The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-11

supplies for and dispose thereOit0 the officers or 10
the crew during the period Of his enlistment for
their own account benefit. The third section pro-
poses substitute annual pay to pursers in lieu OF
the pay, ratons, and other emouments, authorized
by existing laws and regulations.
Mr.. WILLIAMS explained the provisions oil The
| bill !; and on motion of
/ Mr. WOODBURY. its further consideration was
| postponed until tomorrow.
| The bill respecting furoughs in the naval service,
and the act to prescribe the number OF professors OF
mathematics in the navy OF the united states, Saow
ing one to each ship of the line for each frigate,
| and one for each soop of actually finished or
| launched were read third time and passed.
| In the course of the day reports were made from
standing committees, and several bills from the House
| were received and referred
| Mr.. EVANS moved that the Senate adjourn.
| Mr.. SEWER asked the Senator to withdraw his
motion for moment
Mr.. EVANS complied with the request
Mr.. SEWER moved to take up the bill for the re-
| lief poor Mary Johnson.
MIR. CALHOUN inquired what was the nature of
| the bill.
Mr.. SEWER. 1t is bill granting pension of
500 to old Mary Johnson.
The bill was then passed, mem DIS.
And the Senate adjourned.
In the House, Tuesday, motion Of Mr.. WILL
LIAMS of Connecticut bill was taken up explana-
tory of act entitled An act to constitute the ports
of Stonington, Mystic river, and Pawcatuck river,
collection district The bill was road twice, and, by
| general consent it was engrossed and passed.
MIR. C. J. INGERSOI4L again asked leave to in
| troduce his resolution calling the Secretary of
State to furnish at the session OF Congress- the
| number of those who have taken the benefit OF the
| Bankrupt act, sc.
| Objection made, and he moved suspension OF
| the rules. The motion was lost.
| MIR. FILLMORE submitted resolution calling on
the Secretary of the Treasury to communicate to the
House the amount of duties collected since the 3Oth
| OF june 1t adopted.
MIR. HUBBARD gave notice that he would move
reconsideration of the the bill for paying the
Iowa militia.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland, presented memo
rial praying that the General Government would is
sue stock, to be distributed among the States and
pledge the proceeds from the public lands for its
demption. He moved the reference OF the memorial
to select committee.
After some remarks from Messrs. BROWN and
TOLAND, of Pennsylvania, and brief exposition by
MIR. Johnson of his reasons for moving the reference
to select committee
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, moved to lay the
subject on the table. On this motion the yeas and
nays were ordered. The vote stood ayes l66, nays
II.
On motion of Mr.. STANLY the bill for the re-or-
ganzation of the Army, together with the report OF
the Committee of Conference, referred to the
Committee of the Whole.
The business of the morning hour the report
from the Committee of Indian Affairs.
MIR. PROFIT was entitled to the floor. He said
boasts made by the gentleman from Massachusetts
concerning the great and beneficial acts passed by the
present Congress- The Bankrupt act had been put in
the foreground He had not time allowed him to d.
gress into this comment-he would but remark en-
passan that as but days Of the present session
remained it would be very expedient for the mem
bers of this Congress, at least those belonging to
the majority, to pass political bankrupt law and
take the benefit of it themselves when they got home
This is the only mode by which they can
DaV heir q
would pass to the first question at issue-the re-
usal of the Secretary of War to obey the require
of the House calling for certain papers in rela-
ton alleged frauds in transactions with the Chero
kee Indians. 1t had been argued, that the House has
the right to demand any similar papers, and that the
course ofthe Secretary is unprecedented
Mr.. PROFIT said, if time were allowed him, he
could quote series Of cases In point to show that the
Heads of Departments had refused obedience to such
calls but his time limited. In case, the Sem
had called oi papers in relation to the transporta
ton of Indians and subsequently passed resolution
directing the Secretary to transmit them, during me
Of Congress, to the Secretary of the Senate
The Secretary obeyed with the limitations dictated by
his own judgment. lie transmitted such papers
he pleased and how he pleased expressly stating that
in certain cases, he had withheld paragraphs and
| whole letters No complaint was made against him.
! In 1883, a call had been made on the Secretary of
War to transmit papers connected with treaty al
ready concluded. No answer to the call has been re-
ceived to this day; we say nothing about 1t. While
call was made for the report of the inspectors of
nails The reply received was, that the report
garded confidential, and therefore could not be
| communicated to Congress Those who now are so
anxious pass resolutions OF censure against the pre-
sent Secretary and vruent in their denunciatons
against him, silent and passive then. Certain
political or party relations between the majority here
and the Executive have undergone change, and
hence the acrimony exhibited towards the present Sc
cretary Of War. The head of the War Department
was right in refusing to transmit papers considered
confidential imperfect, bat the present must be
condemned for acting in the same manner, fol rea-
sons, on all former occasions, acknowledged to
be lust. What is the state of the The
Secretary has in his possession certain communca-
lions, making serious charges against respectable
men, and containing statements completely dem
natOry Of the character OF these men. These
/ charges and statements, yet crude and misshapen,
and based in most cases rumor, have induced
i an investigation by the Secretary. That nvestga-
ton is not complete If the Secretary obeys the
!. CALL what will be the consequence Why, we will
publish to the country charges and accusations, and
nsinuatons and rumors injurious to the character of
men of honor hitherto unlmpeached, before we have
received the defence of the aecused-bcfore even the
f accused have been notified of the charges made
against them. If this is not unjust and tyranncal,
| what is i? And yet you condemn the Secretary for
, not becoming instrument Of this injustice and ty
ranny.
Mr.. PROFIT continued, in reply to the argu-
ments of Mr. Cooper, until his allotted time expired
Mr.. CUSHING then obtained the floor.
) At this moment, half past eleven o'clock, Mes
sage from the President was brought in by his Secre-
tary, John Tyler, jr
Mr.. CUSHING said that all the remarks he had
intended to make the report of the Committee on
Indian Affairs, he had already offered His omission
had been fully supplied by the gentleman from Indi-
ana, (Mr. Profit.) On that subject he would state
but one factthat the papers in the War Department
in relation to the subject contained little more than
hints and rumors But he had riseu merely for the
purpose of replying to the remarks of his col
league He would not forego the right or duty of
self-defence. The fact that his colleague had aban-
doned the principle point at issue, and expended all