Newspaper Page Text
. " - 1 , L.... .
PUBLISIIED BY KNAPP 81 JEWETT, EVERY TUESDAY MORNING, NEARLY OPPOSITE TIIE BANK, AT $2 A YEAR, OR $1,50 IN ADVANCE.
VOL. V. NO. MONTPELIER, VT.) FEIHtUAUY 9, 1830. WIIOMGXO. 24.
3 - - - 1 - .. ... . -
SPEECII OP Mn. WEBSTEH,
la the Senate of tlio Unitcd 5tntcs, Jamiary 14, 011
Mr. Bonton's rcsolntion fnr appropriathig tho
Surphis Uovcnuo to National Dercnce !
lt is not niy purposc. Mr Prcsidcnt, to
tnnko nnv vemarks 011 tho stntc of our nf
Ihirs with Frniicc. Tlio timo for tlint
diBcussioti hns not coinc, nml I wnit. Wo
nro in tlnily cxpcctntion of n communicn
tion from thc Prcsidcnt, which will givo us
light; nnd wc nrn nuthorizcd to cxpect n
rccomniondntion by liitn of such monsurcs
its ho thinks it mny lio nccessary nml propcr
for Congrcss to nifopt. I do not onticipate
liim. I lo not forerun hini. In this niost
importnnt nnd delicnto busincss, it is tlic
propcr dnty of tlio Hxccutivo to go fonvnrd,
tnid I, for ohp, do not intend citlicr to bo
itrnwii or drivcn into tlio Icad. Whcn
oflicinl information shall bo licfore us, nnd
whcn mcnsurcs slto.ll bo rcconnncndcd
npon tlic propcr rcsponsibility, 1 sliall cn
dcnvor to iorm tlio best judgnicnt I cnn,
and shnll act nccord'mg to its diulutcs.
I rise now, for anotbcr purposc. Tliis
rcsolntion linsdrnwn on a dcbatc upon tlic
gcncrnl comluctof tlio Scnatc during tho
last scssion of Congrcss, nml cspccially in
rcgard to tlio proposcd grant of tlio thrco
tnillions to tlic Prcsidcnt on tlio last night
of tlic scssion. My inain olijcct is to jcjl
tlic stnry of tliis transnction, and to c.hibit
llic conduct of tlio Scnatc fnirly to tho
pnblic vicw. I owo tliis duty to thc Scti
ote. I owo it to tho conimittco with which
I am connccted; nnd nlthough what is pcr
Konal to nn individnal is ccncrnlly of too
little importanro to be nuulo thc subject of
nnicli rcniark, I hopo I niay bc pprmitted
to sny that, in n mattcr, in rcgard to wliich
tlicro 1ms bacn sn much misrcprescntation,
I wish to say n few words for tlio sako of
defending my own rcputation.
Tliis votc for thc thrco tnillions was
proposcd by tho Ilouscof Hppresontativcs
ub nn ntncndmcnt to tho fortiticmioti bill;
nnd thc loss of that bill, thrcc inillions nnd
nll, is tho chargo which bas becn mndc
upon thc Scnatc, sounded ovcr all tho latid,
nnd nowngnin rcncwcd. I proposc to givo
thotrunh'rstory of this bill, its origin, its
progrcss, nnd its loss.
uetore nttcmpttng tnni, nowcvcr, ict mc
rcmark, for it is worthy to bc rcniarkcd, I
nnd rcincmbcrfc
cmucrtd, .hat tlic liusmcss lirouglit
bcforo tho Scnato last .scssion, important
nnd varioiis ns it wn, nnd hoth public nnd
privntc, wns nll gono through, with niost
uiicommon dcspatcb nnd piouiptitiidc.
No scssion has witncsscd n morc complcto
clcnring ofl' nml iinishing of tho subjccts
bclbrc us. Tho coininunications from tho
othcr Ilousc, whcthcr bills or whatovcr
clse, wcro cspcciully attcndcd to in propcr
ppnson, nnd with that rcady rcspcct which
isdtic from onc llouso to the othcr. 1
rrrollcct nothing of nny importnncc
which cnmc tous from thc Ilouse of Hcp
rcscntativcs, wliich was hcro ncglcctcd,
overlookcd, or disrcgardcd.
On tho othcrliand.it wns thc niisfortuno
of thc Scnntc, nnd, ns I think, tho niisfor
tuno of tho country, that, owing to thc
stntc of busincss m tlio Uouso ol Jicprcscn
tntives townrds thc rloso ot tlic scssion,
Rcvcrnl monsurcs which hnd hccn maturcd
in tho Senate, and passcd into bills, did
not rcceivo nttcntion, so ns to bo cithcr
ngrccd to or rejcctcd, in tho othcr brnnch
of tho Lcgislaturc. U hcy lell ot courso
by thc tcrminntion of tho scssion.
Amonpthcsc mcnsnrcs mny bomcntion
cd thc following, viz:
Thc Post OJJicc Iicform Bill, which pass
cd thc Scnatc unanimously, nnd of tho
necessity for which tho wholu country
is now most nhundnntly sntisficd.
Thc Custom Jhuse llegillalions Bill,
which nlso pnsscd nenrly unanimously, nf
tcr n vcry lnborious prcpnration by tho
Committcc on Commcrcp, nnd n full dis
cusion in thc Scnatc.
Thc Judiciary Jiill, passcd hcro by n
mniority of thirty-onc to fivo, nnd which
lias ngnin nlrcndy passcd thc Spnato at
tliis session with only n singlc disscnting
VOtP.
77te Bill Iiitlcmwfyinf! Claimanls for
Frenck spoilations bcforc 1800.
The bill regulnlwff ihc depostie of the
public mnntyt in Ihc Beposilc ISnnks.
