Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-09-06


House by the chairman, acting, as he said
under the unanimous direction ofthe com.
mittee, in which he stated, in substance, that
the committee had not been able to get thro'
the investigation with which they had been
charged; that they had ascertained enough
to satisfy them thati ought to be continued;
and asked further authority to sit during the
recess of Congress, for the purpose of pro-
cecding with the taking oftestmony. This
committee was composed ofsupportcrs and
opponents Of the Administration. They
were unanimously of opinion, as | Ill der.
stood, that they ought to be permitted to
continue in session but it was refused by
the casting vote of the Speaker.
Attempts were made at other periods OF
the session to investigate the transactions OF
other Departments ofthe Government. The
connection between the Treasury Depart
mcnt, the deposite banks, and theiragent or
agents, was the subject of one resolution.
1t was proposed TO examine into the admin.
isration of the affairs of the General Land
Office, and the operations the land system
generally and a gentleman from Virginia
offered various resolutions to raise commit
tees, to examine each Department Of the
Government, and to lay its proceedings be-
fore the People /; but his resolutions were
not adopted.
On the Goth Of June last, resolution to
raise committee to inquire into the al
legged combinations and connexions be-
tween members of Congress, different OF
fcers of the General Government, and the
deposite banks, for the purpose of specula-
ting in the public lands with the public mo.
ney, was adopted, and the committee ap-
pointed; majority Of whom were decided
friends and supporters Of the Administra-
ton. They made some progress in theex.
animation with which they were charged;
but not being able 10 complete the inyestiga-
ton, from the advanced period of the ses'
sion, they made report in part, which con.
cluded with certain resolutions, which !
copy as they are printed by the printers TO
the House.
"Mr. Hunt, from the select committee
appointed TO inquire whether members OF
Congress or others had procured public mo.
neys of the deposite banks, for the purpose
of specializing in the public lands, under
a report accompanied by the following
resolutions:
"Rcsolred, That the select committee ap.
pointed by this House, on the Goth of June,
1886, be increased to nine, and that said
committee have power to sit during the re-
cess of the House.
"Resolred, That said committee embrace
in their inquiries any connexlon between
deposite banks or others, and the land offi.
ces, for the purpose ofspeculation.
Resolred. That said committee inquire
how far, and to whom, for speculation in
public lands, the deposite banks have issued
certificates of deposite without an actual de.
posite in cash, and to what extent they have
been received in payment for purchases OF
public officers.
"ResoEved, That said committee inquire
how far, and to what extent, combinations In
the purchase of the public lands have been
formed, or are forming, sufficiently strong,
from interested motives, to control to any
extent the legislative action Of Congress"
Very grave matter is involved in these
resolutions, certainly deserving the investi.
CATION and it came before US in a very I'M
posing manner, being the report Of a com.
nittee specially appointed. Yet the House
of Representatives refused to adopt the res
olutions and continue the committee,
know nething personally ofthe transactions
alluded to but rumors and reports affirm,
ing the facts, were in circulation here, II
which the name of very high public func
tionary was mentioned.
Ihave felt it my duty to lay these circum
stanues before you, that you may draw you
own inferences from them. The impres
sion made on my minds, the investigation
and examination into the manner in which
our affairs have been and are conducted
so far from being invited, as it would have
been if every thing was right and proper
has been openly resisted, or evaded by tn
operation of parliamentary rules.
, ANEcDoTE OF GEORGE ".
!, The following anecdote was related 4
me of his late majesty, as being well authen