The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-26
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

[COnct,hIed from yesterday
Mr.. G. DAVIS thought that the honorable gentleman
msconceved the point of the resolution. The resolution
did not state that it question of privilege at all
The resolution stated matter however which did amount
to question OF privilege, without using the term prv-
The SPEAKER Will the gentleman allow the r.so-
luton to be again read
The resolution was accordingly again read and then
Mr. DAVIS proceeded and asked the honorable gentle
man from Virginia if it not the privilege of the
House to call upon the executive department Tor lnor-
nation connected with the subjects before it, or which
might be brought before it, and which it neces-
sary that the House should know in order to act under
sandngy on the subject He imagined that hat the gentle
ouon assumed the fact and the true state OF facts that
in relation particular subject information had been
asked from the heads Of departments and some one OF
the heads of departments had refused to give the noma
ton to the House.
The SPEAKER. The Chair will state to the gentle
man from kentucky, that the second reading OF the
resoluon the chair is bound reverse the decision first
made The resolution merely relates to an alleged deln-
quency the part of of the heads OF departments,
and does amount to such state OF delinquency as to
constitute criminal act such as this House could recog
Mise The chair misconcelved the resolution on the
first reading
the decision of the chair.
The SPEAKER The gentleman from Kentucky is
aware that in the present judgment OF the chair the reso
luton Of order, and of the question is not
debatabe. unless the gentleman appeals from the decl
sion OF the chair
Mr. DAVIS. appeal from that decision.
Mr. NORRIS Mr. Speaker
The SPEAKER The gentleman from Kentucky has
the floor
Mr. DAVIS proceeded II seemed to him that one of
the most important and obvious privileges OF that House
call on the heads of departments for information
He had never before heard it controverted that it
the rght--that it was the privilege of the House of
Representatives to call upon the heads OF departments for
such information contained in their particular de-
parments Well, then, if they hal the right TO call for
such information, 1t not their privilege to have that
information before them' Why, it was not move
against the heads of departments at all. 1t
upon the right OF the House. and upon its privileges, to
have from the Treasury Department information called
for by particular resolution Why, the Secretary of the
Treasury was an officer of that House That not a
department appended to the executive department 1t
was created by act of Congress to be responsible TO Con-
gress; and did they not all know that instead OF
making his annual report TO the President OF the
United States, the Secretary OF the Treasury reported
TO the Congress of the United States Well, then,
there was their oticer-tber creatureln possession OF
information which they desired, and which the House
of Representatives had asked him to furnish The ques
ton then was, it the privilege OF the House to ask
the Secretary of the Treasury furnish such information
lie could not conceive upon what principesupon what
rule of usage or of law the negative OF that proposition
could be maintained Was it the privilege of the House
to call on the Secretary OF the Treasury Tor information
sary conclusion, that the privilege OF the House to
have that information Well, then, that privilege OF the
House had been obstuced alleged in that resolution
BY the refusal failure of the Secretary OF the Treasury
to afford the information which had been demanded.