The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-23

while receiving nav from the Government; or whc-
ther any officers oil the Government were engaged
as political writers heads vi political clubs for the
i purpose ofinhuencing the elections.
And further, That said committee inquire into
any and all frauds generally committed by officers
OF the late administration.
Mr. RICHARDSON said, If the gentleman would
move this resolution after his (Mr r. s)was passed.
the opposition should not come from the Democratic
side Of the House.
The SPEAKER said the amendment was not in
order, it was not relevant to the resolution un-
der consideration.
Mr.. sTANLY. wish to offer an amendment.
Mr.. CARTER. / ask whether the gentleman
from Illinois can claim the floor, and give way,
| as he chooses, TO others.
The SPEAKER. member holding the hoor
| can only yield for explanation
| Mr. BAKER. That's all did
| The SPEAKER was understood TO say that
member could give way for another to offer an
Mr. CARTER understood that the gentleman
yielded the floor for all purposes.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman yielded the
floor for the amendment to be offered.
| Mr. EVANS appealed from the decision OF the
Chair, declaring his amendment to be out of order.
The SPEAKER again stated the grounds Of his
| decision.
! Mr.. EVANS called for the reading of the original
resolution, and had his own amendment read in
connection.
Mr. BURT, deeming the subject Of sufficient inn
portance, asked for the yeas and nays on the ques
tion Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the
| judgment of the House?
The yeas and nays ordered
After conversation between several members and
Mr.. EVANS withdrew his appeal from the deci-
| sion Of the Chair.
The SPEAKER said, that when member is ON
| the floor, and yields for another, 1t was only to
have an amendment read, and it could be enter
tanned only by unanimous consent.
| Mr. STANLY's proposed amendment was read, as
| follows:
ALSO, what persons holding Office under the last
administration as clerks in any of the public Of
fees, auditors, heads Of bureaus, commissioners of
patents or assistant postmasters general we're cor
| respondents OF newspapers, wrote for or edited
newspapers; their salaries and compensation for
| the same; and who, In particular, was the author
of certain party essays signed Bundlecund," and
what office he then held and also whether, during
the last canvass for the Presidency, any of the
above named officers absented themselves from
their offices and official duties to make speeches
and public addresses against the election OF Gene
raj Taylor. Also, whether the above named Off
| GERS, any of them, during said canvass, were
called upon or required to subscribe or pay money
for an electioneerng fund against General Taylor,
| and at whose instance this was DONE"
The amendment was received with cries of
Good" and laughter, on the part of some of the
members.
/ Mr.. DURHAM proposed TO amend by nquiring:
whether any members of this House have been
absent from their seats making stump speeches in
Connecticut preceding the late election in that State,
and what has been the effect Of those speeches3"
| This also gave occasion for laughter.
Mr. GENTRY said it was gross personality,
and ought not to be entertained BY the House.
When order restored,
Mr.. BAKER returned his profound acknowledge
ments for the appropriate and witty amendment of
the gentleman from Indiana; and he did this with the
more pleasure, because ii was never proved by any
of his friends that the gentleman ever did witty
a think before to-day. [Laughter.] He then re-
sumed his opposition TO the resolution, which, he
repeated, contained no charge on the authority of
a responsible man. If this mode OF proceeding was
to be encouraged, there was not gentleman in the
House but who might become subject to perpetual
annoyance from grievance, political, private, or
official He thought it proper to say that the Ew
ings mentioned in the resolution have connexion
with the Secretary of the Interior. He would offer
| the amendment OF the gentleman from North Caro-
lima, (Afr. SrANLy) If his colleague would give
the name of person, make a charge per Sc,
which presents even probable corruption, he would
| vote for the resolution.
The SPEAKER ruled the amendment out of or
der, because 1t referred to matter other and differ
| ent from that in the resolution of the gentleman
from Illinois, (Nir. RIoHARDsoN.)
Mr.. BAYLY said that it was the duty Of the
| House TO investigate the charges. II due to
the Secretary and to the character of the Govern
ment itself. He had known Mr. Ewing for long
time. His impression of the Secretary a private
gentleman was favorable His impression of
MIR. Ewing as public man was different. If he
(Mr. E. was innocent, as he (Mr b. thought he
| was, IL was the duty of the House to acquit him.
| Mr.. CONRAD. OF what can the committee
quit himi Does the gentleman say that it is crimi
nal TO allow claims disallowed by Mr.. Ewing's
predecessors Does he consider it dishonorablc for
one committee of the House 10 allow claims disal-
| lowed by previous committed
Mr.. BAYLY said that the criminality of the al
| lowance Of claim depended on circumstances.
Some Judges reverse the decisions Of their prede-
cessors; but unless there is a clear case Of
error. He did not say that the allowance Of claims
| by Mr.. Ewing was criminal. In one his de-
| cision right but il does not follow that in
others there should not be an investigation.
Mr.. CONRAD. What was the claim the deci-
| sion in relation TO which was right
1 Mr.. HAYIY did not acknowledoe the ri0ht of
| the gentleman to interrupt him. II he desired TO
know for his private information, and would come
| over, he would tell him.
Mr. GIDDINGS said il appeared 10 him that this
was an ordinary question. Il concerned AN expen.
diture Of public money. Within the past few years
the House had appointed committees for four Of the
Executive Departments. So far from regarding
| the charge az criminal, he regarded il common.
IL did not imply crime or moral turpitude. II that
was the case, he would show that former Sccre-
tary Of the Treasury took up and allowed claims Of
twelve or fifteen years standing; and, after thou
| sands had been drawn from the treasury, aban-
doned the error into which he had fallen. select
committee, II seemed TO him, was superhuous. The
subject should go 70 the Committee on the Public
Expenditures.
Mr.. RICHARDSON had no sort of objection that
the whole subject should go TO that committee, with
| power 10 send for persons and papers.
Mr.. GIDDINGs moved TO amend the resolution
| Of Mr.. RIcHARDsoS by striking out select commit
tee Of nine members, and inserting the Committee
Mr.. McCLERNAND contended that the objec-
tons interposcd were technical, from beginning to
end, and he insisted that there was sufficient
gzound for inquiry into the conduct Of the Score
tary.
Mr.. EVANS, Of Maryland, proposed that IL be
unanimously agreed that all the subjects which had
been presented should go together.
Mr.. RICHARDSON said he would make no bar
gains.
Mr.. BAYLY remarked that IL the gentleman
from Maryland would move a separate committee
on his resolution, the Democratic side would vote
for IL.
Mr. EVANS said that there was no necessity for
a separate committee.
Mr.. BAYLY observed that II all these subjects
60 10 one committee, they would not report during
this session.
Mr.. EVANS could not vote for the original rcso-
lutions; he wanted all the subjects to go together
The committee could well take up all as a part.
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi, supported the
resolution for n select committee. He was satisfied
that Mr.. Ewing had allowed rejected claims
Mr.. STEPHENS, Of Georgia, opposed the whole
proceeding. There was Committee Public
Expenditures; they could Investigate. He was