Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-03-01

give him 500 dollars year, to give Oond, WIN
any penalty they pleased, that not stick should
be removed. THIS offer the Secretary REUSED
ant Immediately employed four or hive agents IN
the same district. where there was not three iect
Of water to float vessel of any kind; III conse-
quence Of which the agents were riding about u"e
ing nothing The formidable speculation m
which the gentleman spoke, was bargain whicn
the Government itself had sought. and Tor wh'cn
dollars more. Yet Mr.. w. was to BE- publicly
blamed. because he happened to own a tract OF
land near the Navy Yard. He had made no at
tack upon the gentleman. But if the gentleman
courted the responsibility. and chose to take 1t
all to himself, he would only have TO answer Tor
SO much more Of injury to the public interest.
Mr.. Branch replied. The gentleman had 81
ven a plausible statement; but he pledged MIN
self before high heaven that it was not trlfe and
he de6pd the gentleman to the scrutiny. Ii Is
false, said Me- B. defy the gentleman to the
proof. repeat, that his statement Is ialse. 10
give the House some evidence OF the cavlllIng
temper of that gentleman. will refer it to the
law of which he spoke. H. says that he incur
red my displeasure for having detected my mis-
construction of the act for the gradual increase
Of the navy. 1t is true. that in my report there
was numerical mistake (whether made by me
or the printer know nOt) as to the section OF the
Law which authorized the preservation OF live oak
timber on the lands of the United States. | re-
ferred to that section the 9Th instead of the Sd
section of the Iaw:and will here read the section.
that the House may judge whether it did. or did
not, authorize the purchase of tract Of land
from a private individual. Here Mr.. B. quoted
the act.
The gentleman, before he himself ~ned the
L., tho ncfa Of n
representing the district Of Florida, to sell it for
two prices, and then, through agents at home, lie
got it for one price. Will the gentleman deny
thlsl
Mr.. White.-Yes. / do deny it.
Mr.. Branch. contracts will show it, and
pledge myself to prove it,
Mr.. White.-Will the gentleman permit me
to explain?
Mr.. Branch. Certainly.
MR. White 800 acre. of this land had been
on ned by me for number OF years before the
sale. There were 400 acres Of il which did
not then own. The Secretary did not wish to
make proposals for this land himself, and asked
Inc to do il. agreeing 10 pay for the whole 1000
acres so much. admit that what | paid for the
400 acres was not quite equal to the sum allowed
| me nv Cove cnment, but my own 500 acres was
more valuable than the 400, because It lay near
er to the Navy Yard.
Mr. Branch. The reports will show the whole
Iact, Of the vase in ligh. not to be disputed -
| The repor, Of Cum. Rodgers will sho" that the
land was barren. and Of the poorest quality. The
gentleman has stated So maUy th'igs which
! know to De foreign from the TACT, that am real
" 10th to correct him. He saws that Cum. Rndg-
ers was sent out in d slOop ut war, accompanied
by an Engineer, expressly for the purpose of ex
aiming this land. Sir. the fact is not SO. Com.
| Rndsers was about to make his annual visit to
Pensacola. commanded him to examine, on
his way. the site which had been selected for the
live oak plantations. Can the gentleman say
! that he did not receive money IN advance from
the Go, eminent for land that then belonged to
his constituents? Aud that he was not. IN con-
sequence. enabled 10 speculate on his constlu
en,s? Yet this is the gentleman by whom have
been lnsdiously assaiied. He charges me with
having given a salary 10 near relation. and says
| that this was public abuse. Sir, do NOT think
there is any gentleman on this floor who believes
it. am rea'y to undergo any investigation. !
invite examination. The gentleman, to whom
he aIlude., am proud TO acknowledge Is a rela-
tive. I'is General e. B. Whitaker. II" Aas
relu rant t" take the appointment. but entreat-
ed him to serve; and the result ha. proved that 1t
| "dN m'st ieiCi'ous dPP"'"'"'"t. "o'e W
my eve gentleman who knows him we'll: and
if there is any gentleman who stands more de-
servedIy high in the estimation Of his fellow cit-
zrns am not acquainted with him. The reports
of Gen. Whitaker will show how ably he dis
charged the trust committed to him. A. to any
thing have done in this affair. trust this House
will examine into it. invite any gentleman
who doubts the proprie,y of my course in any re-
. spect. to move the appointment OF committee,
50 as to allow M tribunal before which my con-
duct may be brought to the test. seek such
tribunal am NOT afraid to trust the investiga-
ton to nv warmest political opponents who are
gentlemen. and if they shall find aught to detract
from my humble name am willing to suffer what
ever [ may deserve | fear nothing Errors
they may find, but not errors of my heart.
Under the third article Of the act which read,
| ask the House whether they believe that the
President or his Secretary had power to make
purchases of private and7 formerly gave it as
luy opinion that they had not. Brt none were
implicatad b, the expression Of that opinion, but
those who ought to be responsible. stated
fact which it was my duty 10 state. | am now