The bill r'cspcctinK the ttnure of certain
offices, nnd thc pomr nf removal fromojficc;
wliich hns now ngnin passcd to bo cngiobs-
cd, in tho bcnatc, by n dccisivc innjonty.
All lhcso ininortnnt mcnsnrcs, innturcd
nnd
thc
tanco
Itcn
thing nioro from thcni. Thcy thcrc II uud
thcir gravcs.
It is worthy of bcing rcmnrkcd, nlso,
ihnj the nttendunco of nicinbcru of tho
Spiinto was rcmnrkably full, iarl'u:ulnrly
lownrd tlio nnd of tho scssioii. On tho
last ilnycvcry Scnator wns in his placo till
vcry ncnr tho hourof ndjouniiucnt, ns tho
journnl will show, Wo hnd no brcnking
up for wnnt of n quorum; no dnlny, no
cnlls of tho Scnutc; nothing wlnclt wns
rnndo nccessary by tho ncgligencu or inat
tcntion of tlio mcmbers of tliis body. On
tho voto for tho thrco millions of dollnrs,
which wns takon at about cight o'clock in
thccvcninc, forty-eliiht votes waio civcn
cvery mcmbcr of tho Scnato bcing in his
nlnoo nnd nnswcring to his ihuhp. This
is nn instnnco of punctunlity, dilligcncc,
nml lnhor. continticd to tho very end of nn
nrduous icssion, wliolly without cxnmplo
r nnmllol,
Tho Bcnntc. thcn. sir. inuot stcnd, in tho
judgmont of cvcry tnan, fully nc(pntted of
nll rcmissnefB, nll nccliccnco, nll innttcn-
llop, nmidrt tlre fstiguoBtid cxhaustation of
passcd in tho Scnnto iu tlio courso ot nntt uiey proposeii lonmcmtiuis ourniucmi
spssion, nnd mnny othcrs whoso impo . ineni, ny muiing to n ninttcr ns gcrmntn to
r. ivna lcsM worn sent tn I in llonsii nt 11. Uo 11 wns 10 l 10 OllL'limi III . llicro wns
rpscntntives. nnd wc never hcnrd nnv "lso tho Prcsidcnt'a gardener. His
tho closing houra of Congrcss. Nothing
passcd unhecdcd, nothing wns ovcrlookcif,
nothing forgottpn, nnd nothing slightcd.
And now, sir,I would procccd immc
diatcly to givo the history of tho Fortilicn
tion bill, il it were not nccessary, ns intro
ductory to that history, and ns sliowing thc
cirzumstauccs undur which tho Scnatc
was callcd on to trnnsact tho pnblic busi
ncss, first to rclcr to anothcr bill which
was boforc us, nnd to tho procccdings
which wcro liad upon it.
Itis wcll known, sir, that thc nnnnal
npproprintion bills nlways originato in thc
llouso of Kcprcsentativcs. Tliis is so
inuch thc coursc, tlmt no onc cvcr looks
to sco such n bill first brought forwnrd in
tho Scnatc. It is nlso woll known, sir,
that it hns bccn usuul, hcrctoforc, to tnnko
the nnnunl npproprintious for tho Militnry
Acncicmy nt West point 111 tho gcucrnl lnll,
which, providcs for thc pny nnd support
of tho ariny. Uut last yenr, tho nnnybill
did not coiiluiu nny nppropriation whntcvcr
for tlio support of West Point. I took no
ticc of ihis singular omission whcn tho bill
was bcforo tho Senate, but prcsumcd, nnd j
iudccd undcrstood, that tho Uouso would
scnd us a scparnto bill for tho Militnry'
Acndctny. Tlic nrmy bill, thcrcforc, poss
cd; but 110 bill for tho Academy nt West
Point nppcnred. Wo wnitcdfor itfroin dny
to dny, and from wcck to wcck, but wnitcd
in vnui. At lcngth, thc timo for scnding
bills from one llouso to tho othcr, nccord
ing to tho joint rulcs of tho two Iiouses,
e.ipircd; and no bill hnd mado its nppenr
nnco fur tho support of tlic Militnry Acnd
cmy. Thcsc joint rulcs, ns is welf known,
nro somclimcs suspcndcd on tho applicn
tion of onc Uouso to tho othcr, in 1'avor of
particulnr bills whoso progrcss has bccn
uno.xpectcdly dclaycd.hut wliich tho public
intcrcst requircs to bo passcd. Uut tho
IIoiimc of ltcpi'cscntntives sent us no rc
qticst to suspcnd tho rulcs ili favor of n
bill for thc support of tho Military Acadc
my, nor niadc nny othcr proposition to
savc thc Institutiou from iuuncdiatc dis
solution. Notwithstanding all tho talk
about n wnr, nnd tho necessity of u votc
for thc tbrce niillioiis;, thc- Military Acadc
niy, nn institutiou chcrishcd so louir, nnd at
so niuch cxjicnsc, wns on tho very point of
uoing cntirciy broKcn up.
Now it so linppcncd, sir, that nt tliis timo
thcro wns nnother nppropriation bill which
hnd com from thb llouso of Rcprcscnta-
tivcs, nnd was bcforo tho Conimittco on
rinancc
hcrc. This biil wns cntillcd "An
nct making nnpronrintions for tho civil nnd
diplomatiu cxpcnscsof tho Govcrnmcnt for
tnc ycar je;."
