Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-02
~RNrY-sEvRNrH CONGRESS-
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TsUsspar. April 9s,h.

y, \. GUS IOh tOuSE lNNES SITUATION.
Mr. SrANLY. from the Committee on Pubh'
Expenditures, asked leave at this time to make 8
Report
No objection beng made
Mr. STANLS, from the said committee, submit.
ted the following report;
The Committee on Public Expenditures respect
Tally submit to the House n report made 10y the
Hon. George Poindexter to the Secretary Of the
Treasury. Mr. Poindexter was one OF the Com
nissloners appointed by the President, on the lOth
OF May, isil, to examine intoThe affairs OF the
Custom House in the CITY oil Ne~ York.
The Comm0tee being apprised that the expendi-
lures At the Custom House, IN the city OF N York,
had increased very greatly for several years past
felt bound 60 become acquainted with the nature
and character OF these expenditures, that the guilty
might be exposed and punished, and like abuses
corrected for the future. As however, the time al.
lowed TO the committee for such an investigation
was not sufficient to enable them attempt the in
Nesugation with any probability Of success, unless
they had abanded the slttings OF the House, and ms
they had been informed of the nature OF the duties
Of the Commissioners, thew concluded II would be
moro satisfactory to the Hou'e to wait the report
of the Commissioners. On the 9Th day oil February
last, the House OF Representatives adopted roso
luton reported from the Committee on Public EN-
pendtures, requesting the Secretary OF the Trea-
sury TO send a copy of the report Of the Commits
sonefs- No answer 10 that resolution has yet been
received. Some days since the Committee called
on the Secretary OF the Treasury ktow when thew
would receive an answer TO the resolution referred
10, and whether the report made aimee the date OF
that resolution would re sent. Some days elapsed
and no answer came. Another letter was addressed
To the Secretary OF the Treasury, and this, after
waiting another day, the Committee received no
answer.
The committee knowing the general desire to be
made acquainted with the proceedings OF the com
mssioners, end believing that IL was due not only
TO the House oil Representatives but TO the Ameti-
can People that abuses should be exposed, Und
feeling ANXIOUS that measures might be taken dur
ing the present session TO prevent the recurrence Of
the degrading enorm'tes prac,ised at the CUSTOM
house, determined to call on MIR PoindeX;er, one Of
the commissioners, and TO submit the result of h:
labors 10 the consideration OF the House.
THE report is herewith submitted. The commit
tee earnestly and respectfully invite the attention
of the House TO its details. Ii is believed that IN,
wickedness Of public officers here exposed is IN
paralelcd in the history OF any civilized Government
and public interest-the interest OF the injured
uniustly oppressed eitizsns-snd above ar, pu tin
honor, imperousy demand remedy at the hand
OF the Representatives Of the People.
The report was laid the table and ordered L
be priatcd.
MIR STANLY said he intended TO move th
printing of the same number OF extra COPIES hs,
been printed Of the Swartwout report-fve thou
sand with the accompanying documents, he believed
and twenty thousand without.
Mr. WELLER objected.
The SPEAKER said the motion would te en-
tered on the journal.
MIR ) FAMILY said that was all he desired at ihi
time. The motion was entered accordingly.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAr. April %.
MIR ROOSEVELT, after the Journal had bee
read-moved the reconsideration OF the voc b
which the Report Of the Hon. George Pondexte
the chairman Of the New York Custom House Com
mission, had been ordered to be printed.
The Chair decided that as the vote had been 10 Ike
n I've w ho nd
for the Resolution, and who against it. Such ha
been the decision.
Mr. CUSHING of Mass, took an appeal, and ar
gued that If the decision ofthe Speaker was corrcc
no information could be given.
Mr. FILLMORE was opposed to reconsideration
IL there had been any NAL administration he should
like 10 know II, and the country ought to know II
Tine gravest charges had been made in regard &c
the New York Custom House affairs, and the in.
formation should he known. MIR Fillmore was 90,
ing on, and rejecting with some severity upon those
who opposed the printing OF the information, wher
he was called TO order by MIR Cushing.
