Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-07-03
Twenty-second COngress.--Sess.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
Tucsddu. .J,i,le pc.


which the bill granting certain city lots Columbia Col
ege was rejected; the consideration which moved be
postponed till Monday next; which agreed to.
The Speaker laid before the House letter from John
o. Dunn, resgning the Office of SergeantatArms of the
Mr.. Wicklhc moved to Law the letter on the table
Mr. T. Whittlesey suggested the propriey referring
l, 10 the Committee OF Accounts: 10 which Mr.. Wckiife
Mr.. r.. NJ Johnson then offered the following resou
ton:
Resoiee That the Committee instructed
inc the accounts of John o.
said Dunn and disposition has
tnscn, fund the amount drawn by said Dunn and
The resolution adopted without division.
MIR. Wickhiie offered resolution directing the Door
keeper OF the House to discharge the duties per-
formed by the Sergeant Arms, until the commence
ment OF the next Session.
Mr. Williams moved postpone the consideration of the
resolution till Tomorrow; which was lost
Mr. Irwin inquired whether the Doorkeeper would be
emitted to the pay Of the Sergeant-atArms, in addition
the pay OF his present office?
Mr. Wicklifle said little no extra DUTY yolj
upon the Dookeepe and intended TO add TO his
compensation he had objection add proviso to the
resolution TO that effect.
Mr. Williams moved 10 amend the resolution by decar-
ing mat the House would proceed forthwith the election
oil Sergeant Arms.
MI l.. Condic suggested modification of the amend
ment liking tomorrow, at IL o'clock, for the time OF
ELECTION; which Mr.. Williams accepted.
Mr. Ellsworth said, il certainly was not necessary IN
eject Sergeant the sessonhe had great
doubts whether the office was required at all.
The question was taken on the amendment which was
lost, without division.
After few remarks from Messrs. W. Thompson and A.
Ii. Shepper, the resolution offered by Mr. Wicklfe was
agreed 10, without division.
Mr. Gordon said he had just been appraised that the
luton offered by The gentleman from Kentucky NIr r.
M Johnson contained provision different from any thing
he had supposed TO be in it when it adoptedthat ali
deficiencies due to members from the deaicaton of the
late Sergeant Arms should be refunded from The
ungen fund oil the House He had intended TO vote for
no such provision. Without knowledge of the facts
he now possessed he was not prepared say whether
the losses should be borne by the members or by the
Public Treasury. He therefore moved the re -consdea-
ton oil the vote adopting the resolution
Mr.. IL. M. johnson was perfectly willing TO modi-
fy the resolution so as 10 confne il an enquiry in
to the acs-though for HIMSELF he had no doubt that
where money oil the members drawn by Off
Ger oil the House in the of his duty, which he a
forwards made way with, the loss ought fall upon
the members
Mr. Vance said the House had lately been informed
by the Speaker that an officer had been detailed by
Chair to take charge of the money affairs of the House
lie wished TO know whether the late Sergeant
that oficer
The Speaker said the Sergeant Arms in conformity
with The usage OF the House from its institutions had been
charged with keeping the with the members for
their pay and mileage.
Mr. Daniel said he did not intend to decide at this time
whether he should vote to refund this deficiency 70
bers no-He rather thought he should because from
me course pursued with respect TO HIMSELF they pro-
bly, without blame. When he had asked for paw the
Sergeant at-arns had requested him endorse check
for the amount before signed by the Speaker The
money was afterwards brought by the
he could saw
The Speaker said the checks filled up to the cred
oil e members entitled TO them, and signed by the
presiding oicer OF the House before endorsed
so far as had come TO the knowledge of the Chair
Mr Ellsworth said, he had no personal interest in the
matter lie could vote consider the vote be
he thought that government should paw the members
hough they had signed receipts for what due the
The Sergeant arms " as i'm no sense tho acn, NJ III
oers OF the House He the agent of the government
IL had been suggested that members whose favor che
were drawn should take of thembut these checks
were never IN The possession of the members Gentle.
men III the ordinary had endorsed the checks and
e them in charge of the officer of the House obtain
their money
Mr. Vnton sad he had got all the money! that had been
charged and had interest in the question: but it was
clear TO nm that members should be paid To prevent
further consumption of time he would move to Law the
40, Noes 81.
Mr.. C. Johnson could see no Just ground on which the
repayment to members could be made The Speaker
drew his check upon the Bank favor Of the member
utled to The sum therein named. The money brought
from the Bank by the Sergeant Arms other
senger that the members chose TO employ III thew
thought proper endorse their checks and place them
the hands OF the Sergeant who appropriated the
money to his use, that formed reason why the
members should be paid again. The check drawn
1y me speaker was payment Of the claim far it
Though 1t had happened that he by the Ser
Armshe felt that there was no pretence for his
asking for another check the Treasury for that
was withheld from him by that officer, TO whom he had
conded the check for the purpose obtaining the money
from the Bank.
Mr.. Carson had feeling of responsibility on This sub
Jec from his agency in the election of the late Sergeant
Arms. The motives that had influenced him were well
known gentlemen 1t was hard for those whose none had
their confidence in him. For HIMSELF though he was
alone, he should ask for Observation-Disclosures he
had not been too much governed by his feelings he would
not have been subjected the loss But nc should vote
in favor OF reimbursement TO others.
Mr. Gordon wished his motive in moving the question
OF reconsideration might not be misunderstood He
not prepared TO what his vote would be until he knew
the facts He did not intend to PREJUDICE the case All he
wished give the resolution the form fenuury which
he had originally supposed 10 have been shape until he
otherwise informed II the Government was bound
the facts being ascertained, TO reimburse the money
lost me should chserulIy support the measure otherwise
he should not.
Mr. Burgess said the members who served in this House
entitled TO the pay established by law He
titled receive it from the officer of the House fit
had not been received though might be squandcred by
the officer II not the loss Of the members. But should
the members after receiving theirpay, loan any officer
Of the House from whom they could obtain it, the loss
members by messenger who did not deliver It bound
| to make IL good.
MIR. Clay said nc should vote in favor Of the recon
sideraion of the vote, because he wanted understand
the facts before ne decided upon the proper
Mr. +. Whittesey said this principle OF reimbursement
had been recognized in variety OF by the egsla-
ton Of the House. Bills had been passed to refund 10
those officers whose pay had been crabezzled by the pay
master after they had signed receipts.
Mr. Craig considered the alluded rs roceedina
on different principle from the present the Sergeant
/ at-Arms in going to the Bank with the checks IL
favor OF the member for the purpose Of getting llie
cash, was acting as public agent the cases would be
were drawn and placed in the Of the members emit
tied to them they precisely like bank notes. Sup
pose member should send the Sergeant with
bank note to obtain the specie which he did not deliver
should the loss be made up by the Treasury
Mr. Patton had no wish TO occupy the time Of the House