Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-19

In The House ul representatives,
January lTth. lc39.
.Resylred That the communication from the Presi
dent ~! the u S. al the S of December relating TO
the defucatpn OF the late collector of the port OF New
York except so much relates 10 the modification OF
Tie revenue laws be referred 10 select committee oil
nine members, 10 be- appointed by the House, by ballot
whose duty II shall be to inquire into the causes and ex
tent of the aie dctacaons of the custom house al New
York aud other places, the length Of time they have ex
listed, the correctness OF the which have been
made By The collectors naval aud other officers, and The
Opposite banks, respectively, and all such facts connect
ed i'm said declarations may be deemed material 10
Gcvelnpe their true character.
BE 1t further RcSoLred, That said committee Il
Iuirrd 10 inquire ia.a. and make report Of any dcialca
lions among the collectors receivers, and dsbursers oi
the pubic money which may now exist; who are The
deauies the Of dealcaliOns the length OF time
they ha existed and the which led to the IN;
and that said comGtee have power u send Tor persons
and papers
Tile minority Of Tie rommiHse 0pp0ined wndcr tic nbore
resolutions Of The House of Representatives., beg eare
TO rfrOt:
That The committee entered on the duties assigned
them after The passage CT the resolutions. AtEeir
first meeting aud organization IN the City Of Washing
ton, resolution utit red in these words:
"Res0tcrd. That the President Of the United States
he requested to This committee 10 be furnished by
the proper Executive departments with table showing
the deacatUns which have occurred among the col!cc
tors, rrcrvPrs and disbursers OF public money and
The of the deiauliers: lie amount Of each DEAL.
cation; when each case occurred the length 81 til
e0ch has existed; what steps have been taken by
the proper departments Offices 10 prosecute the deanl
ters and secure The United States in each case, and
what driaul;ers retained The offices IN which
they deaultes have beea appointed TO other
Office.
Which, in the opinion Of two of the undersigned, the
third not being then present. unauthoIz"d by the
terms or the spirit Ut tie resolutions OF the House.
which confined 20 The late deIacalioas aud could
not be- construed Incude delacaIns as far back 81
the Ih of March, ICES hic had been heretofore re-
ported to Congress by he Secretary Of the Treasury
and action had thereon by The House.
Unher this view Of The subject and believing II TO bt'
the first step 10 give niii0dnariaH cOnStruc0n 10 The
powers delegated, and which opinion was confirmed hy
subsF Gurnt events. Of the undersigned deemed II a
duty lie owed to tie House. 10 "ttr amendment in
these words: 40 strike out the words driacations
which have occurred among The collectors, receivers
and dlsbuSers Of public money Gnd other public Oil.
Gers since The duh day OF March, lc2J and insert the
wo:ds the late cela!cati0ns the custom house al
York and other places, and any Other Gtiaca0ns PRIOR
~ los and not heretofore reported by the departments
10 Congress and the Country"
The amendment reJrc!ed and the original res"-
luton adopted
The committee berg impressed with the belief that
the great Object Of the House in raising the committee,
was investigate the causes and extent ut the dei!ca
tons al the custom house at New York, deemed PRO.
arisen the witnesses, actors IN the same resided aud
the documentary evidence 10 be found. In pnrsu
Of this determination, the committee assembled on
the 24h Of January III The city {" New York, and with
loss Of time engaged ia the nrduous duties OF The III
vesuraliUn ~ the suggestion 1t one O the members,
whether The cuiiatee 10 carry their lnvesIga
ton utn 10 the public at large il appeared 10 be- tacity
agreed that such calculated To cmbartaS>
the committee, they had no power II suppress dls'r
der in any should arise; but no ntEasun veG
iltnt he BIZ
In the Tine, paragraphs appeared III the news
papers Of New York. stating that the Committee sat "i'h
closed doors IL WAS evident. also from The vice and
extended rarge OF the investigation, that many p'r-
snns wrte likely be- implicated, boil! Officers OF irr
Government and private citizens. The undersigned br.