In this statc ol tbingi, scvcral mcmbers
ol tlic llouso ol Kcprcscntutives npphcd
to thc coniniitlcc, nnd bcsought us to savc
tho Acndcmy by nnncxing thc nccessary
nppropriatious for its support to tho bill for
civilnnd diploinntic scrvicc. Wospokoto
thcni, in reply, of tho unfitncss, tho irrceu
larity, tlio iuconsruity, of this forced union
of such dissimilnr subjccts; but thoy told
us it was a casc of nbsoluto necessity, nnd
tlmt, without resorting to tliis inodc,tho
nppropriation could not gct through. Wo
nciiuicsccd,, sir, in thcsc suggcstions. Wo
wcnt out ol'our way. Wo ngrccd to do nn
cxtraordinary nnd nn irrcgular thing, iu
order to savc thc public busincss from mis-
carriagc. lly dircction of tho committcc,
I movcd tlic Scnato to ndd nn nppropria
tion for tho Military Acadcmy to tlio bill
for dcfruying civil nnd diploinntic cxpcnscs.
Thc bill wns soniucndcd;nnd in tliis fonn
tnc nppropriation was linally mndo.
Uut this wns not nll. This bill for thc civil
nnd diplomatic scrvico bcingthusnmcndcd,
by tacking tho Military Acadcmy uponit,
wns sent back by us to thc llouso ol Itcp-
rctcntativcs, whcrc its Icngtti of tail wns
to be still tnuch further incrcascd. That
llouso liad bcforc it scvcral subjccts for
provision, nnd for npproprintion, upon
which it bad not passpd anv bill, bclbrc
thc timc for pussing bills to bo scut to thc
Scnato bad clapscd. It wns nuxious that
thcsc things should, in sonin way, bc pro
vidcd for; nnd whcn thc diplomatic bill
camu back, drawiiiL'tho Militarv Acndcmv
nftcr it, it wns thought prudcnt to nttuch to
it vnriousof thcsc oihcr provisions. Thcrc
were propositions to pavc sticcts in the
city of Waliingtoi), to repnir tho Cnpilo),
uud nricius othes tliiiiiis, wliich it wns nc-
ccsi'ary to provido for; nnd thcy, thcrcforc,
wcro put into tlio snmo lnll hy wny
ntncndmcnt to nn ntncndmcnt; tlmt is
say, Mrl'rcBidcnt, wo liad bccn prcvuilcd
ou lo ntuciid thcir bill for dcfiaying tho
talary of our iniuistcrs nbroad, by nudiiiji
nn npproprintion lor tlio iMilitary Acnueiny
salury
was unprtividctl for; nnd thero was no wny
of rctiicdying this important omission, but
uy givtug liim placo in tlio diplomatic scr
vico bill, umoiig chnrgcs d1 nflaircs, cnvoyf
cxtrnordinnry, mmistors plcnipotcnttury
m nmt nmonir IIipso rniiKs. thcrctorc, In
was formally introditced by thonmendnicnt
of thc llottsc, nnd thero ho now stuuds,
usyouwill rcadily sco by turning to tho
lnw.
Sir, I hnvo not tho plcasuro to knnw
this ttscful pcrsou; but, should 1 sco liitn
soino inorniiirr ovcrlotikitnr tho worktncn
in tho lnwns, walks, conses, nnd partcrrcs
wiiiuii iiiiuru uic grounns nrounu tnc I'tesi
dont's rcsidcncc, coiiBidcriug tho cotupany
iiuu vmiuii ho jiutu iiiirouuceii utiii, .
should cxpect to scc,nt lenst, nhiunll diplo
inntic. button on his woikiug jnckct.
Whcn tlicso niuundmcnts entno from
tho llouso, nnd wcro rend nt our tnblc.
tliough thoy causcd n smilc, thoy wcro yct
ndoptcd,nnd tho Inw passcd, nhnnstwith
tho rupidity of a conict, nnd with somuthiug
iiko uic Euma inngtn ni uut.
Now, sir, not ono of theso irrcgulnritie:
or incongruitics, no imrt of this jtimhling
togcther of distinct nnd dificrcnt subjccts,
wns, in thc slightcst dcgrcc, occusioned by
nny thing donc, or omittcd to!bo donc, on
tho pnrt of tho Scnato." Thcir procecdinga
wcro nll rcgulnr; Ihcir dccision prompt,
thcir despatcli of tho public busincss cor
rcct nnd scnsonablc. Thcro wns nothing
of ilisorgnnizntion, nothing of procrastinn
tion, nothing cvinctvo of n tcmpcr to cm-
bnrrnss or obslruc.t tho public busincss. If
tho history which I hnvc now truly givcn
hIiows thnt ono thing was nmcndcd by
anothcr, which hnd uo sort of conncxiou
with it, that unusunl cxppdicnts wcro ro
sortcd to, nnd thnt tho lnws, instcnd ol
nrrangemcnt nnd synnnctry, cxhibit nnotn
nly, coufusion, nnd tho most grotcsquo
tissocintions, it is, ncvcrlhclcss truc, that no
pnrt of nll tliis wns tnndo nccessary by us.
vc (lcvintcu irom tlio accustomcd inodo
f lcgislntiou onlv whcn wo wcro supplica-
ted to do so, iu order to supply hold nnd
ginnng icticicncics m mcnsurcs wliicli
wcro bcforo us. "
l!ut now. fllr Prcsidcnt. let mc como to
tho Fortiticntion liill, tho lost bill, wliich
not only now, but onn grnver occasion, has
bccn lamcutcd liko tlio lost Pleiad
This bill, sir, catno from tho llouso of
41cprcscntativcs to tho Scnatc, iu thc usunl
wny, and was relcrrcd to tlic t;onimittcc
on l''iuancc. Its nppcopriations wcro not
lnrgo. Iudccd, thcy uppoarcd to tlic cotn
tniucc to bc quito too small. It struck a
niajority, of thc committco nt onco that
thcro wcro scvcral fortificntions on thc
coast, cithcr not providcd for nt all, or not
adeqtiately providcd for hy this bill. Tho
wbolo nmoiint of its annronriations was
400,000 or -130,000 dollars. It containcd
grant ol tlircc millions, nnd it tlic
Scnato hnd passcd it tho vcry dny it camo
lrom tho Ilouse, not only would thcrc
havc bccn no npproprintion of tlio thrco
niillioiis, but, sir, nono of thcsc othcr sums
hich tho Scnatc did niscrt m thc bill.
