Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-12-25


with reftfehce to the amount due, ",
should, therefore, delay yet longer, ane
continue The examination of the claim.--
Now, the committee, it is true, did differ
with reference to the amount; but tha
difference as understand, was merely the
consequence of mistake as to the amour,
due, and that has been recited
Mr.. Letcher. 1t was not a mere mistake.
The gentleman from New York Mr.
Ptckhanl thinks that the amount should
be ST., 070, while the gentleman from Ohio
! Mr.. Corwin thinks it ought to be 800
51361.
Mr.. Kerr. IF. however, tire gentlemen
| who had the matter in charge made mis-
take, the chairman Of the committee de-
tected it before we are called upon TO act
in regard to it, and relieved the House from
all possibility Of being involved in the err
ror.
Mr.. Letcher. II, my friend from North
Carolina Mr.. Kerr] vii! allow tne TO in
terrupt him. ! would say that he will find
besides that the interest is calculated at
seven per cent, instead of at six.
Mr. Letcher would like to know of
my friend from South Carolina one thing
He says that this report has been here for
eleten months. Above all other things.
wruld ike to konw whether my friend
from South Carolina ever saw or read the
report in this case before to-day?
Mr.. kei,t. will answer that question
in this way. The report was submitted
last Febrdaay, and it has been upon our
tables since then. Ii was read at the
Clerk desk. If ! did not read it was my
fault. If did not hear it read, it was my
fault; and shall not come here and ask
the members Of this House who my have
done their duty, to suspend the public bus
mess Of the country, because had not
done mine
[Gr,es Of Good - " Good !''l
Mr.. Letcher. NV friend has not read
the report in this case and he has not
heard It read and yet, by a sort Of intui-
tive power that | do not possess, he has
come to the conclusion, without any
knowledge dfoti the subject at ALL that
this $780, ought to be paid.
Mr.. Keitt. 1t is only $66 600.
Mr.. .etclef. When comniefced tkis
controversy here to-day, The amount claim
ed was s90,5l3, but reduced it to $780,
600 by correct ting the figures Of the gentle
man from New York, Mr.. Peckham.
My friend oughtto be obliged 10 me fol
that reduction.
Mr.. Peckham. By changing the mode
of calculation.
Mr.. Leteher. Changing tie mode of
calculation The gentleman first ealcula-
ted the amount at seven per centum, and
then calculated it at SIX per centum; but
take it that this difference of one per cen
tum will no; make the amount of s22 900.
II may be made out by arithmetic in Al
baly, but certainly not in Virginia. All |
have asked in this matter was. tand
think there is reason IN it,) that this matter
should not be pressed to vote to-day, es-
pecially when the fact is considered by
the House that there ere not ten men upon
this floor who have read the report in
this ease. If there are let them rise in
places. and say that they have either read
or sasn it. Now, in this state OF the case,
gentlemen standing here in total ignor-
ance of this matter get up and proclaim TO
this House that nobody should be heard,
and when any person rises. his ears are
assaulted by cries of question: question:!
from those whose ignorance is most extra.
ordinary III regard to this case. came
here TO vote uadeIstandingly about THESE
matters.
give. perhaps-as think will be aa-
mitted by the House generaly-as close
attention to those reports as any member
upon this floor bu: yet, 81 far as am con-
cerned, have not had time to read the re-
port in this particular Gaze. When | ap-
pealed to gentlemen who are in the same
condition to give us time to read il, and
the opportunity TO do so, in order that
our votes might De placed upon the proper
ground, the reply was no. When my
colleague Mr.. Milesn asked for further
time to consider this matter, what was the
result A deliberate purpose to force a bill
about which no one knows anything
down the Threats Of the members Of this
House. without al opportunity for exam-
nation. Let this thing 60 to the country.
Let gentlemen's constituents understand
it. Let them say VIII ether they approve
the conduct of their Representatives, in
voting away the public money, without
": tuC iuNto StutCN III tuC tC-
ports presented to this House. That is
all ask:
| hope now the committee will rise /;
and | think in,eres: enough has been ex-
cited in the case BY the discussion to-day
to induce gentlemen to look into it, and
between this and next Friday inform
themselves in regard to lis merits.
Mr.. May. | wish to make one remark
in reply to the gentleman from Virginia.
recoect very well that once when this
case was called up it was, upon an explana-
tim made by the honorable gentleman
from New York, MIR. Peckham, post
poned and laid aside, in order that the cor
rec,ness of the figures might be tested
some Of the gentlemen of the committee,
and others who had taken an interest in
the matter, not being quite satisfied that
the figures were right. | remember !
protested, to the gentlman from New York
against the injustice Of such delay, and
said it was the duty Of gentlemen Of the
House, who wished the delay to consider
matters OF such importance. to have inves-
tigated it before. 1t seems to me. with all
respect to the gentleman from Virginia,
thai the friend, of tins bill have been pa
,ent enough in its slow progress. and es-
pecially when we know that the claim is