Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-04-26
:..=;-r,RsT coNGREss--lsT SESSION,
MONDAY, APRIL %, 1850.

VI. ben,eh " MAKE separate report each subec
|,njrfe Of thirteen " 'A"AS
' H CAV objected it on account OF the absence OF son
|sloIs ,o,li move that il be taken up for discus
@ H.. ,,.ou,On being taken up Mr. Benton at great ength
"a. .tj ,h, il was unparlianicn!ary To cohnine IN tht
H Iii In inconoruous measures tic gave ncucc uat
af y.' han when ;he war had begun in earnest, ne
al sort 10 every parliamentary mode oi resisting 'ht
o,;,,t,,u Of any other measure win Cailiothia
s.a,.- ollCdirg To Nj Borland with whom he was
sn kc terus had said thc' his, Mr. ns course, was
1.ys rrifng that he iir Borandl did not approve o.
,.;sty condemned t. NJ. Benton said the Sen
rsIsrins their personal relations, ought 10 conhnf
ark. 10 The sub)cc., and not airde to the person
: b Ind no relation with him. lie would contend tina
coGrse he had s'iown was peFec'l! pr.'ialaI,
NJ ~hen the report com" III, H. s"o1io "sS' ~ ~ W.
,,r.,tn, was e1haustea. ,,. -.
- ,ham He did not know that he had ever any persona
,an whatever with the Senator. he had never sough
L. MSS matter enreiy oi Indifference " iii'i'
Nr Benton briefly replied.
u, rlay spoke briefly il reply to Mr. Eanton.
a" .,,i,o the subject was laid ths taoo-And, after
Mi Executive session ;he Senate "a! adioa1neTer a TTTrs
". Sneaker rotb called the House 10 order.
N, Horse refused vote by yeas and nays OF W II
roa,e and "a in the negative, 10 suspend the rules II
| ,n resolution nstrucng the Committee on the Pos
@ and Post Roads introduce bill for the abolition
t, ranking pHfege ioi tue eoue'o'i VI ie a - po''
ISr,,o,roy INTO TINE OFFICIAL CONDUCT OF THE sEcRE
rARy OF THE INTERIOR.
NJ Richardson asked leav6 TO offer the following resoil
N which WAS read for information, VIZ
Resolved That select committee OF nine be appointed
M power 10 send for persons and papers, to inquire an'
s,a,, IA tho House whether Thomas Ewing, Secretary
4. Interior re.opened and paid 10 e. W. and W. ". Ewlnl M
u sganst The Treasury of the United States of 37 600
tho same had been adudicaed and rejected by the pro
.r the Government before the said Ewing was In
c,si inlo the said office OF the Interior; who were h'
sn.s and attorneys for said claim what clerk IN the once
M Department vi the Interior had interest IN SAID caini
kna how said interest il any, was acquired
Whether said Ewing reopened and paid interest to th'
nosnt Of SSl 600 the pension granted 10 Commodore
r,s Barron ior services rendered in the Virginia navy
ra. the revolutionary war, after the principal had beer
y pai and discharged; and if said interest was PAID, wa
.upt compound; who was the agent or attorney io
ka cam and the authority Of law for such payment, l
tay.
sson or persons on behalf of the Chckasaw Indians,
kS after tho had been adudicatsd and rejected b!
proper officer OF the Government before SAID Ewing wa
ueted into the office Of the INTERIOR who was the aEen
igsns attorney attorneys and who was the party
ta.s IN interest and whether either OF the said agents, al
nys or parties in interest," held at the time OF such pay
, ans office under this Government or now holds sucf
nee and, If 80, what office
Whether said Ewing usurped the power OF appointment
,hr Pension and General Land Office whether the SAINT
~ violation of law also whether any clerk OF said Ew
appointment reviews the opinions and decisions oi the
rssoner of Pensions hy order and under direction OF
a Ewing; and 80 the authority FOR such order ana d.
fatNn.
What persons in Office by appointment from said Ew-
correspondents for newspapers, their salaries and
sha, v:tcTs they edit or write for.
NJ Gentry said rha, he in favor OF some inquiry
.de objection ths introduction of the resolution
H. Richardson willing modify it, if there was any
lung Objectionable.
M Gently hosed that there would be opposition TO the
|H!eLacyoa of the resolution.
M Preston King wished TO know whether this was roso
alol .. petition day.
lae Speaker replied: Petition day.
NJ King. don't object.
1.-THE resolution should call for information. Thus amend
Ei Ne w)uii gcte Tor il with chserfulness.