Othcrs, besidcs oursclves, saw tho dcficicn
cics of tliis bill. Wo liad communicatious
with nnd from tlio Dcpnittnents, nnd we
inscrtcd in thc bill cvery thitiL' which nnv
Dcparlmcnt rccommcndcd to us.
Wc took cnro to ho surc that nothuiL'
lso was commg. And wo tlicn rcpor-
tcd thc bill to tho Scnato with our nroposcd
amcndmcnls. Atnoug thcsc nnicndiucnts,
thcro was n sum of 875,000 for Castlo
Island, in Iloston, $100,000 for dcfcnces in
Maryland, nnd so forth. Thcsc amcnd-
mcnts wcro ngrccd to by thc Scnntc, and
ono or two otlicrs nddcd, on tho inotiou ot
nicmbers; nnd thc bill, bcing thus uuicndcdj
was rcturncd to tho Ilouse,
And now, Sir, itbccotncs importnnt to nsk
whcn wns this bill, thus nmcndcd, ruturucil
to the llouso ol Hcprcscntivcs? Wns it
tinduly dctnincd hcrc, so thnt thc llouso
wm obligcd nfterwnrds to nct upon it sud-
dculy? This qucstiou is mntcrial to bc
nskcd, and matcrial to bo nnswcrcd, too,
nnd tho Journnl docs sntisfuctorily nnswcr
it; for it nppears by tho Journul thnt tho bill
wns rcturncd to tho Uouso of lteprcscntn-
tivcs on Tuesday, tho y-lth ol v cbunry, one
wholc iceck before the close of thc session.
And Irom Tuesday, tlio sutli ot 1' ebrunry, to
Tuesday, thc 3d dny of Marcb, wo hcard
not ono word from tliis bill. Tuesday, tho
3d day of March, was, of coursc, tho last
day of thc scssion. Wc asscmblcd hcro nt
lt) or 1 J o clocu m tlic niornmg ol tlmt dny,
nnd sat until tlircc iu theaftcrnoon, and still
we wcrc not miormcd wlictlicr tlio llouso
hnd linally passcd tho bill. As it was an
important mattcr, nnd belonging to thnt
pnrt of tho public busincss wliich usuully
reccivcs particular n'tcntion lrom Uie com
mittcc on Finnncc, 1 boro llie suhjcctin my
mind, nnd lclt somc solicitudo nbout it, sco-
ing thnt tho session wasdrnwing so ucarto
n closc. I took it for grnnted, howcvcr, ns
I hnd not hcnrd nny thing to tho ooutmrv,
that thc nmcndmcnts of tho Scnnto would
not bc objcctcd to, nnd that whcn ncnnvcn
icnttimc should nrrive for tukinc upthe bill
in tho Housc, it would bo pnfscd nt onco
inton law, nnd wo should hear no nioro
nbout it. XSot tlio sliglifst intunation wns
givcn, cithcr thnt tho Kxccutivo wishcd for
nny Inrgnr nppropriation, or tlmt it wrs in-1 mtc sttidy of sclf-dpgrudntion mny dcvisc, Onc is n conncxion which it mny perhaps
tcndediniho llouso to inscrt such larger , if only it will lcnvc it so thnt thoso who in- mvo with tho loss oftho fortifieution biil;
npproprintion. Not asyllablecscapcd from heritmy blood, or who may hcrenftcr cnro iti,0 othcr is, its gcnrrnl impoitancc, ns in
nny body, nnd cnmc to our knowlcdgp, tlmt I for my rcputntion sliall bc ablc tobchold it jtroducing n new rulc, or a new practico,
anv lurtlicr ulterution wuatevcr wns intcn-
ded iu tho bill.
At3o'elock in tho nficrnoon oftho 3d of
Mnrch.thc Scnato took its rccess, asis usunl
in that pcriod of tho scssion, until 5, wo
ngnin nsscmbled, nnd procccded with th'u
busincss nt tlic hpunto until b o'clock in
the cvcning, nnd,nt8 o'Iock in tho evcning,
und not bcforc, tho Clcrk oftho llouso np
pcnred nt our door, nnd unnnunccutliat tue
ilouse of Kcprcscntntives hnd disaicrccdito
ono oi uio Dcnuic n iimeiiumcuis, apreea 10
othcrs; nnd to two of theso nmcndnients,
i1 . i r ' . i . i --''
VI. tlio Itli nnd Titli, it lind ngrccd, mth an
amcndmcnt nf ils own.
iNow, sir, tiiesc -Itlt nnd .itli nniendmcnts
of ours wcrc, one, n voto of S.OOO for tho
cnstlo iu Unston hnibor, unil tho othcr, n
voto of $100,000 for certain dcfcnces iu
Mnrylnnd. And whnt, sir, wns the nddition
which tho llouso of Kcprcscutatives pro
pospd to niakp, hy wny of "amcndmcnt" to
u voto of $75,000 for rcpairingthc worksin
Boston hnrbor? Hcrc, sir, itis:
"And be il further enacted, Thnt tho sum
fo thrco millions of dollnrs bc, nnd tho snmo
is hcrchy nppropria'ed, out of nny inonev
in tho 'lrcusury not othcrwisc npproprintcd,
tn lio expciidcd,iu wholo or in part, undcr
tho dircction of thu Prcsidcnt oftho Unitcd
Statcs, for tho military nnd nuvnl scrvico,
iucluding fortificntions und ordnnncc, nnd
incrouso nf thc nnvy: iVovi(c(,Such nxpcn
diturcp shnll bo rcndcrcd nccessary for tlio
dcfunce of tlio country prior to tho ncxt mco
ting r' Congrcss.'
