Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-04-27
TuIRTY.rIRsT CoNGREss-is, Session.
WAsHlNGroN, April %, 1850.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Speaker announced the first business
10 be the motion heretofore made by Mr.
Conger 10 suspend the rules 10 offer resolu-
ton instrucing the Committee on Post offices
to report bill abolishing the frankng plivi-
lege, reducing the postage on half ounce lei
tiers 10 two cents when prepaid, and hVe
cents il not prepaid; and providing that
newspapers shall go free of postage wi'i'n
the county of publication, or within any uls-
tance of 80 miles, TO actual subscribers
The rules were not suspended-yeas w,
NAYS IA two-thirds vote being necessary
MIR. Richardson asked the unanimous con-
sent of the House 10 offer The following reso'
lulions
Resolved, That a select committee oil nlhe
be appointed with power TO send for persons
and papers, TO inquire and report 10 this House
whether Thomas Ewing, Secretary of the IN
terror, re-opened and paid to G. W. & W. G'
Ewing claim against the Treasury OF the
United States of ST. 900, after the same had
been adiudicaed and rejected by the proper
officer Of the Government, before said Ewing
was induc,ed into said office Of the Interior
who were agents and attorneys for said
claim; what clerk in the Office of said De-
nar,men, of the Interior had interest in said
claim and how said interest," if any, was ac-
guired.
I'd. Whether said Ewing re-opened and
paid interest 10 the amount OF S3l 600 on the
pension granted TO Commodore James Bar
.o.l,roI IN, thn VIRGINIA
navy during the Revolutionary War, after
the principal had been fully paid and dis
charged and, if said interest was paid, was
i, simple or compound who was the agent
or attorney for said claim and the authori-
ty for such claim if any?
Sd. Whether said Ewing re-opened and
paid claim 10 person or persons on pehal
of the Chickasaw Indians, of Sl0s,ooo, alter
the same has been adjudcated and rejected
by the proper officer of the Government, be-
fore said Ewing was inducted into the oi1ce
of the interior; who was the agent or agents.
attorney or attorneys, and who was the party
or parties ninterest and whether said agents
attorneys, or parties in interest, held, at the
time of such payment, any office under this
Government, or now holds such office; and,
if so, what office!
4th. Whether said Ewing usurped the
power Of appointment in the Pension and
General Land Office; whether the same was
in violation of law ; also, whether any clerk
Of said Ewng's appointment reviews the
opinions and decisions of the Commissioner
of Pension, by order and direction of said
Ewing and, if so, the authority for such
order and direction!
5,h. What persons in Office, by appoint
ment from said Ewing, are correspondents
for newspapers, their salaries, and what pa
pers they edit or write for!
Mr.. Gentry said he had no objection 10 the
inquiry, but he wished it so modified as to
call upon the Secretary to state the particulars
desired, and not 10 appoint a committee ioI
that purpose.
Morehead remarked that he would cheer
fully vote for the resolution us thus modified
Mr.. Gentry sent up his notifications TO The
resolutions, whicn were read, leaving out the
inquiry as TO what Clerks correspondence
for newspapers, and calling on the Secretary
of the Interior for the desired information.
The Speaker said Mr.. Gentry's resolution
could not be entertained, unless by the unani
NOUS consent of the House.
MIR. Richardson cannot accept the modi
ication.
Mr.. Meade thought the course OF Mr. Gen
try proper one, as Mr.. Richardson's resolu
tions assume the guilt of the Secretary
Mr.. Gentry--That is the point
Mr. Richardson said he did not know whe
ther the reports were true or not. lie coul
not see that the terms Of his resolutions vic
lated any courtesy. The official organ OF IN
Administration has declared that he will nc
press these resolutions again in their preser
shape. The very object Of the Committee
TO inquire whether the subjects menlione
be true or not If he had assumed the cor
tents true, he should have proposed ditte
ent action. He should have asked the floui
10 prefer articles of impeachment. If II
Secretary be not guilty, the inquiry will
no harm.