Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-04-02

Clerks table, II was announced by the
Clerk, that certain words were under-
s12red. This he presumed was done by
order otthe Speaker, and therefore seem
ed TO imply such imputasion, even on The
part ofthe chair IS he presumed thator-
der was producnd by discussion which
bad arisen IN the House some days ago,
con resolution Of his, line Of which
IS nnderscored In spite Of his pro-
TsEtations then, that he rneant',o disre-
u abect, some seemed TO think otherwise.
title rose now to read one of four resolu'
ofons, part of each being undefscored
~. hich proved, in addition to Others then
9cr be lonnd in the Journals his hand,
aghat both anderscoring as well as calls
,ssor the opinion Of the Heads of Depart
fnent, was neither uncommon, non till
now considered disrespectful. The re-
solution read by Mr.. G. will be found in
the Journal ofthe lst Session of the 10th
Congressman relates to call Oh the
Secretary Of the Treasury to know the
price OF the stocks, whether it is above
par, and how long it will probably con-
tinue so--and whether it will be adyisa-
Bile to apply the surplus of the sinking
iund to the current expenses OF the go
yernment rather than resort to loans and
taxes. lie said, there were many others
IN which nnderscorinr was to be found,
and used, he had no doubt. for the same
purpose that lie used it, to invite special
attention 70 that part of The subject. MIR.
4. observed there were resolutions al
most without number, to prove the pro-
priety of calling for the opinions OF the
Heads of Departments upon matters Of
public concern, and upon which, from
their means OF information, they could be
likely to give opinions and reasons there
Tor, which would entille them TO weight
and influence. He would not iahe up
the time the House, however, by citing
more than two others. In April, Is, q
resolution had passed, calling upon the
Secretary OF War "to report to this
House, at the ensuing session of Con-
gress, plan for the application of such
means as are within the power of Con-
gress, % the purpose Of opening and
constructing roads and canals, as may
deseryeandrequire the aid Of the govern
ynent, WITH view to military operations
in time Of war, &c. together with such
information as, in the opinion Of the Sc.
,cretary, shall be material, in relation to
the objects Of this resolution
At the same time another resolution
was adopted, " instructing the Secreta-
ny of the Treasury to prepare and report
plan, at the next Session, for the appli-
cation ofsuch means as are within the |
power Of Congress to the purpose of
opening and improving roads, and max |
ing canals, sc. &c. and such Information
as, in the opinion of the Secretary, shall
be material in relation to the objects of
ahis resolution sat
These resolutions were both adopted,
after much discussion, as he Believed,
and by ayes and noes. They we're i'm
portant in their nature--they involved a
high constitutional principle, and ifit had
BOT been proper to ask the opinion Of
these Secretaries, he could not think |
those opinions would have been asked
Whether the duty repaired by those re-
solutions had been periormedby both or
either of these Secretaries, it was not
material to say. He referred to them to
prove that it was the practice, ard he be- !
Iieycd the right of the House, tctcall for
such opinions, and he believed it was the
right of the House to receive such OPT
MONS. And, in neither asking nor re-
ceiving them, did he consider the digni-
~ Of the House in the least impaired or
abandoned.
After further discussion, in which |
L1essrs. Loqvndes, Floyd, Cannon, and
r. S. Smith took part, the resolution was
laid on the table. 1
Mr.. Cooks remarks on the Ahhortion-
Y ntent Bill, intAe House ofRehresensa-
tues, FEB. l, 1922.
reported for the Boston Daily Advertiser.]