Iirvrd that The committee, thought select committee,
was not scr cvIisc; that the House. hen II pass
the rcsuluOns intended the pruct eGIngs Ol ne
COMMITTEE he be kept secre that justice required iha
PROMPT and early notice should BE- gwen all prrsuns
rus d, that The charge should b. made in public
nrr the aroused confronted wiki tie aCcGser, and that
inquiries were unkn"wn 10 the CONSTITUTION, ara
alien 10 the Practice and feelings at The American pe"-
pie The minority If the committee entertaining 'htsr
sentiments aud knowing The views al the ma nrliy
upon this Interesting subject Of St ctcsy. aud finding
though other persons were excluded t"o"e three VII
urssts at once aud Tie time we're admitted into lie
committee room, Thereby suEJccting the proceedings OF
the committee mise presena;i"n aad the actI0n 81
individual members to suspicion and caIumny deemed II
uruDrrln bring the sur before the committee III sch
san,ivr form, and To call for distinct expression OF
opiuinn by proposing the following Frs"luI"rs:
"Wirrras all proceedings OI n4ri$l'"''n character
ard crrGucrd secret are al varanc" Win The prIG
c,Ics of E.publ,an G"vernnent and ubhOreIt 10 the
feelings 81 the American pes pie.
"ALd D. Justice demands hat all persons, whether
they be Gicrrs of The Government or private cu!Z'hs
v no. in The oil tins investigation, may he inpl
Gated or charged with riicIa misconduct bring con
cerned IL aiding abctting such misconduct, should
have immediate and prompt EGt,rc u tie C0rge go ina
if innocent they may repei ~ and that, Whatever may
he the nature Of The charge. Il is hut reasonable and
Just that lie bc Pn1.c'y brought forward aud PH'
HCig GHSireT,d:
"a nd rs the members of the committee have 10 fca
son or desire 10 disguise cnncea from public view all
or any aCirgs and d"ings IN The exercise oil Ire
Grlca,e and responsible commission imposed on them
10 the intent therefore, OF having no misunderstanding
on his subject
"Bs Hrs!OIrtd That il is the opinion OF this committee
tina, though Seicc, committee appointed by the House
Of r. ,pativrs Of the Um:ird States, Il not ScTe
committee; that though invested "!h tie pow er 81 IN
ouity as contained the resolutions oil the House 'ha
nuyrr ought TO bs exercised in open and public man
ner and should he only free from any direct charge
Of cuncralrnent bnt from the remnsst suspicion OF H.
.3nd Ee il furtair r,SOrrd, That all the proceedings
of this committee shall he open and public, as beng The
mod. in The opinion OF this committee best cacula "a
r. .,ian The ENDS Of Justice satisfy the jus, ssprcra
lions of the people and 10 protect Tie rights and pFv'
lerts nf American citizens
Winch. after an amendment offered, we're all finally
laid n the table, 10 the as"nishnent and mnruhcai"T
OF the urdrsignsd and doub. 10 The surprise OF 'ht
p,opr OF the o. ) Under these extraordinary cucum
stances the proce, dngs o! the committee being secrr
or public according TO the judgment, Discretion or ca
mice Of witnesses members Oi the committee, the IN
e. situation was carried on Numerous witnesses were
examined ) IL the extent "t the deiacaton
The undersigned vii! not 90 iEto detailed salenfh
of the heads or items, such nrilures. penalties
bonds Sc upon which Swarlwont based his pecua
H. Ms but refer the House TO the journal 9" the commit
Tee Trey i'll simply remark: that the bond item gave
fh facility and laid the foundation Of the principal par
III the d,iacaon These prculaii"ns commenced at al
Snry ut Rod Of Swnr;wouts official lie. and went on in
q, ased and increasing until lis close The art aud man
agpn,?ni with which they were concealed VIII att'ac
aiIer,ion One occurrence referred 10 in the testimony
10 M, the sas, remarkable in Tbs extraordinary affair
When Swarrwout, 10 1884, renom'naisd ny w
Then President Of the United States, tie NOMINATION
was rrf,red as usual, by the Senate, to committee
nInrII 81