The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-29

wish may not draw within the federal vortex powers
long considered the sacred property OF the States
Sir, should not have occupied o.much OF the time of
the Senate at this late hour, if it adnot been for what
conceived to be the importance of this BILL creating, it
does, a new department. II came backed BY the high
recommendation of the disng ushed Secretary of the
Treasury; it is obvious that will pass, and felt II
be due TO myself and the occasion to enter my protest
against it; for the day will come and perhaps is not far
distant, when its authors will be sought for.
REMARKS OF MR. MASON
Mr.. MASON moved to amend the bill by striking out
from the first section the words "created execn-
tive department OF the government OF the United States.
to be called the Department OF the INTERIOR the head of
which department shall be called the Secretary of the In
to be called an Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury"
4 insappost of this amendment he said said, when
had the honor OF addressing The Senate to-day, that this
bill would effect an important and vital change in the
ganzaion OF the federal government. 1t is urged by
senators who sit this side of the chamber, the
ground that has been recommended by the present Sec
rotary of the Treasury and that the for the
mendation was as stated by the honorable senator from
Mississippi that the Treasury Department was oyerbur.
weight was concerned to find gentlemen, standing ns
do on the great questions which divide parties the
country lending their counenance and votes TO such
Mr. FOOTE. Will the senator bear with me for a mo-
ment, while ask the distinguished senator from South
Carolina whether he himself did not support the recon-
me nlaon of Mr. Monroe for a similar measured
Mr CALHOUN. 1t so long since the termination of
Mr. Monroes administration that will not undertake to
assert from memory whether the measure then proposed
was similar to this; but will say this, that have never
been in favor OF such measure
Mr.. MASON. lfgenemen will lsok al this bill, they
will see that, in its first section, proposes the oganZa
ton OF separate department for the administration of the
affairs Of the federal government separate department..
noniine. its chief to form OF the cabinet is
called whose counsels to enter into the administra-
ton OF the federal government What the language of
This section There shall be created executive
department OF the government OF the United States to be
called the Department OF the lnterior'a new executive
department OF the government OF the United States to be
called the Department of the lnteror'he head of which
department shall be called the Secretary of the Interior
and shall be appointed" &c.
Now, what IS the meaning of this Why, the Secre
,ary OF s home be s ,h Or Of the In
ernment is 10 be member of the cabinet and his voice
is to have authority in the councils of the administration
OF the government, in the management of all its aars.
TO what end pray senators to answer, to what end
is all this machinery to be introduced but to remodel and
give new cast to the organization Of this federal gov
ernment? Sir, who can mistake III Who be
blind as not TO see and understand and feel what will be
the effect OF this new machinery beg honorable
ators who sit on this side of the chamber to remark tho
spectacle which is exhibited here Look at senators who
sit that sde unanimous in favor of this measure, rep
resentug the party now called the wing party the
federal party, and not dissenting vote
MIR. MANGUM. Not SO, sir.
Mr.. MASON. do not to say that every in
dvdual senator who sits there is of that school once
known as the old federal party am speaking of them
has been known from the earliest organization Of the gov
ernment., Doubtless there are among them those who
differ with them Well, sir, what do we find We find
every vote there ready and prompt to carry this plan into
effect. And what will be achieved by it' Why is
said it will relieve the Secretary of the Treasury from
of the burdens of his department Now. if this be
the only end pray senator's who sit here with me to
vote for the amendment which have offered. The
amendment have proposed is to give an assistant to the
Secretary OF the Treasury and to devove that assist
ant all the duties prescribed this bill those to be dis
charged by the Secretary of the Interior This will take
Of ses ases sd ssffH aSse b h
ment, or quocunque allo n0m,ne ga,det" II will afford
all the relief to the heads of existing departments effected
by the bill as it stands and take from it the only charac
ter of separate organization And, if the object be
ally, doubtless tits intended by gentlemen who advo
cate here TO take from the Secretary some Of the bur-
dens of the department, why not devolve them upon
subordinate officer instead OF creating new department.
Mr.. FOOTE Will the senator allow me to vindcate
myself The senator seems to suppose that some of
this side bound to obey the dication of others
would like TO know from the senator how long is since
he voted with the wing party'
Mr.. MASON can assure the senator from Missis-
sipp that never meant to intimate that gentlemen who
sit on this side have designed by their votes on this
ure identity themselves with senators on the other
side; and if have said anything that was calculated 70
make that impression, did myself wrong. But will
the inquiry which the senator has made. never
far know, have voted in the councils OF the oppo
site side.
Mr. FOOTE. Has not the senator been what is called
a conservatives
Mr.. MASON Very probably so called But can
assure the senator when was called conservative, my
conservatism was to preserve the States and their nst
tons from the usurpng tendencies of the federal govern
ment 1t not for enlaging the powers Of the federal
government
Mr.. FOOTE did not mean TO intimate that the SEN
ator was not one of the soundest of democrats.
Mr. MASON Mr. President, take little note of
mere Names out he has read the history of his country
to little purpose who does not know that there two
great parties in this country; those who would extend
the powers of the federal government, and those who
would conine them and when | use names 1t is only
for the purpose of distinguishing between parties
organized have offered this amendment sir, for the
purpose of enabling those who sit this side OF the
chamber and who entertain, and honestly entertain the
opinion that the Department OF the Treasury Overbur
dened-and that opinion may be correct-and that il is
necessary adopt to relieve the head of
forn to provide officer who perform them-an
assistant secretary; and have drawn the amendment in
such way to devove all the duties contemplated by
this bill to be assigned to the Home Department upon
such assistant secretary.
Sir what is the evil The evil u.s. that the department
broken do with the duties that are imposed upon it.
And what is the remedy Why, the remedy reaches far
beyond the disease. The remedy s 10 create de-
pament OF the government where 10 necessary, and
to devolve upon that department everything which be-
longs to interior relations, begin with the Patent
Office, taking in the Indian Department and the Land
Office, and to stop Heaven knows where Sir, in the
school in which have been reared, and which trust
shall ever relgously venerate, have Rad impressed
upon me distrus deep and settled dsrus OF every
which tends strengthen the arm OF FEDERAL
power. | would hold this government stlicty 10 the
powers clearly granted and restrain IT as far az pracuca
bic from interference with the people in their domestic
pursuits have been taught sir that the State govern1
mens are 10 administer in domestic relations; aDn
that the operations of the federal government were An
tended chiefly for the regulation and administration OF
our exterior and foreign relations And the esson> has