The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-10

ill, and that it not expected he!
scouid survive many hours He then stated thet
nature OF his disease, and the grounds Tor hopeE
(which had been entertained, but the illness hadI
AIKEN within short time an alarming ohangek
Her the worse Under the feelings caused by thsl
lmourniu intelligence, he was sure that the mem
bers OF the Senate were scarcely hted to contnueH
the consideration of the business before them, and,
las the other branch Of Congress had ADJOURNED he
moved the Senate adjourn.
And the motion was unanimously adopted. K
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. JOHNSON. of Arkansas, remarked that six /
weeks had elapsed since business on the Speaker ID
liable had been taken up. There were now on thek
liable message from the President, and bills fronH
3the Senate Of the highest Importance. He rose to
ask the unanimous consent Of the House TO disposeF
# them
Objection was made. (
THE CANAL.
| MIR. VENABLE, by unanimous consent, offered az
|resolutionthat the Committee for the District OF
columbia be Instructed TO inquire whether the pres
mt condition Of the canal does not affect the healthy
Iof the city; and if SO, to consider and recommend
h means 10 remedy the evil.
lie would simply remark that large quantity off
mud had been thrown out Of the canal and which,
being putrid, would seriously affect the health off
the city. lie trusted that something would be done!
Ito avert disease
The resolution then agreed to.
THE oALrHIN CLAIM.
The House proceeded to the regular order of bust
|ncssthe report of The select committee appointed
Ito investigate the connection and relation OF thet
Secretary of War to the claim OF the representatives,
Iof George Galphin.
The SPEAKER stated the question to be the mo /
ton of Mr. BURT TO reconsider the vote by which,
the House adopted the last resolution of the select
2conmittce, declaring that the act of Congress did
not authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to pay
Interest said claim, and that its payment was not
Sin conformity with law or ''precedent."
NJ RI A n z bad ,lcII
M Rr' BSRf ad tna, s the House
voted down the motion to lay the motion to recon
slider on the table, he would now withdraw the mo-
ton to reconsider.
Mr.. FEATHEgSTON renewed the motion, and|
demanded the previous question; which was sec i
6onded.
The question now REQUIRED ON the motion to re-
consider the vote by which the last resolution of theI
select committee was adopted, when
Mr. BRICK offered the following resolution,
wiz:
Resolved That SO much of the amendment sub
mittcd by the gentleman from Mississippi and all
other proposed amendments touching the conduct
of the Hon. George W. Crawford in reference toI
the claim of the representatives OF George Galphin|
be referred to a select committee Of -, with in
structons to prepare and report TO this House al
code Of official morality and proPr:ety, embracipgt
not only heads Of Departments, but members OIL
Congress, and providing that they shall not be en-
gagged in the prosecution OF claims against the|
Government in which they interested, or for|
attending to which they arc TO receive fees or com
pensation, either in Congress in any of the De-
partments Of the Government; and also embracing
any other officers, whose official conduct it may bel
deemed expedent TO regulate by law; and that the|
said committee further inquire and report whether
there any abuses in regard to the per diem orI
mileage or franking privilege OF members of Con-
gress, which require correction; provided that no
thing herein contained shall be construed to IMPLY
that in the opinion of this House. there is any thing
IN the evidence reported by the committee whichI
impugns the personal official integrity of said
Crawford in relation TO the settlement Of said claim
of the representatives OF George Galphin.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, said that the
number to constitute the committee not named
he proposed one member
The SPEAKER decided that the resolution wasI
not in order.
Mr.. WILMOT gave notice Of a substitute which,
he intended TO offer TO the resoution and the Clerk
was in the act of reading il, when
Mr. CLINGMAN said, it only in order byI
general consent, and he objected.
The SPEAKER remarked, that if objection isl
made TO the reading OF paper, the question must
be submitted TO the Hodse.
Mr.. CLINGMAN, concciving that the rule only
applied TO papers properly before the House, APP
pealed from the decision of the Chair
The question was taken, and the decision of theI
Chair was sustained,
The House. by vote, agreed that the rcsoulion)
should be read, and IL read, follows:
"Resoived, That this House condemns, as highly
censurable and improper, the conduct of Georg,
y
as agent, before one of the Departments of the,
Government the claim of the hcirs Of George Gal
phin, arising under the treaty of 1913 with the
Greek and Cherokee Indians, and in which said
Crawford was llrgely interested; and that the olor
TO shield himself from Just responsibility by the
adjudication of a conversation which he says he had
with the President adds 10 the indelicacy and i'm
proprety OF his conduct; that this House dssents|
from the opinion Of the Attorney General allowing
interest ON said claim, and that the payment
thereof was unauthorized by the act OF the 18th OF
August, lSss."
. The motion to reconsider the vote by which the
House yesterday adopted tho last resolution of the
select committee was still pending.
Mr.. TUCK moved to lay the motion on the table,
but the question was decided in the negative
yeas ~, nays III
u The vote by which the resolution was passed
was then rcconsidercd-yeas lis, nays 10.
Therefore the question REQUIRED ON its adoption.
Mr.. FEATHERSTON obtained the floor, for the
purpose of Offering an amendment, but gave way
Mr.. OLDS, Who moved TO postpone the further
= consideration Of the subject until Monday next.
This was decided in the negstvc-yeas 81, naysI
Mr.. FEATHERsToN remarked that, in moving
reconsideration Of the vote by which the last rcso
luton Of the committee was adopted, he did mott
propose TO enter into discussion of the question
lie was satisfied that the House tired OF il. His
object was to offer amendment, which he con-
sidcred german, and did not think should be OBJ
jected TO. IL embraced propositions on which the
TO say for HIMSELF that he considered il Just as nc
cessary that proposition should be adopted a.
the other, aud he would not vote for without
the other. lie wanted equal justice done TO all par
tics interested in the transaction. He sent 20 the
Clerks table bis amendment, which was read, AL
follows:
Add to the resolution Of the committee which il
ia these words.
Rs,olvsd, That tho act Of Congress did not au-
thorizc the Secretary Of the Treasury TO pay into
rest on said claim, and that it's payment was not|
in conformity with law" or precedent" the fol
low ing, viz;
And that the House does not approve the con.
duct Of the Secretary of War in continuing to bel
interested in the prosecution of when II bel
Examined, adjusted, and paid by Of the depart
uents Of the Government, he himself being at tho
came time at tie head Of another OF those depart
ncnts but the House considering that such con.
ncs ion and interest OF member of Cabinet With
claim pending and prosecuted before another dc
psrmont would be improper, dangerous az II
precedent, aud ought not 10 be sanctioned; and|
consequently tbis House al-o totally dssents fromI
the correctness of tho opinion which the said Craw
ford said the President of the United States OK
prc.scd TO him, thpt his 1.-THE said Graw ord) beinU