The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-05

iron, cotton, wool hemp, and sugar, and the cost
thereof and Also the quantities and cost Of similar
articles imported from abroad during the same year;
and that he lay the same before this House as early
as may be practicable during the present session Of
Congress, together with such information as he may
deem material, and such suggestions as he may
think useful, with piep to The adjustment Of the
tariff"
MIR. McLane set Immediately to work-prepared
his circularssent them out TO commissioners in diff
ferent parts Of the country-and, upon their an
swers, framed his bill (the celebrated bill of Mr.
VerPanck) in the ensuing session of 1928.
What better course Mr. Walker pursuei We
ry true, he has no commissioners 10 employ, be-
cause he is expressly forbidden to appoint and pay
them, by the following clause of the act of August
&c, 1912:
"src 25 .qnd be il turtle, enacted That II shall not
any time hereafter be lawful for any accounting dis
bursting officer Of the government 10 allow or pay any
eoan, or charge whatever growing out o. or N any way
martial coars onquiry in the military or naval service
Of the United States until special appropa.ions shall have
ridd That this shall not extend to the contingent fund CON
nected with the foreign intercourse Of the government
BY the way, we take the opportunity of correct
lntelligencer:
"The has itself stated that heretofore such inqui
es have only been made when authorzed have been
Quoted by commission (and Of course under oath on all
government orgsn the power Of appointing such commits
sions has been Withdrawn. because II was abused.
"a word here Of this last aveIment II admits that Mr.
McLane. Of Gen Jacksons earliest secretaries by
Congress invested with this abused TWAS not in
trusted to any secretary in 1912 or course 1t has been
corrupy used II must have been used under General
Mr. Van Buren, The Union should take better
care whet charges IL makes"
Now, we beg the reader to look at the date of the
above section, and he will that il passed in
August, lSi2-one year and half after Mr.. Van
Buren, had ceased to administer the governments
and, therefore, that the charge of abuse scarcely
falls upon Gen. Jackson or himself. In fact it was
principally produced by the commission which
Mr., Secretary Ewing had created to look into the
| custom-house of New York, and the commission
| to investigate the expenses Of the public buildings
in this city The National lnelligencer, therefore,
"should take better care what charges il mases!"
| But though the Secretary Of the Treasury cannot
now, nor any department, institute paid
commissions; yet why should he not collect infor
nation in another way' Mr.. McLane obtained
information through commission-not because he
was instructed, but because il was probably the
best way; and he had then the power according to
CUSTOM at leasD to appoint commission But
does il follow that Mr.. Walker has no power to
collect it, by applying to individuals for infor-
maton' The National Intellgencer'' says, 'the
Secretary summon nobody, compel nobody
to testify, put nobody upon oath, give authenticity
| and completeness TO no testimony, employ nobody
to take it," Now this looks like an indirect way of
IL. M II l,I IL Ill H.
things; and yet he had none them but the last for
the answers which he received were not taken under
OATH and he had as little power to summon, orcompe
manufacturers to testify, put anybody upon oath,
as Mr.. Walker himself. The gentlemen whom he
employed as his commissioners, had at last to go to
the manufacturers themselves, and ask them to
give answers to his queries. The queries are
precisely the same; and, like him, Mr.. Walker
can go to the individuals for similar information.
If the editor of the Inlelligencer denies HIM
this power, it must be because he thinks Mr..
Walker has no power to PROFOUND questions,
with a view to elicit information on the sub
| ject Of the tariff-upon which it is his official
duty, as the superintendent Of the finances, to
port at the next session. And is it really come to
this-that il is suona for the Secretary ask
a question: Many Of his predecessors have touched
the great subjects of the protective tariff and
ufactures in their official reports; and why may not
Mr.. Walker In fact how he faithfully dis
charge his duties, under present circumstances,
| without all the light which he can obtain
The only material point, indeed is, whether he is
asking questions of proper persons whether he
means to deal fairly and impar,ially by Congress
II. - L.. L..
done Some Of his circulars have been address
ed to the collectors to receivers, to the
postmasters, Gall of whom he had officially right
to call upon;) but great many copies of the
| circular have been addressed to indviduals--to
manufacturers, without regard to party. Ii has been
circulated through the "Union," and other news
papers; thus showing that there was intention to
conceal any part of his official proceedings from the
eyes of all the world. Any number Of copies will
be furnished to the editors of the National nteli-
gencer, or of the New York Tribune, Of any other
wing presses. The assertion is, therefore, utterly
gratuitous and unfounded, that the Secretary has
sent his circular to one party only. We have said,
this was the very 'reverse of the truth" although
the lntelligencer denied that "we had conradicted
this allegation"
| What object, then, has the "lnelligencer" in
Directing to the circular Does it really design to
induce the wing manufacturers TO withhold the in
| formation, by refusing to answer the questionsi
Well, let them do so; and Congress and the country
will know why they have refused to answer They
will know that they have stood mute because their
answers would be conclusive against the tariff Of
1912. Bad must be the bill, which even its friends
dare not attempt to uphold by disclosing the facts
on the subject.
THE ARMY-PROMPT MOVEMENT.
Observing several commendatory notices in the