The House refused to order the yeas and nays to be taken, by a vote of 162 to 19.

A motion was then made to adjourn, and decided in the negative.

The question was then taken on agreeing to the motion of Mr. CHILTON, and decided in the negative, ayes 26. And then the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, in the following form, viz.

[DEC. 31, 1829.

The State of Indiana would have much preferred the money, or I would for her. It would have been much easier managed. I shall be told that the navy ought not to be taken into the account, because it is for the security of the country and the protection and facility of commerce --so are the roads and canals erected, and to be erected, from the proceeds of those land appropriations; they serve as means to transport your arms and munitions of war "Be it enacted, &c. That the Secretary of the Senate from one point to another, and to disseminate the various and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representa- objects of merchandise through the country. Yes, sir, tives shall, at the present and at the commencement of the navy in time of peace serves only to protect the mer each subsequent session of Congress, obtain from each chants in their commercial pursuits. We can, therefore, member and delegate the name of the post office nearest with perfect propriety, call upon them to aid us in payhis residence, and shall then, with the aid of the presiding ing back our share of these appropriations so generously officers, ascertain and fix the distance to said post office made, by paying us our share of the value of the navy. from the seat of Government, computed according to the We shall call you to an account for your forts, your arse shortest post road on which letters are usually transmitted nals, your armories, your light-houses, your sea-walls, and by mail from the seat of the General Government to said all the improvements upon the seaboard; and shall I be post office; after which, he shall add to, or subtract from, told they are for the general protection of the maritime the said statement, as the case may be, the distance from said frontier? Sir, our public and private improvements propost office to the residence of said member; upon which tect your inland frontier much more effectually than all statement, the mileage of each member is to be computed. your navies, and forts, and arsenals do your maritime. "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, on the final How long since this very spot was a howling wilderness, settlement of the account of each member or delegate, infested with the wild beast and the savage? Now, sir, he shall subjoin, at the foot of his account, a certificate the improvement and settlement of the new States form that he has deducted from his account all and each of the an impassable barrier between them and you; and when entire days on which he may have been absent from his you have not made us appropriations towards the erection seat in the House of which he is a member, during those of these improvements, and we have not been able to days on which it may have been in session: Provided that make them ourselves, we have presented our breasts as a nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to rampart to protect you. It is to the industry, the enter prevent a member receiving a daily compensation, if the prise, the toil, and the labor of these new States, that absence of such member was occasioned by sickness after you owe a greater share of protection than from all your his departure from home; in which case, a member so navies and forts; and yet you ask us to suffer you to retain prevented from attending the House shall annex a certifi- the navy, together with all your permanent improvements, cate of the fact of sickness, and its duration." while you call upon us to pay back to you a miserable ap propriation of land in the midst of the wilderness. Could the gentleman from South Carolina have the face to ask it? Sir, are we to be charged with all these improvements which have been called western? Shall we have to pay for the Cumberland road, and all its repairs, too I hope

THURSDAY, DECEMBER, 31, 1829.

DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC LANDS.

The House having resumed the consideration of the re-not. But, according to the gentleman's amendment of solution of Mr. HUNT, proposing a distribution of the nett proceeds of the sales of public lands among the several States for the purposes of education and internal improvement,

the resolution, Virginia, with all her constitutional seruples about internal improvements, and Pennsylvania, with all her objections to the termination of the Cumberland road, will have to pay the expense of making and repairMr. TEST rose, and said that he had but a few words ing it, unless it can be shown that there is some distinction more to say, and he should close. I think, sir, [said Mr. between appropriations for land and money. Do you T.] I was calling the attention of the House to the modus think, sir, Virginia or Pennsylvania will ever pay you back operandi under the provisions of the amendment to the re- the appropriations for that road? I will answer for them, solution by the gentleman from South Carolina, and par- and I will answer for all the Western States-they will ticularly what was to be taken into this account current neither of them ever do so. I think, sir, the gentleman which was to be made out. I had said, we shall call upon from South Carolina, and every gentleman in this House, you to go the whole; we shall not only call upon you to cannot but see the gross injustice he would do the people throw in all the lands in this district, besides the useless of the new States by carrying into effect the principles of millions you have laid out upon this building and the Pre- the amendment to this resolution. It is calculated to insident's house, but we shall call upon you to take an ac- jure and oppress the bravest, the hardiest, and most virtucount of your navy also, for it will be extremely onerous ous part of your community-men who have borne the to call upon us in the new States to pay for the lands you burden in the heat of the day-men who, when your pretended to give us, without allowing us to draw out of country was invaded by both the civilized and the savage the general stock our money portion of the funds. I shall foe, stepped forward with alacrity to defend it. No murbe told that these public buildings are a part of the staple muring was heard. They never inquired, is my country improvements of the country, which were never intend- right or wrong? The only inquiry was, where are her ed as a fund; this I admit: and so, by your pretended gift, enemies? The story of these appropriations which you these lands (so far as they have been applied) have be- desire us now to repay, drew thousands of emigrants to come a part of the permanent improvements of the coun- these new States, upon the faith of the Government that try as much as your public buildings; but we are called they were real, not fictitious. They settled down in the upon to pay for them, and we cannot do so except we be midst of a wilderness, where, perhaps, the human foot permitted to draw upon the joint stock. It will be no an-never trod; they have honestly toiled and labored till they swer to our proposition to tell us that the cost of these have made themselves a little home, perhaps near the buildings, &c. are money appropriations, and not land. Sir, I would inquire of the gentleman from South Carolina, what distinction he will draw between an appropriation of money and of land-except that money is preferable.

