Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-02-07
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1879.
~ GEN arr

letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting
4 report in obedcncc toa resolution of the
Senate of the 10th utimo, calling for Informal
| ton of the amount of money furnished to the
pension agent AT the Bank of Vinceuncs, the
namc of the agent, the amount paid the pen
soners, their names, the liability oithn agent
in his private capacity for money not faithful
| ly applied, &c; which report was read
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| The House motion of Mr.. Cook, pro-
ceeded TO the consideration the resolutions,
submitted by him on Saturday, calling for
further information on the subject of the exa-
mmation the Western Land Offices, sc.
| MIR. Cook briefly stated the grounds on
which he had introduced the resolutions,
which he should not have presented, had the
report from the Treasury Department con-
tanned all the information on this subject
which he had expected from it. There was,
he said, at least one land office in the territory
OF Michigan, and no account had been given
whether it had been examined, or whether any
person had been directed to examine il. This
was the information which he desired by the
hrst resolution and which he presumed every
! gentleman wonld hi DESTROYS to have to com
pletc the information before the House. Upon
the branches embraced Inv the other resolu-
ton. Mr.. G.. said, the House had not the in
formation which II had been his object to OBJ
lam. From the report which had been made
nc appeared there was gentleman nos in this
CITY, and who had been in this city since the
commencement of the Session of Congress-
who was employed to examine the land OIL
ccs, whose account had not been adjusted. If
the Secretary of the Treasury had thought
proper, MIR. T.. said, it would have been very
easy To have had that account adjusted, and if
he had Thought proper, no doubt he would
have done it. Mr.. C.. vet wished for that in
formation !; and, he said, when that informa
ton came before the House, he believed he
should not he considered as some in and out
oil doors had affected to regard him, as pursu-
ing personal course When said he, | see
+ half the nation ag,tatcd by the appointment
OF Postmaster from this floor: when | see
lpuhiic meetings OF respectable persons repro
batting it; when see the leading newspapers
4 OF the country unite in condemnation of it. !
cannot see any thing personal 10 the Secretary
"i the Treasury. or in itself IMPROPER in in
curing into the appointment OF Member of
Congress, whilst he was public officer. to
examine into the land offices Let il be in
CURED inio, said he, and let it h. determined
whether 1t consists with propriety that this
course should he pursued. Sc.
Mr.. LowNDEs objected to the phraseolngy
POI one at the resolutions, as assuming far fact
that of which, it appeared 10 him, the House
had no Official knowledge. On this point
some conversation took place between Mr.
Lowndcs and the mover, when, with the con-
sent of the mover,
The resolutions were ordered TO lie on the
table.
MIR. HARDIN, to bring the whole matter to
thc tes ol inquiry, expressing his entire conf
u"hce IN me correctness of the whole proceed
ing adverted to, moved To refer the report
received from the Treasury DEPARTMENT on
iuiS cubIpcf fn fhf. N 4
Lands. He wished to give il this direction
because The gentleman from Illinois, (Mr.
Cook,) belonged to the committee, and he no
doubt, IT any body, could bell The cat. Mr.. Fl.
supported this motion at some length
MIR. COOK replied, and opposed the motion
| When all the documents were before the
house, which were necessary to fair inquiry.
he pledged himself TO move a reference 10
them and no one would he more gratificd
than he TO be able tn acquit the parties con
cerncd OF all blame, If no cause for it appeared
TO exist, sc. On motion of Mr. Cook, the
report was again ordered TO liz on tn. table.
APPORTIONMENT BILL.
The House then resumed the consideration
OF the bill for apportionins Representatives
according to the Fourth Census TIE oues-
ton under consideration ut thr time Of adj
lournmcnt on Saturday last AMI now rcrur-
ring, on motion of Mr.. CoNpIcr To amend
| the motion for recOmmitment of the hill TO n
select committee, was that the com fniitce be
I instructed so To modify its provisions as that
each member hereafter elected to this House
shall represent an equal number of persons
entitled TO be represented, as nearly as may be
practicable. agrecably 10 the 18th crns,is and
not diminish the present number OF representa-
ton from any one state"
| A ltcr debate, Mr. TRIMBLE called for di-
vision OF the question, so as to take il first
on the clause ending with the word census"
The question having been taken on agreeing
TO the first member of the Instruction as above
recited, by Yeas and Nays, it was decided in
the negative, by vote of % noes To 43 ayes
Mr.. BALL moved to insert 81, instead
| oil 1900, IN the proposed instruction TO the
| committee.
The question being taken on Mr. Balls
motion, was ncgativcd.
Mr.. TUCKER, OFFS. &. having stated that =
ratio of 10000 would deprive South Carroll
ma of one member and leave her an unre-
presented fraction Of 39,SO4, Suggested To the
| House the prOprety of adopting a ratio of
$4,000 which would leave 10 South Carolinn
I her present number Of members while il
would not alter the representation Of anyso-
Their state in the Union, and have the advan.
tage moreover, ofleaying a smaller aggregate
fraction than any other ratio Having all these
advantages he would merely move that mum
Der without taking up the time of the House
in dwelling further on it,
The question being taken on amending the
motion TO recommit by inserting $500 in
stead of 1900, it was determined in the neg
alive without division
MIR. TUcKER moved To rccommit the bin
with Instructions TO strike out loco, and in
sert $4,000, the number with which he had
proposed TO amend the Instructions ON the
previous rccOmmtmcat, and supported the
motion with some arguments in addition 10
what he had before briefly offered. Mr.. NJ