Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-29
TWENTY-NlNTH CONGRESS.
second Session.. :
MONDAY, January %, l84..
CENdTE

MONDAY, JANUARY 1917.
SENATE.
Mr.. Archer presented the credentials Of his
colleague, Hon. J. NJ Mason, who was sworn
and took his seat.
Alter the reception OF some Executive commu.
nicalions, reports were called from committees.
Mr. Yulee, from The Naval Committee, report
ed back the bill for The cons uction ola Dry Dock
at Pensacola, without amendment.
Mr. Ashley, from The Judiciary Committee, re-
ported hack the House bill 10 organize lerIitori-
al government in Oregon, with sundry amend
mens.
Mr. Benton asked leave make an exposition
in vindication Of The President Of the U. States
Tor having proposed The creation OF the office Of a
Lieutenant General.
Leave being given, Mr. Benton proceeded, and
in the Course OF his remarks said tnai in The
y part OF September the President sent for him
and rendered him The appointment Of Minister TO
France, which he declined. AT tha, lime, there
fore, there could have been no design 10 make
him his successor in The Presidency, by giving
him an opportunity OF acquiring fame by leafs
performed in Mexico. A FEW days after, he (Mr.
b. went on visit 10 the West, from which he
returned in November, and, for reasons moi now
proper to he made known, the President sent for
him and asked his opinion as to the future opera
ton oil The war.
Mr.. b. said he had been The chairman Of The
Military Committee for quarter of a century
and had been accustomed 10 confer with all adj
minislralions upon such matters. He gave his
plan 10 The President face 10 face, and afterwards
reduced il 10 writing Here il is, said he, hold
ing il in his hand but neither intend 10 read il
or have il read, tor do mol belong 10 that school
that would make public, plans for conducting a
war-evenIeecled ones. Mr. B. went On 10 say
that The plan which he presented required head
10 the army-one head 10 The whole army-and
the President was satisfied with the plan and The
question was how To gel il execuled1 II did not
correspond with The ideas Of the Two higher off.
GERS Of The army, and il was mol The custom 10 re-
quire General 10 execute plan he did not APP
prove 1i Mr.. Benton hen went on 10 defend the
President from the charge which had been made
against him Of intending 10 place mere civilian
at The head OF the army. He (Mr. b. was no
mere civilian. In 1912 he was the military SUI
perior of every General now in service BE had
not mentioned this fact before even 10 his nearest
and hes, friends in the Senate, and mentioned il
now merely ior The purpose OF rescung The Pfesi-
dent from The charges which had been made
agains, him. The Constitution loo. said Mr. T.,
places pers..n from civil lie Al The head OF the
army now. The President is The Commander in
chief. As 10 The Lieutenant General, The place
belongs 10 nobody-it is new Office
Mr.. B. said that President Polk was not the
first President who had offered him the command
OF the army. In 1886, when there was pros.
psct OF a war with Mexico President Jackson
had offered him The command Of the army in
the event OF The war taking place. He scorned
~ mention this thing and only stopped TO do il
now 10 vindcalc the President. MIR. B. would
now say thai there were cases in which he would
NM nj he
neral. He would have nothing TO 90 with lag
sng a nj moderate war-a war ot"masterly mac
livily"-or war of line of possible would
have nothing TO do with such rlans--he would
not accept The appointment under such circum-
stances. He wunld not say what his plan was
but he might with piopriety say that il contained
provision fer carrying on the war according 10
the usages oil civilized nations-lhai is by living
on the enemy invdded-by leyying contributions
Another part was that pacific oveitures should
attend our military operations There we're two
parties in Mexico. The first which was hume
really superior, were Tor peace-lhe second, al
though numerically Inferior possessed The ST.
news OF war, and are in favor oil war. His plan
was adapted 10 each peace FOL The reaceable,
and The sword for the other.
Mr.. Lewis, from The Finance Committee, re-
ported back The Loan Bill, without amendment.
He observed that unless il were passed mme.
diately, The Treasury could not meet its liabilities
Mr.. Benton, as Chairman Of the Military Com
miree, said that under these circumstances lie
would yield The Army Bill, until the I.uan Bill
shall have been disposed OF.
MIR. Huntington expressed his doubts as 10 whe-
Their the Senate had had suiflcienttime 10 examine
the bill.
BY The casing vote OF The Vice President, The
Loan Bill was then taken up.
NJ hnp tha ot tI,a
nance Commillee would al least inform The Sc
nate OF The actual state Of the Treasury, and
how this sudden emergency had arisen
Mr. Lewis did mol reply, but moved an amend
nenl 10 strike out that portion VI the ~ h section
which limits the price al what the SecrelaryEhall
buy in the notes or stock, when able SO 10 do
Mr.. Speight was very indignant at The idea
that This Government could have any difficulty
10 borrowing even hundred millions. He said
that money in Europe was going begging.
After few words from Mr.. Sewer, Mr.. Lewis
Withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. J. M. Clayton renewed The inquiry as to
the actual condition OF The I casury.
Mr.. Lewis repliel that the financial policy q!
the Administration would well compare with that
OF The opposition. He was confident The Govern
men, could borrow any amount il needed
Mr. Evans did not believe any such Thing. He
by he hypo hecation of the Treasury Noles was
dangerous rover, and which nigh, he abused by
corrupt man.
Mr.. Huntington then made speech in exposi-
lion of the bill. and Of The financial measures Of
the Government, The one he thought dangerous,
and The other absurd
After an Intellectual motion TO adjourn, Mr..
Niles took the floor and gave his views.
Mr. Badger then renewed The motion TO ad
journ. The result was-yeas "a, nays 90 So
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Giles presented The memorial Of The meet
ing oil The Soriely OF Friends, held in The city
oil Baltimore 18Th December, 1916 on the sub
jert Of The present war, and praying that every
measure may be taken 10 ensure speedy return
to peace. Referred 10 the Committee on Militia
ry Affairs.
Mr.. Maclay presented memorial from the
Common Council Of New York, in relation 10
The importation Of foreign paupers and criminals
into the United States, which, on motion Of Mr..
Seaman, was referred 10 the judiciary committee
and ordered 10 lie printed.
Mr. Raihbun rose 10 question OF privilege.
Several weeks since the House had adopted res
oulion reqniIing the Secretary OF the Treasury
to furnish The House certain information in re-
gard 10 secret agents employed by the Depart.
ment, which information had not been furnished;
and, he understood, was now stated by the Secre-
tary, would no, be furnished until near The close
OF the session. He was not disposed 10 call on the
House 10 exercise lis authority to-day, but inlen-
ded To 10 so hereafter, iflhc information we're not
furnished without further delay
Mr. Bayly defended The Secretary from the
charge Of intending 10 disobey the resolution Of
the House. In conversation with him, lew
days since, he had advised him no, 10 furnish the
information desired, because Of the want OF
physical force necessary 20 answer all back calls.
But the Secretary had stated 10 him his intention
10 answer this very call al The earliest possible mo-
menl as Congress had right 10 ask for this in
formation. He, (Mr. Bayly,) however, intended
10 move that This resolution be re considered.
Mr. Garrett Davis moved The appointment Of
select committee of FIVE, 10 inquire into, and re-
port The facts of The call, with power TO send Tor
persons and papers.
Mr.. Dromgoole opposed the resolution. Such
a course was unknown 10 The constitution. The
Secretary of The Treasury was as much an e1e-
culive officer as the Secretary OF War or Of The
Navy. II gentlemen wanted information with a
view 10 The impeachment oil the Secretary, this