[20] These salutary statutes, indispensable for the protection of the Treasury, as time was wearing out the evidence which would detect fraud, have since been disregarded by modern Congresses, carried away by a mistaken idea of justice, and the door opened to an endless succession of false claims, supported by fabricated evidence which there is no means to rebut, and plundering the Treasury for the benefit of agents who have grown up into a regular profession for the discovery, invention, and prosecution of claims.
[21] The wildest supposition of the abuse of this question, indulged in by its opponents in this debate, falls short of the reality which has since occurred, and is continually occurring in the House of Representatives; for the Senate has, thus far, succeeded in keeping this gag out of that body. In the other branch, the previous question has become the regular engine of legislation, and is constantly used by party majorities, not only to prevent discussion on the most important measures, but to prevent things from being said which the House and the country ought to know; and which, being said, might be fatal to the measure, or its authors. The only safe way of terminating useless debate is that followed in the British House of Commons. It permits all that is useful, and suppresses all that is annoying. The plainest speaker is heard while he gives information: the best is silenced when he ceases to inform, and begins to annoy. The irregular power of the House, exerted in coughing and scraping, will put an end to the harangue of the most wilful speaker.
[22] At the burning of the Theatre at Richmond.
[23] Mr. Venable.
[24] Mr. M. Clay's daughter.
[25] The annual expense of our navy already (1856) costs fifteen millions of dollars per annum; and yet all that we have got is only the beginning—the mere commencement, if naval power is intended.
[26] The events of the war of 1812, and the events of all the wars of the French Revolution, justify these opinions expressed by Colonel Daviess. These events prove that cruisers and privateers, to cut up commerce, and not fleets to fight battles, are the true American means of naval warfare.
[27] This was quite an extemporaneous method of selling an estate. To render the transaction more intelligible, it may be known that Henry was paid $50,000 at that time by the American Government for his disclosures, and it may be supposed that this impromptu purchase of "St. Martial, the Crillon estate in Lebeur, near the frontier of Spain," was a method which the two romantic friends took to divide the money which they had earned.
[28] "Mr. Calhoun has since stated to me, that the reasons given by Mr. Randolph for refusing to agree to the injunction of secrecy were, 1st. That he doubted the right of the committee to enjoin secrecy; 2d. That having just returned from Baltimore, he had heard, while in that city, that the intention to lay an embargo was already known in that city, and that the British Consul and a great mercantile house there were then acting on the information. J. Q."
[29] The practice of pronouncing funeral eulogiums on deceased members had not, at this time, been introduced into Congress.