The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-12

pernIcous measue-an opinion which he had expressed
oener before y was brought into being than he had since
He considered ls operation bad anserred just enough
to make mischief and left just enough to make confusion
lLaugherl Instead OF simplifying, il prodnced comp
cation He should be unwilling TO devove any further
business upon which could be thrown into other chan
nes and II the senator would move the Secretary Of
State, he would be grati6ed with it
should be satisfied myself. sir with the Secretary o
the Treasury or the Secretary OF State have choice
as the particular officer but believe that the duties
devoving upon the Attorney General less
san lsss w.ea are any q the heads
very well that he has much upon his hands as is
possible for any man, care not who he is properly to
perform 90 n1 care who hs man s 81 90 not wish !;
State duties which know viii be impossible for him 10
perform moye, therefore, to substitute the name OF the
i Attorney General.
Mr. DAYTON. We are now called upon to vote upon
motion TO strike out the Secretary OF the Interior and
to insert the Attorney General, in lieu Of the Census
4 Board, which the amendment first proposed
Now, the first objection that is made to retaining the
Secretary Of the nteriorand il seems to me the only
obiectionis that BY possibility the Department OF the
Interior may be abolished and therefore the Senate OF
the United States called upon TO vote upon the assup
ton that shall not continue in being an existing de-
partment OF the government and to vote IN the face OF
an existing law, upon the assumption that that law may
be repealed al some future tme although II has been
solemnly passed, by majority OF both houses oi Con-
sess Why, SIR think ~ we are 70 act IN In ms matter
nen are to remain they now as long as they do so
exist. And, surely, TO what department OF govern
men does this matter 90 properly belong as e THIS ps
be more appropriate TO this department than all that
ates to the business OF taking the census is the very
to This department. and which Is most in accordance with
the duties which it intended to devolve upon that
officer and upon that bureau submit, therefore, that,
in every aspect which this question be c0nsldered
we should retain this officer for this duty. have
personal preferences predictions but the law
ting this department. which hold in my hand, provides
that
Secretary relation all of marshas and
States sign all acquisitions the advance pay
men OF money Of the treasury estimates Of accounts
similar and by the Fifth Auditor
and irst Comptroller Of the Treasury"
Well now, sir, we have public law upon statute
book making it of the imperative duties OF this off,
attend to this very matter and carry into effect as
one Of the very objects for which you established this
department of the government You called upon
in the face Of such existing law. II seems to
me that, in every aspect in which il be considered,
the Secretary OF the Interior should be retained AS to
substituting the Census Board, il is organized depart
ment OF the government it is not body having any
sponsiby 10 itself nor any permanancy OF existence;
mere creature OF an emergency created Tor partcu-
lar purpose, and is already functts obieio.
Well, next, TO substituting the name OF the Attorney
General Why, we were TO look over the whole range
OF duties connected with the several departments OF the
government il would be hardly possible to find anything
which would not be congruous to the duties OF the
Attorney General than TO attend 10 these statistics, TO
these blanks and this printing The Attorney General
accepts his Office upon the assumption at least that he
should be charged only with those functions with which
that officer has been charged heretofore. submit that
The duties are most appropriate 70 the Department. o. me
should be retained
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts,. Mr.. President, my
in making the suggestion the honorable senator
from New York [Mr. DIcKISsosl was this: The Senate
have had this bill under consideration for several days
they have made various amendments to il is greatly i'm
proved and is my impression that they have made
pretty good bill of II. want to bring this matter TO
close to-day and there little time enough do il in
am certain that the amendment OF the senator from
Georgia be got into shape and got through the
Senate in season but this bill, as il is, can,
think be matured and passed. and this bill being ma
tured, II it is the sense OF the Senate to change
the direction Of the business, so as 10 substitute the
OF other officer for that oil the Secretary OF the
Interior, desire that il should be done now | shall
not vote to do so, for the reason that this an organ
lied department OF the government Various dutes from
other departments OF the government have been trans
ferred IT, and, among others, these duties relating 10
the taking OF the census specifically Now, SIR, It is
manifest that the papers and documents belonging 10 this
business many OF them, must be in the possession OF this
department There must be there also, clerks competent
10 this some VINO nave had ex-
perience in that very OF business; and seems 10
that senators could hardly accomplish the OBJECT they
have in view WELL by transferring these duties 10 any
other quarter whatsoever And sir, IN regard 10
the officer himself; he is gentleman who has long
served in this body, and has been long and iayoraby
known to the country. Whether be Is personally not
acceptable 10 genemen do not know; but there have
been no personal objections to him stated, either
CARDS his competency or his fidelity. | have doubt
that the business would be best conded 10 this depart
ment which was especially intended its creation by
Congress to have charge o and that greater despatch
and accuracy would be introduced into every branch OF
the business BY sending II there, than BY throwing
upon any other department or individual
Mr.. BUTLER. must be permitted TO say word. |
stand almost alone among my friends around me IN rela
lion to the question under discussion. find that
the important duties relating 10 the have been al
ready assigned by law 10 the Secretary oil the Interior,
and believe that he is IN the best condition discharge
them promptly and properly. But il is said that the de-
partment is useless and that there probability that il
may be abolished. Well, now obvate all difficulties
on that head by this simple process o reasoning II the
department is abolished and ITS duties transferred to
other bureaus Why then, these particular duties will be
transferred along with them see, therefore,
why there should be much anxiety on that subject or
such urgency keep this business out OF the department
al this time, when II is still in existence, and IN better
condition 70 do the business than any other department
Again. SIR il we intend 10 maintain the integrity OF the
different departments OF The government, should GER
tanly look at the congruity OF the kinds OF business
which assign 10 each department. Nothing could be
OF the Attorney General The taking of the rs
temporary and casual thing and see no propriety in
creating kind OF subordinate department IN the iorn OF
Census Board, especially when there Is department
expressly adapted 10 this species OF labor shall vote
alone as respects my friends around me- but must
tnue to vote against such change is proposed. II
cannot understand the anxiety that 10 be manifest
ed to take this matter away from the Department OF the
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question is on the
motion OF the senator from Alabama (Sr KfNG,l to
substitute the Attorney General for the Secretary Of the
Interior
Mr. KING The change proposed by me was accented