Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-05-20
Friday, May 90, 1859.
The Thirty-Fourth Congress.

The Thirty-Fourth Congress.
As DR.. Menecs following in the footsteps of Gov
ernor Harris endeavores to Offset the lavish ex-
trvagance of the present Administration by charg-
ing-frst that the hrty-fourth Congress was more
So and, second that that Congress was an opposi-
ton one beg leave to invite his particular aten-
ton to the facts that he may be able to how far
the record fails to sustain his statements. We are
that he has too high a.regard for truth to turn
a deaf ear to its lessons, and has too much self
respect to contradict the record when it is spread
fairly before him. For the facts, to which we in
vite his attention we indebted to the Opposition
paper too conscienciously and ably edited to leave
room for doubtof the entire accurency of its state
ments; and so well is this known that the most
reckless locofoco viii scarcely venture denial of
such statements
In the lower House of the thirty fourth Congress,
there was majority of Black Republicans but to
charge that this majority the identical opposi-
ton party which is arroyed against the corrupt
democracy is to pervert the TRUTH 1t true, many
OF them claimed to be Americans, but when brought
to the test in National Convention, they proved to
bt ~ purify hNSliOh'bi "h-sI'NSiy P'l ~ anu &c
sucl were repudiated. 1t is charged, by Gov. |
Harris and Dr. Mcnccs, that the thirty-fourth Con-
grcss was opposition Congress. This is not true
The Senate, of that Congress had democratic
majority of seventeen, and Dr. Mences does know that
the Republican majority of the lower House could
not have expended dollar of the public money
without the sanction of the democratic majority in
the Senate. We appeal to him, rs man, not rs
politician to say if this is not true and if true we
ask him upon what principle of jusce-of common
fairness he bases his assertion that the thrifty
Congress opposition, and his charge that the
opposition was responsible for the extravaganza of
that Congress? The Senate, of that Congress was
largely democratic, and the record proves it, No
BILL passed by the lower House, can become a law
until it is passed by the Senate; this every body
knows; yet, in the face of these facts, that entire
Congress is charged with being opposition, and the
lower branch is held responsible for acts which could
never have been passed but for the democratic ma
jority in the Senate
But if further proof BE needed that the Republic
can House is not responsible for the extravaganza Of
the thirty-fourth Congress it is at hand The sun
dry civil bill of the last session of the thirty fourth
Congress, was sent up To the democratic Senate for
concurrence but instead of concurring the demo
cratic Senate added to it one hundred and three
amendments. embracing additional appropriation,
to the amount of S3,77l,slG, aud thus amended it
was sent back, on the last night of the session.
What did the Black Republicans do when they
found that the democratic Senate had gone a. frr
ahead of them in the work of extravaganza? Why.
they rejected every one Of the hundred and three
amendments. But the bill must pass, in some shape.
so committees Of conference were appointed and the
democratic Senate consented to strike out some OF
its amendments, amounting to S7l3,2iG, and the
Republican House had to acccdc to the balance
and were thus forced by a democratic Senate f.
add to their wascnl extravaganza the sum Of So
o5s, 5GO.-Scc honest John Lcctchcr's speech. in
the lower House, 18th Of June, ls5s.-Tms it is
proven that, the democratic majority in the Senate
instead of checking the extravaganza of the Re
pulican minority. in the lower Uon.c. actually in.
creased it more than three millions: and vet Gov
Harris and DIR. Mcn.c. hold np that Cnncr,,, before
the people as m example of opposition extravaganza,
hoping thereby to break the force of the blow,
dealt upon the present corrupt Administration which
they are ashamed 10 defend.
But as if to give moro point to the false charge
GOV llarris-and we suppo," DIR. Mcneo' follows