TIub proposition, r.lr, wns thus unoxpert-
lynnd Bitddcnly put to us, nt eight o'clock
in tho cvcnlng of thc last day of tho scssion.
TT I 7 , , ' I?
uiitiauui, iiiiprcceucuicu, cxirnuiuiiinry, nu
it obviously is,on tlio flicc of it, thc tiinnncr
ot prcscntuig it wns still moro oxtrnordmn
ry. Tho Prcsidcnt hnd nskcd for no suclrt
grant of moncv : no Dciinrtmcnt hnd rcc-
ommnudcd it; no cstimntc hnd suggcstcd il;
uo rcnsou whutovcr wns givcn lor it. rvo
cmcrgcncy hnd hnppcnedj nnd nothing new
hnd occurrnd ; cvcry thing known to tho
ndministrntiou nt thnt bour respccting our
forcign rclntions, liad ccrtainly bcen known
to it for days nnd for wccks.
With wlmt propricty thcn could tho
Scnato bo calied on to snuction n procccd
ing so cntirciy irrcgular nnd nnonialoun?
Sir, I rccollcct tho occurrcnccs of tho mo
mcnt vcry wcll, nnd I rcmcmhcr tho im
prcssion which this votc scciued to tnnko
nll round-tho Spnutc. Wo bndjust cotno
out ofUvccutivo scssion; tho doors wcrc
just opcncd ; nntl I hnrdly rcmctnbcr
wiictiinrtncro was n singlc spcctntor in tno
Imll or tho gnllcrics. I bad bccn nt thc
Clcrk's tnblo nnd hnd not rcnchcd my sent
wheu tho incssngo was rcad. All thc Sen-ntoi-s
wcro iu tho chntnbcr. I hcnrd tho
mcssnre, ccrtninly with grcat surpriso ond
nstonishmcnt; nnd I itntncdintcly movcd
tlio Scnato to disagrce to tnn voto ot tlio
llousc. My rclntioit to thc subiccf, in con-
scqucncoofmy conncxion with thc Com-
mittci! on rinancc, mado it my iluty to
proposc somo coursc, nnd I hnd not n mo
mcnt's ilottbt or hcsitatiou whnt thnt coursc
ought to be. I took upon tnysclf thcn, sir,
thu responsibility of moving that tho Scn
nto should disagrce to this votc, nnd I now
ncknowlcdgo thnt rcsponsibility. I niight
bo prcsumptuous to say thnt 1 took a lcnd
ing pnrt, but I ccrtainly took nn carly part,
ndcpidcd pnrt, nnd nn carncst part, in rc
jccting this hioad grant of thrco millions of
dollars without liiuitation of purposo or
spccification of ohjcct; cnllcd for by no
rccommcndation; foundcd on no cstitnatc,
mado nccessary by no Mntcofthings which
was mado known to us. Ccrto'mly, sir, I
took a part in its rcjcction ; nnd I stand
hcrc in tny jilaco in thc Scnatc to-day to
dcfcud tho part so takcn by mc; or rathcr,
sir, I disclaint all dcfcnrc, nnd all occasion
of defencp, nnd I asscrt it is ns mcritorious
to havc bc-cn nmong thosc who nrrcstcd, nt
thc enrlicst momcnt, this extrnordiunry dc
parturo from nll ttlcd usngc, and ns I
think. from nlnin constitutional iniunction
this indefinito voling ofn vnst sum of mo
ncy, to mcro cxccutivc discrction, without
Iimit nssigncd, without objpct Fpccilicd,
without rcnson givcn, nnd without thc lcnst
control undcr hcnvcn.
Sir. I am tuld, thnt in opposing tliis grnnt,
I spokc with warmtb, nnd I supposc 1 mav
hnotljic so. If I did, it wasnwarmth
snrinoinc from ns boncst a convictiou of
dutv a cvcr uillucnccd n public mnn. it
was spontnucous, unnfl'ectcd, sinccrc:
Thcrc hnd bccn nmong us, sir, no consul
tntion, no conccit. Thcrc could hnve bccn
nonc. Itctween thc rcnding of thc mcssngo
nnd my motion to disagrce, thcro was not
timo cnotiL'li tor anv two mcmucrs oi ino
Senntc to cxchangc flvo words on thc sub-
lcct. Tlio proposition wns suddcn und
pcrlcctly uncxpected. 1 rcsistcd it, ns ir
regular, ns diuigcrotis in itsclf, nnd dnngcr'
ousinitsiireredcnt; as wliolly unnccesjnry
nnd ns violutuig tho plam iiitcntion, it not
tho cxprcss words of tho constitution. Uo
foro the Scnatc, thcn, I nvnwcd, nnd bcforo
tho cotlntr', I now nvow my pnrt in this
oppositiou. Wlintsocvcr is to lnll on tbo?
who sanctioncd it, of that Ict mc havc niy
full (-hure.
Thc Scnatc. sir. reicctpd this grant by a
votn of(tcc(i-mncnguinst ninelten. Thoso
twcnty-nino nnmes nre on tho Journnl
nnd whcnsocvcr tho f.xi'Dxqi.no proccss
innv comnicnco, nnd how lur socvcr it mny
bo carricd, I prny it, in mcrcy, not tocrnsc
minn from that rccord. I licsccch it, in its
sparing goodncss, to lcavo tno that proof of
nttn:uuicnt to uuty nnu to priucipic. ji
mavdraw arouiid it, ovcr it, nnd through
it, black lincs, or rcd lincs, or nny lines; it
... i- ;.. -.. ...l.:..l. ,.!.!... .1...
mny mnrk it iu nny wny which citlicr tliis
most prostinto nnd lunuticnl spint ot mmi -
icorshin. or tho most inL'cnious nnd elabo-
whero it now stnnds.
