And was reliably assured at Wash
ington that Congress had from time to time par-
chased more copies Of certain books dan 'cere
erer printed! Hence | resolved while hearth
y approving of the Book distribution accord
ing 10 its original intent and purpose, 60 vote
against it; and this was known TO those who
sat near me.
Well: the Deficiency bill came up while
was yet a novice in Congress, and vote after
vote was taken in Committee of the Whole In
the midst of noise and confusion which no.
body out of Congress or Bedlam can realize.
Question after question was put on motions to
amend, TO pass or to strike out this or that
item-the Chairman singing out, "All in favor
please TO rise. A majority up. --- Carried
the whole proceeding being good deal more
like a mock auction or a quarter-race than
like grave legislation. In the midst OF this
hurry -burly, Hon David Rumsey (of Bath,
N.Y. who sat next me, exclaimed with
chuckls, Greeley, you have voted for the
Books ''-he being aware of my intention to
oppose that item and regarding this as capt.
tai joke. l replied that l certainly had not
meant to vote for any such thng-that | had
not understood that the Book question was
pending, &c.-an which he knew as well as L
did. But the joke was too good to keep, and
| think he related it to others about us. Mr..
Rumsey's letter, explaining the whole matter
as above, was, some time during the following
month, published in The Christian Citizen,