Staunton vindicator. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-16
SPEECH OF HON. MIR. LETCAER.
OF VIRGINIA..

y
the House Of Representatives Monday, be
cember p. 1857.
Mr.. LETCHER Mr.. Chairman: am
very glad to learn that the somewhat dis.
t.nguished firm HousToa, Jog4s. 4 Co.
is likely to receive some important access
ions. We have therefore been charged
with being very illiberal in our votes, and
whenever any proposition mas kcen brought
in here which We thought proper to oppose,
4 gentlemen on the other side have regarded
our opposition as sufficient ground for 70
ting in favor If il. fn1, now, tLat the
gentleman from Maine [Mr. AEBorr has
ccme upon our platform, and that he has
commenced to lecture gentlemen upon the
subject Of extravaganza, But there were
one OF two things in oonncxion with thai
lecture which struck me as a little remark
able. The gentleman tells Us that in hi
town, in Maine, the government has ex.
pended vast deal Of money unnecessarily
and that it has somehow or other been con-
nected with newspaper establishment ex-
istlng at that place. Now, sir, if the off
GERS are unnecessary, if their salaries ough
Il 1t to be paid, if it is profit sacy and extraya
gance to have the officers, why does not the
gentleman signalize lis advent here by in
Producing bill to abolish those Office.
which he knows to be useless
/ Mr.. ABBOTT. | will state to the gen
tleman that / have an amendment to tina
effect, which shall offer to this bill.
Mr.. LEfCIIER Such an amendment
to this bill An amendment to reduce ths
number Of officers to be added to ) treasury
note bill Laughter !! apprehend tht
gentleman viii find, after lie has been here
!, short time, that he viii never get ma,
in that chair Who will not rule such an a
ncndment out Of order, under such clcum
stances. Let him bring in a bill, so as tc
/ repeal not only the law which creates officer
there, but repeal all other laws which cstab
sh useless Offices elsewhere
Mr. ABBOTT. [ have it il uy hand.
| Mr. LETCHER \ bill?
Mr.. ABBOTT. No: an amendment
| Mr. LETCI!ER But do not THAI
he gcntleman's amendment will ct this bill
| That is all he can Get it ID aud tn,
Ulcers are useless, will vote with linn.
But we had a little chance fer economy
he other day, when it was proposed to al
low clerks to various committees Of thi
louise. 1t seems to me that there was /;
;hance where the gentleman might have
hown regard to economy by voting wit!
Is. who voted against them.
| Mr. ABBOTT. Ivotea against all tLos
propositions.
Mr. hETCIIER am glad to hear j
FOR it is still better evidence that lie IS com
ing to our side. Now, sir, tie gentleman
tells us that the government expenditure
for the last years have reached upwards 9
1870, zoo, goo. and intinatcs that that cx
pendl'ure is chargeablc upon the prcsen
administration. How can that be +? VIII
had the majority in this House in the las
Congress
!, Several VOICES Nobody
Mr.. LETCHER Nobody. ali,
thought the hnlov nothtings had it. laugh
ter. 1t any rate, the majority was not
democratic majority. That is plain AM
caar, and if nyboy is responsible for til
expenditures voted in this House, it is no
the democratic party which were il nj
! nority iii this hall at that time
Mr. WASHDURNE, of Illinois. 70
had possession OF the Senate
Mr.. LErCilER. We had possession q
the Senate. will attend to that soon. =
BY the way, what has become Of that court
house ofyours in Halena? laughter
Ir. WASIBCRNL, of Illinois. Al
{ right
t Mr.. LETCHEp. Ire was for the ex
pcnse Of bnilding court house where u
soe.a eas heM yet he holds ,he Democrat
party responsible foI 81 p.phi gacy in spel
ding the public money.
: And, then, besides, III recolloct rigl
my friend from Illinois not only was nc
content to take his own, but in order to &C
it was wiling ta 50 mo partnership wit
fifteen or twenty others fer similar purposes
: 1t seems to he then, that we age not ex
actly tha party, nor is it the President e8
actly the person, to he tainted with thu
course Of expenditure Does not the gen
: leman fron. Maine Mr. ABBOTT know tn
fact that not a dollar Of the public none
can be drawn from the treasury unless a
appropriation by Congress is first made ?
Does he not knov that bill for that pur
/ pose must originate in Congress, pass bot
lonscs, and be sent to the President for h
approval, hefese it laoQmes tLs law of til
and
Enough for that l have no Doubt th
Gentleman will find the democratic party
his House ready at any time to vote wit
lin can answer fur one, at least upo
very proposition that proposes to redpe
he expenditures Of the government withol
: prejudice to the public service and interes
3 and without ip any manner affecting II
It power and responsibility Of the governmel
Z itself
). But let me come to the consideration
e this bill. Gentlemen say that they d nj
:. see any necessity for the introduction Of III
g bill at this time, and the gentleman fro
: Pennsylvania ever the way, (Mr. RGrcHu
- who addressed the House last Saturday, res
= certain portions of the Presidents mcssas
!, referring to the treasury-note bill, which
!, the subject Of consideration now. He st;
e ted that the President did net seem to
"a exactly certain that these treasury not
! were needed at the present time; that |
supposed they might be needed at some D
!: Rod ofthe present session, but not "a a PEI
IN cd so early. Now understand the Pres
dent to refer to that matter in the extrac
% Correctly reported as the gentleman quote
}, it ) but understand at the same tim
that the President calls the attention of tn
> HnuSa tc til y ronort Of tho Spcratorv of II