Tho Housc, sir, insistcd on ihismnend-
mcnt. Thc Scnnto adlicrcd to its uisngrcc-
nicnt; tho llouso nskcd n conlerenco to
wliich tlio Scnnto immi'dintely ncccdcd.
Thocommitlec of confcrcncc met, und in n
vcry short timo cnmo to nn ugrceinent.
Tlioy ngrccd to rcccommcnd to thcir rc
spcctivo HoiisPB, ns ii substituto for tho
pto proposcd by tho Housc, tho following:
'As nn ndditional npproprintion for nrtn
ing tho fortificntions of thc Unitcd Statcs,
thrco hundi'pd thoiisund dollnrs."
"As nu udditiniinl nnproiirintion for tho
rcpnii-s nnd cquipmcut of sbips ofwnr of
tlic Unitcd statcs, iivo tiumircci tnousaiui
dollars."
1 iinmcdintcly rcportnd this ngrccmcnt of
tlio pommiltpcs ol coutcrcneo to tno scn
nto; hut, innsmtich ns tho bill wns in Ihc
llouso of llcirescntativcs, tho Scnnto could
not nct further on tho mnttcr until Iho
Housc should first hnvo considcrcd tlio ro
port of tho committcc, dccidcd thcrcon,
nnd Fcut us tho bill. I did not mysclf tnkn
nny noto oftho partipulnr hour nf this puu
oftho transactinu. Tho bonorablo mcmbcr
from Virginin(iMrLcigh)snys hc coiisulted
his wntch nt the timc, und ho kuows that I
hnd potno froin tho ronferciieo nnd wns in
my sputntnquni terpastclcvon. I hnvo no
rcnson to think thnt hois undcr nny mistnko
on this pnrticulnr. lio snys it so linppcncd
thnt ho hnd occasion to tnko uotico of tho
hour, nnd wcll rcmcmhcrH It. It could not
wcll hnvo bccn lnter than this, as nny ono
will ho pntisficd who will look nt our iour
nls, public and exccuth-e, nnd sec whnta
mass of busincRS wns dcspntchcd nfler I
cnmo lrom tho committccs, nnd bcforo tho
ndjoiiruiucnt of tho Scnntc. Hnving tuadu
tlic rcport, sir, 1 utivo ut uount that uotli
I, 1 ..I I !.. .1... I. n .!.
Houscs would concur iu tho rcsult of tho
confcrcncc, nnd lookcd cvcry momcnt for
tho ofhccrot tlio llouso brmgingtiio bill.
Ifo did not coinc, howcver, und I pretty
soon lcnrncd thnt tlicro was douht whcthcr
tho committco on tho pnrt of tho Uouso
would rcport to tlic llouso thc ngrccmcnt
of thc conferccs. At first, I did not nt all
credit this; but wns conlirmcd by ono
communicntion nfter nnother, until I wns
obliged to think it truc. Sccing thnt tho
bill wns thus in dnngcr of bcing lost, and
intending at nny rnto thnt no blainc sliould
justly nttach to the Scnatc, I immcdiatcly
movcd thc following rcsnlution :
"Rcsolvcd, That n mcssngo bo sent to
tho honornblotho llouso of Kcprcsentativcs
rcspcctfully to remiud tho Uousc of the
roport of tho committco of confcrcncc np
poiutcd o'n tho disagrccing votcs oftho two
llouscs on tho amcndmcnt of thc Uouso to
tho nmeiidmctit of thc Scnato to tho bill
respccting thc fortilicating of thc United
Stutcs."
Yoit recollcct this rcsolntion, sir, hnving.
nsl wcll rcmembcr, takcn somo part on thc
occasion."
This rcsolntion was protnptly passcd ;
thc Sccrctnry carricd it to tho housc and
dclivercd it. ' What was dono in thc llouso
on thc reccipt of this mcssago now nppears
from thc pnnted journnl. I linro no wuh
to commeut on tho procecdings thero rc
p.ordcd ; nll mny rcad thcni, und ench bo
nhlc to i'orm his own opinion. Suflicc it to
sny thnt tho llouso ol Kcprcsentativcs, hnv
ing thcn posscssion of thc bill, chosc to rc
tnin thnt posscssion, nnd ncvcr ncted on
tlic rupert ot tno committcc. Tlic lnll wns
thcrclorc lost. lt wns lost in thc Ilouse of
Kcprcsentativrs. It dicd thcrc, nnd thcre
its rcmnins nrc to bo found. No opportuui-
ty was givcn to the mcmbers of tlio Housc
to dccidc whcthcr thcy would ngrec to thc
rcport of thc two committccs or not. From
n quurtcr past clcvcn whcn thc rcport was
agreed to, until two or thrcc o'clock in tho
mornmg, tnc uousc rcmomcd in scssion.
Ifntnny timc thcrc wns not n nuoruni of
memhcrs prcscnt, thcnttcndcncc of a quo
ruin, wo nro to presuinc, niight hnvo bccn
commnndcd, ns tlicro wns uudoubtcdly a
grcnt mnjority of tho lncmbcrs still iu tho
city.
uut now, sir. tlicro is onc othcr transac
tion of thc cvcning, which I fecl bound to
stntc, hccnusc I thuik it quitc important, ou
scverul nccounts thnt it should bc known.
A noininntion was pcnding bcforc tho
Sennto for n Judgoof tho Suprcmo Court.
