Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-02

complete this work but now bridges were need
ed to get to it. He deprecated the prey filing
wasteful system.
Mr. Preston said the gentleman had 5 an
lngy accused him Of log-rollng Ifthere was
any such thing il wss at the other end OF the
avenue He playfully and admirably likened
the position Of the gentleman from New Hamp-
shire to that of Joseph Surface in the comedy
This was one OF the most felicitons retOrts
Of the session
Mr. Washburn, Of Maine again urged the
claim Of Bangor
Mr. Hubbard responded to Mr.. Preston, in a
very felctous manner.
The amendment was adopted--73 in the af-
firmative, noes not counted
Mr. Benton submitted an amendment giving
100000 for the completion OF the custom
house at st. Louis He stated the recommend
alton had been made by the Secretary of the
Treasury. He explained that no stipulation
OF a restriction had ever been made with refer
ence to this building.
He regarded it as the wonder OF the age,
that our Government, which seems to have
money to squander should ever build an edi-
| fee to fall or be burned Mr. Benton spoke
OF st. Louis and it's rapid growth He was
listened to with profound attention The Gov
ernment is now paying in rents at st. Louis
| Here the Speaker admonished Mr.. Benton
that his time was up under the five minutes
rule, and he sat down amid a general cry Of
Go on ~
| Mr.. Houston read from the record, that an
appropriation had been made for the compile
| tion Of the custom house at st. Louis, to show
| that q restriction had been stipulated.
| Mr.. Benton said the gentleman had read an
old act, intended for kind of building not now
contemplated The old idea had been given
up; and since it had, and permanent buildings
had been determined on, no restrictions had
been stipulated.
Ten or fifteen offices Mt st. Louis would be
| accommodated by the new ediice, the rents Of
which were far beyond the interest of tho sum
expended and to be expended.
Thequestion upon the amendment was taken,
and decided in the affirmatiye--ayes 80, noes
Sc.
MIR. Riddle, Of Delaware moved an amend
ment appropriating $1,000 to complete the
custom-house ut Wilmington, Delaware in a
| fre-proof manner; and urged his motion in an
earnest appeal. His motion was decided in the
afhrmatiye--ayes SO, noes 81.
Mr.. Wade moved an appropriation Of
1925, 900 for the marine hospital ut Cleveland !;
during the consideration Of which, our report
closed
@.G Letter from Mr.. SllnontOn TO Mr.. Chaso.
SENATE GALLERY, Jan. 80, 1854.
Hon S. p. Chase.
| An act of inadvertence on my part seems to
have subjected you to the charge Of procuring
the publication Of the Independent Democratic
Address against the Nebraska bill, with the
statement that it was signed by majority Of
the Representatives from Ohio. deem it q
duty to state to you the circumstances under
which the mistake, for which you certainly are
not responsible occurred.
| Learning accidentally that an address on the
subject was about to be published, solicited
the favor Of proof sheets for publication in the
! New York Daily Times as matter of much
interest to large proportion Of the reading
public. With some difficulty obtained them,
and they were transmitted to New York be-
fore any signatures had been appended, and
before it had been definitely decided whether
the address would be offered for general sigma
! ture of members of Congress from Ohio, or
would be issued as the Address Of the Independ-
ent Democracy in Congress to the People Of
the United States
The document first reached the public
through the columns Of the Times. The even
ing before it appeared, you sent me the names
of the agners with the request that would
send them to New York by telegraph, for pub
location in their proper place, that there might
be no installing the quarter from whence the
document emanated. regret to say that I
failed to telegraph until 10 o'clock at night
when, as it subsequently appeared, the first
"form Of the paper had gone to press. That
FORM" unfortunately, contained the address
in question; and my dispatch was too late to
accomplish its object In the absence Of any
signatures, the editor had appended note
stating that the address was asigned by ma
jority Of the Representatives from Ohio" He
did this, ] suppose on an intimation | had
previously given him. that such an address was
about TO be issued, and irouid be 80 signed. |
had no authority, however, for that statement
and did not intend to make il, except as an OK
preston Of opinion. The error, which was a
very natural one, ID will be seen, was not com
mitted by you, or at your suggestion; on the
contrary IL occurred in the very face of your
efforts TO prevent it.
IL any one will take the trouble 10 look into
the Daily Times Of the cath instant--the issue
which contains the address--he will find upon
the editorial page the names of each of the
gentlemen who did sign that document--those
names taken, doubtless, from my dispatch.
Thus the error committed ON the page contain
ing the address is rectified on tho editorial
page, where il is stated, also, that the appeal
OF tnese inuepenuent DemOcrats " mhde 70 the
People of the United States.D
The New York Tribune copied the address
from the Iimts, errors and all and there can
be little doubt that the erroneous publications
elsewhere had the same origion. The Evening
Post of the 25th contained the address with
the proper caption and signatures
Trusting this explanation may be Of service
in removing the imputation which has been
made
am, respectfully and truly, yours
JAMES w. SMoNToN,
Woob,a of.. III NJ Y nu,I. T,,a.s