Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-02-05

WAsHlNoroN, January l2.

-. \
WASHINGTON, January 12.
This has been quiet day at the Capt.. {
Ii The Senate did not sit. The House !
vas chiefly engaged on private bills,
which, however interesting 70 the individn-
/ claimants. are Of no importance 70 the
,ublic.
During the. morning hour there were
eyeral Fundamentally Of particular no
ice.
Mr.. Curtis, Of New York, asked leave
o submit q resolution for the printing Of
10000 copies Of the documents recently
by the Secretary of the
Treasury on Swartwout's defalcation.
e Objection was made Of course. The
party are determined to let the country
have as little light as possible, respecting
the practical operation Of their Sub Frea-
snry system. Mr.. Curtis moved sus.
pension of the rules; and was proceed
ing to make an explanation of the reasons
for printing, derived fromthe contents Of
the documents themselves, when score of
collar men, belonging to the administration
drowned his voice with the hoarse clamor
Of order. Mr.. Speaker Polk was also
remarkably prompt in interposing to pre-
vent The House from being reminded as to
what the documents contained.
Mr.. Smith of Maine, who demanded
the yeas and noes on the motion TO sus-
pend, asked the chair whether these docu.
ments did not disclose the fact, that
0ST.trom 1884 10 1887 Mr.. SaoartaOOut
had giuen no bonds for the honest and
| fdithfs.1 ~ ''s0sHce 81 ms duLleS as VU1-
tectOr ?-E0
This was what the rhetoricians would
call an assertive interrogato'y! The fact
is, Swartwout had given no security, by
bond, during all that time ;-in direct and
fragrant dlsreg I'd 10 the law, which di.
reefs that in such cases the bond sha be
given at latest within 3 months cfter en-.
terlng on the duties of the Office.
Mr.. Speaker was quite indignant at this
disclosure and while arresting Mr..
Smith, he made Use Of language quite un.
parliamentary, and particularly unbecom-
ing the occupant of the chair. He taxed
Mr.. Smith with attempting to eUdde the
rule which prohibits discussion until the
subject is fairly before the House. Now
the question was one which every member
had a right to ask for information and
Polk was greatly out Of order in making
an arbitrary assignment. of motive to the
gentleman from Name.
Mr.. Speaker was, on this occasion, so
lynx-eyed to the interests Of his party, that
he forgot altogether, the ProPriety and
dignity of the chair.
One hundred and seven members voted
for the proposition of Mr.. Curtis-and
~ for suppressihg the truth and the light.
The administration dare not let the testi-
mony, respecting their doings, go to the
.jury-the people
The half has not yet been developed
respecting these defalcations. Let a fair
committee be raised, and venture to say
that, Notwithstanding all that has been re-
ported in reference to these matters, the
country will be astounded at the evidence
Of criminal neglect and downright fraud
and corrupt collision which win be exhibit
ted.
January IA.
In the Senate, Mr.. Brown presented
the resolutions from the Legislature Of
North Carolina, Disappearing of the con-
duct of the Senator's of that State in Con-
gress. Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Strange
made speeches against the resolutions and
the Legislature that made them. They
both declared that they had come TO the
conclusion that they would neither obey
the resolutions nor resign.
The gentlemen were replied to, and
their extraordinary conduct commented
upon, by Mr.. Clay, in his own inimitable
manner, which had the effect to set Mr..
Brown in violent rage. He undertook
to be severe upon Mr.. Clay in return.
But the great orator assured him he would
not be disturbed at any thing he might
give utterance to-. The scene is describ-
ed to have been very Interesting, The
resolutions were ordered to be presented
and to lie on the table.
Mr.. Webster made one of his besl
speeches on the subject of the Graduation
Bill. Mr.. Tallmadge, who had been la.
boring under severe indisposition, appear.
ed in his seat. Mr.. Southland had the
floor when the Senate adjourned.
In the House, Mr.. Wise presented q
resolution calling upon the Secretary o
the Navy for information in relation tC
certain charges preferred by c, G. Hun
ter of the U. S. Navy, against Commo
dore Elliott, Of most violent and insulting
outrages upon the rights Of said Hunter
on a race course near Port Mahon, while
commander Of the Mediterranean SQUAD
ron, &c. After some amendments, thu
resolution was adopted.
A great many other resolutions wer,
disposed of in the course of the days sit
! ting.
January 15.
The Graduation Bill is stllthe engross
ing topic before the Senate, and, in fact
before the public. Several States hay,
the subject before them, and others hav,
already spoken their sentiments upon il
/ It IS now the general impression that al
these prescription laws, settlement rights
grants of land for State and corporal,
purposes, and graduation and reduction
bills, tend to one and the same enc. viz
the alienation of the public domain from
is rightful and original owners, the oil
States. ~ s.
Mr.. Morris, to-day, Withdrew his sub
stitute ceding all the public lands, whicl
have been or may be twenty years ia tn,
market, to the States, ia which they liz
and moved another substitute providin,
u that when the nuanfify of n,lhlir ios,gi -