Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-12

on The whole object is TO call for copies OF papers now
file in the department. without calling the head of any
department the President himself for The OBJ
ect Of the resolution to place Mr.. Clements in proper
light before the public said by the President IN @
Of his letters, that he had friends TO reward and
es punish hs in his appointments honesty, capabily,
and faituness would be the tests which he should apply
Mr. Clements having been removed without specifications the
object Of the inquiry is that the public may see from esmo
mails file that he not removed on account OF any want
of integrity of capacity OF aihfulness IN the dis
charge Of his duties In relation to the Suggestion of my coli
league, that the resoGun be postponed few days, shall
make objection but hope will be taken up IL reason
able time and acted will that 1t may be passed
informally
The VICE PRESIDENT. If there is no objection, it
will be passed over.
II was accordingly passed over.
ExTINGUIsHMENT OF INDIAN TITLE.
The following resolution submitted by Mr. DousLAs the
3Ist ultmo considered and agreed to:
Resolved That Committee Indian Affairs be instruct:
inquire the expedency of making appropriations
for Of the Indian title that portion of tie
Territory Of Minnesota which lies Of the Mississippi
river also for the exnguishment of the Indian title u
that portion the Territory Of Oregon which lies
the Cascade mountains aud the Pacific and
also for the exngusment Of the Indian title that portion
of California which lies between the summit OF the Sierra
Nevada or California mountains and the and also for
the extingushmen the Indian title the valley of the
Great Salt Lake and also for the OF the In
d dian M @ a % sierra OK RoekH s
And that said committee be further instructed to inquire into
the expediency Of laying off and setting apart portion Of
the territory the United States Indian terri
tories thin which the emgrang Indians may be perma-
nenty located and protected.
DRAWBACK ON EXPECTATIONS.
The following resolutions submitted by Mr. PHEIPs the
4th instant, considered and agreed to
Resolved That the Committee on Commerce be instructed
inquire into the expedency of modifying the entitled
An allowing drawback upon foreign merchandise
Mexico and to the British North American provinces ad
joining the United States" approved Sd March, ls45, as to
allow the benefit of drawback upon goods exported the
British provinces by railroads.
GRANTS OF LAND TO THE STATES.
The following resolution, submitted by Mr.. BENTON on
the 4h instant, considered and agreed to
Resolved That the Secretary of the Interior be directed to
inform the Senate of the number Of public land grant,
ed different for objects Of internal improvement and
the Of public lands originally contained in such States
respectively and the number necessary to make the
grants to each State equal to the maximum quantity now
granted to the State which has received the greatest quantity
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.
The VICE PRESIDENT announced as next in order the
following resolution, which presented on the Sd instant
by Mr.. DICKINSON, as follows
Resolved That the General be requested to in
the Senate WHETHER by himself his he has
any time removed attempted to remove before the eX
praton of the for which he was commssinnea
appointment oa successor other and how,
deputy postmaster posmasters who held appointments
under The President of the United States, made by and with
the Senate under and pursuance OF the law
of Congress entitled An act TO change the organization OF
the Post Office Department and provide more efectuay
Tor the settlement of the accounts thereof approved I'd OF
july 1886 and if any such removal removals have been
made aemped that he specify the number the names of
that he inform the Senate whether in his that of
either of his assistants and which OF hem he has appointed
or claims authority appoint attempted appoint
persons to fiji the vacancies thus created them
letters of appointment commissions either and which of
and hei eor and that copy such letters OF
pontment and commission be furnished IN his power and
not substance thereof including names dates and sig
and further whether he has attempted and by what
means, enforce any such removal and if such power OF
have eieadpr
attempted he further inform the Senate under and by
virtue of what authority law the has been done or the
right claimed.
Mr. PHELPS am not prepared to say at this time that
shall for against this resolution bat think it in
wolves principles of importance as well as some constl
tutonal questions. should prefer therefore, that be
ed by Informally for the present. that time may be afforded for
Mr. DICKINSON. hope not Does the Senator de-
sire to oppose this inquiry
| Mr.. PHELPS. l oppose it if it is unconsttu-
tional IT. however, shall become satisfied 1t is proper,
certainly shall not.
! Mr.. DICKINSON. The resolution is merely an inquiry
of the Postmaster General whether he by bis own act by
that Of his agents. has appointed and Postmas
required by law be appointed and by the
President and the Senate and also whether ne has made
removals himself his agents, required by law to be made
by the Executive prepared to take issue with the Sc
nator from Vermont any other Senator who wishes to
sfe this kind Of inquiry If there any thing improper
unconstitutional in this matter il is certainly not I'm the terms
of the resolution but in the conduct referred to by IT.
wh before more on this sutect 10 give 10 ne Tost
master General ample opportunity to state whether these
things are true If they uef he has gore on
removing and appointing officers where he had no right to do
is fit that only this body but the American people
should know wish to give that officer the opportunity
of saying himself what the facts in regard to this mat
ter and this is what the resolution proposes hope there
FORE no opposition will be offered to it, but that 1t will be
suffered pass that the Senate have an opportunity
providing they through defective laws against such
occurrences in the future.
| Mr.. DAWSON. Do understand the Senator from New
York DcKISsoS avow here that the Postmaster Cen
era has been dischargng duties which by law required
be performed by the Executive And does he by these
seek ascertain whether the President negects his
duties and then call it resolution of inquiry 1t is
direct attack the Chief Executive Of the Government 1t
the duty of the President which reference had why
call him directly for information Why call on the
Postmaster General and ask him if he has his
sponsby discharged the duties Of the President whether
be usurped the Executive power not the reso-
luton as one which not calculated promote that harmony
and good feeling which should exist between the several de-
of the Government If in the opinion OF Senators
the President deserves their censure, let them attack him
directly and openly and not coverty and insdousy his
resolution look upon although it not and hope twas
intended, indirect attack upon the President
Mr. DICKINSON The resolution speaks for ITSELF and
its intention its face My legislative experience
the little have hadhas taught that il better to
send resolutions Of inquiry directly to the who are
supposed know something about the subject in regard to
which information is sought
When information is desired from the Postmaster General
therefore, better send directly him. rather than othe
President the Secretary of the Treasury In regard to
this matter the President is supposed to have acted at ALL
TO know any thing concerning It, The resolution
simply asks the Postmaster General whether he has done
certain and he has by what authority am glad to