Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-09-26
SPEECH OF MR.. LETcHER,
OF virginia. -.

VA 4AEStnIds f.tH3s.S 4sE5ef1s =
In reply to Mr.. Simmons. of New Yorl
on government expenditures 8 delivered
in the House of Representatives, Augus
IL, 1856.
Mr.. Chairman, there is part of the re
cord of this Congress which has beer
made out tonight by the gentleman from
New York, (Mr. Simmons. and pro.
pose now to furnish my part of that record,
as / think it should be complete before
this session closes. My friend has enter.
tanned us with speech this evening
which has been characterized by more
than his usual ingenuity. He has under
taken to demonstrate that the governs
ment has grown extrayagant and prodi-
gal in its expenditures that they have
been increasing from year to year until
they have become absolutely frightful in
his estimation. Now, sir, in order to make
the record complete. Intend to show that
my friend, and those who are associated
with him, are much more censur able for the
expenditures than any other gen tlemen
in Congress. The appropriations have
been passed by their votes, aud upon them
rests the responsibility.
The first specification is, that the ex-
penses of the judiciary in the States and
Territories have. within the last three or
four years. increased to an amount almost
Incredible. The fact is so, sir. The gen
tleman has told you the truth. He will
recollect that, some years ago. when the
present bill regulating the fees of mar
shals, clerks, and attorneys was intro>
duced into this House, opposed its pas
sage upon the ground that it removed all
the restraints upon excessive expenditure
that then existed, and the necessary re-.
suit would be greatly increased expen>
diture to carry on the operations of the
federal courts. That was my prediction
then. and experience has proved its accu.
racy.
Mr.. Simmons. Does the gentleman
mean to say that introduced IL?
Mr.. Letcher. do not but the gen.
tleman is now in the third year of his ser.
vice in this House, and he has not yet set
about the reform of these judiciary abu-
ses. He ought to have given us on this
subject the benefit Of his practice at an
earlier period and. if he had done so. we
would most probably have been saved
from his theories tonight.
How is it in regard to another item OF
expenditure incurred during the present
session of this House The gentleman
from New York has voted to pay every
man who has come here contesting the
seat OF a member in this body. II mis-.
take not, he has actually voted to pay per
diem and mileage to ono contestant who
did not profess to come here in accor-
dance with any law, but came here in de-
tiance of.all law, and claimed, not that he
had obtained more votes than Mr.. Whit.
field. but that Mr.. Whitfield had not been
duly and legally elected. Mr.. Reeder
never claimed that he was, fairly elected
in a contest with Whitfield. He never
claimed that he went before the people Of
Kansas under any law whatever. de
claimed that he went there as a candidate,
on his own hook and after that election,
which was held one week later in the or
der of time than the regular election, he
came forward and asked the House 10
oust Mr.. Whitfeld-not, however, l i'm.
agine. with the remotest idea chat he
could raise eighty men in this hall who
would vote to give him the seat. What idea
he may have had in regard to getting the
money out of the treasury, if he chose to
come here to spend the time in a contest.
do not know nor do know whether
he has charged per diem up to the day
that Whitfield was ousted. He certainly
was not here more than one third of thetime
during the entire session and it seems 10
me that while my friend from New York
is talking about taking care of the public
money, he ought to have ascertained
whether he was voting pay to Reeder for
more time than he spent in actual atten~
dance Oh the House.
AS it stands now, what is the state OF
the case ? Ny friend has actually voted
to pay him for the time he was employed
in stumping the States of New York, IL
linois, and Indiana. preaching resistance
to the laws of the land, and raising ge.
neral disturbance throughout the country
in behalf OF free Kansas. 1t does seem
to me, considering his age and expert.
ence. that his practice is wretehedly bad
His theory. however. would pass mustet
tolerably well. Laughter.
Let me illustrate this case. Suppose
in the old, settled, conservative State o
New York, and in the district which my
friend represents here with 90 much abif.
ity, some lawless. dissatisfied politician. 4
week after the regular election had beer
held. not content with the result, should
determine to be candidate, and, at al
election agreed Upon by mob, should re
ceiye some thousands OF votes, and thel
come here 70 contest his right TO his seat
aud eighty eight southern men SHOULD
vote to put my friend out. and put th'
contestant in what would be though
OF such an outrage? What inyectivel
would he not indulge in against the son
thern shareholders :? And how could ",
sustain ourselves at home. and Justify on
] rntes In snch a caaa To ntir CON stitrienfs