The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-04
SPEECH OF COLONEL CHARLES H. JOYCE.
On the Bill H. R. No. 6l4, Making an Appro-
priation for the Centennial Celebration Of
American IndependencO,


American Independence.
MIR. Cbsirman-Th bill now before the
house ia an important one, as is every
measure which calls for an appropriation
of money, and we should not pass 1t unless
demanded by the most obvious reasons and
uagent necessity. Personally, 1t would
give ME the greatest pleasure to vote for it,
but sense of duty to my constituents and
the country overrides every personal con-
sideration and leaves me no choice but TO
stand up manfully for what | conceive to
be the right. While | cannot consistently
with my sense of duty support this meas
ure and while would not celebrate the one
anniversary of the birth OF the
Republic by palpable and high-handed
violation Of the constitution, / desire it to
be distinctly understood that | am decided
ly and heartily in favor of the celebration
and exposition that | fully realize and APP
preciaie all It's benefits and blessings and
will do all in my power personally, as |
always have done, to aid and push foru ard
to successful result what consider to be
one of the most important and splendid
schemes ever inaugurated in the history of
this country or OF the world.
am not blind, sir, to the fact that the
celebration of this anniversary of the Re-
public "when colonial valor struck from
the mailed breastplate of English oppres-
SION the first living sparks of American
liberty" has now become subject OF vital
concern and absorbing interest to the peo-
pie of this country.
Neither am | one of those who believe
that if this appropriation is refused the
centennial celebration will be failure and
a disgrace to this country. | believe the
people will, nobly finish what they have
begun, complete all the arrangements for
the grand opening in May. and lift and ele-
vate this great jubilee above all local or
sectional Influences, give ii grand and
universal character, and endow it, If posi-
bic, with the spirit and power Of the new
republic.
This specious argument, that the whole
scheme would sink in utter failure and dis
grace unless congress makes an appropria-
ton, 10 familiar in this hall it was heard
and seen here two years ago, dressed in
eloquence, pathos. and entreaty yet, since
that time more than one-half the money
then asked for has been raised under the
provisions Of the charters, the buildings
and grounds nearly completed and there
is no shadow of doubt in my mind that, if
congress refuses at this time. as it did then,
to be led away from the plain and beaten
path of duty and the spirit of the constitu-
ton, the people will readily supply the
means, as believe they should do, all the
arrangements will be completed in due
season, and no disgrace will be brought
upon them or dishonor upon the govern
ment.
During the long and tedious debate to
which we have listened, have watched
and waited hopefully, anxiously, but in
vain, for some solid reason or valid and
plausible excuse even to justify the grant
ing of this bequest.
Day after day we have been promised
this feast of reason by the friends of this
measure, but it has as often vanished into
thin air, their promises have been broken,
and, instead of putting the bill upon its
merits and supporting It by sound logic,
convincing reasons, and vigorous argu.
men,s, gentlemen have, being aware of the
unite nable nature of the proposition, gone
off In burst of artificial patriotism and @
whirlwind of passion, ana when the dust
and smoke, caused by each successive ex-
plosion, had cleared away we found that il
was simply ''sound and fury, sgnifyine
nothing" that, like the gentleman from
Indiana who attempted to navigate his in.
h"'i"n ""iiOo" '"io"Sn 'h'o "o"'0 "So'he'
an adverse current, they nau gone up
IKE rockets Out come down ike Sticks.
WINE 1 contend, therefore, mat Inc
1rlends OF ms measure nave utterly ahc
confessedly failed to adduce a good reason
or present single sound aronmpnt in fa,to'
manner 10 assume the offensive and to state
briefly some few of the many considera
lions which have led me to oppose this bill.
In the first place, Mr.. Chairman, while
in,o an extended aramro , ,,, ~ e1 ,tii
branch of the subject I omnba,;caIIv dow
the doctrine that Tho cnns,i,,,,n,, ~, 80
letter or spirit authorizes concress 70 ,na,,l
n Gift or To loan Nancy n anv ;nd;v;a'oi
or CORPORATION for anv object or nurnos@
whatever Je' VI p'' po''
am aware that II ia c,o;uod hr ,oor,od
gentlemen unon This tloor tho, ne onnro
6riat,on s in No sense ',;f fba az up app,o
4 ia NOT voted IN onw ;ndu;an.i ro" "r .ua'
t;on hrt tho 90, aI,hnurh 1871, g, IoiPoi a.
artfnllv worried viii a y;aw e oy !, no ~
esconr this ohisc,ion corol,,s;,,oi,, nf,, =.
tbis false tbeo,v and aynrassi';! aooiao.
that this money IA IN he n,;d 80 H. ~,
stallments 10 the cap,enn,oi hoo,d ~ ~,
finance for the nurnose Of cnn,n,o,;n a., W.
centennial buildinos and o,bor nranora NV
By reference 10 tho ac,s IF psr I ond
1872. il will Inc soc, that Tho hoord of CIV CIV
tennial commissioners and tho nartan uIn
board of finance were created nv connres.
with we'll defined no,yors aud 3,,,;o. Cos
scope and extent of which wee ,r ,nI
known. and under which organ;so,;ons
were dulv effected and rho n,nrl, oo,,''
menced and carried forward IN Tho ,,'os,
vigorous and nrudent manner 20 w. r,ra aUs,
near completion. p'''o''
Down n This t;me thu covorr,, hou
had M mart or iot in III. ,,o,,aa ~, Ia,
sought or exercised the least con,rol "1 o no.
IL and hos on ali occas;ons ohsni,',oi,, wv" W.
in the most nosit,ve and emnhotic rnar ~nu
refused to become in anv wav resnnnsihIe
for il, conduct or liabilities 'p'''''o
Now after all the hos ,rorsn;rod Iii,
ia brought in md snnnorteh hu ho,h da, va,
Gratis and Ienublcans asking connress ~
vote a million and n hale of Soi,orss -, ~ eo
president and treasurer of tho oan,ann, ,a
board of finance TO finish the huiIdines and
comnlete ali the nrenaro,;ons g. IL an
exhibition and we are coll. ,oid h., tha
- ~'c''y WIZ ~ thC