The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-21

table.
THE CENTENNIAL BILL.
At the expiration OF the morning hour
the House went into Committee Of the
Whole OH the Centennial appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Wood, OF New York, in the Chair,
and was addressed by Mr.. Townsend, Of
New York, in favor Of the appropriation.
Mr.. Townsend's speech was delivered in
q humorous and conversational story-tel-
ling style and was thoroughly enjoyed,
the members gathering around him and
laughing heartily at his jokes.
Mr.. Stenger, OF Pennsylvania, followed
in opposition to tho bill. Alludipg 70
the smallness OF the subscription through
out the country 10 the Centennial fund,
he said Congress was asked 10 pass this
bill while the people Of the United States
have said by their refusal to subscribe
that they were not able to subscribe.
Mr.. FELTON, opposed the bill, but said
that his opposition was influenced by no
vote in the House on the question OF am
nesty. II the House had perpetrated a
wrong that was no reason why he should
vote against his convictions. His oppo-
sition TO the bill was not opposition to
the Centennial Exhibition. He wished
success 10 the Exhibition, and trusted
that it would be the means OF fraternizing
the long cstranged sections Of the coun.
try. He was opposed to the bill because
it was in direct conflict with u reso-
luton adopted by the House on mo-
ton OF the gentleman from Indiana
lHolman). He regarded that vote as,a
contract between the Representatives and
their constituents-a contract ratified by
universal approval. To vote for this bill
would be, In his opinion, violation OF
that contract. 1t had been too long the
custom TO sneer at the Constitution rs
something obsolete; but while it had lain
like the dry bones Of Ezekiel, the people
had once more breathed upon those
bones, and it would not be long until
bone would bc seen coming to bone and the
principles OF that old Constitution would
arise living army to battle once more
for human freedom.
Mr.. Jones (Kcntucky) spoke in sup
port of the bill as q measure in the in
terest OF peace and amity.
Mr.. Cook spoke against the bill, and
argued that as the Government should
be just before they are generous the sixty
million dollars OF taxation wrested from
the South during the war should be re-
stored before the passage OF this bill.
Mr.. Banks spoke in favor OF tho bill,
as not only constitutional, but u measure
Of absolute necessity. Could Congress
and the President invite thirty.eight for
cign powers TO come here to celebrate
that anniversary and Congress not have
right TO grant one dollar or one
dime to deiray the expenses Of their en-
tertainment? He would not support
any measure that he believed TO be in
any sense unconstitutional, but he was
not by any means strict constructionist.
We had already suffered from the un-
fortunate results Of strict construction.
II the people OF Naples should undertake
to strap down the volcano OF Vesuvius
what would be the result? Just exactly
what the strict construction OF the Con-
stitution brought TO this country-coniu-
sion, misery and death. While the Con-
stitution should be closely adhered to, it
must not be lost sight Of or denied that
it had some life and that there were
some things which this government might
do and some things which il must do.
He closed with plea for the restoration
Of peace, the fraternization OF the Sec
tionu ond tho rn,autnhlishmnnt of that
unity and loyalty which is Indispensable
to the maintenance of a republican gov
ernment.
Mr.. Swan spoke in favor Of the bill;
said in voting for it he and his colleagues
would represent the wishes Of the people
in their State.
Without action on the bill the COM
mittec rose and the House, at 4:30, ad-
iourned-it being understood that the
culogies on the late Vice President Viii
son would prevent vote being taken on
the bill tomorrow.