Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1849-03-27
ACT ESTABLISHING EXECUTIVE DEPART

I ACT ESTABLISHING EXECUTIVE DEPART
MENr OF THE INTERIoR'-The following il
On abstract Of the bill! reported by Mr. Vim
TON. from the committee of ways and means
of the House Of Representatives on the 18th !,
and ordered to be engrossed by vote of Ill
to 76, establishing a new executive 'sDe-
par: ment of the INTERIOR 1t is based on
| the recommendation of the Secretary Of
| the Treasury's last annual report on the
State Of the financies, and, it is understood,
; was chiefly prepared by the Secretary him
self, at the request of the committee:
Section ] creates new Executive De-
partment of the government, to be called
the Department of the Interior; the head of
! which department shall be called the Secre-
tary of the Interior, who shall be appointed,
receive the same salary and hold his office
by the same tenure as the secretaries Of the
other Executive Departments.
| Sec. 9 directs that the Secretary of the
| Interior shall exercise and perform all the
acts i n regard to the Office of Commissioner
of Patents now exercised by the Secretary
of State, and the said Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall sign all acquisitions for the ad-
vance or payment Of money out the treas
ury on estimates or accounts, subject to the
same adiu stment or control now exercised
/ on similar estimates or accounts by the
First or Fifth Auditor and First Comptroll.
er of the Treasury.
Sec. enacts that the Secretary shall
perform all the duties in relation to the Gen j..
eral Land Office now discharged by the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury; and the said Secre.
tary of the Interior shall sign all requisi-
tons for the advance or payment of money
out Of the treasury, on estimates or accounts
approved or certified by the Commissioner
of the General Land Office.
I Sec. enacts that the supervisory power
now exercised by the Secretary of the
Treasury over the accounts ofthe marsha!s,
clerks and other officers Of the courts of the
United States, shall be exercised by the
Secretary of the Interior, who shall sign all
acquisitions for money GU. of the treasury in
relation thereto.
( Sec. 5 cnacts that the Secretary of the
Interior shall exercise the supervisory and
appellate powers now exercised by the Sec
rotary Of War, in relation to all the acts Of
the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs.
Sec. 6 cnacts that the Secretary of the
Interior shall exercise all the supervisory
aud appellate powers now exercised by the
Secretaries of War and Navy, relative to
the acts of the Commissioner Of Pensions.
Sec. enacts that the Secretary Of the
Interior shall exercise all the superv lsorv
and appellate powers now exercised by the
Secretary of State, in relation to all acts OF
marshas and others in taking and returning
the census Of the United States
Sec s cnacts that supervisory and appel
late powers now exercised by the Secreta-
ry of the Treasury over the lead and other
mines of the United States, and over the &C
counts of the agents thereof, shall be cxer-
ciscd by the Secretary Of the Interior.
Sec, 9 enacts that the supcrv isory and
appellate powers now exercised by the Pres
ident ofthc United States over the Commits
sioner of the Public Buildings, shall be ex-
ercscd by the Secretary of the Interior.
Sec. 10 gives the Secretary Of the Inter
or control over the Board Of Inspectors and
Warden of the Pen!tcHtiary of the District
Of Columbia.
Sec. ii authorizes The Secretary oC the
Interior to employ chief clerk at salary
of So 600. and authorizes the President t
transfer such clerks from the various depart
ments IS perform the duties devolving OF
the new department to that department.
Sec. II creates O new office attached tc
the treasury department, to be called the
commissions of customs. who shall perform
all the acts. and eHerc Use all the powers now
devolved by law on the first comptroller oil
. the treasury, relating to the receipts from
customs and the accounts of collec o"s AM
other officers of customs, or connected there
with, who shall receive the same salary a
the first auditor OF the treasury, and hold his
Office by the same tenure; the secretary o
the treasury to appoint cAet clerk for thi
new bureau, at Z SALARY offs! 800 and trans
. fer such clerks as may be necessary.
: Sec. ID enacts that an officer shall be ap
pointed to the treasury department, by TIT
secretary. to be called the assistant secreta
; ny Of the treasury, with q salary of $4,000
, who shall examine ali letters, contracts ant
> warrants, prepared for the signature of the
secretary, and who shall perform all such
other duties as may be devolved upon him
it also provides for the appointment of {
clerk, at q salary of $1,000, to assist the
said assistant secretary.
Sec. IA authorizes the transfer Of 4 mes
, senger from the Office ofthe first comptroll.
err, to the office Of the commissioner of Gus.
, toms, and such portion of the contingent
fund Of the comptroller as may be required
Also, that the secretary Of the treasury
transfer one of his messengers to the office
of the Secretary of the Interior, as also such
portion of the contingent fund as may be re-
CURED. .
Sec. Is provides that nothing in this &C,
shall be so construed as to effect or impair
any Of the powers conferred, or duties de
volved, on the Secretary of the Treasury, ir
relation 10 the transfer, safe keeping, or dis.
bursemeLt of public monies. ..ea.
MIR. wEBsTER's IDEA or A GREAT
MAN. N..
The following extracts is from Mr.. Web
? ster's remarks in Massachusetts Supreme
Court on presenting resolutions on the
recent death of Jeremiah Mason ~
"But-sir-politica eminerce and pro
fessional fame fade away and die with all
things earthly. Nothing of character is re.
ally permanent, but virtue and personal
worth. They remain. Whatever of excel
lence is wrought into the soul itself, belongs
to both worlds. Real goodness does no,
attach itself merely to this life it points tc
another world. Political or professional
fame cannot last forever, but conscience
void Of offence before God and man, is an