The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-06
CONGRESSIONAL.



REMARKS OF MIR. HENLEY,
Or INDIANA,
In the House of Representatives, March "a, 1s47On the
subject of increasing the clerical force in the War and
Treasury Departments in consequence of the increased
business in those Offices, growing out OF the Mexican
The House being in Committee OF the Whole on the
Mr. HENLEY said II had not been his purpose to have
said single word this subjects he had supposed the
propreiy and the absolute necessity of increasing the
clerical force in the War and Treasury Departments in
proportion the great increase of business occasoned by
the war, manifestly obvious to every gentleman
astonshed the opposition TO this proposition which
had just shown itself the other (whig) side of the
House, and he could not account for il in any way but
attrbnung to them the motive suggested by the gentle
man from Alabama II mast. he said, be their object to
make little political capital out of it, Their course
proved it, and there could be other motive for their
present conduct The business of those Offices had been
greatly increased by the the arearages due to de-
ceased soldiers were standing unpaid for the want Of
clerks in the auditors office to examine the claims; while
their wives and children suffering for the very
cessres OF life, of the delay the part Of
the government to pay them that which is justly their
due.
In the Bounty Land Office applications are still pend
ing for warrants which filed four months ago by
our brave and meritorous soldiers who are anxious
them upon vacant land and thus exchange the character
OF the soldier for that OF the lle OF the SOIL 1t was the
boundea-he would say the sacred-duy of Congress
Immediately TO place sufficient amount of force in those
offices to dispose of this business promptly; yea,
promptly those soldiers had and repused the
enemy upon every battle field. from the Rio Grande to
the Mexican capital and yet the gentlemen upon the
other sde to his utter astonishmen were opposing the
measure,
MIR. ROCKWELL here interposed and said, he was
of the necessity of increasing the force in those
Offices and the Committee OF Claims, OF which he was
chairman. and to which the subject had been referred,
had directed him to report bill for that purpose; but he
had risen to say, that the Secretary Of the Treasury
had neglected to make any demand for this in
creased force in his department; and, although the
had aliad him aka for in
formation on this subject. they had never received
any answer from him He mr. RocKwEIL( was
belonged 10 cali for the amount Of force he needed and
then MIR X would grant it.
Mr. HENLEY resumed and said the explanation OF
the gentleman proved clearly what he had suspected and
charged beioethat il the design of the gentleman
to manufacture little political capital by the he
was now pursuing His design was to defeat the propo
stion and charge, reason for it, the delinquency of
the Secretary OF the Treasury The soldiers suffering
The whole country complaining, and would complain
tleman would turn around coolly and tell them. if Your
democratic Secretary had done his duty, your business
would have been done long ago. 1t was scheme well
designed to create dissatisfaction towards the democratic
party and knew better the effect it would have
than the gentleman who conrved it. He admitted that
IT this delay to render to the merorous soldier his due
was attributable to the delinquency OF the Secretary it
was ground of complaint against the democratic admins.
traton. But this (sad MI. HI deny, and the gentle
S for H. s
needed he has provided for it. How did he get his in
formation! How could he report bill, unless he knew
information does he want' He does know it, because
he says he is ready to report bill but still he tells US,
in the same BREATH he cannot vote for the increased
force now because he has not the necessary information
No. sir, (sad MIR. H,) this story will not do The pur-
pose OF the gentleman is obvious; it is to cast odium
the gentleman to do this; but of its proprety he would
submit to the candid Of all parties to decide. He
did not deny the right OF those who chose to do to
make capital out Of the wants of the suffering soldier
would he stop to characterize such conduct he felt
y deserved-he would leave that to the judgment of the
people. Mr.. H. knew that the opposition were at this
ne exceedingly hard pressed for little ready change in
the way of political capital to pay their current expenses
and keep the party in countenance but he did not expect
those whose lives had been lost peed in defence OF
the national honor But the necessity of the case, he
supposed must be considered apology for the atrocty
But, since elimination the order OF the day with
the other side, he believed he had right go further,
and hur back them this charge of neglect OF duty by
Mr.. Walker. and charge upon the wing committee, Of
which he [Mr. RocKwELL] was chairman, and to whom
this subject had long since been referred that they had
purposey kept back this bill for the increase of clerks
with the express design OF creating delay and causing
dissatisfaction among the people. He did not make the
charge, but certainly needed explanation Three months
OF the session had passed away and the gentleman who
has, twohids of that time, had the subject before him.
has not yet reported; nor does any know when he
will report, if heis permitted TO take his own time. He
(Mr H) thought there was good reason to suspect that
gentleman of the guilt he had charged upon the Secretary
with the addition OF design on his part to accomplish
parry ODleCt
Mr. VINTON sent to the Clerks desk, and requested
to have read letters from the Treasury Department. from
the heads of lis various bureaus, estimating the add
tonal number of clerks required in those Offices.
Mr. HENLEY again addressed the Chair, and said he
had never believed there was any neglect of duty upon
the part of the Secretary of the Treasury and the letters
just read fully acquitted him of all blame in the matter, and
showed that all the information sought had been prompt
y furnished He was gratfed at this result He knew
with what erocity Mr.. Walker had been hunted and
sailed by the oppostion and he glad that in this
instance they had found themselves upon false
They would have guess again, before they would be
able, successfully, to assai this able and efficient officer
He hoped that in subsequent efforts, they might be
successful as they have been in this.
NATIONAL WASHINGTON MONUMENT.