The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
| COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION.
| The following named gentlemen were this morn.
ing announced AS constituting the select committee
ordered to be appointed yesterday in pursuance o
| the resolution of Mr.. SwEETzER, to "examine and
ascertain whether the Secretary of the Treasury
| has not used or appropriated large amour. O
money from the surplus fund, without authority o
| law" viz: Messrs. SwEErzER of Ohio, BUTLER o
| Pennsylvania, JOHNSON of Tennessee, MoRToN o.
| Virginia, and PECK of Vermont
| IOWA CONTESTED ELECTION.
Mr.. STRONG, from the Committee of Elections
! 10 whom was referred the memorial of DANIEL F.
MILLER, praying To be admitted to the seat occu-
| pied by WILLIAM THOMPSON, a representative from
the first congressional district of the State of Iowa
madca report thereon accompanied by the follow
| ing resolution:
| RESOLVED, That WILLIAM THoMpsos is entitled tc
the seat in this House which he now occupies as the
representative of the first congressional district
| Mr.. VAN DYKE reported the views of the mi
| nority of the committee.
| The reports were ordered to be printed, and the
further consideration OF them postponed until Wed
nesday, the Goth instant.
| THE CHARGE OF Mr.. swEETzER AGAINST THE SEC
RETARY OF THE TREASURY.
| Mr. CHANDLER moved TO reconsider the vote
| by which the following resolution of Mr.. SWEET
| Ter, adopted yesterday, was adopted, viz:
Resolved, That special committee of five mem
bers of this House be and the same are hereby ap-
pointed, with power TO examine and ascertain whe-
/
| appropriated a large amount Of money for the
| surplus fund without authority OF law, which had
accumulated to said fund, under the provisions OF
| the act of Congress of 1885, from appropriations
made for the Florida Indians and for other pur.
| poses under the various specific appropriations
| made by Congress since 1880. And that said com.
mittec have power to send for persons and papers.
| Mr.. CHANDLER said that the House was in such
state ofdisorder yesterday, when the resolution was
| passed. prevented members from ascertaining
what IL was. He was persuaded that gentlemen, on
reflection, would admit that il species of in
| decorum against themselves. He expressed the
hope that the House would Immediately reconsider
| the vote.
| Mr.. SwEETZER was understood to say that the
resolution was not discourtcous.
| MIR. CHANDLER. The resolution implied or
| charged thatthe Secretary has appropriated money
| from the surplus fund, without authority by law
lie stood not here the defender of that gentleman
| They who knew the Secretary, as he did, believe
that he is incapable OF such thing. And he ap-
pealcd to the good of the House. on both sides
to vote Tor reconsideration of the vote by which
the resolution was adopted.
| MIR. SWEETZER remarked that he had offered
| the resolution in good faith.
Mr.. CHANDLER did not wish to suppress in.
curry, but to have the phraseoogy of the resolution
| changed.
Mr.. MORSE desired to ask the gentleman
whether this charge was made ON his own respon.
/ sibility.
Mr.. swEETzERs reply was not heard by the
reporter.
Mr.. MORSE. Is the information before the
/ House
| Mr.. swEETZER replied, that the object of the
resolution was TO bring il before the House
MIR. MORSE observed that he, in vain, essayed
| 10 obtain the floor, when the gentleman from,
Illinois (Mr. RIcHARDsoN) offered his resolutions
10 inquire into the official conduct of the Secretary
Of the Interior. II was time for the House 10 nut
| the stamp Of reprobation on lending their car to
people outside OF this hail. in order 10 arraign die
ierent officers of this Government, and slandering
| gentlemen who have been honored with high Off.
| cisl station He would say 10 the gentleman from
| Illinois and 10 the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr
| SwEETzER,) that, If a single respectable member
| OF the body, II any member, will rise up and say
that he has reason 70 believe that any officer Of the
| Government has been guilty of dereliction OF
duty, he should have his vote 20 examine into tho
charge But, without his knowing, or having the
means Of knowing the character and standing OF
| those who first whisper i'm the ears Of members Of
this body, he wosld not give il countenance; and
| he was surprised TO see the House, more occs-
sions than one, lend itself 70 such proceedings.
| MIR. SWEETZER (Mr. MoRsE yielding the Aoor)
said that the Committee Of Ways and Means adj
dressed letter 10 the Secretary of the Treasury on
the subject, and lac would AJAX the chairman Of that
committee whether the Secretary has not, TO this
| time, remained silent
| Mr.. BAfLY stated, in response TO Mr.. SWEET
zER, that at the time the appropriation came before
the committee for S4O0,000 90 remove the Indians
| from Florida, a member Of the committee stated
that the Secretary OF the Treasury had been in the
| habit OF drawing from the surplus fund. The COM
| Dit'ee directed the member from Mississippi (Mr.
/ Department b.
| Ject On yesterday, when the resolution was in
troduced, he (Mr. * ascertaincd on inquiry, that
the inquiry had not been answered.
| MIR. MORSE resumed. With the appropriation
! Of the surplus fund he had nothing 20 do; but he
had something 10 say in defence ofthe character OF
this body. tie had uniformly voted against every
such committee since he had been a member OF this
body with the exception Of the 20 inquire into
the conduct of the Secretary Of War, who desired
an investigation into the truth of the rumors which
| appeared IN the newspapers. On more occasions
than one, gentlemen have risen, and said that they
have heard rumors and, without giving the names
OF persons for their authority, they ask for select
committees 10 examine into the Of Th officers
He would not lend himself TO such conduct; and 1,
| was matter OF surprise 10 him that gentlemen
have acted ON Information secret to Others and have
brought forward their resolutions against high Off.
GERS of the Government lie reprobated the author
izing OF jury Of inquest their habits and char.
scter. The very fact that this body, composed OF
! two hundred and thirty members pass such rcso.
lutons leaves a stain the fair fame Of those gen
temen. He hoped that the House would reconsider
the vote.
Mr.. ASHMUN returned his thanks 10 the gentle.
man on the opposite side for the manner in which
he had treated this question lie did not think that
this was the time for the House TO act on the whs-
pers oil persons unknown, who are attempting TO
destroy character. The gentleman from Ohio had
made usc OF the House 70 put before the country
charge against as honorable man as exists.
Mr.. sWEETZER stated that nc had received his
information from a source entitled 10 the utmost
confidence, he had no doubt az 70 that fact. The
names Of the persons whose authority the charge
has been made will be given at n proper time
MIR. MOORE. The gentleman says that he has
no doubt as 70. the truth OF the charges. DO un-
derstand him 10 say that the Secretary appropri
atcd the money TO bis own use?
Mr.. SWEE1ZER. No.
MIR. AsHMUN. The resolution of the gentleman
says FUSED" or appropriated" the money. Their,
are two distinct charges here.