Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 475 MARCH, 1826.] GenerlAplpropriation Bill-Cumnberland Road. [SENATE. ject was in the first instance referred. You the civil history of this country than the battle will not find it on the committee, to which, which took place not far from this-he said it the Committee on Ways and Means being dis- was. I then asked him-(to relieve my colcharged from the subject, it was referred, be- league, who had just taken his seat for the first cause the Committee on Ways and Means were time that session) whether it would be in order not sufficiently practicable to the views of this- to move the reconsideration of the vote on the (whether a territorial delegate or lobby mem- next day. He said something to this effect: ber, it don't value that!) this diplomatic agent Surely the gentleman knows the rules of the on the part of Ohio. I did not vote against House too well not to know that it will be in the admission of the State of Ohio into the order at any time during the sitting to-morrow, Union, not only because there was no occasion the next day —I replied I thought I did; but for me to throw myself into the ranks of oppo- I wanted to make assurance doubly sure-to sition against my best friends, with whom I have the opinion of the tribunal in the last rewas united in the closest bonds of intimacy, sort. I then agreed-to accommodate my colwhen that opposition could not avail, but be- league, in the state of exhaustion in which the cause I was unable to attend on the final ques- House then was-I agreed to suspend my motion tion. If I had been in the House, I should for reconsideration, and wve adjourned. The have voted against the State of Ohio being ad- next morning, before either House met, I learned mitted into the Union, but I could not get to -no matter how-no matter from whom or for the House from indisposition, when the ques- what consideration-that it was in contemplation was taken on the passage of the bill. From tion that this clock, which is hardly ever in that day to this (and I recollect that I was once order, and the clock in the other House, which in a minority of two with an old sedition-law is not in a better condition-should somehow and black-cockade Federalist on some of them) disagree-that the Speaker should not take his I voted against the admission of any new State seat in the House till the President had taken into the Union-I won't be positive, for I have his seat here, and then, that when I went into not hunted the Journal-my last vote I think the House to make my motion, I was to be told was in reference to the admission of the State that the Chair regretted very much that the of Missouri into the Union, which seems to ex- Clerk had gone off with the bill -that it was cite the risibility of my friend from that State, not in their possession, and the case was irre(Mr. BENTON,) and the facts are these: As parable-and yet I recollect very well, when Ohio was the first State admitted, so was Mis- we applied to the Secretary of State for a souri the last-the facts are these-I don't see parchment roll of an act which had not been any one here who can corroborate them, but duly enrolled-two sections were left out by my then colleague, W. S. ARCHER can, so can the carelessness of the clerks and of the Comtwenty, thirty, fifty gentlemen in the I-louse mittee of Enrolment-that act was, by the of Representatives. The facts were these: On House of Representatives, in which it originatthe night that that bill had its last vote in the ed, procured from the archives of the Departother House, my colleague was a new member ment of State, and put on the statute books, as -I declared publicly and openly that in case it passed, not as it was on the roll-and enthat bill should pass, with the amendment then rolled anew. It was the act for the relief of proposed, unless another amendment should suc- the captors of the Mirboha and Missouda. As ceed, which did not succeed-I declared con- soon as I understood this, sir, I went to the ditionally, that I should move for a reconsidera- Speaker myself, and told him that I must have tion of the vote-myself and my colleague, who, my vote for reconsideration that day-I can with another gentleman whom I shall not refer only say that I inferred — not from what he to, though near me, (Mr. MAcoN,) were the told me —that my information was correct-I only persons whom I have heard of, belonging came off immediately to this House —it wanted to the Southern interest, who determined to about twenty minutes of the time when the have no compromise at all on this subject. Senate was to meet —I saw that most respectThey determined to cavil on the nineteenth able man whom we have just lost, and begged part of a hair in a matter of sheer right-touch- to speak with him in private. We retired to a ing the dearest interests-the life-blood of the committee room, and to prevent intrusion we Southern States. The House was exhausted- locked the door-I told him of the conspiracy a gentleman fainted in front of the chair, and laid to defeat me of my constitutional right to tumbled on the ground —in this state of things, move a reconsideration-(though I think it a my colleague asked me whether it would not dangerous rule, and always voted against its do as well to put off the motion till to-morrow, being put on the rules at all —believing that, to (for he was in ill health and much fatigued.) prevent tampering and collusion, the vote to I said I could not agree to that till I had taken reconsider ought to be taken instantly-yet, the opinion of the court in the last resort. sir, as it was there, I had a right to make the After that question had eventuated, as I fore- motion)-I told this gentleman that he might, saw it might, I rose in my place, and asked of by taking the chair of the Senate sooner than the Speaker whether it was in order to move a the true time, lend himself unconsciously to reconsideration of the vote-he said that it was. this conspiracy against my constitutional rights Sir, I am stating facts of more importance to as a member of the other House from the

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 475
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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