In thc coursc oftho sitting thnt noininn
tion was cnllcd up, nnd on motion, wns in-
dcfinitely )ostpoiicd. In othcr words, it
wns rejcctcd, for nn iudclinitc postpotimcnt
is n rcjcction. mc otticc, ot coursc, rc
mniucd vncnnt, and tho uominntiou of nn
othcr person to fill Jt hccnmu neccssnry
llio rrpsiilcnt ot tlic Unitcd fctntes wns
thcn in tho Cnpitol, as is usunl, on thu cvc
ning of thc last dny of tho scssion, in thc
Chainhcr assigncd to liim, nnd with tlic
hcnds of Ucpnrtmcnts uround liim. Whcn
lKiminntioiis nrc rejcctcd umter tncso cir-
cunistanccs, it hns bcen usunl for the Prc
sidcnt immcdiatcly to transmit n new noin
iuation to thc Scnatc ; othcrwisc thc ollicc
must rcmain vacnnt till thc next scssion, us
tho vncnucy in such cnso hnKiiothapponcd
in tho rccess of Congrcss. Thc votc oftho
Senntc, indefmitoly postponing this nomi
untion, wns carricd to thc Prcsident's rooni
by the Sccrctary of the Scnatc. Thc Prcsi
dcnt told tho Sccrctnry thnt it wns morc
than an hour pust 112 o'clock, and that bo
could rcccivc no further cnmmunications
from the Scnntc, nnd immcdiatcly nftcr, as
I buvc undcrstood, lcfl the Cap'uol. Thc
Secretary brought back tho pnpcr con
tuiuing thc certilied copy oftho votc oftho
Scnatc, and cndorsed lliereon thosubstanco
oftho Prcsidcnt's nnswcr, nnd nlso nddod
thnt nccordiug to his owu wntch, it was n
qunrlcr past ono o'clock.
i Thcro nro two vicws, sir, in wliich this
oociiirpncc mav wcll dpsnrvn to lm nniicpil.
respccting tho intcrrourso bctwcen iho Prc
sidcnt und tho llouso of Congrcss on tho
imt dny ot tlio scssion
On tho lirst point I shnll only obscrvc
that thc fuct oftho Prcsidcnt's hnving de
clined to receivo this pommtmicutiou from
tho Senate, and of his huving lell tho Cnpi
tol, wns immcdintcly known in tho llouso
ot itpprcscntntives; tlint it wnsquito obvi
ous thnt if ho could not rcceivo n coinimi
nicntion from tho Scnatp, ncithcr could hc
rcccivc n bill from thu llouso of llcprescn
tativo for his signattirc. It wns cqunlly
ohvious, thatlf, undcr thcsc circumslanecs,
thc Housc of Kcprcscntntives should ngroo
to tlio Kcport ot tlio Committco ot conlor-
cncc, so thnt thc bill should puss, it must
luii to tipconio n law, lor wnnt oi tno rrc
sidcut's Mgunlui'o ; nud tlmt, in thnt cnso,
tho bluniu nl losing tho bill, ou whomsocv
crelso it niight fall, could not bu luid ou thu
bcnntp.
On tlio moro gcncrul point, I must snv
sir, thnt this dccision of thu Prcsidcnt, not
to noid communicntion with tho llouscs ot
Congrcss nfler twelvo o'clock, on tho 3d o
Mnrcb, is quito new. No such objcctiou hns
evcr bcen nmuo lictoro by nny I'rcsident
No onu of thcni hns evcr deeliucd commu-
niniting with cithor llouso nt nny timo
during tho cnntinuunco of its scssion on
thnt dny. All PrcEidcnts, herctoforc, hnvo
ictt it witli tlio llouscs tlicmscivcs to nx
thrir hour of ndiourumcnt. nnd to bring
thcir scssion, for thc day, to n oloac, whcn-
cvcr thcy snw fit.
Mr Klng, nrAlabamt, waa Ii tb clialr.
It h notoriotif, in point of (act, that nottilng
Is moro coinmon lliaa for both Houccs to sil
htor than 12 o'clock, for tlic putpoJO ot com
plcting tiicu6iuuB wliicli nro in tbe last stagca
of their progrcss. Amendmcnts nro propoted
and ngrccd lo, bills passcd, cnrollcd billaeign
cd by tho ptcsiding olliccrs, and othcr impor
tant lcgislntivc ncts pcrformcd ottcn at 2 or 3
o'clock in tlic morning. All this is very wcll
known lo qentlcniGn who hnvo bccn for nny
confidcrnblo timo mcmbers ofCongTcsj. And
all PrcsidcnU hnvo signcd bills, and havc oleo
nioilc nominations to tlic Scnatc, iitliout ob
jcction ns to timc, whcncvcr bills iavo bcen
prcsontcd for signnture, or whcncvcr itbccamo
neccssary to mnko nominations to tho Scnatc,
at any timo during thc scssion ofthc resptctivo
IIousus on tlint dny.
AmJ nll this, sir, 1 supposa to uo porrcctly
rinht, corrcct and lcgnl. Thero is no clauso
oftho Constitution, nor is thcro nnv law. which
dcclarrs tlint tho tcrm ofoflico of members of
the Ilnuse of Kcprcsentatives shnll cxpiro at
12 o'clock at ni"ht on thc 3d of March. Thev
nrc to liolil for two years, but Ihc prccUc hour
for tho commcnrcmcnt of the tcrm of two
ycars is nowhero fi.xcd by constitutional or lc
gal provision. It hns bcen es'ablishcd by u
sngo nnd by infcrcncc, and vcry properly c
tablishcd, that, sinca thc first Congress com
mcnced its cxistcncc on tho first Wcdncsday
in Mnrcli, 1789, which linppcncd to bo thc lth
dny of that monlh, thcrclorc, the -1th of March
is thc dny of the commcnccmcnt of cach suc
ccssivo tcrm, but no hour is fixcd by law to
prncticc. The truc rule is, as I think, most
unduubtcdly that thc session holdcn on tho last
dny constitutcs thc last day, for all lcgislativo
nnd lcgal purposcs. Whilo the scssion com
mcnced on thnt day continucs, tho dny itsclf
continues, uccording to tho cstablishcd prac-
tice both orlemslntivo and juilicial bodicti.