spot where by your donations (as you were pleased to call them) you seduced us to make a road or canal. What will they say when they are told they must pay back this deceitful, this Indian gift? Sir, you would create heart

DEC. 31, 1829.]

Distribution of Public Lands.

[H. of R.

burnings and discontents that time will never heal. Sir, I proper disposition of this part of the public domain in will say something more to the gentleman from South time. Carolina concerning his calculations of the price of these

Sir, I should think the gentleman's precipitancy a conpublic lands. Are his calculations of the value of these clusive evidence that he was afraid to submit his proposiÎands to have a retrospective operation or not? If so, and tion to the deliberate cogitations of the people. He is you go as far back as to the time of the cession of these fearful that that monstrous sentiment which he has heard lands, why then the small States will get a full proportion; in whispers might assume a more audible tone--he is fearbut then great injustice must be done if you place them ful it may gain upon public opinion. Sir, if it be true at the present time; the small States would get almost that such a sentiment or opinion be gaining ground, it is nothing. The State of Delaware, for example, would get one of the strongest reasons under Heaven why the decithe two hundred and thirteenth part, and Indiana would sion of the question should be postponed. Let the peoget three two hundred and thirteenth parts; for it is to be ple deliberate upon it, and my life for it they will come to kept in mind that the territories as well as the States are a correct conclusion concerning it. Is the gentleman to share in the plunder. Yes, sir, and while Delaware afraid to postpone it till after the next census? I should and Indiana receive this little miserable portion, New York think so, from his desire to push the matter now. Why, will be entitled to about one-sixth of the whole of your sir, drive us into a decision now? Why not let it remain wild lands. Fix it prospectively, still injustice must be till public opinion has decided upon it? The new States done; so that, as an original proposition, and established are but weak in numerical strength; why cram this meaon the very best footing, it is evident that the grossest in- sure down their throats before they shall have acquired justice must fall somewhere; and to carry it through upon the strength which the new census will give them? It any principle would tend to defeat the great, indeed the shows there is something wrong about it, and that he is prime object of the donors of the trust. So far from tran-afraid to trust it to the searching investigations of time. quillizing the people of this confederation, it would lead If we must have a scramble for this property, give us a to a state of public feeling in every respect the reverse. chance with you--do not take the advantage of our present A few words to my friend from Vermont, and I have representative weakness, when you know we have a large done. I have never been more astonished than at seeing portion of original physical strength just ready to organize the course which he has taken; and when I call him friend, and bring into action. It would not be fair; if we must I do so sincerely and candidly. I have always found him lose our lands, let us at least have the benefit of all our generous of heart, liberal in his sentiments, and the steady, strength before we commence the unequal struggle. Sir, untiring supporter of all the valuable institutions of the I can say to my friend from Vermont, I have never heard country. I found him with me in obtaining the appropria-such principles as he mentions contended for-I have tion of land for the Wabash and Erie canal, and my heart never heard any man deny but that Congress had the right has never ceased to recollect with gratitude his kind aid on to dispose of those lands according to the tenor of the that occasion; but if he now turns about, and calls upon us compacts with the various States which have made cessions. to pay back the amount of that appropriation, I shall have, But I will say to my friend, that whatever lands the Unithowever reluctantly, to cease to cherish those pleasing re-ed States may have in the new States, at least the Western collections. To say there have been appropriations made ones, Vermont has no land there, nor ever will have, until without a view to the general benefit of the whole nation, the Western States consent to it, or the most solemn enis a direct imputation upon the honesty and integrity of the gagements shall be violated by the Congress of the United gentlemen who composed that Congress; and I am ready States. Sir, I have said this, and I will say it here, that to answer for my friend from Vermont, that he never the gentleman may be apprised of it, that when the mogave a vote in this House through mere whim and caprice; tives or considerations for ceding these lands to the United but when he did vote on any question, it was an honest, States, by the several States, shall have been fulfilled, that, and, generally, a very judicious one. from a principle of equity, connected with the contract,

