Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-05-22
C@NEls HISS.
HOUSE OF RESENTATIVES
MoNpAy MAY H. l~31

TDIOElMWWT
ther the late Secretary ofWar, Mr.. IL. Eaton
had "icrcd "A fraudulent contract for the supply of
ra,ions to the cmigro,ing Indians, and Watcher
Gen. iIouston had cudcavorcd raudulcn,ly to ob.
tain such contract
MIR. SrANBERY moved Ia suspend the rule and
upon this as cd Tor the yeas and nays, which were
ordered.
The rule was Observation-Disclosures lea, noes 10
MIR. STANBEitY then presented the resolution
Mr. CARSON advcrtcd To the practice o: the
Chair To appoint the " mbcr moving for a Select
Committee, 20 the station OF head of il; and sug-
gcstcd to the Member from OHIO Mr.. Staubcrv,)
whether considering The peculiar situation in which
Inc was placed it would TIC in accordance with his
feelings to serve on the Committee.
MIR. STANBERG said, he did not know that he
stood i'll position which could disqualiiy him as
hartman; lac owed no malice TO the accused; and
ould feel crltiicd circumstances should so turn
1t as to enable him to pronounce the accused par
les innocent of the fraud charged.
Mr. POLK said, he hoped the resolution would
be sustained lie had, former occasion,
nounced his intention TO present similar rcSolu-
ton; and he should have done so, if the Member
from Ohio had not lie induced to do this
not only as due TO the Administration, but to the
American People. He hoped it would he cheerful
ly sustained 10y the House; and he was convinced
that no harm would result to the characters of the
parties implicated in the supposed fraud.
Mr. CARSON said, it was due to tho Member
from O.:o, to say that Inc did no, npute any thing
rs to his motives. lie had merely suggested that
for person situated as the Member irom Ohio was,
to the accused, to enter into the nvestigA alton
with that GOODNESS and dcliberation which re-
quiste.
Mr.. BOON moved to amend tho resolution by
referring the investigation to the Committee on
Indian Affairs.
Upon this, Mr. STANBERY asked for the yeas
and nays.
Mr.. HAWKINS moved to postpone the subject
to the 10th of Dec. next.
MIR. REED, of Massachusetts,, called for the yeas
and nays on this postponcmcnt.
Mr. CLAY, of Alabama, suggested TO Mr.. Haw-
kins TO Withdraw his motion. 1t was the anxious
wish of many gentlemen, aud OF himself among
them, that the investigation might be proceeded III
MIR. HAWKINS assentcd stating that he had
only offered it from belief that This late period
of the session it was impossible to go through with
tho investigation.
The question REQUIRED on the amendment of Mr.
BOON, to refer the subject to the Committee ON
Indian Affairs, upon which the yeas and nays were
ordered and taken, when it was mcgatved ayes 50,
l25.
Mr. BLAIR, of South Carolina, moved to amend
by adding the following words, "and tina; said Com
mittce be appointed by ballo, of this House"
The amendment was nogativcd, and the original
resolution adopted.
The Committee was ordered to consist OF seven
members.
MIR. COOKE, of Ohio, rose in his place, and said
that he held in his hand note under date of Nav
18th, 1892, signed by r.. ) DAVIS, one of the wit
Houston, which had been delivered to him since the
las; adjournment, by person representing himself
TO he Alexander Dnnitry, of Louisiana, the friend
OF said Davis which, together with statement of
facts connected with it, he asked leave to send to
the Chair, and have read for the information Of
the House.
In submitting this request, Mr.. c. said, he wish
cd it distinctly understood, that, without waivirg
any of his legitimate rights, intending to com
promt, in the slightest degree, the constitutional
a n
purpose, indiridudiY, to claim the institution of
any proceeding whatever, the part fthc House,
upon the subject matter OF that communication
Other and higher motives prompted him TO this
step--motivcs which, overlooking every consider
alton of personal feeling and personal security, cni-
braced in their regard, the very existence of tina;
body-the involaulc rights of the people of this
country, and the dignity and honor OF this nation.
The letter itself, he said he understood in
the usual form of an original process in that court
where, by certain strange code, the rights and
honor of suors was lost or won by the pistol the
daggcr-a tribunal whose jurisdiction he had never
yet acknowledged; III whose practice he was unn
structcd, and before whose authority, under this
Government Of laws and constitution he would
never bow. The letter aSsard hInI, not for an act
done in lis individual capacity but for duty per-
formed, and right exercised, clearly and incontcs.
tbIy within his oii:ciI competency Il member of
that House.
Here the SPEAKER Interrupted Mr. c., and re-
questcd him TO reduce his motion 10 Ting; which
h"nlHG "ccii uohc' MI - co"'ii'uC".
PERSONALLY Mr. l. sad ne hAd no wishes or
oCS'rCS 10 g'"t,!y " pressing inc ,n"'ioh ne con
sidercd il matter in which the Members OF that
House, and through them the American People,
was extensively interested viewing 1T IN that
Ngh,' ahd promising That lie did not 'mc here to
sindGatc ms own fSntS' or thc rights OF his con
Stu'n's' ny resort /" Inc violence OF arms, but
by faithful and uUwtnldatcd discharge Of his
ouy oP"h ''',T moor ne ',t """hu TO present TINS
hi.'er 10 the house as wen 10 aPIENe lis Members
oi inc S!Steh ~ ''niS" we were surrounded,
Us - ni'Ne hiio"n =" '"o PG"P" o. 'n'S onion