Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-13
HousE OF RErREsEsrArlyEs. Ju1r 2, 1850.

Mr.. SCHENCK said No one Mr.. Speaker, can regret
than do that any circumstances should have rendered
necessary, seemed to render necessary the investigation
in which engaged painful the best, and
not be otherwise than unpleasant every The
is bafore however, and have looked into with all the
consideration and judgment command and having
express, as representative here place. opinion upon
the question involved, will shrink from that duty No
party favo on the one hand party hostility the other
and have much of both most men, dare sayhut
such influence shall be permitted if help it, warp
my judgment, deter from what consider to be right
have prepared an amendment which presents my view
Of the case and which will adopt in the place Of
that which has been off red by the gentleman from Georgia.
(Mr TooMBs.) But before do so, will detain
the House very few minutes with remarks in expla
nation Not much will say for the amendment embodies
in its terms nearly all that necessary for understand
log of the reasons upon which it is founded
Mr. Speaker, what is the question really and properly be-
fore US What is it we should inquire about On what
subject or point is that called upon declare the
opinion and judgment of this House To hear the discus
sion which has been going would conclude that the
object was to ascertain whether the Gaphn claim og
nsly valid and good, whether when recognised and ad
med by Congress, and directed TO be paid the principal
should have been settled but the interest," the principal
and interest both Now, sir with due Difference the
raj gentlemen who have ably argued, upon the side
and the other, these points, be allowed to say that
think they have nothing do with the issue before
o at the BEST only collateral that ISSUE know that
your committee sir, instructed by the House inquire
these points, and that the debate has followed the
report that committee But has il not all been departure
from the proper inquiry Look the letter Of the Secretary
of War; who appealed to for this investigation. What
did he demand Let read his letter, upon which the
whole proceeding originated LIE; go back 10 that.
Mr. Crawford said s.. ...N
"My official connexon with the Government authorizes
in my judgment, to ask and have acceded me by the
House over which you presde prompt and full investsa
tion in such manner think proper OF my conduct
and relation to the claim OF the representatives OF George
Gaphn which claim has been adudicaed and paid at one OF
the departments OF the Government and is now attracting pub
lie attention. .@& ~.
An investigation into his conduct and relation to" the
Gaphin clam--that is all
The Secretary Of War, induced by the noorey that had
be gwen by the newspapers to this matter anu eang pro-
baby that some wrong would be done him by the reports
abroad the public prints asked OF this House an in
yestgaon order that the Hsuse might give an opinion
upon his conduct and relation to this claim lie asked no.
thing than this, was it. perhaps proper or appro-
pirate that he should have asked more The House responded
to the request by appointing committee not only for the
purpose indicated 10 the of the Secretary, bu,
pate the character of the claim ITSELF and the propey of
allowing IL as well determine the question to the ap
proprateness of paying the interest well the principal
Now it seems that when the House gave this form
the they enlarged and extended the issue that
was proper to made and to also, that when
gentlemen here following out the investigation direct
ed by the House, and discussing the merits of the claim
and the poprey of paying part Of it, principal ine-
rest they but doing the House has done that is they
unnecessarily extending the inquiry beyond that which
asked, and which it is appropriate to allow.
Sir, this is the light in which the whole subject strikes me;
and in saying feel that but going back 10 the object
from which departed originally from which the House
Departed and from which the committee therefore, were
constrained TO depart in entering upon this investigation
MY opinion that oil those that have been discussed
aside from the proper merits Of this question do not
deem them necessary in any point Of view II is altogether