FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1521 
of the United States did not owe him one dollar; but that we propose, 
as a mere gratuity to the children of Mr. Henry, to give them from 
the Treasury of the United States the sum of $10,000. 
The Senator from Kentucky puts the case frankly and fairly, as I 
believe, and yet he says that we, as the representatives of the people, 
have a right to take the money that belongs to the whole people ot the 
United States and give itasamere gratuity to the parties we may 
deem worthy of it or to whom we think it should be given. 
Mr. President, I do not so understand my duty. I donot understand 
that there is any warrant in the Constitution, in conscience, in demo- 
cratic principles, or democratic theories, or democratic goverment 
that authorizes the representatives of the people to take the money of 
the people and give it to whomsoever they may see proper. 
Mr. President, can it ever be said that these daughters of Mr. Henry 
are more worthy, more deserving, more needy, than thousands and 
tens of thousands of other orphan children in the States of Kentucky 
and Arkansas and every other State in this Union?) Upon what theory 
can we be justified in taking and giving away as a mere gratuity the 
money that does not belong to us, but belongs to the whole people of 
this country? Is that the kind of a Government we are living in. 
Has it come to this, that it is simply a question of Senators and mem- 
bers here picking out their favorites, parties whom they desire to 
oblige, parties whom they believe to be worthy, and taking the money 
that belongs to the whole people and giving it to those who can bring 
the most influence to bear upon members of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives? Is that the Senator’s idea of our duty here? By 
what authority can we use money which is intrusted to us, and that we 
hold in trust for the whole people of the United States, in that way ? 
Mr. President, parties who are unable to support themselves are sup- 
posed to be cared for by the respective States or counties, by the local 
authorities, and not by the Government of the United States. There 
is no warrant in the Constitution that authorizes us to give away the 
people’s money, and if we are going to give it away, why give it to 
these particular parties rather than to deserving parties from the 
Senator’s own State? He says we do not owe it; he says there is no 
law authorizing it; he says that it isa mere gratuity given by us to 
the children of this deceased man. 
Mr. President, that is not my idea of our duty. Itseems to me that 
if we are to select the parties to whom this money shall be given, I 
know parties equally worthy, equally deserving, who are equally enti- 
tled to this money, and that there can be no argument made here to 
give this money that can not be made to give that. 
The Senator says that the father rendered distinguished services to 
the people of the United States. There are men deceased all through 
‘this land, who, when living, rendered distinguished services to the 
H. Doce. 732 96 