MIR ROOSEVELT Of ". Y. continued the de.
bate, and spoke at some length in favor OF
sideration.-The debate took a new turn here 1
was argued IN SCR, OF conversation debate carried
on ey several gentlemen that the Treasury Depart
ment had been called upon for information in refer
ence to the Report which il they had not refused :,
give they had declined 10 give
MIR STANLG, as Chairman OF the Commute,
on Public Expenditures, stated that he had address
ed the Secretary Of the Treasury letters unon ~,
occasions calling for the Report, but no answer hat
been given.
Mr. JOHNSON, OF Md, was disposed to recon
sider His reasons were that the RepGr, " hich ma
oeen ordered 10 be printed was the Report OF on
OF the Commissioners only. He would PRINT all q
none. lie would not allow one Report 10 90 FORT
Hness others, which might affect public opinion Ct
terently, should go forth with u. Mr. johnson ssie
he should vote IN conclusion with great cheerluness
Mr. ARNOLD Of Tenn. said the gentleman iron
Maryland was mistaken in regard TO the facts
i nc document upon the Speakers table was moi nm
ex parte Report. IL embossed all the testin nv
which had oeen taken, and this made I'D the mos,
VoIuminOns part OF the document. The Report
contained the facts, and a bird in the hand was
worm Two IN the bush, he should not consent that
The document should be withdrawn before seeing
the light. IL was astonishing to him that any gen.
Ueman OF any party should oppose the light
Mr. WISE continued the debate for the purpose
OF stating 10 the House Of Representatives. the
eadse oil the delay, nnd the course Of the President
ny way OF justification. FIRST, the facts connected
with tie appointment Of the commission in Nav
last were stated, together with facts connectei with
the re appointment Of the commission in October
Upon both commissions four gentlemen were an.
pontej, messrs. POlNDEXTER KELLEY
BRADLEY and STpART. The last named
gentleman had only concluded his report on the 27h
oil the present month.
The other gentlemen had concluded their Reports
long since, but the President thought It Improper
:" inJ tHSAH otloIe Cougtess until Mr. GOIndeNter
had completed his, when u was designed 10 lay
them all after examination, before Congress The
Report OF Mr. PolndeXter was but one Of four Re
ports, all OF which should have been printed 10
gether. The Report, MIR Wise contended. shgRS q
never have been made TO n Committee Of the Uoufe
IL was Irregular for the Committee TO receive as II
was unjustihabe for Mr. PoindeKter TO communi
cate. tie was appointed by the President and
hound 10 report to him.
The debate was continued by Mr. ST NSIY.
and good deal Of interest was manifested In the
discussion.
Mr. SrANLY justified the course Of the Gem
miitee on Public Expenditures in reply TO Mr. w ise
IL was bad enough, he said, 10 serve upon such a
committee, and 20 be engaged in ferLeting out the
abuses Of the Executive Department, when the
COMMITTEE were Ih~eued by the E,fecutive. Al
o %O'' any position would be pIsa' ter than such
MIR Stanly also justified the coufse Of the commit
tee and cited several cases giving evidence TO the
House that the course Of the committee Of The
House mad been 10 receive reports from oficral and
other persons, which reports were laid before Con
gress.
conversational debate was continued very
briefly between Mr. LINN, Mr. ARNOLD and Mr
WISE, when Mr. ANDREWS of Ky. moved the
previous question. The motion was Withdrawn
Tor moment, OF the request Of Mr. WISE who
wished 10 make m explanation.
The Previous Question was moved, the Main
question ordered, and the yeas and nays were or
dered upon the motion 10 reconsider, which the
Speaker upon review Of his decision had decided
to be IN order The vote was as foliows:
For reconsideration, H. AganuH,st
80 the House decided that the Report OF Mr. Pom.
dexter nhnfI lr uftnfed