The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-02
ThIrtieth Congress Session.
The journal having been read

m, Of the rghts of naturazed citizens of the
limited States and to protect them IN he peacelul eAeI
;se and ENJOYMENT of their rights and privileges against
the acts and influence OF foreign governments ana the
diplomatic agents read twice, and referred 10 me Ioh
mil,ee on the Judiciary - on
and Post Roads, reported back without amendment, the
senate Dill for the relief of John Lormer Graham late
postmaster in the city of New York read and committed
MIR CRANSTON presented resolutions OF the eglsa-
nre Of the State Of Rhode island, in relation to the abo-
on of slavery the District OF Columbia and the re-
moya of the OF government within the limits OF one
Of the free States laid the table, and ordered 10 De
Mr. SIMS, from the Committee for the District OF Co
pmba asked thai said committee be discharged from The
further conside alton OF the petition OF Charles flelcher
and that il be laid upon the table: agreed to-
THE FINANCES.
| Mr. STROHM, from the Committee on Public Expen-
d,ues submitted report IN relation TO the annual re-
mart of the Secretary OF the Treasury upon The condition
Of the hnances which ne asked to have ald on the Ia
bIe and ordered to be printed.
Mr. BEDlNGER said this report came from commit
Tee which had heretofore in relation to the business OF
the House been considered almost nullity During
the last Congress he believed that the Committee on
Public Expenditures hardly held single sson but
now suddenly, it would SEEM II had assumed grade
Of the highest importance amongst the committees, and
thrust itself nio the way of reviewing the acts ana making
charges against the Secretary OF the Treasury. With
reference to the report offered, he SAID 1t was pre-
paed and adopted in the committee while the Secretary
had MOI, the slightest knowledge of what was going on
He asked the indulgence of delay in the order to
this committee 10 make counter-report 80 far as ne
was concerned though he had knowledge of his appoint
ment the subcommittee, and some notice OF lis meet
ing; vet for most OF the time, he did not know where
the committee tomee; and at other times, when he
would with them there would be quorum. He had
the least idea that such lengthy and elaborate re-
port preparing, till 1t suddenly sprung upon the
committee He asked therefore, the indulgence that the
report be recomnled
Mr. COBB of Georgia suggested that the motion should
be shaped to make the order print both reports to-
Mi BEDINGER assented
| Mr.. SIROHM deemed it due to the committee to state
that the minority has had ample time to make their own
report already. The gentleman from Virginia would not
deny that the minority has had the report Tor two full
weeks in their possession The report was fair and
candid exposition of what majority of the Committee on
Public Expenditures honestly believed to be com
nied the part of the Secretary of the Treasury With
respect to the assertion that the committee did not SIT
during the whole of last session. SO
Mr. BEDINGER said he had heard that such was the
Mr. STROHM 1t was a mistake. The committee
had their sessions, although there but little matter
referred to them, and, OF course, no large amount OF
business done.
Mr. COBB of Georgia desired to ask the gentleman
from Pennsylvania MIR. STRoHM] whether he had any
objections 10 offer against the printing of the minority re-
port of the committee, and sending 1t forth along with his
own eporta He would state that the printing would not
probably be delayed single hour by waiting eight
or ten days Tor the minority to prepare their report.
There were orders for printing, which would completely
occupy the printers for that length OF time at least
from Pennsylvania and the House. TO allow both the re-
ports to go before the country at the same time.
Mr.. STROHM still considered that the minority had
had already sufficient time to prepare their report
Nlr, HUDSON thought the motion very singular, to
order the printing OF document not now in existence.
twas very extraordinary and Objectionable, because the
reading OF the document the only test OF the necessl-
or proprIely OF printing. II the document were pre-
pared he would certainly vote TO print unless It contain
ed something very Objectionable. Ii such motion should
come from this side of the House, he yentured nothing
la thntt UnulI ha
the first man TO rise up against it. The report had been
noWtwo weeks in the hands of the minority.
Mr. BEDlNGER interposed to say, that the gentleman
from Pennsy vana Mr. STRoHMl did give the report now
made into his hand about two weeks ago. But ne
oughtit unequal to require OF the minority in this brief
PERIOD 10 go over the same nvestig atoms, Tor which the
majority had taken nearly all the winter
Mr.. ROCKWELL would ask the gentleman from Vir-
ghla lAlr. BEDNGER] whether the report had not been
his hand, and in the hand OF the gentleman from Mis-
sour, MIR. HALL, Tor more than two weeks
Mr. BEDlNGER. No, sir
Mr.. HUDSON resumed, and still insisted that there
mad been ample time for the minority to report. The
gentleman iron Virginia, being member of the commit
Zee, must have had the subject before his mind,
also all the wlner-certanly long as the majority OF
me committee have been considering it, and now to ask
lor ten days more, was very unreasonable request He
saw no necessity OF proongng the discussion; and he
would therefore, move the previous question: bu'.-
Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama and MIR. HALL, OF Mis-
souri, desiring still further 10 explain, the motion was
Mr HOUSTON, OF Alabama said He not aware
!e existence OF the report now under consideration
until This debate called his attention to it. Not being
member OF the Committee on Public Expenditures, he, OF
course, could not know anything of its Intentions.
upon looking al the report, however, very hastily he
found to be of the most extraordinary papers ever
presented TO this House He would ask to read It's con
mencement
~ The Committee Public Expenditures having had
uai confederation the letter of the Secretary OF The Treas
y' COMMUNICATING his annual report the state OF the
nniAees to Con with to ascertain whether the
en contained in that report are correct and whether
d statements could not be made in form less diicnlt
and more easily to be comprehended report" NC
mat committee had taken jurisdiction and charge of
ue report of the Secretary of the Treasury they had
sumed the duties OF the Committee of Ways and Means.
And why or how hal they done So Who had author
Yea them to take charge of that subject Certainly not
committee by resolution order OF this body If such
resolution exists, let ii be produced. He presumed
uCh could be found. He would read the rule of the
mouse prescribing the duties and marking the proper
jurisdiction of that committee:
s." shall be the duty the Committee on Public Ex-
enaues TO examine INTO the of the several pub c
departments, and particularly into laws making appro
puations of money aud to report whether the moneys
nave been discussed conomaby with Tch and also
@fepo from time to time such provisions and arrange
ens as may be TO add the economy of The
apartments and the accountability OF their oicers''
Now, there any branch of this report which cam,
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Public Nv
Fendlures marked out by this rule He did not com
plain, nor did any member his side of the House or
OF The minority of the committee, complain that the
mee had thought proper TO investigate the statements of
The Secretary OF the Treasury. He willing and de-
Nous TO have that investigation take place. All he
wanted was that justice and fairness should be observed
Had that been pursued! He would like to know
some member of the committee whether the Secretary
had been heard