The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-29
CONGRESSIONAL /.
SPEECH OF HON. MIR. LETCHER,
or VIRGINIA

On the treasury bill delivered in the House of Rep
resentstives Monday, December 81 ls57.8I3 81 3
Mr.. LETuHER. Mr. Chairman am very glad to
learn that the somewhat distinguished firm Hopsos
JONES, Co.'S likely to receive some important acces
sions We haye heretofore been charged with being very
lberal in votes and whenever any proposition has
been brought in here which thought proper TO oppose
gentlemen the other side have regarded our opposition
sufficient ground for voting in favor Of IT. hnd,
now that the gentleman from Maine MIR. ABBorr has
upon platform and that he has commenced to
lecture gentlemen upon the subject of extravaganza But
there two things In connexion with that lee
ture which struck a little remarkable The gentle
tells that in his town, In Maine the government
has expended vast deal OF money unnecessarily, and
that 1t has somehow other been connected with news
paper establishment existing at that place Now, sir
the officers unnecessary If their salaries ought not 10
be paid If it is progacy and extravagsnce to have the
officers why does not the gentleman signaze his advent
here by introducing bill to abolish those offices which
Mr.. ABBOTT / will state to the gentleman that
have amendment to that effect which shall offer to
this bill. t.+
Mr. IETCHER Such an amendment to this bill
An amendment TO reduce the number of officers to be
added to treasury note bill TI1ughtcr apprehcnd
the gentleman will nd after he has been here short
time that he will get man in that chair who will
not rule such amendment out OF ORDER under such
circumstances. Let him bring in bill, to repeal
only the law which creates officers there but repeal
all other laws which establish useless offices elsewhere
Mr. ABBOTT have it in my hand.
Mr. LETCHER. A bill
Mr. ABBOTT No an amendment.
Mr. LETCIiER. But l do not think the gentlelnans
amendment will fit this bill That is all ii he
get it in and the officers useless will vote with
him.
But we had little chance for economy the other day
when it proposed to allow clerks to various commit
tees of this House IL seems TO me that there
chance where the gentleman might have shown regard
economy by voting with us, who voted against them
Mr.. ABBOTT voted against all those propositions.
Mr.. LETCHER am glad to hear it, for it is still
better evidence that he Is coming TO side Now sir,
the gentleman tells that the government expenditures
for the last year have reached upwards of SO 900 0O0
and ntimate that that expenditure is clageabe upon the
present administration. How that be !! Who had
the majority in this House in the last Congress
Several VOICES Nobody. H .Hs. f A@ @
Mr. LETCHER. Nobody ah, thought the kaoo-
aolings had it, Laughter At any rate, the majority
was not democratic majority That is plain and clear
and if anybody responsible for the expenditures voted
in this House. it not the democratic party which
in a minority in this hall at that time. tf|."ff 1854
Mr. WAsHBURNE of Illinois. You had possession of
the Senate -iiaAl "
Mr. LErCHER. We had possession of the Senate
will attend to that BY the way, what has become
of that court t-house Of yours in Galena Laughter
Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois All right Ea7
Mr. LETCHER He for the expense of building
court house where held yet he holds the
democratic party responsible for profgacy in spending
the public money. Til
And then besides if recollect right my friend from
Illinois only not content to take his own but in
order to get it willing to 60 into partnership with ff
teen twenty others for similar purposes.
Ii to me- then that notexactly the party
nor the President exactly the person. to be tainted
with this of expenditure Does not the gentleman
from Maine [Mr. ABBoTl know the fact that not dol
lar of the public money be drawn from the treasury
unless appropriation by Congress first made Does
he not know that bill for that purpose originate in
Congress pass both houses and be sent to the President
for his approval before it becomes the law of the land
Enough for that. have doubt the gentleman will
to vote with him Q for one ut least upon
every proposition that proposes to reduce the expend
lures of the government without prejudice to the
public service and interest, and without in any
affecting the power and responsibility of the govern
ment itself. lAf 81 .A 81"
But let me come to the consideration Of this BILL Gen
uemen say that they do not necessity for the in
PRODUCTION of this bill ut this time and the gentleman
from Pennsy vana over the way, Mr. RIrcmE who ad-
dressed the House last Saturday read certain portions of
the Presidents message referring to the treasury note
BILL which is the subject Of consideration He stated
that the President did not TO be exactly certain that
these treasury notes needed at the present time
that he supposed they might be needed at period of
the present session, but not at period early Now
understand the President to refer to that matter in the
extract correctly reported the gentleman quoted
but understand at the time, that the President
calls the attention of this House to the report of the
reay of the Treasury presenting his views thisand
other questions connected with the Treasury Department
Well let us what the Secretary OF the Treasury says
in his report upon this subject and will then per-
baps the necessity for it. and shall endeavor adcuce
some reasons to show why the necessity exists
the seventh page of the Secretary report he says
The efficiency public wen security
public that this department shah be provided with
lawful demands without delay During the remainder
OF
win be received IN The course Of the % meet the
ornary appropriations
uies merchandise payable only when
the period when such duties will be real
entirely uncertain being left by law to the option o the i'm
portc during three Tho reyulon has
large portion merchandise imported
wareoused without Of duty To what this
viii during the present nsca too much
risk the public and the public credit
immediate change In this
the Of the
portion warehouse will
duties in the time
should
made The earliest practicable period failure
geny being regarded temporary, the providing
should temporary therefore
authority this department. by law treasury
exceed twenty million dollars,
specified Of interest when.
Immediate demands the public service
greater money sha happen treasury
the rcasurers drafts Ia payment Of Warrants. 2.
There sir Is the recommendation Of the Secretary of
the Treasury and there the upon which tho
recommendation is founded.
Now let look at the state Of trade and see whether
those reasons are not justified by the facts which are upon
the records Of the Treasury Department and that estb
sh clearly and concusvely that at this moment there
is large amount Of dutabe goods in the warehouses Of
the United States, and that those goods lying
called for because this commercial revuson has cut of
the parties from the means of withdrawing them at pres
ent and turning them into the channels of trade
1 have here comparative statement showing the
amount of nporations into the district of New York
during months of October and November Of the years
1856 and 1857 classified respectively under the follow