The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-10

among officials arising as the gentleman from virginia.
seemed think. Here is "a man appointed TO periorm
these duties and able 90 pfor% them as presume o a.,
pensaticn is be allowed That Is the whole question
Ny friend says that there is wide difference between va
eancy and temporary absence Wei, let him enjoy the
Mr. LETCHER Suppose my colleague sick for a |
month"; and absent from his ,eat in this house that
what hold to be temporary absence, but no vacancy
Mr. SMITH of Virginia Not under the law But there
is vacancy here's and suppose it provided that
whenever member elected to represent particular district
this loor should be absent from his seat his Place
should be filed by another want TO know that would
not be real vacancy Win the gentleman be kind enough
to tell me what would be the condition OF things In thai
case2 Here represent ah adjoining district am bound
to be present in The sngs of this House during the whole
session. suppose am not here land InhaPpy members
very frequently absent from their places and suppose
there is provision that when member is absent the gov
of his State shall fill the place with another person
what then would he the condition of things? Will the
geasleSaau tell me2 would be glad to hear. Would
there not be vacancy until the place was hedY Ana
the gentleman from GeorgM has suggested we regular
ly in all convection proceedings appoint principal
delegate, and an alternate to take his place In cage of
attendance &c. likewise, in the of the PIesi-
dent of the United States as referred TO the other day
Suppose the President of the United States SICK and
incapable of attending TO his dnes wcad not the Vice
President be placed in the position 10 perform the high
duties OF that Office eyea in the lifetime OF the President
himself Look 10 the constitution, and you will find that
in the case OF the disability of the President of The Uni
ted States the Vice President may cae perform the
high functions of Chief Magistrate But had
such case, say gentlemen That Is trge but when the
Vice President goes into the presidential chair does he
nue TO draw the small sniary allowed to the Vice Presi
dent or does he get the higher compensation Why, we
all know that he gets the higher Compensation In the
case OF the lsented Hareon the Congress of the United
States In the exercise Of generosity aud justice accorded
to the family Of the deceased President full years salary
Tor ha months service. Now ask the gentleman in his
own words whether the big .h should be taken Of
and the mnnows left to themselves ask whether the
of the President and Vice President is strong
of owni President
performing the duties of President gets the salary OF
President Instead of the salary of $4,000 year he al
and ought not to be confined to the smaller salary This
is right not only because he has all the responsibility of
that high position but because he must sustain its state
ito character, and its responsibility.
ask the gentleman them how it is that he in reference
to the little appointments connected with the Treasury and
State Departments is willing to make such argument as
words appoint and authorize He says "you must dp-
point Secretary under the law. That Secretary will of
course, perform the duies But not so when man is
merely authorized" Why, thought that to appoint man
to office was to authorize him to perform its duties was
really OF opinion that when you appointed man to an
oficeo the presidency to adgeshp or to any other
placeyou authorized him, ermin to perform all the
duties eonuecd with the position Now ask where is
the difference between appointed as Secretary Of
State under the official seal of the government and
authorized to perform his dues during his temporary ABB
sence II Is merely filling vacancy. The gentleman ad-
mited the ether day that he would of allow to the
Vice President of the United States the salary OF President
when he fills the Office of President ask him If that is
not taking care Of the big fish and letting the minnows
take care OF Themselves" #
One of the points made by the gentleman is exraordi
nary. lie says:
elf you allow these cases, then you will have whole
batch Of claimants sweeping into this hall, and perhaps
| reaching the treasury" ~
have only to say in reply to such argument as
that that with my knowledge of the gentemans sent
mens OF justice was amazed TO hear it. Shall refuse
to do usce to because will set precedent by
which another may be authorized TO demand IL? No. sir
il right TO give this because OF the character of
his services end claims shall vote for it " justa
williDg3 perfectly willing to allow the mnnows to iced in
this great ocean, will do justice matter what may be
the consequence. If Inn wrong, hope gentlemen will
show in what my consists But do confess and it
may be that my obtuseness is to blame that cannot
the difference between vacancy and temporary abence
between an appointment to Office with all its legitimate
consequences and authority gwen to perform all its duties
There may be difference between the words "appoin
and authorize out in my judgment, in effect and have
experience to bear me out they exactly thu
Mr. Chairman am, for one DESTROYS of giving fair
and liberal consideration to claims upon this government
We overwhelmingly rich 1t is Of the great
est calamties Of the day that have full and overflow
ing treasury. But will go into argument that
Question
would deal with the claimants on this government in
spirit Of fairness and justice. ! would deal with them
exactly would with my creditors possessed of
an ample fortunes and In the cases under consideration
to refuse these claimants the salaries of the higher Offices
for the time they discharged their duties s in my opn
ion, all in conformity with the dignity or the judi
cious and enlightened ugaity of honorable nation
What is proposed to be given is only quanum meruh
-
have adverted to the mere technicaes made use of
by those who oppose these claims. My colleague Mr.
LETcHER has INDUCED ia them. | might quote Shuks-
peare on him. l might say, as Lady Macbeth said
"My lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth"
But he is emnenty beneficial to the legislation Of
the country His steady vigilance has prevented the pay
ment of many unjust claims In this case however
beg to differ with him. insist that morally and legally
called on to pay these for performing the i'm
porant function already stated the salary of the higher
position which they temporarily filed good
why should call upon these chief clerks dis
charge these extra and heavy duties gatuitousy Would
the gentleman from Louisiana Mr.. TAYLOR who comes
from the sunny South, where they liberal and gem
erouswoud he be iberal and ungenerous enough to
fuse these compensation for duties faithfully and eff
GENTLY discharged .s# N".@
| Mr. Chairman, having thus unexpectedly and hastily
stated my views OF the pending question, yield the
| floor. .,..
Mr. TODD moved that the committee rise
| The motion was agreed to.
So the committee ose and the Speaker having resumed
the chair Mr. NICHOLS reported that the Committee Of the
Whole House had according TO order had the private cal
eudar under consideration and particularly bill &C. c.
No s. for the relief OF Michael Nourse and had to no
resolution thereon
Mr.. TODD moved that all debate in Committee Of the
Whole Hou:e the bill for the relief OF Michael Nourse
be closed in ton minutes after its consideration should be
again resumed.
Mr.. STEPHENS Will the gentleman from Louisiana
Mr. TAYLOR who rep red the BILL be entitled to hour
In committee 10 close the debate 2 iEu,
The SPEAKER. lie viii. aeHs .
The motion agreed to.
Mr. TODD then moved that the House resolve itself into
Committee of the Whole the private calendar and de-
handed teers on that motion. ~
Ieroxy nrdo md /