[Here Mr. MALLÁRY rose, and begged to be heard in they must and will fall to the States in which they lie; and, explanation. He said he was sorry that he should have sir, I will give the gentleman the grounds of my opinion. been so misunderstood; that he had declared in the out- Sir, it is evident that these lands were ceded to the United set that he had no disposition to call upon the new States States upon two considerations, the most prominent of to repay the appropriations made them; that he believed which was, to create a sort of political balance in the them to be of national benefit, calculated rather to en-Union, as I have heretofore said; the next was, the payhance the value of the public domain, than to diminish it. ment of the public debt. The lands are, therefore, a trust Mr. TEST resumed. My friend from Vermont has estate in the hands of Congress or the United States, for misunderstood me, and not I him. If he had waited a mo- the purpose of fulfilling the design of the States which ment, I should have satisfied him and this House that Iceded them, that is, to lay off a certain number of new never intended to attribute to him any such intention. IStates, not to exceed a certain size, so as to create the bahad intended to say that he had in the outset disclaimed lance of power I have before stated-which States were every idea of calling upon the new States to repay the to be free republican States, possessing all the rights of value of the appropriations they had received; but, at the sovereignty and independence of the original States; and, same time I heard him thus disclaiming every such inten- at a proper time, to be admitted into the Union upon an tion, I could not help but see him advocating the passage equal footing with them. Now sir, it is not a settled of the resolution and amendment before the House, which principle, in the construction of all trusts from which no led to all the evils I have deprecated. He says he is not tribunal ever thought itself at liberty to depart, that when for an immediate distribution of these lands, but he wishes the whole object or consideration for which the trust was this as a mere preparatory step. If nothing is to be done created shall have been fulfilled, that the estate reverts now, why push the measure? Why arouse the excitement, to the original donor, unless otherwise directed by the and all the angry feelings consequent upon it, if nothing terms of the trust. Here, sir, it is otherwise directed; it is to be done? Why not let it sleep till he thinks the time never can revert to the donors. But, sir, when these new arrived when it ought to be awakened? He says he hears States shall have been laid out, and the public debt paid, a sentiment propagated by many, very many, which, if it these lands must go to those new States according to the shall ultimately prevail, all their prospects of obtaining a provisions of the grant--having all the rights of soveshare of the public lands are at an end; that is, that the reignty, freedom, and independence of the original States. lands of right belong to the States in which they lie; Sir, I am forbidden to travel upon this ground-it belongs wherefore, he says, he wishes to be paving the way for a not to the amendment, but to the original resolution, which

H. of R.]

Distribution of Public Lands.

[DEC. 31, 1829.

I have been warned not to discuss. When a proper occa-led States, but he has said that eventually they ought in sion, however, shall offer, I may take up the subject more justice to go to the States within whose boundaries they at large, but, for the present, I will not trouble the House longer.