'a'e bns no ooccon from any quarter the resolution
~. .a,roiuced.
NJ Geary immediately offered substitute for it, with Q
lev 10 aF.ye al the facts by different process Instead o
rc committee o nine he proposed TO call upon the Sec
y TIE Interior to furnish the House with the informa
On aud omitted from the inquiry the last clause as TO what
{tFsns In The Office correspond with newspapers. This
oLI De courteous towards the Secretary.
ih Speaker remarked that the substitute would not DC
VieF - an amendment unless entertained by the unan
rs consent OF the House. accepted by the gentleman
ION Illinois
Mr. Richardson said that he could not accept il in lien
p. lesJ.ulior
VI Meade observed, tha, it appeared him the
nc ssaatman rom Tennessee (Mr Gentry was the pro
ghe iie resolution of the gentleman from Illinois (lr
fh%n seemed 10 assume the guilt of the Secretary
ne ll.,sf
~ W. G'L:iy. That's the point.
w Nsa!s. Having called on the Secretary for the in
I,na'on; y ; l; can be referred TO committee
w Richardson did not knew whether the reports In rela
M Ewing were true not; We hear OF them ever!
y IL I'D not know whether this resolution violated an!
=. ~. COURTESY The official organ Of the President ant
s V,tlHe. had declared that he would not press the re
a N The shape that il was first presented The very
fharfh
s" are j,e not If he had assumed that the state
'hs resolution are true he should have proposed
course of action He should have asked the House
ml's'enla,lves 10 prefer articles of impeachment. l
Ion0ie inquire and ascertain that tho Secretary die
~ n. ne things charged no harm will ensue.
- uentty asked whether the remarks which the gentle
" 4st made did call for the course which lac (Sr
tV9Set The gentleman said that he made no charges
s "natese and he respectable or responsible ac
- The gentleman proposed the committee of inquiry oI
sonl ol rumor or surrnse, which had found its wa!
M Newspapers charging malfeasance, and the existence
e!nes which, if true, ought to invoke the power
as.a4p.nt
MAss. could result from his (Mr G.'s) course? Mr.
'.ls asked to report all the facts. He responds
a aen be competent for the House TO Judge whether tn
satisfactory not. He will state the law unde
"Nahs acted Ii guilty of nalfeasance-if any membs
tLeei'e that there is guilt committee OF investigation
- o ao'cd Until the gentleman from Illinois, or som
iei-- hinself to sustain the charges, the resolution
%Ii rot se adopted: and until this s done there is II
'iVusp owed IL W nhu w .'SSS
VI Tie Interior 10 pursue the course which ne MI
lie desired TO say TO the gentleman from II
VA he had tried introduce his (Mr G's resolution
elsntcnt proposition. He did not wish 10 be un
r. = mat he and his friends shrunk from an lnvestlga
Ne had no conversation with the Secretary OF the In
L =. e subject. II any thing should be elected 10 CIV
|a., nS 10 condemnation he would, with every otre
the Executive to rigid and strict responsibility
In ~ .sh-nan on his {ihe Whig) side Of the House woul
~ with him. The House should 50 shape their con
l,ne conpor with their rights and dignity Shall gen
Ai, essate Tor the public good come down iron
r,., osi'ion and make the rumors in newspapers tn
| - ydchen private and official character! He hope'
H., mouse would not descend to matters like this
ny ~ s.A proprieiy.
h.. ehaidson would tell the House and the gentleman
ne was greatly deceived the charges put forth il
n,0 VIII De supported by proof which no man car
ksnt,. aud deny. His information derived from re
on,sss gentlemen, an who if they are summoned before
Eee Will support il by testimony which is on record
|'1snd hrnsslf '' ai oppo'''' y 0' NH
k.s, I inquired of Mr.. Gentry whether the state
si ~ I Richardson did require the House to rshsy
a responsibility and whether all objections Uugh
40~ 10 bs withdrawn
was understood TO say that the matters referre
Md c,;' intricate questions Of law. The resolution "a
EN-. haiity when the decisions of the Secreterys pre-
l, ,,s DO may have been wrong
ay Iuson T. denied that the resolution assumed crmi
1s ,,d pioposed committee to inquire into parucuia
fony w. was Tor Mr.. Ewing TO show, if anything wa
aS y ne did ii. And he would tell gentle .ien here
sho hey meant 10 give this subject fair inquiry
Fsronp n 10 turn out 10 be that Mr.. Ewing did
hags. arc nalm , would resu but it, the contrary, 70