The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-01

would close In few DAVIS and before he retired 10 private
life he deemed il incumbent him 70 make personal
explanation Ia order 10 defend himself from some I'M
iustiabe charges that had been made against him In
pursuing this he had the precedent of high author
itv This had been done both by Gen. Washington and
Gen jackson and II it necessary and proper for
them TO pursue this course how much II for
him. moving us he did In humber sphere
There another operating upon him which
did not influence those great whom he had men
toued They left iinesi descendants bet he desired
be able 10 transmit unsuiled reputation to his pos
sery He had served his country for forty six years
ia what let others determine and he had hoped
that he shodd be permitted TO retire to private life with
being disturbed by assaults But in that be had
been disappointed he had been pursued by his oppo'
aents with much il he had been aspiring
instead of retiring politician Not less than ten i
books had been written defautory of his character
What lac especially desired to refer the present
occasion recent production purporting to be a
Texas almanac containing what was said TO be narra
tive Of the campaign of san Jacnto This purported to
he written by person who had Doctor appended to
his name give greater credit TO the production but
this but a caspaw ia the hands Of others lie
profoundly deaf but far as he had been made
acquainted with the prominent and most pointed state
this narrative this doctor had positively denied
beiEg the author OF them. The object of this book
assa Gen H. reputation and to show that the battle
of San Jacno and all the preceding acts of genealship
connected with that event had been forced upon him.
aad that BIC had acted in manner unbecomng sol
dier The fact that twenty ve Thousand copies of this
book had been circulated portion OF the edition being
bound in cloth and leather rendered it necessary Tor
Mr. H. TO give true statement of the events connected
with that campaign and he accordingly proceeded To
Darrate ut length, and with considerable minute
ness those transactions with which he particularly
connected.
Of Col Sidney Sherman and Rev. James ii. Perry ID D.
the latter Of whom has recently been delivering lectures
Ia New York city on the subject OF the battle of San ia
cnto, in which he denied that any credit due TO
Mexican forces that occasion
He referred, in conclusion to the amicabe relations
which he had maintained with nearly all the members
this body during his senatorial career counselled them
to cherish patriotic sentiments and said that his prayers
would remain with them that light and knowledge and
wisdom and patriotism may continue to guide them, so
that under their influence and exertions the nation
be blessed tho people happy and the perpetuity Of the
Union secured to the latest posterty Applause in the
galleries.
APPROPRIATION
Mr. HUNTER moved to postpone all prior orders and
proceed to the consideration OF the House bill making
appropriations for the expenses of the Post Office De-
parmcnt during the fiscal year ending the 30t of June,
1860
Mr.. GREEN hoped that an hour would be devoted to
territorial business and hoped the senator from Virginia
would consent to withdraw his motion
MIR. HUNTER replied that it was already two o'clock,
and If the appropriation bill to pass to-day it ought
to be ut once taken up He therefore, felt compelled to
press his motion.
The question being TAKEN the motion agreed to.
The question stated ON the amendment proposed
by the Committee Finance to strike out the provso
that the heretofore appropriated for the erection of
the Post Office buildings which shall remain in the treas
ury uncxpended the close of the present fiscal year.
shall be rcappropated to the objects to which they
applicable by law.
Mr. PUGH moved to amend the provso by adding
''n all where the expenditures of such appropa
tons have been commenced"
The subject was discussed at great length by Nessrs
BELL, PUGH, TRUMBULL, KING, HUNTER, SIM
MONS. md VIII
On motion by Mr.. TOoMBs, the Senate took a recess
until half past o. clock
EVENING SESSION.
At twenty minutes before seven clock the Senate was
again called to order and resumed the consideration
the Post Office appropriation bill.
Mr. PUGH having withdrawn his amendment to the
pending amendment
cLINcafANT eubuaitsod au,o,yu.out suhilti 10
the proviso proposed to be stricken the words And
provided that such plan shall be adopted in each
that further appropriations shall be required complete
the building than those already made II which, after
brief discussion, agreed to-
Mr.. TRuMBULL moved to amend the provso so as
to make it apply to unfinished houses aud custom
houses well post offices The question being taken
this amendment, the result ayes s. noes ls--no
quorum voting when Mr. r., by unanimous consent
withdrew the amendment.
The question recurring striking the proviso al
amended the subject discussed at length by
Messrs. BENJAMIN, SIMMONS, ToONIBs and others
The amendment was not agreed to-yeas 22 nays 20
as follows
YEAS Messrs Alien, Benjamin Broterick Brown cl,y Davis
Dixon, Douglas Ftzlarek Green Hane Iveon Pearcc
Polk, lush Rice Sebastian sde, smith, Toorobs and Ward
NAYs-Mcssrs Bell Bgcr Cameron, Chandler Clark Cngn,an
Soamer Durkee, Fescndcn Foot Foster Hanin Harlan ls
johnson Johnson tennessee Jones Kennedy
King Reid, Seward Simmons, Stuart Truubul Wright and Yn
lee-26, "
The next amendment reported by the committee was
TO strike out the third section Of the BILL which pro
vidcs that II the Of the Post Office Department
shall be insufficient to defay the appropriations made IN
the first section of this act the deficiency if any tber,
DC at the expiration of each quarter of the fiscal year
shall be paid out OF any money the treasury not other
wise appropriated and to insert in lieu thereof section
appropriating the of six millions of dollars out Of
the treasury OF the United States in mid OF the
OF the Post Office Department. for tho objects DESIGNATED
in this bill but the Postmaster General shall in no
event expcnd more money contract liabilities which
shall exceed tho amount appropriated ia this bill for the
current fiscal year, and the amount herein appropiote
shall be applied to whatever deficiencies may exist in tho
next fiscal year commencing July lst 1859 and for no
other purposes. The question being taken the amend
ment agreed to-
MIR. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance nlso
reported another amendment in the of an addition
nj section directing the Postmaster General to repot Ia
Congress at the commencement each of its sessions such
ailroues may not have paid hnlf of the exeses
Of ssd routes and to state the lengh time in which
they have been in operation and also report the routes
ia operation upon which the expense might be reduced
If the service performed with the single view To the
transportation Of the mails with CELEBRITY certainty and
security.
Mr.. STUART moved to amend the amendment by
adding the words, also in regard L the income and OK
uf ,1lll