Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-15

Vcrnment, to undertake To legislatc for their
relief Let such measures at least have the
sanction ofCongress, and lei not any ndividu-
( al us'irp authority, and undertake to do, of
'iimseii, what 1t exclusively belongs to Con
Sress to do.
Mr.. RAaKrN said he had by no means in
tended 10 intimate that the Secretary of the
treasury would find any difficulty in making
Il satisfactory report in reply TO this resolu-
ton; but he apprellended that in its present
shape 1t might produce cumbrous mass of
information, in Il shape not TO he useful to the
Rouse. But, he said, he knew that the
sPseches made on this floor were heard, and
would 50 forth 10 the public. And, mas
much as an impression might go abroad. from
what had fallen from the gentleman from ILL.,
! nois, that the Secretary of the Treasury had
violated his official duty, and disregarded the
public interest, he, (Mr. r. should do inius-
nee To the Secretary of the Treasury in with
hoIdloS any information, by his amendment,
winch the gentleman from Illinois had pro-
posed To call for. He therefore row ,pithdye,c
ms proposed amendment In that officer,
Mr.. K. said, he had the utmost confidence,
ana when the required information came be-
lore the house, Mr.. IL. said, he had no doubt
AL these insinuations would he entirely dissi-
pated, and which, he must he allowed To saw.
hc regretted had been thrown eut.
Mr. BALDWIN was willing and disposed on
al ordinary and proper occasions to lend his
sanction To every call for information. In the
p~sent case, however, he thought the call
was of an extraordinary character. lit had
been accompanied and enforced bv a speech
continuing Very broad institutions against AN
! important public officer. II Was no doubt the
right OF the nelnbcrs Of the house To make
such Insnuations-but il did not follow that
the house were bOupd TO adopt and sanction
fhtsm .s tI1-Er
introduced accompanied by charges Of Off
clal misconduct or corruption, it WAS proper
that II should be attended with specifications
oil clear and definite character Ii not so
accompamcd, he thought the imputations
should be distinctly discI.med by the mover,
or made the foundation Of Il proceeding of a
different character
Mr. Cook said, he rose To know whether he
Understand the grntlc;nln from Pennsylvania
lie considers me-, said Mr.. c. as having made
charges against the Treasury Department.
have stated what understood To he public
report Il have not said that the Secretary Of
the Treasury is guilty. IL | had said ii,
should have done ST. on examination, and
should have been ready Ia substHlt;ate what
mad sad. have declared, that, if nay inn
prcSsions are wrong, snail be glad Ia eXpunge
them have made charges. But there
are Facts which go upon. We have il known
10 us, mat lh ,of f, oaGy lfas becn dep,sit
td-ene Of them since The last session 6f Con
ySfe f6 hnaGSSdt a91 s EiT tdasot5 Gd rddsst
sion, such as In warn the Treasury Depart
mcnt from suhiectinS the government to the
change OF such loss? Mr.. e.. sad he under
stood, aud he believed it, that, anterior to some
period in the last Spri0S the dcpasile of the
United States in the bank of Missouri amount
ed to 100000; that, subsequent to that pc
Rod, the drposltc ia TINT hank had been IN
creased - 100000 dollars, and he understood,
and gave credit to the information, that that
bank was, by AN understanding WIKI the
| Treasury Department, authorized To lGtan
| this &eposite of 10000 for six months after
notice Ofan inteRtion tn draw for il. He wish
ed te know by what authority, by what pro-
| VISION of law, by what custom, The Secretary
of the Treasury was allowed IL deposit mo-
ney III banks with an undTsti nding that il was
not To be drawn out again. Suppose, Mr.. {.
said that the monthly returns to the Treasu-
ry from such banks had shown that they were
on the eve oriusOvency-vhat Law authOrZ-
| ed the money OF the United States yet to he
left in their hands If the Secretary of the
Treasury has authority i0 make sHch I'm en-
gagcmcnt, said Mr. e.. | am mistaken do
not think he has. If he has authority, let
him sIew it. 1.-The has exceeded his duty og
his authority, il ought to be inquired tito. But,
Mr. &. said, he made 10 charges. lie Want
ed information. He knew thai the government
sustained, from these unavailable funds, loss
OF something like million OF doIlats and
without going to the Treasury To inquire into
the history Of it, he wished the infornaio
on The subject tn be communicated to this
House. He had confidence, he said, in the
officers of government, which extended as f,i
us was consistent with the station whick h,
Il. LIT.
ry, he felt himself bound, as public servant
f to institute it.
| Sir. BALDWIN said he WAS glad to hear tn
scutlcnrn disclam the impuiatons he had
before understood him tO make. he would
propose To- him however, "a course diilcren
from that which he had taken. he (Nr
By thouShtit would be most correct to rails,
( & committee on the subject and tninv 'stthen
= with power to send for persons and papers,
= We're Il different course pursued it might b.
D understood to implicate the House 10 the
[ views Of the mover, such as they had beer
avowcd to be. Ii is now the course. evcrJ
l day, to Investigate some Of the dep ,rtIncnt
{ Of the government As soon ~ you lsayt
/. your chair, Mr. Speaker, the conduct of an
D other Secretary to- be- scrutinizrd. a few
q days ago, the same thing was proposed by
l. gentleman FROM Maine, Nr. Wniman,) in re-
ID lation TO the transactions at Pensacola, b
C which the conduct of thu Executive was cal
j. ed in question. He (Mr. b. thought tn
g course an improper oae then, and he though
v so now. But, If select committee be az
S pointed ON the subject, the House would no
J. be committed to any course, and, every tran:
&c action aud every abuse might be fully search
IS ed and fairly investigated, and a report
r made OF the merits Of the case.
e Mr.. SMITH, of Maryland, was in in fave
Ill of the cours.. suggPsted by the gentlemen fro