Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-13
SKETCH OF Mr.. AsHMUN's REMARKS
ON THE LAST NIGHT OF THE SESSION


votes Of the two Houses upon amendments the Mila
Appropriation Bill
Mr.. ASHMUN rose. He said that; as he understood tn
report of the committee Of conference, sh which it wa
proposed that the House should concur that ih
Senate should recede from its dissent the project Of appoint
ing lieutenant general The House had put clause in the
bill empowering the President put new man, newl,
created general officer military commander created for po
ica purposes the heads of all generals in
the feld-men who had by their bravery only won fo
themselves immortality Of fame, but who had elevated the
character and military glory of the country in the eyes
foreign nations and Of the world This the only impor
tant point the differences between the Houses the
rest were les in comparison, makeweights,
thrown into the scale this principal point II
ed to be matter in the highest degree desirable the Adm
nstation put the heads of ScOtt and Taylor
man. the of the Executive, selected either from the
halls Of Congress, from among the inferior officers of the
army and that the purpose and aim of this recommenda-
ton Of the committee of conference Before such nquy
accomplished, Mr. A. Wanted the House to understand
distinctly what they going TO do Al this last hour in
the expiring moments of Congress- gentlemen called
on thus by vote of concurrence, acquiesce in
which had three several times beer thrust upon the House.
and three several times killed by emphatic of rejection
This deformed corpse thrice dead, had been once
galvanized into life, and il had been distinctly an
nounced in high quarters that the Administration had
patronage enough still to get it through both Houses And
did they calculate without such result What
had operated change the views of the Military Committee
in regard this thing When it had first presented to
mousy reported that inexpedient make such ap
poinment. What, Mr. A. again asked had changed their
views Surely very cogen arguments must have been
addressed to them Mr.. A. to charge nothing mpro-
per but il might be somewhat interesting inquiry whether
of the gentlemen placed that committee had
ceved did expect to receive, military appointment
under the Government Mr. A. Imputed nothing of an
offensive kind to any body the committee, it seemed had
changed their minds that was all.
Mr.. CARROLL Ga member of the Military Committee
here obtained leave explain and to that there
least portion of the committee who much opposed
to the proposal they had been. They still
opposed giving aid and comfort to the enemy by the APP
pontment of to The chief command of The army who
incompetent to the station they desired now, they
always had desired to such post occupied by of
professional experience and military skill.
Mr.. ASHMUN resumed. He had ground to charge
any individual member with having thus been influenced
the very extraordinary in which gentlemen had
suddenly changed their opinion in regard to this matter of
Lieutenant general He did not certainly know that any
member situated had received nominations but he did
know that since the passage Of the ten regiment bill,
which put into the hands OF the Executive large amount
of patronage the effect of that patronage had been very OBJ
vousy felt in that House and he further knew that this very
day two members Of that House had received nominations
places of very high trust and Importance.
Voices g Who are they Names, names.
A good deal of sensation manifested in the House,
and the conversation became very loud.
Mr.. A. proceeded They had had very interesting
questions raised here which touched sectional
feelings and the breasts of Representatives from the free
States had been thrilled by declarations of gentlemen from the
South that the settlement of those questions particular
the existence of the Union depended and they had
members here deserving the interests of the free States
on these questions.
Mr.. SIMS, of South Carolina. g Name them. Who are
they ,"
Mr.. ASHMUN said he had no objection TO them,
for he would be found saying Indirectly what he
unwilling say directly member from Pennsylvania OPP
posite (Mr c. j. SeEnsoLL had received the nomination.
he understood, of Minister to France
M,,.h
Mr. BAYLY here and inquired whether that member
had advanced any opinions during the present session,
gard slavery, which he had Away and
formly expressed
gentleman had been uniformly subservent the views of the
South.
Here Mr.. G. ]. INGERSoLL, under very great excite
men from his seat the opposite side of the hail. and
crossing with rather hasy steps, approached Mr.
seat, exclaimng 'Do you say have been subserVent
When Where In what have been subservient ;"
The CHAIR called Mr.. ISGBRsoLL to order.
There much sensation in the House. Several gentle
left their seats others called ORDER and after few
minutes Mr. ISGERsoLL returned the other side of hail.
Mr.. BAYLY resumed He would ask the gentleman to
specify which had been given by the gentleman
from Pennsylvania this session which in strict
formity with his uniform and wellknown sentiments and
principles
Mr.. ASHMUN said he had listened with great respect to
the gentleman from Vrg MIA, and would now
Mr.. SIMS, of South Carolina, called on Mr.. AsHMuS
whether any other members of the House had received
in consequence Of which they had changed their
sentiments
Mr.. ASHMUN without noticing this nterrogatory, went
say that he had been called by the gentleman from
Virginia the way (Mr BArLrl say whether the
Der from Pennsy vania (Mr c. SGEnsoLL had recently
given any votes inconsistent with his previously avowed opn
In reply, he would say that he did know that he
had the subject of slavery On that subject he had uni
fomly expressed opinions which sustain the interests
of slavery As he understood from the history Of that gentle
mans public life he had uniformly been in favor Of sustaining
the slave power this Government and perhaps the gentle
from Virginia might think that that the best thing he
doing in Congress.) A laugh If the gentleman from
leave him to the judgment Of the country. He had
here to raise the merits Of that individual Of
any other.
Mr.. SIMS, Of South Carolina, reminded the House that
Mr. A. had referred other individuals as having been nu-
enced by nominations.
The CHAIR called 10 order
Mr.. SlNiS Let the members he alluded to be named.
The CHAIR again insisted on the preservation Of order.
Mr. BAYLY Does the Chair rule it be Of order for
one member to PROFOUND inquiry another member who
addressing the House, when the latter expresses willing
ness that the question should be put and is willing
swer il
The CHAIR replied that these repeated interruptions and
personal conversations were all out Of order.
Mr.. ASHMUN said he had no objections that gentle
men should put their inquiries him. il done in pro-
per manner.
Mr. SIMS, of South Carolina, said was due well TO
the gentlemen referred to- whoever they might be, 9th
ers that alusion had been publicly made them they
should publicly be named.
Mr.. ASHMUN said that he believed he not mistaken
as to the object Of the gentleman from South Carolina That
gentleman had reference probably military nomination.
Mr. A. would here with all willingness and freedom say that
honorable and independent member not to be
found in that hall the gentleman who had this day