Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-01


sons for desiring to get rid Of this matter is,
that the probabilities are, if this provision
shall not be adopted, that, sooner or later,
it will end in repeal Of the act Of 1915,
and throw this matter entirely open. But
these gentlemen say that they cannot vote
dollar for this purpose Here is nv friend
from Kentucky, Mr.. BuRSEgr,a who goes
into heroics over 1.-THE s9enormity of snch
a thing as this: Here are the gentlemen
on the other side, who are greatly shocked
at it. There is my friend from Ohio, MR.
,spEKMAy ] who is terribly shocked; yet,
Mr.. Chairman, believe he wanted extra
pay for going to Kansas. There was res
olution Of that sort proposed, but which was
not received
Taking these things altogether, are gen
tlemen to fight against this bill because every
solitary provision cannot be M ade to square
I With their notions? I am perfectly willing
to give them 9 vote on yeas and nays on
that section, ard let the House say whether
it Will strike it out or not # they strike
it out, let them take the balance Of the bill,
and SO with any other provisions. / am
willing that they shall have q fair chance
to express their opinion. If members are
to wait here till they get bill which, in
every provision, harmonizes with their pc
culiar views, the probability is that you will
never pass an appropriation bill for the sup
port of the government There is not one
of them that does not embrace multitude
Of items Of different sorts. al have to be
considered; and if you are only to put into
the bill such as will meet your appreciation,
or my appreciation, the probability is that
we would never get bill that would re-
ceiye more than thirty votes. I say that
there is wise rule on this subject which
ought to be observed. We have just inau-
gurated a new administration. / speak now
Ito gentlemen on this side of the House.
We all here in the democratic ranks helped
to put that administration into power. It
has just begun to develop its policy and
the question is whether, because you cannot
make an appropriation bill harmonic ex-
actly with all Of your opinions, you are 60
ing to prevent that administration from car
ryng out its policy in preserving the peace
OF the country, and securing obedience to
the laws Of the land ? The wise rule is this:
Show by your votes that you are opposed
to it; but if an appropriation is demanded
for the execution of the laws, for the pur-
pose of protecting life and liberty. and the
rights Of property why then, if you have
shown your hostility, is it not wise aud
proper to vote for what is absolutely reauir-
ed for the purposes of the government in
the execution Of the .law2 why, sir, just
take case which may readily occur.
Here comes up claim which you direct
to be paid out by the Treasury department.;
or under the supervision Of the War De
partment you appropriate the money in
the bill, for the purpose of enabling tbs
Secretary Of the Treasury, or the Secretary
of War, to pay the claim. You may not
have approved the claim-yet it passed the
House. Now will you deny the means by
which that claim is to be satisfied? But
gentlemen say there is difference between
the two, that this is 8 resolution of this
House, payable out ef its contingent fund,
and the other is an act Of Congress, reg
,ularly passed through both Houses and ap-
proved by the President. Does that make |
difference? Does it make the slightest
difference? Have you not pledged your
self, BY your action that you would pay this
sum Of money to these parties? Whether |
it is Eight or wrong, is matter which be-
longs to the past. aud does not apply to TIE /,
present; and whatever may be the opinion
on the construction in regard to that matter
am for acting on the present rules, and
am for meeting what consider this BODY
honorably bound to meet.
There is another objection to this bill of
my friend from Alabama. Mr.. HousroN.
lie propose to strike out the head of the ap-
preparation for the payment of the furniture
IN the Speakers room, fer newspapers, SC. !
! have 20 objection to his striking out that /
head. l have no objection to make it APP
plicable to this purpose, and this purpose
alone; but in this cennexion there is one
thing which has somewhat astonished me.
Here is an appropriation of 100000 for
the purpose Of paying for surveys Of the |
public lands in California. The appropria-
ton for this service, during tie last year,
was $50, 900, and yet the surveyor general !
has had labor done to the amount of $780, I
OOc. Why is not that assailed in the same
way? Is not this government, when they
have gotatheir surveys honestly made, bound !
to discharge the debt incurred thereby? We
heard nothing about that Take this matter
in any point Of view, look at it in any way,
and We have done what was our duty-notA-
ing more.
There is another stem referred to by nay
friend from Alabama, which / acknowledge |
is not deficiency, and ought not, perhaps, |
to have been in here, and that is, the ap-
for the reporters. It can be
stricken out if the House SO wills it.