The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-08
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER I, 1850.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 1850.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
After the reading of the journal,
MIR. ASHE desired to throw himself upon the indul-
gence of the House. aud 10 ask, special favor the
privilege Of recording his vote the negative the final
passage OF the Texan boundary bill He necessarily
but in his seat before his friend Mr. AvERETT who
stood next to him the list in alphabetical order, had
voted and as his opposition to the bill was well known
and his vote could not change the result IN way
the other, he hoped the House would yield its assent
But objection being made, leave was not granted
Mr.. BURT called for the regular order of business
EWING INVESTIGATION.
The SPEAKER announced the first business in order
to be the further consideration of the reports from the
Ewing nryTestgatng committee
continued hs remarks commenced yesterday He con-
tended that Mr.. VNToN bad lost opportunity to
another this investigation. referring to alleged crcum-
stances in his Mr. V's] conduct to prove the fact He
also arragned that gentleman once more for having been
the means Of placing in the hands OF side of the
sss S ee side and ps the
Mr. r. then went on to explain error in his remarks
OF the previous day. made by one OF the reporters So far
- the action Of Virginia concerned, this government
had recognised and become responsible Tor her doDgs
but not for those Of her citizens The State courts of
Virginia had decided that officers of the land
alohe entitled Communication pay On that ground
ne held DIT EwISc's payment OF the Barron claim to
these heavy claims paid without law paid to leading
H. vINToN win the gentleman name these
M. RICHARDSON. Yes, sir James Lyons, of Viz
ginia and Caleb B. Smith, OF Indiana
Here followed conversation between Messrs. Seldom
and RICHARDSON, not heard by the Re- orer.1
DIR X. (contlnung) charged that the corruption was
with the cour-noi with the attorneys. II the duty
best Of their ability. The gentleman from Indiana re.
nsnt He prac.sed bed 5 Mr. Ewing. and Mr.. + nigh,
have practised before Mr. Smith, one of the Mexican
claim commissioners Mr., +. leading and dis,n-
gushed lawyer, and if be thought proper could have
prsctsed before Smith. Now, this practice Of OF the
ofceIs OF the government practising before another
Mt yINTON declared that Mr. Smith had not prae-
tised before EWING, but before the Attorney General
whom Jurisdiction in the Chckasaw case had been sur
Nj. RICHARDSON tresaming) held that on examina-
prachsed before Ewing But he held the whole system
10 be wrong II the salary OF public ocer insult
hcient. he should resign, and then IL might be right to
prosecute claims against the governmeni--no while in
once. Mr.. X next asked Mr. VINTok show him the
clause in the constitution authorizing the appointment OF
Standing committee, by way OF answering the point IN
the minority report holding that The and re-
port having been made by sell rather than standing
committee, ii was unconstitutional Now, be held thai
there was appropriation by law out OF which this
claim could have been pad, he proceeded to sho
Could the Attorney General make appropriation, OF
himself change The constitution According to the read
ings OF his functions which Mr. V. insisted, (Mr r.
held) he could do great many strange things. The
gument OF the minority report was based on the Virginia
law Now he held 1t TO De the duty Of the officers the
treasury to look only to laws of Congress for their gov
eminent They bound only TO recognise such laws
Of Virginia as binding on them as the Congress had
adopted as their own Their whole Argument had been
based on the OF Virginia, while he maintained thar
the treasury officers should be bound wholly by the acts
Mi. ViNToN, having caused the resolution under
which the select committee bad acted and resolutions
reported from the committee TO be read from the Clerks
dcsk, cent up resolutions amendment TO those OF
the committee, which were read by the Clerk.
Mr.. VTNTON then addressed the House. in reply 10 Mr.
RlcHAspsos ! reply 70 M re- declaration OF yesiesr.
matter he proceeded TO show that his purpose only
to postpone action for fortnight His object was to in
sure action by the Honse the subject Mr. X came to
him day two before the report made, and said
that he was disposed to have the subject made special
order He tAir vIsTos) had informed him that il would
be found impossible get the House make it special
order and that not acted when accepted the whole
subject would be dead forever; and further, that he
had notified Mr. r. Of his intention 10 propose amend.
msnt TO his resolutions 10 relation to the charge OF MIR
r., that Mr.. Ewing had allowed these claims in order to
NJ RICHARDSON denied having said "buy up"
Mt vINTON. Who were these whigsl The
heaviest Of these claims due to DR. Gwin, leading
democrat. Il was paid to Corcoran Riggs, also demo
Gratis Mr.. Ewing of ST. Louis, was no relative of MIR
E. Of the Department of the Interior He, too demo
Mr.. swEErsER remarked tina. he had known MIR
Ssg Gs ssamn s wen. on g show is that The re-
cipents Of the Baronc claim payment persons with
out particular political bias
These questions involved principles Of great import.
ance-ques.ons bearing the power of the House The
three great branches Of the government independent
OF eecn Other This House also invested with the
power OF watching over and preserving the purity OF the
others
When there was NAL administration or corruption IN
either branch, this House had the power to arraign
them before the constitutional courtthe Senate Thus
could also institute inquiries into the administration oil
their duties by the other branches to
relative to amending altering changing the aw-not
of is own mouon to decide that either of the other
branches had done wrong, and TO punish them A
mere branch OF the legislative power could direct the
judiciary how il should administer the law much less
could il erect itself into court Of error Nor could un.
derske TO punish what might presume to declare OF.
fenees. committed by either branch OF the government
he argued to prove at some length.
Suppose was found that the Judge had acted corrupt
y and was tried and punished could Congress touch
the judgmentf He held not That was the province
OF court of error only The Supreme Court OF the
United Staes bad repeatedly decided that where executive
department oicers had erred in settling CLAIMS the rights
OF parties under such Judgments though the error
had bean made by the courts Of law. The House had