The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
AMERICAN HISTORY.
The Foundation Of the United States
Government.
A COntenpOraneOuS Record Of Extreme
Importance,
Written Daily with Perfect Candor
and Unreserve,
Being the Private Journal Of WILLIAM MACLAY,
United States Senator from Pennsylvania
In the First Congress, I7s9-l7ol, Now
First Published in lis Entirely, Unabridged.
Obpvrtpht By Edgar s hdcldp 1890
tl790-CONTINUED.l


Jan. 2O.-I am not disappointed in Otis
Every word respecting tho bill was suppressed
In journals read this morning tho entry stood
ordered that Mr.. King. Mr.. strong. 10. be a
committee to report n bill 10 regulate proc-
esses. &C." 1t would have been considered as
manifesting q spirit Of contention II had at
tackled the minutes, and lot II pass, but il
they endeavor to make any use oft will then
be at liberty to act and make the most OF cir
cumstances came early TO tho Senate cham
Der. but found our President IAdamsl and
Ellsworth Connecticut there before me. l
concluded that they hal come on the errand of
making or correcting the journals so as TO
cover Elsworth's hair-breadth escape OF YES
terday There we're in close consultation. l
passed them, and took no further notice.
lizard South Cardinal Few IGeorgla. and
Schuyler New York; were all In conference
with Ellsworth.
HOT FIGHT.
The minutes were no sooner finished than
Ellsworth rose and called for the motion OF yes
teriay. and made a speech In support OF his
motion. 1t could not be said to be very long,
though he said great deal. TO do business"
ito prevent idIeness." TO satisfy thor con-
stituents, ito prevent loss oil time" &C.. were
the subjects OF 1t.
began with declaring that the gentleman's
there was such a thing as making more haste
than good speed. That If economy and to
prevent loss Of time were his objects. thought
he missed the mark by attempting TO take up
everything "da novo:" for thus all the time
spent on the unfinished business In the former
session would be lost; that thought the pres
ent motion scarce In order. 1t had been moved
yesterday that the motion should be TAX en- up
this day. and lit wasl negatived. Monday next
also had been negatved. But there was reason
OF much more consequence. which though it
had occurred to me yesterday, l had forborne
to mention: but had since inquired of sundry
members Of the House OF Representatives and
was assured that the very bill in question was
reported by the committee for unfinished busi-
ness. and the report remained on the Speakers
table Enacted upon. That for us to decide on
a business actually before the Representatives.
l considered as highly improper. and would
not fail of giving offence.
After had done speaking left the Senate
chamber. came down stairs, called out Gen.
lPeterl Muhlenberg. gave notice by him to the
Speaker how much wanted the report of the
committee. Mr.. Buckley was good enough to
send up by the doorkeeper the original report
| got it; found the bill reported as had men,
toned Returned and read in my place tho
part / had alluded to. The affair now took a
new turn. and motion was made to appoint q
committee to confer on the subject with COM
mittee OF the other House. l rose and enforced
this with all the energy l was master of. 1t
was carried. and the committee were Mr.. Lang
don New Hampshire. Mr.. Henry maryland,
and myself. The Workers lost countenance
whom they saw the committee, but now they
brought forward curious motion. 1t was to
take the sense of the Senate, in order that 1t
might stand as rule OF conduct for the COM
mittee.
II ROSE WITH ALL MY MIGHT"
rose with all my might Ihave not time to
set down my arguments; they are obvious.
Several followed me. | had, however. con-
cluded with motion for postponement, which
was seconded. They saw how it would go and
withdrew their motion. l consider Mr.. Morris
Pennsylvania as highly baneworthy In his
non attendance lat the SenateL He expects
that the bill will be destroyed. and he wishes
1t may be done In his absence that the blame
may be laid on me by the citizens OF Philadel-
phia. wish that could believe him incapa-
BILE of this kind Of conduct. l have. however.
kept Its head above water so far.
Jan. 2l.-I am disappointed (srange, but
cannot help III in the committee. 1t is Els
worth [Connecticutl. myself and Henry New
Hampshirel and Henry has recanted;
told me he would be OF the same opin-
ion with Ellsworth. Mr.. Morris took
his seat this day. He took pains pointed
IT, to be against me on motion which Iwasl
offered to the Chair; that We should take only
two OF the many newspapers which are pub
lished here 1t is in vain. All confidence be-
tween him and me is Mt an end. There, indeed.
never was any between me and any OF the
William Maclay representing
western PENNSYLVANIA must look to myself
and do my own conscience Justice and act in
dependent. The Muhlenbergs liepresenta-
tives. Pennsylvania are frien Is, and they will
be my company. The members OF the commit
tee on the part OF the Representatives arc
Sherman Connecticut. Thatcher lMassachu-
settsl Hartley IPennsylvanial, Jackson North
Cardinal, and White Virginia.. 10 meet to-
morrow at 10 O'clock.
81. HOWEVER. MADE WAY FOR MYSELF"
jan. 22.-l met the committee few minutes
after 10. Ellsworth began long discourse and
concluded for all business which had passed
between the Houses to begin de novo." h.
j Jackson and White had much parliamentary
stun; but Hartley had some books. and the
precedents wero undoubtedly against them.
Ellsworth made room for Henry [Marylandl to
speak by desiring him TO do so from which 1t
was plain enough that they had communicated.
lie seemed willing should not speak. /, how
ever. made way for myself and reprobated
every precedent drawn from England. though
declared II notice We're to taken of them
l thought they were made for US. | read
from the journals tho postponement OF the
BILL which told them plainly had given rise to
tho present contest On motion that the fur
Their consideration Of the bill be postponed to
the next session OF Congress it passed In the
affirmative.
ECONOMY IL CERTAINLY REPUBLICAN VIRTUE"
by tho minutes on the journals the bill must
be taken up in the present session ANY pro-
ceedlng " contrary nature must depend on
an OK post tacto" principle We may enter
into rules for the future government of our
conduct, but the past is out OF our power con-
stitulionally speaking. The general practice
oil all the Legislatures is in favor OF taking up
the unfinished business in the state they wero
lett 30 far ia this from being considered as
improper that the Constitutions Of some of the
States enIoin it as Il principle that no bill. I'M
lese In case Of necessity. shall be- enacted
into law in the same session In which 1t is
originated. 1t Is the common practice In all
the arrangements OF life. 1t stands highly REQ