The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-23

government. The State, Treasury, War and Navy De-
parmenis, organized with that view.
But. sir. who have watched the course OF the
government to any purpose have failed TO see that
policy has gradually grown up al time Strengthening
al another time decaying whose object was. as far as
possible 10 bring within the power OF the general govern
ment the management OF the interior and lis industrial
pursuits, alluded by the honorable senator who has
just taken his seat These industrial pursuits OF our Peo
pie has been sought to bring within the vortex OF fed
eral action
What is ii proposed TO do by this bil' Because IT
seemed necessary from the nature OF our State relations
OF Slate governments of people with their fed
Grated governments. that matters of domestic inte
should be managed by the federal government, It is
proposed TO take advantage Of that and to organize
separate department to include all those powers and TO
absorb hereafter much power those who hold the
rens OF government shall III TO place in their hands
The Patent Oaiee, the whole subject connected with
patents by the constitution, Is vested IN The federal
government. What is II but mere subordinate al.
fair, though matter of interest That is connected
It'll this branch OF the service II has less reference TO the
great powers OF the government which be managed
for The benefit OF the whole people but IT could not well
be managed by the States and vested in the general
government II IS z purely subordinate matter. men
there is the Indian Department. comprising our relations
with the Indians which were necessarily vested in the
federal government What does that amount 10 These
Indian tribes decreasing in numbers every day; and
they driven fu,her and further TO The west, until,
apprehend they will be driven to the very verge OF the
Pacific. How do relations with them stand in com
which carved out OF the original power OF managing
our foreign relations' They purely subordinate
purely subordinate Then the public lands must be left
to the control OF the general government That, too IS
purely subordinate department, entirely 1t Is indeed
OF revenue and at time was source OF large
revenue. But IL was still subordinate.
Now, Mr.. President, these three subordinate depart
have been heretofore assigned to their appropriate
stations The Patent Oihce has been under The super
vision OF the State Department. the Indian Bureau under
the supervision OF the War Department. and the Land
Office, under the supervision OF the Treasury Depart
ment But now 1t Is said that these three subordinate
bureaus devove much labor upon the heads OF those
departments that they cannot properly attend TO their du
ties; and therefore you must constitute out OF these
separate department. to en,erno the organization OF the
government, with view to provide Tor this difficulty
Why, SIR If any OF these departments overwors ed-
they find impossible perform all the labor devoIved
upon them what will be easer-uRiess there be de-
sign to create new department. for the purpose OF IN
creasng the federal patronage-what Will be easier than
10 give each OF these bureaus assistant, with power OF
appeal That is all that is wanted 10 obvlate the diff
Guilty II cannot be expected or supposed that the Sec
rotary should into the details of The individual cases
he can do no than settle principles Ii assist
given in the Land Office, Patent Ohce, and Indian
De- arment he may relieve the heads OF the departments
individuals equal justice. We all know very well that
in the general arrangement of these bureaus, the
heads OF the Patent Office Land Office, and the De-
par.nent OF Indian Affairs, must necessarily be men OF
superior Intelligence, gentlemen OF integrity, and
with all the affairs OF the business which
they placed. The chances largely in favor OF
your finding In those bureaus Just capable OF at
tending 10 these duties, as in the heads of the departments
themselves There can be no question: that the object
is merely to provide OF doing the work, II be
better, far better DONE By keeping the Offices they
are-separale and certain independent, giving
assistant each, subject TO appeal to the heal Of the
bureau Why sir, The heads OF the departments not
only statesmen but politicians great many OF them and
necessarily They administer the government honest
ly, | have no doubt, and correctly, within The sphere
Of their regular duties Bat they do more. They
managing The great political machinery OF government
ont OF doors Their minds are to extent, engrossed
by matters OF public interest. and TO extent IN mat
tiers OF personal interest which utterly preclude the pos
rDfn fhp1n
sub els against any intervention in his maitor,
and especially at this junctare
1t is said that this is recommended by the Sec
cTetay OF the Navy \ es SIR; and It has been recon-
mendcd from the days OF Mr. Maii-on and Alexander
Hamilton That Is all very immaieral. The very fact
that il has never been adopted, although long recon-
ended and from such high shows the dlsirus
of the people in the scheme which prevented them from
pntlng into Practice What distrus' Il is the distus
OF the American people of the safety OF giving such
State capacity to THIS federal power WAY. what do
witness here Every senator viii speak Tor himself
upon The subject. There in aqueson before either
House OF Congress to create department TO
shadow, by the influence oil hs greaedera power, The
Interests OF the States Are 10 increase this central
power More especially are who belong TO the South
who have very little more interest in this country than 10
have the protection OF independence with the other
States, from whom great revenue is drawn, and to
whom very little OF il is reiurned-who pay everything
10 federal power, and receive nothing from Iiare al
tins day to give our SANCTION under whatever auspices II
may be presented, to this vital change in the federal gov
ernmenl and that upon an occasion when must have
the Executive. and giving tue department all increased
power within the States!
IL this thing is done, 1t is entering wedge. 1t SIM
ply asks for name at the outset 1t has few officers
connected with it, and is to relieve the other departments
OF duties which they unable to discharge The result
Will be TO absorb everything, and perhaps to obtain
power over these very industrial pursuits which the
honorable senator from Connecticut Mr. NILES has al
uded. understood him 10 be opposed 10 the passage oil
this bill. Who doubts that the Home Department will
be turnedpegvertei. II you willfron lis original de-
sign, to which shall be lagazed afterwards,
tent 10 manage all the internal relations oil the govern
ment? trust that those who stand In the ascenlency
this Senate and whose ascendeDcy has already been
hoItei in action upon OF The bills brought TO
from the other House. within few days. will stand firm
in this matter, and refuse 10 sanction this change
every which will tend strengthen the federal
power and increase its limits Senators have said around
me- and sand wisely that it is idle to expect go
back. You create fifty officers where YOU dispense
with You enlarge thousands OF salaries where you
diminish one We progress in those respects, bat we
go back.
And what the reason for this changei II there is
too much labor IN the departments take It from them.
hat ply steal necessity, what moral necessity there
that the State Department that any OF the departments
should have the supervision the Com of the
Patent Ollce Is there any! know OF none whatever.
There is necessity and propriety in giving the appi
cant for patents the right OF appeal but must you make
that appeal 10 the head of the department. IL
sary that the Patent Office should be subordinate TO the
departments, and that there should be the right appeal
but il ia not necessary that the appeal should be 10 the
head of the department SO with the Indian Bureau and
with the Land Office. There is propriety, and far
less necessity that you should lodge the appeal with the
heads of those great departments of the government
Sir, my honorable colleague, who has investigated
this bill TO some extent, as member of the Committee
a.,