The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-10

The first section Of the bill being under considera
ton,
Mr.. LEAKE indicated, but did not press an
amendment, which The said he would offer when
the bill came into the House
s The second section being under consideration,
On motion Of Mr.. RATHBUN, il was so amend
ed as to strike out the words "sueh selections shall
be made from, and inserting "shal be distributed
as equally as possible among"
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. MCKAY now rose and said that he was not
in the House at the time the House went into COM
mitee, having been under the impression that bills
relating 10 the District Of Columbia would be taken
up. Since, however, the committee have taken up
other business he would move that the further con-
sideraon Of the bill be postponed, and that the COM
mlttee proceed To the consideration Of the bill max
ing appropriations for the naval service.
Tellers were ordered, and the vote being taken,
stood ayes az, noes IT.
So the committee refused to postpone the consid-
Grafton Of the bill relating to
TIE CONVENIENT OFFICES
And the committee resumed the consideration Of
the said bill
The second section being still under considera-
ton
MIR. COBB moved to amend il by adding that
such appointments shall be made on the recon-
mendstion of the representative in Congress from
the said disirSzr
Mr.. s. ADAMS moved to amend the amendment
so to provide that the representative shall make
the appointment
Mr.. DRoMGOOLE was understood to inquire
Of Mr.. CoBB, whether il was his intention that the
appointing power should have no discretion in the
recommendation
Mr.. COBB was understood to say, that the idea
was that the appointing power might reject the first
recommendations and require second; but that per-
manent appointment should not be made except
under the recommendation Of a member. 1.-THE
member failed 10 make the recommendation, the va
eaney must be filed in some other way.
The amendment 70 the amendment was rejected.
And the amendment was rejected.
Mr.. JACOB THOMPSON asked the unanimous
consent Of the House 90 back the first section
so as to include among the enumerated officers, Il.
auditors, clerks, and messengers,) other officers,
comptroIlers, registers, &c.
Objection made.
The third section being under consideration
Mr. ISAAC Z. HOLMES moved TO amend il by
striking out 'four years" a3d inserting six
months"
After briefbut pleasant conversation, the amend
Rent was r,jsetsd.
Mr.. BELL moved to amend the said third section,
by adding proylso that they be selected in equal
numbers from the two great political parties"
Mr. MORRIS moved to amend the amendment
by adding, provided we have a wing President"
Mr.. DRoMGooLE regretted (he said) that he
could not vote for the amendment Of the gentleman
from Kentucky, Mr. BELL, because, in the first
place, It did not embrace the entire enumeration Of
political parties. In the next place. it was unjust
and unequal The democratic party was the largest,
and ought therefore to have a corresponding pro-
portion.
After a remark by Mr.. S. JONES
The amendment TO the amendment was rejected.
And the amendment was rejected.
The sixth section being under consideration;
Mr. HAMLlN moved to amend it by striking
outteO, (where it occurred, } and inserting four.
The amendment was rtjecltd.
Mr. McHENRY moved TO strike out i,co, and
insert Rejected
The seventh section being under consideration;
Mr. ASHMUN moved to amend it by adding at
the end thereof proviso, that in making the ap-
polntments or removals in any of the Offices mem
toned, no regard should be had to the political par
ties, or religious denomination TO which the persons
belonged. REJECTED.
Mr. DROMGOOLE moved TO strike out the said
section; which motion WIS rejected
The bill having been gone through with;
Mr.. HAhLlN moved the following as an add-
tional section:
Sac 10. Be further enacted, The next United States
Ofcial Register which shall be published, shall con.
tain the Of the State which each officer named in
said Register born, and also the of which he
resident when appointed and how long he had resided
therein next before his appointment also the time which
each person named in said Register has held the office
held by him and the time he may have held any and all
other Offices with the amount he has from the gov.
eminent salary men for his services each and
ali Of said offices.
Mr.. HAMLIN said it would be recollected by those
who were familiar with the Official Register of the
United States, that they able only 10 learn from
that the place in which the individual was born This
amendment proposed to show in addition the State
where he was resident at the time he received his
appointment; and TO that State he should properly
be attached and made to belong He further ex-
planned the provisions of the law as il now stands
and of the amendment proposed and advocated the
latter as likely to subserve a good and useful pur-
pose. He had been told on various occasions and
under various administrations, Of all political COM
pexions, that there has been political prescription
This provision would enable them hereafter to de-
termine the fact by showing how long the individual
has been in his present office, and in other Offices
the aggregate amount he has received &c.
Mr.. DOUGLASS obtained the floor, but yielded
at the request Of
Mr.. THURMAN, who suggested modification
Of the amendment of Mr.. HAmLIN which was ac-
cepted, and the amendment made to conform
thereto.
Mr.. DOUGLASS said he had been watching the
progress of this bill thus far, for the purpose of
trying TO ascertain whether gentlemen were serious
IN urging 1t with the provisions it contained, or
whether It was solemn farce perpetrated here for
the amusement of the galleries. But as there were
very few IN the galleries, and as gentlemen seemed
10 be serious, he supposed he must consider that it
was intended to pass this bill The bill in its pres
emit form, every man see, perfectly prac-
lcable, he would not say absurd. It proposed that
men should be taken for office in the various depart
ments of this government from each State in the
Union, in proportion to its representation in Con-
5ress. Apply that principle to the Department of
State. Say you have some fifteen clerks there (he
was not particular as to the exact number. Now
you are required to take these fifteen clerks from the
different States in proportion to their represen-
ation.
MI. A. d. SIMS nerposed, and Mr.. D. yield
ngl was understood to say he had proposed an
amendment to obviate this difficulty.
Mr.. DOUGLASS (continulng) said in this case of
he State Department, there would not be one officer
o each State in the Union. Where were they to
'egin' With the State of Maine, and go through
with the roll in the order the States were called in
his House. IL so, half would be left unprovided
or
But gentlemen said this bill took the aggregate
number, and required it to be equally distributed
,mong the different States. He alluded to the diff
icuy of carrying it out even under this construc-
ion as the different heads Of the departments would
'ppoint in their own departments.
Mr. SAWYER interposed and said the Pres