The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-28

Also an adverse report upon the petition Of VIM. OAR
oy laid on the table and ordered 10 be printed
On motion of Mr.. ROCKWELL, II was
Ordered, That the Committee OF Claims be discharged
from the further consideration of petition of VIM O.
DAVIS and wife, and that II be laid on the table
GENERAL CLAIMS
Mr. r. also, from the same committee, 10 whom was
recommItled resolution IN relation 10 the computation
and publication OF index OF all the claims heretofore
presented for the consideration oil Congress, together wan
It's action thereon, with instructions TO inquire mo the
merits OF work OF the same character IN process OF
preparation by Mr. Brown, late Librarian OF ms House
and also the probable expense, and the time OF the
completion OF the work proposed, made report recon-
mending that Mr. Brown be not employed upon the sad
work. but that MIR James Young, former clerk OF the
Committee of Claims be engaged to perform the duties
required The committee estimated the probable cost az
about 81 900. and express the opinion that the book
wSad II fqmSfsSfsc submitted few remarks IN
defence of Mr. Brown. tie thought that if the committee
had had that gentleman before them. and allowed him
TO explain for himself he might have been able 10 show
the advantages to be derived from making OF his
| compilations
Mr.. r. SMITH did not mean TO oppose the preparation
of the work in question. lie believed such work
would be exceedingly useful but before he voted for
any particular document OF the kind, he wanted 10 be
that il the best which could be procured and
that it would be the speedy and economical OF
obtaining the desired information. He was well &C
quained with Mr. Brown, and also with Mr. Young
Both OF them men vi intelligence, and each had
CURED extensive and uoeiu information upon the subject
| under consideration
Mr. s. believed that the public niees, would be best
secured by uniting these gentlemen in the preparation
of the work He believed that the whole subject ought
! to be referred to the Committee Accounts He was
certain that il not the policy of the House TO take
Bids for the performance OF this service, and to give the
contract to the lowest bidder In the same manner that
the printing of Congress disposed Of Such course
he believed, would secure 10 the House the most speedy
and the cheapest accomplishment OF the desired object lie
would therefore, that the whole subject be referred
TO the Committee Accounts, with instructions 10 bring
| both Mr. Young and Mr.. Brown, with all their docu
ments before them, and question them TO the cost
he Nyork md The bp<t ms n 10
did not believe that it would cost $1,000. Such
pendture would be useless waste of the public money.
Mr.. POLLOCK addressed the House in opposition 10
the recommment and in favor of the adoption of the
port of the Committee of Claims.
Mr. HOWELL COBB was opposed to the resolution
on account of the expense involved and contended that
there was ample time Tor this work to be all well done
by the House clerks during the recess of Congress He
moved to lay the subject on the table viii was lost
| on the report OF tellers-aimahye 81, negative so.
Mr. HENLEY said, if we wanted this index at all, we
wanted it in the shortest time possible that it could be
prepared and for this purpose the most competent per-
sons should be appointed to the work But upon this
| the House seemed to be divided. The committee
thought Mr. Young the most competent person, while
Mr. Brown was thought to be the most competent on
the early completion of the work, he would pro-
pose to employ both these gentlemen, allowing them four
dollars day tor the time necessary TO complete the
work. and nothing for whatever they may have done al
MIR j. w. HOUSTON opposed the resolution
Mr. ALEX. EVANS demanded the previous question
|
| IL, negative 6S.
Mr. HOWELL COBB then made Intellectual mo-
ton lay the resolution the table and the Questions
REQUIRED successfully the amendments reported, and
the adoption of the rescution which were sevefaly de-
cded in the airmativethe resolution being adopted by
yeas e7 nays So
| message was received from the President, announ-
cling that he had signed and approved the amendment TO
the act entitled san act for the reorganization OF the
General Land Office
i REFERENCE or THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
i On motion of Mr. c. B. SMITH, the House resolved
itself into Committee OF the Whole the state OF the
Union 5 @ raao he eha a1b t6s
Presidents message to various standing and select
mittees.
| Mr.. THOMPSON, of Indiana, addressed the commit
tee Among the reasons he SAID that influenced him to
take part in the discussion one was that he had for
the first time in his life found it necessary to define his
position. Some weeks ago. it stated in New York
paper that he had made speech of three or four hours
in favor of the subugaton OF all Mexco and, two
three days ago. ii stated in the "Unon, that he had
that some should be led into doubt by these state
ments 10 his actual positions he would give his views
| on these questions and before he was DONE he was
quite that he would be well understood and that he
would not be isrepresened any point connected with
the subject He would notice of the passages of
remarkable speech made afew days ago by the genemaa
from Maryland, who represents the city OF Baltimore,
| [Mr. McLAEE] II a remarkable speech, in many
respects, and would go far TO disseminate erroneous
views on the subjects which treats. did injustice to
the people of the United States, and manifest injustice TO
Gen. Taylor 1t gave incorrect history OF transactions
preceding the war; and was thus so framed as TO sub
serve the party purposes of the administration
/ The gentleman from Maryland had commenced his
speech with the remarkable assumption that the Presl-
dent had stated, message to Congress- in 1885, that
he had assigned to Gen Taylor the defence of the
try west to the Rio Grandc He Mr To- had examined all
the public documents and had found any in which
it stated that to Gen Taylor had been assigned the de-
fence OF the country west TO the Rio Grande There was
no such document-there no such political fact:
There message in 1915, which stated that General
Taylor had been placed in the country between the Rio
Gnde and the Nueces but that stated that he had
been sent to protect the country TO the Rio Gande The
Secretary OF War had written to Gen Taylor that his ul-
innate destination would be the Rio Grande. In the
pamphlet laid his table yesterday, he found still
greater mistake than that which he found in the speech
as reported in the 'Union."
| Mr.. McLANE They are the same.
! Mr. THOMPSON, In the pamphlet reads "wesl o.
the Rio Grande."
| Mr. McLANE explained that il a typographical
ferror Ii was written tonot Of He further referred
Mr. THOMPSON to Mr Bancrofts despatch, June Is,
1885, in which Gen. Taylor is told, 1.-The point of your
ultimate destination is the frontier of Texas,
where you will select and occupy. near the RIO
health of the troops and will be best adapted to repei
invasion, and to protect what IN the event OF annexaon
will be our western boundary"
| Mr.. Mel. then, in further explanations referred 10
the annual message to Congress in December, 1915,
when the President after saying to Congress that the u
rsdicon of the United States has been peacefully ex-
tended to the Rio del Nore. says further "Our army
Nueces andhe Del Norte, and to repe any inpason of
the 1erdn territory ,rh might be attempted by tie Mer-
| icdn forces"
l Mr.. THOMPSON But neither the one nor the other