This could not wcll be othcnviee. If the prc
cisc momcnt of nctunl timc were to scttlo such
a mattcr, it would bo mnterial to ask, who
Imll scttlc tho timc 7 Shnll it bo dono by
public nuthority, or shall cvcry mnn ohscrvo
the tick of his uwn wntch 7 II absohito timo
is to furnish n prcciso rulc, tho exccts of e.
miiiutc, it is ohvious, would bc as fatnl as tlii)
cxccss of an hour. Sir, no bodics, juilicial or
Icgislativo, havc cvcrbcon so hypcrcritical, so
astutc to no puiposc, so mucli moro nicc tnan
wisp, ns to govcrn themsclvcs by nny such
idea3. Tho scssion for the day, nt whatcver
hour it commrnccs, or nt whatcver hour it
brenks up, is the Icgislativo day. Eve ry thing
lias rcieroncc to the commcnccmcnt oi wal ui
urnnl scssion. For instnncc, this is the 14th
day of Janunry ; we asscmbicd hcrc to-day at
12 o'clocx ; our lournal is uatcd Jan. I4iii,
nnd if wc should rcmuin hcro until 5 o'clock
to-morrow morning (and tho Scnatc has somc
timcs sat so lnte) our procccdings would still
all bcnr dntc of the 14th of Jan.; thcy would
bc so stntcd upon tlic journnl, and the journnl
is n rccord, nnd is n conclusivc rccord tofor as
respccts tho procccdings oftho body.
It is so in judicinl procccdings If a mnn
was on trial I'or his life, at a lato hour on tho
last day allowcd by law for the hohling of tlio
coutt, and the jury ncquiltcd him, but liapptn
cd to rcma'm so long in delibernlion that they
did not biing in their vcrdic.1 till nfler 12 o'
clock, is it all to bo hcld for naught, and th
man tricd ovcr again ? Arc nll vcrdicts, judg
mcnt?, nnd orders of court?, null and yoid, if
mado after midnight, on the day wliich tho
law prcscribes as tho last day ? It would bo
easy to ehow hy nuthority, if nuthority could
bc wanled lor a thing, the rcn3on of which is
fo clcnr, thnt thc uay la;ts wnilc tnc daiiyscj-
sion last. wlion the oourl or tue icgislauvo
hody niljourns for that day, tho day is over,
mi nnthclorc.
1 am told, indced. sir, that, it is truc that on
tliis same 3d dny of March last, not only wera
othcr things trm'iFactcd, but that tho bill fur
the rcpnir of tho Cumbcrland road, nn impor
tnnt nnd much litigatcd mcasurr, actually ro-
pivcu thc signaturo ot our preBiuing olri er
ftcr 12 o'clock, wns then sent to llie Proei-
dcnt, nnd signcd by him. I do not afiirm this,
hecause l tooK no noiice ol tnt ume, or tionot
remcmberit if I did ; but l havc hcnrd thc mat
tcr so stntcd.
I sco no reapon, sir, for tho inlroduction of
this new prncticc : no principle on which it
cnn hc juEtificd, no necessity for it, no propti-
ciy in ii. Ji. yci, u nas uccn nppucu oniy io
the Presidi'tit's intcrcourso with the Senate.
Ccrtninly it is cqually applicabtc to his inter
course with both llouscs inleglslativemattcrs:
and ifit is to prevail hercafler, it is of much
mportnnce that it ehoulcl be Known.
Tho Presidcnt oftho Unitcd States. sir. has
nlhided to this loss oftho Fortiflcalion bill in
lis mcssagc at thc opening oftho scssion, and
le hns alludcd nlso, in thc ratno mcssagc, to
the rcjcction ofthe voto oftho thrcc miilions.
Un the lirft point, thnt is, tlic loss ol tnowbola
bill, and thc causcs of that loss, this is his Un
guago :
"Much loss and incnnvcnicnce havc bccn
'cxpcrienced in conscqucnce of the failuro of
'Iho Ii II containing tho ordinnry nppropriations
lor tnruucniions, wliicli passeu onc urancn ot
Iho Xational Lcgislaturo at the last session,
hut was lost in the othcr."
If thc Prcsidcnt intcndrd to say that thc bill.
hnving originnted in the Houso of Heprctcn
tntives, pnssed thc Scnatc, and wns yet afler-
u arus lost in tlio Uouoo ol Kcprcsentativcs, ho
was cntiicly corrcct. But ho hns bccn nlto
gethcr wrongly informed, if ho intcnded to
stntc, that tbe'bill, having pnssed the Housr,
was lost in tlio Senate. As l nave airrauy
statcd, tho bill wns lost in tho Housc of Rcp
oscntativcs. Itdiewits lnst brcaththere. Thnt
Uouso never let go its lxiUi on it allcr the ro
port of Iho committces of confcrcnce. Dut it
luld it, it retained it, nnd of coursc, It dicd in
its potsession when tho Houso adjcxirncd. Il
is to bo rcgrcttcd that tho Prcsidcnt should
hnve bcen misinformed in n mntterol tluskind,
whcn iho slightcst rrformeo to tho journnls of
tho two (Ioufcs would hnvo cxhibitcd the cor
icct history of tho trnnsnction.
I recur ngnin, Mr Presidcnt, to the propo
scd grnnt ofthe thrcr inillions, for tho purposo
of stating somcwhnt moro distinctly tno truo
grounds of olijection to that grnnt.
Theso grounds ol cibjection wcro two : tho
first wnr, that no such nppropriation lud bten
recommendcd by the Presidcnt, or nny of tho
Dcpattments. And whnt mnde this ground
llie etronger was, that the proposed grant was,
dcfendH, so far ns it was dcfcndcd at all, up
on an nllegtd ncecfsity, nrowing out of our
