Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-03-08

well known to the gentleman who yes
terday NOV ed the amendment to this re-
solution. Il the information which was
really wanted was wished L be received
during the presen, session, i, could only
be accomplished by limiting the range
of it, as proposed in the amendment, &c.
Mr.. Conaict, OF Nea-J Jersey, said,
that he was in favor Of the amendment,
out suggested the propriety of calling,
in such case as this, where copies q
accounts only were wanted, directly up
on the secretary of the treasury for the
information, instead of requesting the
President to communicate il.
Mr., Cooke scceded to this suggestion,
and modified bis resolution accordingly.
M. Scott, of Missouri, SAID he was
opposed % the amendment now off red
by me gentleman from Tennessee, (Mr.
Cocke) as a substitute TOR the Original
proposition subfhiaed by the member
from Ohio, (Mr. Vance.) The shape
gwen 70 the original resolution, by the
amendments adopted in the House the
oiner day, would mee,'aii the objects OF
just and necessary inquiry. Mr.. 5. re-
qucsted to know, and Ii was certainly
not for him TO say, Why the members
from Ohio and Tennessee shrnnk fron,
an examination INFO the official conduct
Of the surveyors il Their quarters and So
DESTROYS to point out, Tor particular anl-
madyersion, the conduct OF the sarvey1r
general of Illinois, Missouri, and Ar
kansas. They had not onIy selected inc
individual, but proposed to h.ni, the IN
quiry 10 specific iias. Mr.. S. deprc-
Gated this as an unjust mode ct Ieglsta-
lion, and an improper tnalncr oil exer-
cisina the inqulsitorial powers of the
House ia the call for Information. Il
was not for Mr.. S 10 say, why This csn'se
was pursued in relation 10 general Rec
tor, whom he knew 10 be correct and
honorable man, but he called on gentle
men TO know why this course was adopt
ed ? What was he answer tha; the gen.
tleman from Tennessee, (Mr. Cocko,)
gave That he had received Information
out OF doors, eilner in conversation or By
letters, that the surveying had been bad
~ executed, aud that more had been
charged to the government, IN the az
counts rendered, than mad been pad for
The actual surveying 10 the sa5-contra
tors, Mr. S. denied the fec, as chars-
ed, but, al the same TINE, asked The gen
tlenan, ii this was the corrccl way Of Al
lacking he character of any rnar? II
the Information in possession of gcntie.
men vas Official, why not give il 20 toe
House! Ii merely clrcnmstaatiai, It
ought not TO be credited by honorabie
membtrs.--In all cases where character
"as involved, gentlemen ought 10 place
the charges in less questionable
shape" AID not give such charges +" tne y
sanction of their name and brie. ltaors-
~" till they were CERTAIN the intora,a-
ton deserved crsihg --TAls vas not the
ease here. Gen. Rector ard Ills friends
could not repei nslnualions, where 40
clue was given from whence tina, in.or.
nation covering the charges had orr IL
mated. II the genlieman from Tennes-
see, { Mr., Cocke,) would .i;i.e poiN an,
body 10 his charge, Mr.. Scott pledged
himself he would go to The full extent Of
his power to correct the evil; he did mol
care whether the corruption lay at the
door OF Surveyor general, ladian agent,
or any officer IN the discharge Of either
civil or military duties-it 1t even de-
scended to camp kettles or umbreiias,
Mr.. Scott would aid in correcting the
abuse. Mr.. S. was free to admit, that,
IN some surveying, it might be done for
less Than three dollars per mile; but, in
others il would cost more. A man iak-
ing ten, fifteen or twenty townships,
would generally fad that, in the aesre-
gate, three dollars per mile was but a
moderate compensation in many places
more was allowed last year four dol
lars had been allowed for surveying
Florida, which was less difficni, than The
bottoms and swamps in the Missouri, H.
linois, and Arkansas: III otler places SIX
dollars per mile had been allowed
And i, was the ob]ec, Of Mr. Scott TO
show, by calling Tor the inform alton as
far back as 1905, nay, 1902, when the
present system, 10 relation to the public
lands commenced, 10 show that ii was
the common law of the land, and had
been sanctioned By every administration,