Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-21

Nolty coulu SHOW that MS cOnQuct was ialT anu
honorable, every member wonld he gratified.
resolution that the Sergeant alarms arrest Ca
leb J. McNulty, and bring him before the House.
MIR. ADAMS moved TO amend ii, that Mr..
McNuly be summoned 10 appear before the
House.
A brief debate ensued as TO the power of The
House TO arrest the Clerk; after which Mr..
Adams's amendment was rejected, and Mr.
JohnSon's resolution agreed to, and on motion
Of
Mr. DROMGOOLE the Speaker was author
lied TO issue his warrant for The arrest OF Mr.
McNuliy, under the seal of the warrant OF this
House. OPT
Mr.. DUNCAN inquired what they would do
with Mr. McNulty if he should be brought be-
fore the House1
Mr.. HOUSTON replied that they would pun
ish him, ifthey could; il not, they would nrn
him over to the Courts, or Constitutional autho-
rites.
INJECTION OF ELECTORS or PRESIDE ut AND VICE
PRESIDENT.
The bill providing for the election OF electors
of President and Vice President Of the United
States, as i, came from the Senate amended, was
taken up.
MIR. DUNCAN having briefly explained that
the amendment was merely verbal
The amendment was concurrcd in BY the
House.
A resolution in relation to the publication OF
the maps, charts, etc, OF the Exploring Expedl-
ton was adopted.
THE CLERK or THE HOUSE, AGAIN
The consideration OF the resolutions recon-
mended BY the Committee of Accounts Tor
adoption, again came up, the hour TO which II
was postponed having arrived.
A <uE1-SOme gentlemen insisting
tina, they should proceed Al once to the conside,
ration of the resolutions, and others that II should
be postponed until the return OF the process IS
sued by the House.
The question was finally taken on postpone
meni, as above suggested, and decided IL The al
irmative.
NATURALIZATION LAWS.
Mr.. ]. Il. lNGERSOLL, in pursuance of pre-
vious notice, asked leave 10 introduce bill 70
amend tie Naturalization laws; hnt objection
was made in various parts oil the Hall.
ANNEXATION or TEXAs.
The House resolved itself into COMMITTEE
of the Whole on the state Of the Union (Mr. mop
kins in the Chair and resumed The consldcra-
,;on Of The Joint resolutions for the annexation
OF Texas 10 The United States.
MIR. HAMMETT commenced ms remarks,
and had not proceeded far before the comiilluee
were informed that the Sergeant-at-arms was
ready 10 make report.
The Committee rose, and the Speaker resumed
the Chair.
rnE RETURN OF TIE sERJEANT-AT-ARMs
was read informing the House that he had ar
rested Mr. McNulty, and had him in custody.
Some gentleman moved that Mr.. McNully be
brought before the bar Of the House.
Mr. WELLER saw no necessity for such hot
haste, especially as Mr.. McNulty had noryet read
the charges preferred against him.
Mr.. DROMGOOLE moved that Caleb j Nc
Nulty be informed Of the proceedings now about
10 be taken against him, and that he be permit
ted 10 make his defence. The motion was agreed
10.
The Sergeant alarms then came in,oihe House,
accompanied by Mr. McNulty; and The gentleman
having taken his seat,
The SPEAKER informed linn that he had
been called TO appear before the House, and an
swer The charges preferred against him 10 the re-
port OF the Committee of Accounts; and that the
House would now hear his defence.
The report having been read for The information
of Mr.. McNulty,
Mr.. SAUNDERS submitted a resolution re-
curing the Sergeant-at-Arms to hold Mr. Nc
Sulty in custody until the further order OF the
House, until he shall have an opportunity 10 pre-
pare an answer to the charges. However, he with
drew il.
The SPEAKER remarked that he was inform
cd BY Mr.. McNulty that he was now ready to re-
spond to the charges made against him.
Mr.. McNulty rose in his place at the Clerks
table, and, after a sentence or two uttered IN 50
low tone OF voice as to be inaudible 10 the Re
porter, said that this was the first time ne had
heard the charges made by The Committee on
Accounts against him read. shall not choose
(said hey TO 90 into any detail in replying 10 The
charges made against me. will say This: that
- 1oliar 1f the DabIic
funds: that have not lent 10 any individual in the
world one dollar Of them; that have made no
disposition of them that the law does not author
ize me and justify me in making that. at the time
the Committee on Accounts sent me the first
note, replied 10 it, saying to them, that The
vouchers which showed the disposition o: the pub
lie money were in the possession and control OF
The accounting clerk of the office, then absent,
and who might be expected by Monday or Tues
day Of this week acquainted those who were
interested in the matter of the fact that the clerk
had not returned at The time specified. SAID 10
the gentleman who came TO me 10 speak OF the
matter that chose, before entering INTO an IN
ves,galon OF my accounts before the committee,
to ask of the committee TO let the accounting
clerk return, who was absent on visit oil occa-
sional absence, ard would return in short lime
as have been confidently expecting hlm ny eve.
~ arrival since. | repeat | have neither used
myself one dollar of the public funds nor loaned
10 any person; have made deposiles win difler-
ent Institutions, and with some few individuals
on The amplcsl securities and the best evidence lie
world can afford, which will be at hand on The
arrival of my clerk. inferred, from receiving
no answer from The Committee on Accounts, 70
my request TO them TO wait and lei the CLERK make
his statement of the matter when he returned mat
they were fully satisfied with my reasons lot de-
lay 10 appear before them. They sent me TURNER
information that they wished me 10 appear WIN
my accounts and vouchers; knew nolhing aDoul
them, as had nothing to do with them except
that had the same supervision over the business
oflhis clerk a. of all the other clerks in my olilce
the accounts and vouchers were in his possession.
told them the proceeding was most extraordinary,
when, ifthe security OF public funds was all lhe
committee desired they could have evidence OF
that at any time, as they knew. | thought II was
most extraordinary that it could mol be delayed
till the accounting clerk, in whose possession lhe
vouchers arc, returned.
He gave the committee the statements OF per
sons who ought 10 know, and other information
which placed it beyond the possibility OF douot
that This clerk must be here in short time The
matter had been made public, and in such way
as TO infiict lasting injury upon him, without
the slightest provocation or cause. he look occa-
sion here TO say, that he could settle with the
Committee on Accounts before ten O'Clock to-
morrow for every dollar of The public money that
ever came into his hands This was all he had
now TO say in answer To the charges mace against
him, and he did not recoleet that there was any
thing else that he had not answered. lie begged
leave to add that, unless ii was the pleasure OF the
House to detain him longer, he did not desire
further time than Till tomorrow at 10 o'clock lie
could settle with the committee by that time. or
any other hour the House pleased
Mr. WELLER desired to correct misun-
derslanding that prevailed in the House this morn
ing. 1t had been stated that Mr.. Kershaw Qhe
pay clerk spoken of had returned last night,
and was now in the city. This was incorrect.
From information that could be relied on, ne
would say that Mr.. Kershaw had not yet re-
turned.
Mr. TAYLOR, Chairman of the Committee
on Accounts, said that he understood the Clerk to
say, in the explanation Just made by him, that
when the Committee on Accounts called on him
for settlement. he desired TO be indnlged till