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

| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SELECT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION.
| The following named gentlemen were this morn
ing announced constituting the select committee
ordered TO be appointed yesterday in pursuance OF
| the resolution of Mr.. SwEETzER, to "examinc and
| ascertain whether the Secretary of the Treasury
| has not used or appropriated large amoun. o
money from the surplus fund, without authority o
| law )" viz Messrs SwEErzER of Ohio, BUTLER OF
Pennsylvania, JOHNSON of Tennessee, MoRToN OF
Virginia, and PECK of Vermont.
IOWA CONTESTED ELECTION.
| Mr.. STRONG, from the Committee of Elections
| 10 whom referred the memorial of DANIEL +.
MILLER, raying to be admitted to the seat occu-
| pied by WILLIAM THOMPSON, a representative from
the first congressional district Of the State of Iowa
made report thereon, accompanied by the follow
ing resolution
Resolved, That WILLIAM THOMPSON is entitled Ia
the seat in this House which he occupies as the
representative Of the first congressional district.
MIR. 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 We'd
ncsday, the 10th instant.
THE CHARGE OF Mr.. swEETzER AGAINST THE SEC
RrTARY OF THE TREASURY.
MIR. CHANDLER moved To reconsider the vote
by which the following resolution of Mr. SWEET
zER, adopted yesterday, was adopted, viz:
Resolved, That a special committee of five mem :
beers OF this House be and the same hereby ap-
pointed, with power to examine and ascertain whe-
her the Secretary of the Treasury has not used or
appropriated 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 1895, from appropriations
made for the Florida Indians, and for other pur
poses under the various specific appropriations
made by Congress since 1890. And that said com :
mittee have power to send for persons and papers.
Mr.. CHANDLER said that the House was in such
state ofdisorder yesterday when the resolution as
passed, prevented members from ascertaning
what il was. He was persuaded that gentlemen, on
rallaf slFtaaf
decorum against themselves. He expressed the
hope that the House would Immediately reconsider
the vote.
MIR. SWEETZER was understood 10 say that the
resolution was not dscourtcous.
MIR. CHANDLER. The resolution implied, or
charged thatthe Secretary has appropriated money
from the surplus fund, without authority by law.
lie stood not here as the defender of that gentleman
They who knew the Secretary, as lac did, believe
that he ID incapable OF such thing. And he ap-
peacd To the good sense of the House. ON both sidcs
TO vote for reconsideration of the vote by which
the resolution was adopted.
MIR. SWEETZER remarked that he had offered
the resolution in good faith.
MIR. CHANDLER did not wish to suppress in
curry but to have the phraseology Of the resolution
changed.
Mr.. MORSE desired to ask the gentleman
whether this charge was made ON his own respon-
sibty.
Mr.. swErrzER's reply was not heard by the
reporter.
House!
MIR. 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. RicHARDsos) 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 reprobaton on lending their car 10
people outside oil this hail. in order 20 arraiRn diff
ferent 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, II single respectable member
OF the body, II any member, will risc up and say
that he has reason TO believe that any officer Of the
Government has been guilty of a dereliction Of
duty he should have his vote 10 examine into the
charge. But, without his knowing, or having the
means Of knowing, the character and standing Of
those who first whisper In the ears Of members Of
this body, he wosld not give il countenance; and
he was surprised 70 see the House, more occs-
sons than one, lend itself TO such proceedings.
MIR. sWEETZER Mr.. MoRsE yielding the noor)
said that the Committee Of Ways and Means ad.
dressed letter 10 the Secretary 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.. BAfLf stated, in response 10 Mr.. SWEET
zER that at the time the appropriation came before
The committee for 100000 20 remove the Indians
from Florida, member Of the committee stated
that the Secretary OF the Treasury had been in the
habit Of drawing from the surplus fund. The com.
Inittee directed the member from Mississippi (Alr
THoNPsoS) 10 write to tho Department on The sub
jet, On yesterday, when the resolution was in.
troduced, he (Mr. b ascertaincd on inquiry that
the inquiry had not been answered.
Mr.. MORSE resumed. With the APPROXIMATION
Of the surplus fund he had nothing 70 do; but he
had something 10 say in defence ofthe character of
tins body. He had uniformly voted against every
such committee since he had been a member of thu
body, with the exception Of the 10 inquire into
the conduct Of the Secretary Of War, who desired
an investigation into the truth Of the rumors which
appeared IA the newspapers. On more occasions
than one, gentlemen have risen, and said that they
have heard rumors, and, without giving the names
oil persons Tor their authority, they ask for select
committees to examine into the acts Of high officers
lie would not lend himself 10 such conduct; and IL
was matter OF surprise 10 him that gentlemen
have acted ON information secret 10 Others and have
brought forward their resolutions against high off.
GERS of the Government lie rcprobated the author.
izing Of jury u inquest their habits and char.
acter. The very fact that this body, composed of
two hundred and thirty members, pass such rcso.
lutions, leaves stain the fair fame Of those gen
uemen He hoped that the House would reconsider
the vote.
Mr.. AsHMUN returned his thanks TO the gentle
man on the opposite side for the manner in which
nc had treated this question. re did not think that
this was the time for the House 20 act on the whis-
pers oil persons unknown, who arc attempting to
destroy character The gentleman from Ohio had
made use Of the House 10 put before the country
charge against ms honorable man AZ exists.
Mr.. SWEETZER stated that he had received his
information from a source entitled 90 the utmost
confidence. He bad no doubt 10 that fact The
names of the persons whose authority the charge
has been made will be given at propcr time
Mr.. MOORE. The gentleman SAYS that he has
no doubt as TO the truth Of the chargce. DO I'M
dorstand him TO say that the Secretary sppropri-
stcd the money TO his use3
Mr.. SWEE1ZER. No.
Mr.. ASHMUN. The resolution of the gentleman
says fused" or appropriated" the money There
are two distinct charges here.