Year: 1860



 interest to Ae old States, S1,60O,000

 The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is a motion to reconsider pending, made by the Senator from Arkansas. He moved to reconsider the vote by which the amend ment' of the Senator from Georgia Mir. INVERSION was adopted.

 Mir. PUGH. l shall wait until that is disposed of.

 Mir. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. My mo- tion is in order now.

 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, sir.

 MT. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. Then l claim the attention of the Senate for mo- ment in regard to the amendment which has been adopted, giving few States Sl,- 600,000. There Is no question that the whole of those debts, on which this appro- priation is now based, were once paid.- There is no question of the fact that when the money was paid it was paid with inter- est, according to the calculation made at that day There is no question. either, of the fact that when that settlement was ad- indicated in that way, and demanded of Congress, it was by the representatives of those very States that now come here through their agents and ask for this appro- pration. These considerations all present themselves to the serious reflection of the Senate in connection with this matter, or else 1 cannot understand anything in regard to it. Let them, in their own limits, col lect the amount of taxation which they may need and not come here after money has been collected off all the people of the Unit ed States to take it from the general treasu- ry, and obtain it for themselves through the aid and assistance of lobby agents.

 Yesterday the Senate was full; yesterday this question was debated ably and at full length, and upon a very full vote the claim was rejected After it was rejected under those circumstances, the same proposition IS now presented, and it is carried by much less vote than was then given. cannot but think that when the voice of the Senate has been once expressed, legitilnately and pro- perly, on a full consideration of the whole subject, it ought to stand, and minority of the whole body ought not afterwards, in thinner Senate, to overrule the decision of the whole body. 1 cannot believe that those CelldtOlS WIlO IldNC tHuo ouSSNCNtOt III thrusting it on the appropriation bill, can, with fair consistency and regard for them selves, refuse to wait until such time as the Senate is full again before taking the final vote on this proposition.

 It is under these circumstances that protest against its passage now. l voted for the amendment with the distinct pur pose of moving a reconsideration, and ask ing that the voice of the body shall be given in a full Senate again, as it was once be- fore, to see whether they have really chang ed their opinion or not. The last vote does not really show change of opinion on the part of the Senate. Those in favor of the appropriation are here upon the ground, but some of those who are opposed to 1t are not here 1 know of only one solitary change. If there are more changes than one, let it be shown by another vote, be- fore S1 ,600,0 ,000 are takeh out of the gen. eral treasury of the people and given to States who claim to be sovereign, able to tax themselves and support themselves, and who ought not to thrust their sover- eighty upon the treasury of the United States for support.

 | I do not think you will find five mem- bers from those States which are interested in it who did not vote for the measure.- The interests of constituency may almost unconsciously influence a representative, who will be unwilling to be approached at home for abandoning the rights and inter ests of his State. But appeal to gentle men who have voted for the proposition, and placed it upon this appropriation bill, that they allow the Senate to adjourn to- day. so that we may have full Senate to- morrow, and then let the question be decid- ed Certain it is, that when forty nine votes were cast, this proposition was reject ed by majority of four. Now, with a smaller aggregate vote, it is carried by a large majority.

 Mir. BRAGG. The vote before was 29 to 25-54 altogether.

 MT. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. Fifty four votes were cast upon it before-waut- ing only very few of being the whole vote of the Senate of the United States. The vote now cast, as am told by the clerks, is 2S to 17-45 altogether. This is the vote granting this money to few of the old States, that have hitherto been so proud as to almost to claim independence of this government.

 Mir. SIMMONS. If the Senator will al- low me one moment, 1 Twill state that if the vote had been cast yesterday that was cast to-day, the amendment would have been carried yesterday. There are twenty eight | Nbok ,,,o,,1l hoo of fifty four, which was the entire vote yes. terday. It has got twenty-eight to-day out of a total vote of forty-6ve. taj

 MT. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. It has had, then, an accession of four votes; and who can say that the negative vote might not be increased also? 1 do not believe this proposition ought to be allowed to pass in this way, and hope and trust that this or any other mere omnibus bill that may be got up here, involving the interests of number of States, will not be permit ted to be pushed through in this way When it was voted down before, thought it was closed forever, or I believed that fl it was not closed forever, it would not be put upon the bill, unless there was dis tinct expression of opinion on the part ol full Senate in favor of it; and then, ol course, we should have nothing more to say, but should have to submit.

 This matter should have been presented as private claim in separate bill, and take it's chances with all the others that claim the attention of the Senate. But the l interests of States overshadow those of an