were. Suspicions that such sentiments were entertained by the new States had probably led to the introduction of Mr. WILDE, of Georgia, spoke briefly to the question, the resolution. It must also be recollected that there was with a desire to have it modified, and placed in a more de-a vast quantity of public lands, which had been acquired finite shape before the House. by purchase, for which the United States had paid large Mr. SPENCER, of New York, said that he rose to make sums, and assumed onerous burdens. He referred to a very few remarks. The gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Louisiana, Florida, and the Georgia and Alabama lands. WILDE] had correctly stated that the resolution was mere- Have the United States been reimbursed for the consider ly for the purpose of inquiry; it was an initiatory pro- ation money paid out of the common treasury for these ceeding with a view to certain results, and every thing lands? He believed not. And on what plea then can the pertinent to the inquiry should be embraced in the reso-new States claim the unsold lands as theirs? It certainly lution, if nothing more. He presumed it had not been was to be apprehended that at some future time the claim the intention of the mover of the resolution that donations which had been intimated by the gentleman from Indiana in land, or otherwise, to the new States, should be taken would be more boldly advanced, and that the right of the into consideration; and the gentleman from Vermont, [Mr. old States would eventually be denied. He was glad that, MALLARY] although he had expressed an intention of vot- in the enumeration of the States which had largely partici ing for the amendment, had distinctly disavowed taking pated in the public expenditure, the gentleman from Ininto the final account those donations against the new diana had not named New York; she had indeed had but States. He was opposed to any retrospect as to grants or little of the expenditures of the General Government; she donations to any of the States, and he believed those who had applied for its aid when about to undertake her great acted with him in support of the resolution were opposed work, but was denied all assistance on the ground of unto it. In the first place, they wished to avoid any excite- constitutionality. She then went on with that great enter ment; and, in the second place, they considered such re-prise unassisted and alone, and had succeeded, and was trospect unjust. He fully agreed with the gentleman now enjoying the rich harvest of her enterprise. He from Ohio, [Mr. VANCE] that the donations which had been thought this the precise time to make inquiry as to the dis made had promoted the interests of the United States, by tribution of the proceeds of the public lands, and he degreatly increasing the value of the residuary lands; and sired to make the inquiry and measure entirely prospec he even felt that those hardy adventurers, who had enter- tive. He thought the friends of the resolution should ed our forests, and, amidst privations and sufferings, re-unite to disencumber it from the amendment, and that they duced the wilderness to pleasant abodes, were entitled should adopt the proposition suggested by the gentleman to even more than they had received. He said the amend- from Pennsylvania, [Mr. BUCHANAN] and send it to a select ment proposed by the gentleman from South Carolina, committee. [Mr. MARTIN] was a Pandora's box, and had produced the Mr. BLAIR, of South Carolina, remarked that he was excitement which had been displayed; that gentleman, in- sorry to see, in that House, such a strong and inveterate stead of uniting to put that down, had opposed the ori- disposition to scramble for the public funds. During the ginal proposition, as containing the unjust principle of short time they had been in session, frequent attempts had taking the donations to the new States into account in the been made to commit that House on the subject of approfinal distribution of the proceeds of the sales of the public priating public lands, or setting apart the "surplus redomain. The gentleman from South Carolina had can- venue" for objects of "internal improvement" or educa didly avowed that he was hostile to the inquiry, and should tion. Some gentlemen seemed to be very much afraid we vote against it if his amendment was adopted. He had should not know what to do with our surplus revenue. never perceived the propriety of the amendment, and was This reminded him of the story about the hunter, who sold satisfied that it would produce no other purpose than that the skin before he had killed the bear.

Mr. B. said, he of exciting, unnecessarily and improperly, the feelings of thought common prudence and ordinary delicacy would the representatives of the new States. His own opinion require gentlemen to wait until the Government had paid was, that the subject should be examined now, and that it its debts, and had really a little spare cash over and above should be settled by this Congress; and that opinion had its necessities, before they undertook to dispose of its sur been strengthened by what he had heard from the gentle-plus funds "in advance." Mr. B. said, although he very man from Indiana. He had never before heard the rea-much wished to see this Government out of debt, yet he sons assigned by that gentleman for the cessions made by never expected, and he never wished, to see it possessed Virginia and North Carolina. He had never supposed of surplus revenue to any considerable amount. He fear that these cessions were for the purpose of making new ed it would only serve to engender discord and cor States. It was notorious, that, by the treaty of peace ter- ruption. The true policy of this country [he said] was to minating the war of the Revolution, the lands falling with-pay off the public debt as soon as possible, and lessen the in the original boundaries of those States were wrested duties on imports so as to meet only the real exigencies from the crown, and enured to the States within whose of the Government. It was a folly to say, or to imagine limits they were situated; in consequence of the arduous (as he had understood some gentlemen to intimate) that struggle for independence in which all the old States par-the people, after having realized the convenience and adticipated, and by the common blood and treasure of the vantages resulting from low duties, would resist such an then States, these lands had been acquired. Virginia, and increase of them as might become necessary to meet any the other States who made cessions, magnanimously sur-contingency or emergency that might arise. This [he rendered a portion of the territory thus gained. This said] would be a bad comment on their patriotism. He surrender was dictated by a high sense of justice, and hoped they had not yet so far degenerated from the poli never has been, and never ought to be, viewed as a dona-tical virtue of their Revolutionary fathers. No, sir, [said tion. He should suppose that the ratio of representation Mr. B.] when the people see the Government disposed to in this House was the proper measure by which to ascer-ask no more from them than is really necessary to suptain the proportion of charge and expenditure." Let port it, they will, in cases of necessity, submit to the inquiry be made, as it ought, in order that, in our future greatest burdens. They will not only give their last dol distribution, we may conform to the intention of the grant-lar to aid a Government thus mindful of their interest, but, The gentleman from Indiana [Mr. TEST] had ad-along with their money, they will freely give their blood. mitted that the legal title to these lands was in the Unit- Mr. B. further said, that, after the public debt is paid off

