Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-24


Bentop after the recognised and our army
the Ro GTande make (said Mr. g the correction from
my own sense OF what is due TO the distinguished Senator
whose opinions referred 70. and deem but just 10 him
that the correction should be public the remarks them
selves The Reporter also mistaken in saying that had
said the Mexican military posts the RIO Grnade.
referred to posts and military establishments the east
side Of the river, and bet,oeea il and the Nueces
do not complain (said Mr. g. at all Of the Reporter for
the distance while speaking from his DESK well
aware prevented his hearing distinctly what said
THE NATIONAL FINANCES.
The SPEAKER pro tenn announced as the BUSINESS first
in order the report OF the Committee Public Expenditures
and the report Of the minority of the committee the
annual report OF the Secretary OF the Treasury the finances
Mr. BEDlNGER being entitled to the floor, expressed the
regret with which he encroached the time and patience
Of the House by asking them hear which be deem
ed his duty make in support OF the report Of the minority
of the Committee on Public Expenditures which he had the
honor TO oer yesterday and In reply of the remarks
OF the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. SrRoHM) yesterday
The subject Of considerable interest," inasnuch
involved most abored attack upon the annual report f the
Secretary OF the Treasury, and attempted defence BY the
minority OF the committee Of that report The Committee
Public Expenditures il in positive violation Of their dniies
at least as he conceived by usupng jurisdiction Of powers
which did not properly belong il had been employed during
nearly the whole Of the last winter and great par 6 the
last spring he believed in investigating the annual report Of
the Secretary Of the Treasury, and in preparing elaborate
report setting forth divers which they said be
found therein He said that the committee had do this
rather BY usung the powers of other committees than by
attending to their own.
By reference to the rules of the House defining the duties
and powers Of the different committees II would be seen that
the Committee Public Expenditures in fact
nuy and he thought it had been considered until this
session. He certainly had known any thing Of its pro-
ceedigs until now would be by the duties conferred
upon the Committee of Ways and Means in 1902 that there
the Of all the powers and duties which had
given to the Committee Public Expenditures and, BY the
six committees appointed in March, 1876 all the duties Of
the Committee Public Expenditures positively super
seeded He referred this question of jurisdiction not be-
he meant to object to simply because when
the report OF the committee first handed to this House, be
compelled to inform the House that, although be
member Of that committee yet he had been entirely ignorant
of the action which they had designed to take in reference
the report OF the Secretary OF the Treasury
II very true and he had said it at the tine that the
first and only meeting Of the Committee Public Expendi-
lures which he had atendedor the that wien he
had been notified OF meeting, sometimes he could not find
the room he believed there had been any regular
assigned to the committee and other times he could
not find quorum, until he had become tired of the efr-he
said at the only meeting had had the odorune end
subcommittee was appointed, consisting Of the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, (Mr STRoHM the gentleman from Geor-
ga, (Mr JoSEs,) and himself and something was there said
about investigation of the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury Although he appointed that sub-cmmit
ee he did not hesitate confess here that he did know
single solitary step which that committee had take from
that time forth until their report adopted by the Cmit
tee on Public Expenditures. Now it might be said II was
his duty have found the committee and have attended
all their meetings. though might have required search
warrant to find their whereabouts and might be charged
him neglect of duty that he had attended par
culary every step taken by the subcommittee Of which
he member If he had done what was his duty he
must bear the blame Of it and he did here far
Tess that he owed the committee apology for MT having
asceraned what they doing, and participated perhaps
to certain degree in their action even though he had known
they ranscendng their duties and their powers He
owed them apology for this reason by ascertain
ing what the committee doing, he had without design
ing it inflicted upon them quite serious injury because
he could by possibility have ascertaned that this report
designed to be made by the committee; that they
go through investigation Of the whole subject the De-
parment that day after day Of the whole winter be
exhausted in searching in the Treasury Department and Re-
gsters Office If be had known all this, gentlemen said
he should have known though he did see how be could
he thought extremely probable be should informed the
Secretary Of the Treasury Of the premedaed attack because
against his creed to make attack upon any with
out first informing him and giving him fair opportunity to
defend himself
He should have informed the Secretary and this in
jury which his Mr 81 negligence hadnficted the
mee would have been avoided for the Secretary would have
saved them from the bunders into which they had heed
lessy fallen when they had prepared the report The secre
tay, far as he knew him, humane man, and he
unwilling believe that that officer would mscousy cruel
ly wilfully have suffered the committee 60 bunderng on
here forgetting OF the important documents which
had been printed and there conoundng the tables Of the
Register with matter for which the Secretary responsible
here taking the upceried statements Of the clerks and
charging The Secretary with having prepared them and max
ing bunde after blunder such had before been
mied by committee Of this House. He said in all proba
b the Secretary would have stopped these bunde for he
would have told the committee Of their first enor and then
they would not have pepetraed forty times Thus, he
said, be might the committee apology, because the
fact was that neither the Secretary the acting Secretary
bad known solitary word Of this investigation that
going They had not the slightest ntimaon Of the mon
labor Of this mountain until the crawed
their feet they had known nothing Of il.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. SrnoHM) had said
yesterday that be did DEEM the committee did
deem, Il their duty inform the Secretary Of what going
Il might possibly have been within the strict pale OF
their duty, might not have been positively obligatory upon
them but would generosity, would lbersliy, have
prompted those gentlemen withhold the blow until they had
warned the against whom il to be aimed The gen
emen had brought forward serious charge against the Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury charge Of negligence ncspa-
city they had charged him in their report with errors blum
ders neggences which, although their language
ieousycy much soyc they existed, would be sufficient
actually disqusy him forever from the Office the duties Of
which he discharged with such consummste and distinguished
ability Then, would II have seemed but bare justice 10
have informed him Of this impending blow which they med
ated Not only would II have been just but would have
been polite for be had said before the committee by their
hbersty would have saved, the Secretary but them
selves from these bunder about srtyfour IN
her, contained report Of hry-nine pages which they had
nov unfortunately published and bazoned the world and
which, their account he sorry they could not
take back.
Now, there bot ground which the committee
could Justify the fact that they did not notify the Secretary