Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-12
From the Notionat Tnf,syigencer.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY., MARcn s-[coNrINuEp.l

the pay, nc. OF the Cadets ut West Point
was taken up; when
Mr.. CANNON offered, as an addition or mo-
Obligation thereof, the following And also
the number of Cadets in his opinion neces-
"sary to be educated for the army"
| The modification was accepted bv the
mover.
| Mr.. SMITH ofMd objected to that part of
the resolution which requested the opisioa olhe Sc
creiary Of War; Such resolutions, he contended
should he confined To calls for reports OF facts
| Mr.. ). SPEED SMITH replied at considerable
length TO the suggestions Of the gentleman last up.
he was not anxious with respect form, if the sub
stance oil his motion were prcserved but he could
see nofhins imp,opcr in the course he proposed in
relation To the officer upon whom the cali was made
nnr any thing derogaiorv 10 the dignity OF the house
lie bud not the benefit of long experience in esisla
ton, hnt he believed his proposition neither un
Precedcnted nor improper Ssc &c.
Mr.. WILLIAMS of n. G.. expressed his SEN
timents in conformity those presented by the gem
| tleman FROM Maryland, (Mr Smith, and concluded
ms remarks 10y motion To cXpnnge NIL that part of
the resonioa which called for the report OF opinions
! Mr.. TAYLOR also made some observations
on the subject, and suggested a different form OF ac-
compsiing at once the object of the mover, and OF
avoiding the difficulty which it was the purpose of
the gentleman from n. Carolina (Mr. Wiiliams) TO
remove.
Mr.. SMrTu ofnfd thought il was improper
10 call for the expression OF opinions from the de-
partmen;s He referred 10 the practice that Obtain
ca, many years ago, of calling on the Secretary of
the Treasury express his opinions 10 sustain the
majority that had then contend with formidable
| minority Butt WAS afterwards laid aside, upon 4
"ii conviction that il gave TO the departments too
much Influence in this house II had never been re-
suned, and he hoped it would he
Mr. WILLIAMSON suggested the propriety
OF altering the resolution make the call upon
the President o the u. s. instead OF the head of the
| Department. This, he thought would obviate the
officially. II would derogate from, the dignity Of
this holy, the one hand to receive such an opi-
tn the Ia iec
sanctioned by the weight OF The Executive OF the
nation.
Mr.. MERCER thought the resolution unne-
cessary for that the object i'll view had been already
attained Uniformity of apparel was already a rnle
/ al TINT institution The price of subsistence and
cosh'ng was limited and defined ; and he thought il
WIS impossible for the Cadets he guiity oG prof-
sion ar extravaganza from the pay and rations they
now receive he considered the Institution extreme
" important 10 the ndtion not only in respect the
operations of war, but in promoting useful arts in
time of peace.
Mr.. Cook did not rise, he said, so much to
discuss the merits OF the resolution as TO repe the
'mpulaiion OF what some members heretofore seemed
to Consider 'lisrespec offered by him the House
Ii was what he had for SOME time felt anxious 10 do
and this seemed to he the fit occasion that had
presented i;se,f When The resolution now under
consideration read az the Clerks table, il was
announced bv tho Clerk thu, certain words were I'M
derScored This he presumed was done by order OF
the Speaker and therefore seemed 10 imply such I'M
putation, the part of The chair AS lie presum
A
. had arisen IN the House DAYS ago, rpon reso-
luton Of his line OF which was ndersc0reG In
spite OF his protestaons then, that lie dis
n respect, some seemed 10 think otherwise. He
now 10 read one OF four resolutions, part of each
! being UNDERSIGNED; which proved, in addition To
others ihen to be found in the Journalism his hand,
That both n1derScoring, well calls for the opini-
on OF the Heads Of Department. neither unconl-
mon nor I'LL now considered disrespectlul. The re-
solution read by Mr. G will he found in the jour nal
is OF the LIST Session of the 18th Congressman relates
OI 10 knO
the price of the stocks, whether il is above par, and
how long il will probably continue so--and whether
viii be advisable 10 apply the surplus Of the sinking
iund 10 the current expenses OF the government
H. ther than resort 10 leans and taxes He said, there
ne were many others III wlrh undersco'ing TO he
|, found, and used, he had doubt for the same mr.
pose that he used u, 10 invite special attention iba
part of the subject. Mr.. G. observed there were re
solutions almost without number prove the proprie
yoi calling for the opinions OF tie Heads of Depart
Is menis upon matters of public concern, and upoI
ne which, from their means OF Information, they coulC
" belikey 10 give opinions and reasons therefor which
nv would entitle them 10 weight and influence. III
81 would not take up the time of the Honse, however
va by citing more than two others. In April, 1875
lis resolution had passed, calling upon The Secretary
ats War TO report TO this House, at the ensuing SEES
m sion OF Congress, plan for the application Of
IN means within the power Of Congress, to th
purpose ofopenng and constructing roads and ca
p nails, may deserve and require the aid Of the 60
yernmeni, with view military operations in tim
i Of war, Gc. together with such Information as in tn
opinion OF the Secretary, shall he material in rela
ere lion to the objects Of this resolution"
,c-1 Al the same time another resolution adopted
he nsrucng the Secretary of the Treasury prepar
Die and report plan the Session, for the app
rs cation OF such means within the power
Congress to the purpose Of opening and inlprovir
es roads and max ing canals, &c &c and such nfOTm9
ton as in the opinion Of the Secretary, shall he
les teria in relation TO the objects ofhis resolution
These resolution we're both Adopted after niue
discussion, us he believed, and Ivy ayes and noe
They were important in their naturc--they involve
Iml high constitutional principle, nd If ii had bee
rly proper 90 ask the opinOn OF these Secretaries,
TO could NOT think those opinions would have been ash
his ed Whether The duty required by those resolution
en- had been performed by both or either Of these s.
cretaries, 1t WAS not material TO say He referred
them TO preye That it was the practice, and he b
- eyed the right Of the House TO call for such opiu
80 Ons and he believed il the right of the Hou
~ 20 receive such opinions. And IN neither asking
bc receiving them, did be consider the dignity Of q
House il the least impaired or abandoned
!. Mr.. LowNDgs was aware OF no ohlgctin
whatever TO requiring The opinon Of the Head Of
oil Department subject relating to that branch
10 the public service OVER which he pIes;des. L
hch opinions Of Secretary, tested by the expcrien
~ which he must necessarily acquire in the affairs
his Department, Might bc useful TO tie House, anC
the call Tor q statement Of bis opinions comported
sale With expedency, with that responsibility Of
e'y Execuiive officers which il important TO ma
;,t tiin, and which il would SAVIOR Of prudery tli
.ure prudence to abstain from requiring
rest Mr.. From, was unwilling To apply to al
mp Secretary of Department for any opinion whate'
Y guide for the legislation of this house. So
- rs it regarded responsibility, this course would be
no utility, for, if any Odinm should attach to
sss measure which might grow oni Of lhe opinion Of
,as Secretary that odiun would fall on this House.
'''' on the Secretary. II the facts before
- house, there were few who would not be capa
Judging what would he proper as the Secretary
cer, War or any body else There was nothing wi,
conferred upon Secretary the right to give opini
nd the House that privilege belonged TO the Prcsid
we e the United States hut IL had bren much eS
!, ~" =, escd Of late years. Mr. f. hoped the amcudm