Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-25


The Congressional records incontroyertibly
establish the fact, that the Democratic Senate
of the ThirtyFourth Congress ont-stripped
the Black Republican House of Representatives
of the same Congress in the work of appro-
priating the public moneys.
But let us turn. merely by way OF sample,
to one or two of the cases cited by Mr. JONES,
wherein majority Of this Black Republican
House of Representatives voted for appropri-
ations which helped to swell the expendi-
amount they have reached.
In 1857, Mr.. JONES tells us. bill passed
the House of Representatives for Increasing
the pay of officers of the army, which will
make permanent annual increase in the ex.
penditures of the army of at least six hum
dred thousand dollars. This bill. he says
passed the House of Representatives by the
votes of forty Democrats, sinytbree Black
Republicans; and tteenty seUaa Know Nothings
-130 in all. Against it, tsirty-one Demo
Gratis, t,oenty-ttree Black Republicans. and eighl
Know Nothings. Here was majority of the
Democrats, who were present, voting for the
bill? Not only this. but the measure had
been recommended both by President PIERCE
and his Secretary of War. the Hon. JEFF. DA-
Wis. In his annual message to Congress, De-
cember, 1854, President PIERCE said:
'.The bill of the last session. providing for
an increase of the pay of the rank and file of
the army has had beneficial results, not only
in facilitating enlistments. but in obvious i'm
provement in that class of men who enter the
service. regret that corresponding consid-
GRAFTON was not bestowed on the officers who.
in view of cir character and services. and
the expenses to which they are necessarily
subject, receive at present what is, in my
Judgment, inadequate compensation"
In his report of December, 1855, Mr.. DA-
Wis, then Secretary OfWar. said:
Gas one of the recommendations intimate
ly connected with the subject, | have to re-
new that made in my former reports, for an
increase of the compensation of the army of
icers, and a revision of the laws respecting
their allowances. Whenever the
subject shall be fairly considered. the result
will. am confident, show that the officers of
the army are, on the average. less literally
compensated than those who pursue any other
occupation demanding equal capacity and ac-
quirements."
Another case made out by Mr. Jones a
gainst the Black Republican majority of the
House of Representatives of the 34th Con-
gress is the following-we give his own
words:
"At the session of 1867. the Opposition
having majority OF the House of Represent
tives, and presided over by Mr.. Speaker
Banks. Mr. Lewis d. Campbell. the Opposi
ton Chairman of the Committee of Ways
aud Means, reported the Naval ApprOpria-
ton bill, which passed the House without
amendment or division, February &c, 1857
This act authorized the enlistment of eight
thousand five hundred men in the navy, in
stead of seven thousand five hundred For
increase, repair, armament, and equipment of
the Navy, including the wear and tear of
vessels in commission, fuel for steamers. and
purchase OF hemp for the Navy. two millions
eight hundred and seventy thousand dollars.
The act also authorized the Secretary of the
Navy, 10 cause TO be constructed, five sloops
OF war, to be provided with screw propellers,
and properly armed and equipped for ser
vice. And one million ofdollars was appro-
priated TO commence with "
All this legislation was in compliance with
the express recommendations of demo-
cratic ADMINISTRATION In MS annual mes
sage to Congress, December, 1855, President
PIERCE said:
''The Report of the Secretary of the Navy,
herewith submitted, exhibits in full the ma
val operations of the past year, together
with the present condition of the service and
it makes suggestions of further Legislation, to
which your attention is invited. The con-
struction of the Gfrigates, for which appropri-
atoms were made by the last Congress [Dem-
ocratic by large majorities in both Houses. ]
has proceeded in The most satisfactory man
ner, &c. Important as this addi-
ton to our naval force is, il still remains in
adequate to the contingent eXigencies of the
protection of the extensive sea-cost and vast
commercial interests of the United States. In
view of this fact. and of the acknOwl,dg d
wisdom of the policy of a gradual and sys-
tematic increase OF the Navy, an appropria-
ton is recommended for the construction OF
six steam sloops OF war;
In his next annual message, December,
1856, President FIERCE says:
Il concur in the views expressed by the
Secretary of the [Navyl Department, in IA
vor of a still further increase of our naval
force.o
The provisions, therefore, in the Naval
Appropriation Bill, mentioned by Mr.. JONES,
AS illustrations of Black Republican readi-
ness to vote extravagant appropriations were
in compliance with the express recommend
atoms of President PIERCE and his Secretary
of the Navy! Mr.. JONES says, the Bill passed
without amendment or even a dividing vote
upon it. Well, why did he not oppose it?
Why did not he aud his Democratic associ-
ates in the House, eighty-two in number,
lift up their united voices against IL, if there
was anything wrong in 1t, or at least have
the ayes and noes taken upon il?
Mr.. JONES devotes more than n page. out
of The fourteen pages Of his letter. a. printed
to 1.-The Civil and Diplomatic Bill" of 1s49-
so; and which, he says, contained" appro-
prations for the extension of the Capitol
and for examinations and surveys to de-
termine the best mode Of supplying the
City of Washington with water. He
gives in detail the appropriations since made
for carrying on those works. He gives the
vote on the passage of The bili---the sixty-two
votes against the bill, all Democratic votes
but three-and he concludes his remarks
upon it as follows:
MANY amendments were made to the Bill
In the Senate, including some Of those above
specid d. aud the Bill was finally disposed Of
upon the report of Conference Committee
which was agreed TO by the House without a
division. The Opposition had the majority
of that House,
Now, this was the first time he had men,
toned the Senate In connection with the Bill.
He had not said one word about amendments
being added to the Bill by the Senate. And
yet he talks about amendents OF the Senate
'-above speciiedIi' Why. he had specified no