ors.

JAN. 4, 1830.]

Distribution of Public Lands.-Forage to Officers of the Army.

[H. of R.

But that is

entirely, and the public lands thereby redeemed from the with great eclat and success at New Orleans. pledge they are now under for the obligations of the Go-almost entirely to be attributed to the rare energy, skill, vernment, he did not know that he should have any objec- and courage of the illustrious individual who commanded tion to a fair and equitable distribution of that territory; in that quarter, not to the Government or its means, for and if South Carolina could only get justice-sheer jus- these were poor indeed. tice-in all other respects, he should not be disposed to squabble about those lands. Those who seemed to have such an "itching palm" for them, might take them, rather than he would enter into a scramble with them, like school boys scuffling for chesnuts. But, until our honest debts were paid, (if he might call them honest,) at any rate until all the pecuniary obligations of the Government were discharged, he hoped the public lands would be held as sacred as is the cash in the treasury itself.

But, [said Mr. B.] notwithstanding the true policy of the country requires that we should husband with care and economy all the public treasures until the national debt is paid, I very much fear a great many gentlemen do not wish the public debt extinguished. Their greatest fear is, that, under the administration of our present worthy Chief Magistrate, the Government may happen to get out of debt. Mr. B. said, he hoped he was not disposed to judge too uncharitably, but he inclined to think the stockholding in[Here Mr. BLAIR's remarks were suspended, in conse-terests did not wish the trouble, the loss, and the hazard quence of the hour for discussing resolutions having ex-of making new and frequent investments. They would pired.]

Adjourned to Monday.

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1830.

DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC LANDS. The House resumed the consideration of the resolution moved by Mr. HUNT on the 17th ultimo.

The question recurred on the, motion made by Mr. MARTIN, on the same day, to amend the same; when

