The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-29


Mr.. Chairman, believe khaye concluded what | have
to say upon this subject Te other thoughts that
intended to have presented 10 the House but in this
running discussion between the gentleman from Massa-
chusets and myself my order Of discussion has been
somewhat deranged and now yield the floor.
In the debate the following cooquy took place
between Mr. Campbell, OF Ohio and Mr.. Letcher:
Mr.. LETCiIER. / should suppose from what heard
ON the other side this morning that my friend from
Ohio In a small minority particularly TO bank Of
the United States for interrupted by sort OF 81
muaneous rising mp upon that side of the House in oppo
sltion TO United States Bank and what supposed was
dead and gone my friend from Ohio Is trying to
rect and get upon its legs again
Mr.. CAMPBELL. l giving Mr.. Buchanan the
credit of resusctation.
Mr.. LEICHER. II seems To a strange way 10 sup
port man by marching under the flag of his oppo-
nentswhe his language Is for him. his hand Is against
him.
MY friend called upon me TO know whether / In
favor Pacific railroad do not TO discuss that
now Perhaps shall have opportunity 10 do 40 here
after. But tell him now that am opposed to It.
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Then your hands are against the
President and defending him against your as
Mr.. LETCHER. wel sir, going against that
My friend from Ohio calls upon me to say In
what solitary instance item of appropriation was passed
by the last Congress which not recommended by the
President of the United States.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Or by the departments
Mr.. LETCHER. have sent after the documents, and
the appropriation of $40 900 to the Kansas in
vesgaton and the incidental expenses growing out Of
it, Neither the President any member Of his cabinet
recommended anything of that sort
Another fact the gentleman will recollect When the
President in his veto upon the river and harbor bill
there was gentleman in the House more absolutely
shocked at the enoity OF such an outrage upon the
part of the President in seeking to control the legislation
of the country than the gentleman himself In fact,
never the gentleman, usually COOL so much excl
ted He said there revolution going ON, and when
suggested that it bloodlcss as yet, thought he
was about to make it personal matter with me-
Again there the bill approprating $500 900 for
ship canal at the Southwest Pass When the veto came
in il was overued by this House, and am inclined to
think that my friend then chairman of the Committee
of Ways and Means, voted for overriding it, too
Mr.. CAMPBELL am against vetoes, and on the oo-
casion referred to democratic Senate and House was
with me.
Mr. LETCHER Then there was an appropriation for
deepening the St. Clair flats in the State Of Michigan
which the President vetoed.
Mr.. CAMPBELL Yes; and about the same time he
approved another bill of similar character for the i'm
proyement OF creek down South, called the Tape
Fear. /"
Mr. LETCHER The gentleman cannot change the
issue with me He asked me to point to an appro-
priaon Of the last Congress which not recommended
by the administration and said that as member OF
the Committee Of Ways and Means, could not meet the
issue successfully Now when meet the issue, what
follows? The gentleman turns round and the Pres
dent did sign things Did not the gentleman vote
for those river and harbor bllsy
Mr. CAMPBELL Nearly all of them, believe.
Mr. LETCHER The amount of those bills thus We
toed, handed to me by my friend from Mississippi is
S7s5 900.
Mr. CAMPBELL Ny friend is mistaken in saying that
the river and harbor improvement not recommended
by the department
Mr. LETCHER Who recommended itf
Mr. CAMPBELL The Secretary of War, believe
sent in the estimates.
Mr. LE'TCHER should like to see the recommends
ton According to my recollection neither OF the nm
provements recommended by the cabinet There may
have been inquiries addressed to the department by nd
vidual members to the cost of particular improvements
and the department may have furnished the estimates
upon application. But to recommendations give us
the recommendations and let where they ask the
Congress Of the United States to pass such bill and a
ply the money Of the government in that way.
might go and instance other acts passed over the
President Veto and each of those bills though bearing
the certificates of the Secretary Of the Senate and the
Clerk of the House. to give them binding force is des
tute of that significant word 'drproted y
Mr. CAMPBELL. say to the gentleman again that
every single appropriation that reported by the Com
mite of Ways and Means predicaed upon the rec
concentration of the executive departments With re-
gard to the improvement bills am not so thor
oughly posted for the gentleman knows full well that
had enough in committee room to keep us busy
but do know what / witnessed with my eyes. 1
know that these river and harbor bills voted for by
the gentleman party in this House.
Mr. LETCHER Some of them, to be sure were voted
for by gentlemen this side of the House l do not
pretend to gsnsay that And take pleasure in saying
here now regard to the action of the Ways and Means
Committee in the last Congress- that there was harmony
in that committee and that when bills report
ed to the House. they conformed to the estimates bn
they were shngled afterwards by amendments put
here by and by another that could not control
Some put here, but vast majority put
in the Senate.