The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-19

10 Richard ii. weightman for mileage and for per diem
as senator elect from New Mexico s2,A60
am authorized to offer this amendment by the unani-
nous concurrence Of the Committee Territories
delegate from that Territory who here at the same
time with Mr.. Weghman, was paid and how II happened
that Mr Weigbman not paid cannot understand.
He wa. elected a upon the presumption that New
Mexico would be admitted into the Union as state and
travelled from there to Washington city with that expeca
ton delegate came here at the same time. One was
paid the other conceive that according to
the practice of the Senate Of Congress- IN such cases
Mr. Weightnan Is equally entitled to be pad with other
gentlemen who presented themselves under similar circun
stances Whatever may have been committed by the
people Of New Mexico and however dcusye may have been
the expectations under which he made his appearance here
Congress thereby discharged from the obligation Of
payment in this case when it has paid all other delegates
similarly situated fyou should pay the one why not pay
the other2
Mr. HUNTER II seems to me that this is dangerous
precedent establish to pay senator elect from Terri
tory when that Territory may not be formed INTO Stae
for long time 10 come If this is to be allowed may
all the Territories be eecting senator's and sending
them here2 :,
When Minnesota left without government her peo
pie sent agent here and we established government
for them and paid their agent Oregon being left without
any government sent Two agents we eslpsea i ~, gov
way, and paid him New Mexico being LETT without
any government at ALL At the same time that California
formed State government attempted to make one OF her
own and her agents here We have paid the delegate
whom she the House but we have not paid the gem
tlelnan whom she sent to this body When we admitted
the time they here We have paid every territorial
agent except this This amendment is only 10 put
him equality with the others It was an oversight
or il would have been done before.
Mr. CASS. feel very fayorably disposed towards the
amendment il il is proper; but wish TO ask whether
there another agent from this Territory?
Mr. DOUGLAS. Yes, sir.
Mr. CASS Then viii not vote for this. The New
Mexican authorities ought TO have known better than to
send two here They ought not TO expect US TO pay TWO
delegates for them One has already been paid and am
not willing to go further.
Mr. DOUGLAS If the senator will allow me, viii
state that Oregon sent two ana paid them New Mex
leo sent one 10 each house and paid the the
other house. but not the sent to the Senate Il was an
omission at the time when paid the one for the House
We paid two for Oregon
Mr CASS. Why pay two?
Mr. DOUGLAS. Only because and did
service and expended their means in coming.
Mr. CASS Was there q contest
Mr. DOUGLAS. No, sir.
Mr. CAss. think il is fair TO pa one; but am not
willing 90 beyond that We did this Mt first for Mime
and allowed the delegate 10 take his seat though
not regularly elected but the people Of Territory TO
go further than that and send senator here without
kind Of grounds for it, am not willing TO agree TO IL
Ar. GWlN. think the senator from Illinois Mr..
DoUGAs did not state the fully Two senators were
elected from New Mexico--one came and did not
The delegate who sent the House received there
and paid
Nr. DOUGLAS The delegate was not received, be-
eye; but he paid after the formation Of territorial
government He performed service, and was paid
Mr. GWIN. After the territorial government was or
ganized, he took his seat il ] remember rightly.
Mr. DOUGLAS. No sir; not at all He went back for
reelection.
Mr. GwIN. he was not reelected; and that delegate
came unless under his first election.
Mr. CAsS Mr., Sibley, Of Minnesota, was one Of the
hnt
Mr. DOUGLAS. Two eame from Oregon; one was
ceived, but both paid Two came from Utah they
were not received but they paid. Besides, at the
time when New Mexico sent these agents here the policy Of
the existing administration TO encourage the people
there TO form State government and they had right to
suppose that they were TO he received a California was
h.F4 his and
expended this amount of money but he sent back
As you have paid all others do why he should
not he put on an equality with them lie certainly in
CURED all the expenses 1t oversight that it
not brought forward then had charge Of the other APP
popaton and brought into the Senate and adopted
This did not happen TO he my hands at the time
should have offered IT.
The question taken on the amendment; and there
wcre-ees II noes l9--no quorum voting.
Mr. BADGER am very certain that this matter is not
understood by the Senate they certainly would not OBJ
ect TO paying this gentleman know very well the
son why the payment made before. Ny friend
from Tennessee Nr BKJ remarked that It
sight u was not overght but when this very appro
priahon moved 10 former bill by Of the senators
from Georgia [Mr. DAWSON, now present II re-
cea IN the Senate BY one vote and that vote was nine
voted against II upon the ground that the honorable
stor from Texas Mr.. RUsK indignant because at
that time the State Of Texas claimed New Mexico being
part Of her rritory that attempt should be made
the part of New MEXICO TO establish constitution h
State and send her representatives here As my friend
from Tennessee well remembers then engaged in
and wished add fuel 10 the flame of excite
and opposition which then existed in any quarter
But IL recognised believe univ verally In the Senate
~ a Just and proper allowance
Under the circumstances should deeply regret that my
vote given that OCCASION for that very reason should be
the means Of preventing this being paid now New
Mexico undertook form State constitution and under
that attempt she elected this body elected
member to the other honsc The member sent to the
other house paid W that house The person elected
rs senator 70 this house not paid by this house
That Is the whole matter Now, should be glad TO see
Whist possible ground there bc TO made dtreoce in
this case II seems PERSONAL u seems nyidous II cam
not he the amount of money. do NOS WHY different
should be dealt this gentleman from what
was dealt out 70 the gentleman who attempted under pre-
csy the circumstances 70 represent ths supposed
assumed State IN the other house OF Congress.
Ar PRATT, wish 10 suggest to the senator from
Tennessee the proprey Of altering the phaseology Of his
amendment by striking out the words senator elect and
inserting agent something Of that sort This gen
ueinan might have been sent here agent but
ne was not senator aud cannot vote 10 pay him rs q
senator
nj BELL lie was just as much senator "a was one
s honorable gentlemen who presented themselves here
I'm Sahorna but still defer to the wishes Of my friend
pe, ,asliand, and am willing 10 let the modification
nhN, o. suggests tc made can SEQ possible differ
hssn ye.~sn proposition TO pay this gentleman and
t ~ pFen done IN three four other cases Certainly
ns,s u no oh'rence IN principle There may he some
PJt salstug With gentlemen the ground that he Is
- ~ fue amendment senator elect 2 but the
uu.h = N nc as not senator in fact and therefore
presume WIN We consent Of The Senate that alteration
IN ne maae ~ him be stated az an agent sent hy the
Territory of New Mexico -
w BkoWN Then win suggest 10 my honorable
rom tennessee that It will be entirely without pro
ceuent Tor he win be the first agent whom VI have psa as
uCFf