not only lose money by it, but they would then have to contribute something to the support of the Government. The manufacturers also were desirous of a pretext for continuing a high tariff. It was not for their interest, then, that the public debt should be discharged; nor was it for their interest that the national domain should continue to be a source of revenue. He would not say that the friends of the stockholding interest combined with the advocates of high protecting duties, and the friends of internal improvement, in order to divide and to squander Mr. BLAIR, of South Carolina, addressing the Speak-away the public funds for selfish sinister purposes, but he er, said, he had concluded his remarks on Thursday last, did think the circumstances to which he had alluded warby expressing a hope that, until all the pecuniary obliga-ranted such a conclusion. But, [said Mr. B.] it has been tions of the Government were discharged, and the public said by some of the senior members of this House, for lands thereby redeemed from the pledge they are under, whose opinions I have a high regard, that this is not a prono distribution of that territory would be made, but that per time to discuss this matter; and I certainly have no it would be held as inviolable as the cash in the treasury. disposition to pursue the disagreeable subject any further. It has been said by some [continued Mr. B.] that the He had not been able [he said] to reply to those gentlepublic lands are a very inefficient fund for national pur- men on his left, who perhaps had differed from him in poses. This has been owing more to bad management, opinion, because he had not been able to hear them. He than to the inadequacy of the fund itself. At any rate, knew that some gentlemen had objected to the amend[said Mr. B.] the public land has been found, on former ment proposed by his worthy colleague, [Mr. MARTIN] occasions, to be quite a convenient article with which to but those objections, so far as he had distinctly heard enlist recruits for your armies; and it is not at all impossible, them, appeared not to be valid. He hoped, if the House but he thought it altogether probable, the Government was determined to adopt the resolution, it would be with might stand in need of it again for a similar purpose. the amendment offered by his colleague; but, whether Suppose [said Mr. B.] that, during the late war, instead that amendment should be adopted or not, he would finally of a bounty of one hundred and sixty acres of this land, vote against the resolution. He was at present [he said] you had been compelled to launch out its equivalent in opposed to the whole proposition in every possible shape money to every private soldier you enlisted, and a still and form. He hoped, therefore, that it would be laid higher amount to each of your officers, what would have aside now, and if not for ever, at least for years. He had been its effect on public credit? and would it not have been desirous that the motion, made some days ago by the made a serious inroad upon your strong box? I guess it honorable gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. PoLK] to lay would, [said Mr. B.] He therefore thought sound policy the resolution on the table, would have prevailed. He required the public lands to be husbanded with care, at was not now disposed to renew that motion, because he least till the public debt was paid. I am one of those did not wish to seal up the lips of such gentlemen as [continued Mr. B.] who think the best "provision for the might wish to present their views of the subject. But, common defence and general welfare," and the best pre-when a proper time arrived, if no other gentleman reparation for war, would be the payment of the public debt newed that motion, he would. At present, however, he in the time of peace. At the commencement of the last war, your public debt was much smaller than it is at present; the war itself was feebly conducted on the part of FORAGE TO OFFICERS OF THE ARMY. Great Britain, yet your credit became so low during the contest, that you could effect only limited loans--very The House resolved itself into a Committee of the limited loans at an enormous premium. And it ought ne- Whole, Mr. DWIGHT in the chair, on the bill to reguver to be forgotten how abortive, futile, and disastrous late the allowance of forage to officers of the army. were some of your operations for the want of means. In- The bill was in the following words: deed, the Government acknowledged it had not the means Be it enacted, &c. That, from and after the passage of wherewith to defend South Carolina against the common this act, the officers of the army, entitled by existing laws enemy. South Carolina, therefore, had to use her own to forage, shall be allowed, in lieu thereof, the following purse. And she has not even yet been refunded or re-sums, respectively, viz. A major general, brigadier geneimbursed the money she expended, Her memorial on that ral, adjutant general, inspector general, quartermaster subject has been presented to this House this morning. The general, and commissary general of subsistence, each war, to be sure, was occasionally characterized by a bril- twenty dollars per month; a colonel, sixteen dollars per liant exploit, particularly by one at the Moravian towns, month; a lieutenant colonel, major, quartermaster, payin which an honorable gentleman of this House took a dis- master, and surgeon, each twelve dollars per month; and tinguished part; and the conflict was finally terminated every other officer, entitled to forage, ten dollars per month. VOL. VI.-63

made no motion.

[The debate here ended for this day.]

II. of R.]

Forage to Officers of the Army.

[JAN. 4, 1830.

Provided, That the officers of the line and of the Mr. LETCHER said, he regretted that his colleague had staff, when their duties require them to be mounted, shall not received what fell from him the other day in the same be allowed to draw and receive, at their option, forage in spirit in which he had uttered it. Mr. L. said he never had, kind, in lieu of the sum allowed them by this act, for as at that time or at any other, a disposition to use any seve many horses as they may have in actual service, not ex-rity towards his colleague; and he believed that the whole ceeding the number allowed now by law to such officer of House perfectly understood that he meant no personal the line or staff."

