The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-04

RssoIpsd, That the President ofthe United States
be requested 10 inform this House. if incompatible
with the public interest, whether any officer Of the
has since The 4h of March last been directed to visit
the State Of New York for any purpose connected
with the imprisonment or trial of Alexander Mcleod;
and II so to communicate 70 this House copies ofthe
instructions to- and report Of such officer and whe-
lner BY any Executive measures or correspondence,
the British Government has been given to understand
that Mr. Mcleod will be released or surrendered.
Mr.. FLOYD addressed the House in answer 10
the arguments OF members the other side and in
ABOUT nfeen minutes was cut off by the expiration of
the morning hour.
Mr.. @. DAVIS asked the House to take up Joint
resolution, therefore, offered by him. providing for the
reduction OF the amounts of executive printing 10 the
same rates as are move paid for the printing Of Con-
gress.
/ n But the SPEAKER announced the unfinished bu.
/ siness of yesterday TO be the motion made by Mr.
PROFIT to suspend the rules for the purpose Of intro
dncing the following resolution:
Whereas the Secretary Of War, in his renort 81
3lst May, lS4l, makes use of the following Ian
| guage:
The attention Of the Department has been direct
ed to the subject Of Indian treaties and to
1 the manner in which some of those recently mazda
! have been executed involving the disbursement az
large sums Of money for the emigration and subsist-
\ ence OF Indians 8f fs4
Il ~ n
west have been, to some extent, inquired into but
full disclosure of all the facts has not been arrived at
Enough has, however, been brought 10 light to estab-
lsh the conviction that certain contractors have real
lied the most enormous profits the greater portion of
which is believed to have been the direct fruit of gross
fraud upon the Government the Indians practised
by brbing of the subordinate instruments in the
public employment, or through the msmanagement Of
higher public agents, who only screen themselves
from the suspicion Of connivance in the frauds by
submitting to the mputation of gross negligence ia
norance or ncompetency in the performance Of their
duty
and the difficulty of procuring full and precise infor
nation II has been found impossible as vet to fix upon
the point where these frauds commenced or 10 ascer-
tain the boundaries of responsibility among the nu-
merous public officers and agents, through whose de
rect indirect nstrumcntalty, connivance or gpo-
rance the contractors able to consummate their
unPrincipled designs This investigation has been
prosecuted with the most painful reluctance, though
enough has been disclosed to suggest an inquiry
whether the guilty recipients may not be compelled to
refund their iniquous gains to the Treasury by pro-
/ cess of law. !" 1si 4,' N, ..tss 0 5s
| And whereas three months have now elapsed, and
no further information has been given to this House Of
the nature Of the frauds alluded 10 or Of the
persons engaged therein:
Resolved. That the Secretary Of War be directed
to lay before this House the names Of those persons
engaged in such frauds and the extent Of the frauds,
far as they have come to the knowledge Of the War
| Department.
Mr.. BOYD asked the yeas and nays on the motion
| to suspend, which were ordered.
| Mr.. STANLY desired TO know whether this reso-
luton referred TO an investigation pending2 If
it would break il ap He moved to lay the resou-
ton on The table. as
Mr.. PRoFFIT asked the yeas and nays on that
motion. Iss'.
The SPEAKER said the resolution was not yet in
possession Of the Housethe motion being suspend
the rule for its reception. .Sgs III .s.s
Mr.. PROFFIT said he understood it to have been
Whig principle E, to expose frauds
Mr. STANLY. Yes; but this resolution will pre-
| vent the exposure of frauds. ss,'s
Mr.. PROFIT. 1t will be covering up Of fraud
MI GENTRY and Mr.. PROFIT said some
thing but what was the Reporter in the confnsion
could not hear. a
The question on the motion to suspend the rules
was then taken and decided in the negative Yeas
/ nays 60. s
So (two-thirds not voting in the aAirma,ive) the
rules were not suspended. s
| PUBLIC PRINTING:
| Mr.. GARRETDAvISm moved 4 suspension Of the
rules for the purpose Of taking up the following joint
resolution heretofore offered by him:
X Resolved By the Senate and House Of Repressr=
tatipes Of the United States Of America IN Congress
assembled That hereafter all printing by the order of
the Heads of the Executive Departments, or any
other agent ofthe United States SHALL where therates
II
established at the present session Of Congress by
the two Houses for printing done by their order and
all accounts for such printing shall be settled and paid
strict conformity to such rates by all officers Of the
i United States.
Mr.. LEWIS WILLIAMS asked the yeas and
nays, which were ordered, and, being taken, were
i Yeas lao, nays 3. fss1a.fE f #.E.
| So the rules were suspended.
And the question ,eing on the engrossment Of the
Mr.. DAVIS asked the previous question.
Mr.. WISE asked Mr.. d. to withdraw the motion,
TO enable him to offer an amendment nstruciing the
clerks Of the two Houses to report at the session
on the best and most economical mode Of separating
the Government from the public press and to submit
Il their views, &c.
Mr. DAVIS declined to withdraw the motion for
the previous question: remarkng that the gentleman
could present his resolution distinct proposition.
i And the question being taken the demand for
the previous question, there was second.
i And the main question (heing on engrossment) was
ordered, and being taken, the joint resolution
Mr. sTANLY moved the previous question ON the
! final passage of the resolution.
And there was second. ,@
And the main question (being on the passage Of the
resolution was ordered and, being taken, the resou
/ ton was adopted. alg a
CONTESTED ELECTION IN FLORIDA.
Mr. HALSTED from the Committee on Elec-
ons to whom had been referred the papers and docu
mens In relation to the contested election from the
Territory of Florida, made report concluding with
| the following resolution:
Resolved, That David Levy, Esq. is not citizen of
the United States, in pursuance of any law treaty
thereof and that therefore the said David Levy, Esq
is not Untitled in the House of Representatives
Delegate from the Territory of Florida tothe 9th
Congress. &ae
Mr.. III. moved that the report be laid the table,
and with all the accompanying papers and documents
be printed. @
1 Mr.. WILLIAMS, of Maryland, member Of the
Committee on Elections, rose and said he dissented
| from the report.
| Mr., STANLY expressed the hope that some Of the
members who voted for the previous question tho
question of the contested election from New Jersey,
would beprepared to act with equal promptitude this
| report Gs.