The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-07
THE DAILY UNION.

was not only the fact with regard TO the report Of
the Secretary OF the Treasury but that other docu
mens, usually delivered within the first ten days Of
the session, had not yet been furnished.
II was time TO inquire into the cause OF this de-
lay. II the public printers were ineompeIent--ii
they had not force or type enough to execute the
public printing in seasonthe House ought to be in
formed OF the fact, so that the duty might be as
signed to some other person. II the documents
were not to be furnished until two or three months
after the meeting Of Congress, il would become a
matter Of Indifference whether they furnished
at all or not. During the recent hoydays the mem
bers-especislly those who had remained in the
city-had had more leisure to examine the doeu-
ments than they could hone TO have at any SUISSE
quent period OF the session; and he, for one, had
been greatly disappointed that they had not been
furnished. He had inquired for them at the fold.
ing-room from day to day; and the answer often
had been Ito morrow or next day" Six weeks OF
the session, he repeated, now nearly over, and
scarcely u document, with a few exceptions Of a
very unimportant character, had been received He
wiAhed that the House should be informed OF the
cause Of the delay; and IL il thought proper adopt
the resolution Of the gentleman from Illinois, mfr.
SMITH he (Mr Ii y hoped II would be 30 amended
as TO provide that the maps might not be attached TO
the Presidents message.
Mr.. JACOB THOMPSON desired to know what
this map was, and under what authority it had
been prepared; for he must confess he was unWill-
ing TO take the map which any man might furnish,
unless he knew that II came from a responsible
source. He was anxious 10 have such map; and
at this cheap he believed the House might af-
ford 10 publish a large number. But, at the same
Cine, il should be map published under proper
suthority; for it well known that any map
which this House might order TO be engraved would
go abroad with its sanction upon it. He would like
10 know whether the House was willing TO publish
any mans map, whenits publication might have been
begun on mere speculation lit came from any OF
the departments, from any Of the officers or bu-
reaus OF the government, he would cheerfuly vote
for it: but he would not take a map which any
one might furnish on mere speculation, and without
the proper extent Of knowledge requisite for the
undertaking. He would like the gentleman who
introduced the resolution to state by whom the
map bad been executed, and whether it was en-.
dorsed by any competent authority.
Mr.. SMITH said he was willing so TO modify
the resolution, as 10 provide that, before being
engraved. the map should be subject TO the inspec-
lion OF any committee of the House who should, il
il was not right, make the proper correction.
Mr.. THOMPSON said he understood from the
tenor Of the gentleman's reply, that this mar
dad not here under the authority Of any Of the
departments. lie (Mr.' T. knew no committee
Of this House that could decide Its correct
ness or Justice. He could not vote for the res
olution in the absence Of such authority.
Mr.. COBB inquired of the Speaker whether the
morning hour had commenced
The SPEAKER sad not yet; il would not com
mence until this resolution had been disposed Of
Mr.. COBB said that II this discussion were con.
tinued, the whole morning would be consumed and
the House would thus be prevented for some time
from going into Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union, to resume the discussion Of the
Oregon question. He therefore moved that the
resolution be laid on the table, whence il might
hereafter be called up, if the House should think
proper. ...
And the question being taken, the motion pre-
vailed.
So the resolution and amendment were laid OF
The SPEAKER stated that the business first il
order would be the call of the committees for re-
ports.
PERSONAL AND HISTORICAL.
Mr.. RHETT rose, and asked leave to make
personal explanation.
Assent having been given
Mr.. RHETT said that he held in his hand thu
report in city paper of colloquy between thu
venerable gentleman from Massachusetts,, TMr
ADAMS, i and himself, which took place yesterday.
Mr.. K. read from the Union as follows:
"Mr. ADAMS here rose and after Mr.. r. had yielded
the floor for brief planaton inquired whether thu
gentleman from South Carolina, in stating that the
gentleman from Massachusetts, voted against til,
late war had alluded to him, Mr.. ADAMs'1
"Mr. RHETr. did.
"Mr. ApAMs Then, sir, the grntlemsn is mis-
taken.
"Mr RHErr. Well, them the gentleman from
Massachusetts was oppored to the vasr.
"Mr. ADAMS If the gentleman from South
Carolina will allow me, will show that he wal
mista KEN"
Mr.. r. continued. This is the substance of wha
occurred, although not the exact words. In saying
that the gentleman from Massachusetts Mr.
ADAMsl voted against the war, admit | was ir
error and promptly retracted it. The expression
escaped me in the heat of debate But have al
ways been under the impression that the gentleman
was opposed to the war; but not having with m,
pressions were founded, acquiesced at the time o
the gen,emans denial because to have said any thing
without proof would have been useless.
Since then, however, | have REQUIRED to these
sources from which my orig nal impression wat
produced | have before me letter written by tn,
dated September 3, 1913, detailing conversation
between himself and the chancellor Romanzoff, tn,
russian minister Of state In this letter, the gen
eman says
"a knew the would affect una voraby the interests
Russia knew must be highly injurious to the Unitec
States and England lcould good likely arts,
from It to any one"
If Continued Mr.. r. the war was likely to re-
suit in good to no one, should Of course suppose
the gentleman would be opposed to it. Ii was no
likely that he would be in favor of war which
could not result in good to any one, and certainly
could not result in good to the United States
Surely some good must be expected from a war by
any one who supports it, for otherwise he would
be deliberately opposing the interests of his own
country.
This letter is also referred to in the history OF tn,
war of lsl2-'I3, by C. J. lngersoll,
Here Mr. r. quoted Mr.. ADAMs's words from
the history, with an account of the conference and
transactions
In addition to this Continued Mr.. R. recollected
an abstract, from letter which the gentleman had
written to Mr. Leavit Harris when at Client, who
had formerly been consul of the United Suites al
ST. Petersburg, and was secretary of the commits
soners at Client. Speaking Of the war, the gentle
man holds the following language; "With a weak
and penurious government, having three frgates fol
a navy, and FIVE regiments for army, what could
we expect but defeat and disgrace" q ..,..-.-. Pr.
| Now CONTINUED Mr.. RI | naturally inferred
that as the gentleman could not desire our country
be defeated and disgraced he could be in favor
of war from which he supposed that no other re.
suit could be anticipated
These are the grounds on which my impression
had been formed, ! state them frankly to the gen