reflection upon him. If he had supposed that his colMr. WICKLIFFE (chairman of the committee which league had taken unkindly what he said, he would have reported the bill) explained the scope and object of its taken the earliest opportunity to put him right in that provisions. After doing which, he remarked, that being particular. In his colleague's remarks, the other day, Mr. admonished by what fell from his colleague [Mr. LETCHER] L. said he thought he had gone out of his way to throw imthe other day, that it ought to be a part of the duties of proper reflections upon the last administration, in speak this committee to provide for the retrenchment of debate ing of a travelling cabinet and of constructive journeys; and the economy of the time of the House, he should de- which language formed a part of the clectioneering masist from any further unnecessary consumption of it on chinery of the late contest for the Presidency. Mr. L. this occasion. Mr. W. said, he did not envy his colleague had thought, after the violence of the war was over, and the consolation which he must have derived from the victory had ranged herself on the side of his colleague, amusement which he had furnished the House, at the ex- that generosity, magnanimity, liberality, would have markpense, as might be well supposed, of the feelings of one ed his course, and that, of all the members of this House, who had never harmed him, and of one who had ever he would be the last to revive the topics of the old contest. treated him with the highest respect. He was not con- He had thought that the nation was tired and weary of the scious of having, on the occasion referred to, consumed thread-bare story; that his colleague's allusion to it was more of the time of the House than was proper to defend wrong; and he acknowledged, very frankly, that it had the measure for which he, as one of the committee which excited him a little. But he had not intended to be perreported it, was responsible. He had thought that some sonal in his remarks; for, when he meant to be personal response was due to the observations which the gentle-in his observations, there should be nothing cquivocal about man had made; but he forbore from it, under an impres-them. When he had spoken of the industry, integrity, sion, that, left to his own reflections, the gentleman would and ability of his colleague, he had meant nothing ironical. find the satisfaction which his course afforded him would Mr. WICKLIFFE said that he must relieve himself not be as great as it seemed to be in the immediate enjoy-from the imputation that he had the other day made some ment of it. He was deterred also by another considera unkind attack on the late administration. He had not done tion-the want of time. He well recollected, when that so. In answer to the gentleman from North Carolina, who gentleman made his last appearance upon the boards, two had criticised the bill in harsh terms, he had spoken of years ago, he furnished the House with a somewhat similar what had been said out of the House, of individuals redish of amusement; condemning and reprobating much ceiving compensation and neglecting their duties, and had talking-in doing which, he had spun out a speech cover-called his recollection to the great deal that had been said ing about five columns of the Intelligencer. I do not of a travelling cabinet, &c. Sir, I am not obnoxious to [said Mr. W.] envy him the gratification of being consi- the charge imputed to me by the gentleman. I have not dered the wit of the House. I yield to him the palm he desired, nor do I intend to disturb the ashes of his favored so much desires, and only ask of him to let me enjoy the and favorite dead. In peace let them sleep. I do not humbler consolation of endeavoring to render myself use- believe that my colleague has admitted, or is willing to ful to those who have sent me here. I would admonish concede, that the battle is over, the victory is won. Not my colleague that it is not by wit and humor the business so. Richmond is in the field again, else I am deceived by of the nation is to be advanced; and, above all, he who things which surround me. Mr. W. had not supposed indulges in it should never do it at the expense of pri- that that remark invoked the ire of his colleague; but had vate friendship. In reference to the unconquerable de- rather supposed him to have been excited by the remark, sire to talk, which he imputes to me, of that let those that the abuse in the computation of mileage, from a judge who have known me the longest and best. With a misconception of the law, had originated under a former view to its influence on those who know me not, this pre-presiding officer of this House, who was a particular favorite meditated judgment on my character and motives seem- of his colleague.

ed to be a little unkind. On the subject of the character Mr. LETCHER said, he had no disposition to have any of the labors of the committee, [Mr. W. said] it had been further controversy of this sort with the gentleman from fashionable for gentlemen out of the House to attempt Kentucky. I had a right [said Mr. L.] to explain my own to turn them into ridicule and contempt. The same at- motives, and he has no right to suggest for me a different tempt was made when the subject was first broached in one. I am no man's bull-dog: I take up no man's quarrel. this House. Mr. W. said, he should never, in the duties I never had that sort of ambition. I act for myself, as assigned him as a member of the Committee of Retrench-think for myself; and it is the height of my ambition to do ment, be prevented from presenting subjects which he my duty to the satisfaction of those who send me here. I believed worthy of the attention of the House, by the did not know, sir, that Richmond is in the field: if he is, opinion of individuals either in or out of the House: and, he is very able to conduct his own campaign. When the if necessarily called upon to explain them, when he found individuals professing friendship acting with the opponents to the retrenchment of unnecessary expenditure. If he successfully defended the committee against such insidious hostility, he should be content to receive the censure for a disposition to talk too much, gratuitously bestowed by his colleague. Mr. W. said thus much he added, not from a disposition to provoke a renewed attack upon him, but to vindicate his own course. He trusted, however, that the measure now before the committee would be more acceptable to his colleague, than that which had, the other day, excited his wit and provoked his irony.

campaign does begin, if I have not the prudence to get upon the fence and see which way the victory is to go, I will take my part at once, and do my duty--not as a partisan officer, but as an unambitious private, determined, as far as possible, to promote the interest of my country.

Mr. STORES, of New York, then made some inquiry of the chairman of the committee which reported this bill, with a view to the more particular understanding of its object.

Mr. WICKLIFFE said that the principle of the bill was, to give to officers of the army a certain allowance in lieu of forage, whether they kept horses or not, instead of making the allowance dependant upon that contingency.