The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEEERRED DEBArE.
WEDNESDAY,, DECEMBER IS. 1850.
REMoyALs rRoM oTrIcE.

ton submitted December 2i lsi9 by Mr BRADBURY, IN
relation 10 removals from Office
Mr.. DAYTON moved thai II be laid npon the table, hut
Withdrew his motion al the request OF Mr. WHlTcomB,
who proceeded 70 make some remarks upon the subject
which withheld Tor revision ~
Mr.. MANGUM. think my prediction will be verl-
fed that shall occnpy two or three weeks Tune on this
the senator iIom Indiana has alluded, will say
word think, la the expression OF any opinion may
make this OCCASION am fully disnie!esed as any
gentleman upon this floor. The last administration
moi specially favorite with me, and am very sure
was not layorite with H.
Gen Lane is North CaTolinian by birth. believe,
and has many friends whom have the honor TO repre-
sent here, who sympahize ~ every thing that touches
him in the slightest degree He has been called the Ma
rion OF the Mexican and il he deserves that repula
lon as think ne does, and have no reason to doubt H.
il only reflects increased degree OF honor upon his
country. Now, in reference TO his removal from offce
according to my conception OF executive duty and execu-
i've sell respect, there was alternative left To the
President OF the United States except to remove him.
you were The President OF the United States, ii the
President OF the United States, II understand the case
neither OF very snre would hesitate 10 turn out
from office highly reprehensble an individual as un-
dersand Gen. Lane to have been II VIII be remembered
lbat as far back the hattie of Buena VISTA there were
complaints made of OF the troops IN the field. IL
seems to have been understood inferred that General
TAYLOR co. operated with those who expressed opinion
detrimental the reputation OF of those troops
NV recollection OF this maiier have not the papers be-
fore me- but will stand corrected by those who better
informed OF the whole transactions, that after the ap
which position all his qualifications might have been am.
ply SUFFICIENT have no reason 10 question that matter
he made publications in an emmett degree viuperative
OF the late President My general recollection that
they to the extent OF mpeachng his character
gentemanhat they impeached The reputation of General
Taylor private gentleman. Sir, suppose that ii any
living or dead in this country was above all impu
tahon upon his personal honor. affecting his veraciy
that character Gen. Taylor who stood perhaps as
high any IN this country, not excepting the
Father OF his Country" Ii that impeachment oil his
character was made il was such an infc,io upon his
personal honor that II he had retained him IN respon.
she office, he have lost the respect Of many of
his best friends in the country, 10 great extent.
As to this matter OF report, know nothing about it,
As Gen. Lanes merits, am proud TO think they
high. would not move pebble from the foundation
upon which he stands 10 weaken his position be.
fore the republic But of thar peculiar temperament,
though they may distinguish tnemse, es in way in
The field o battle may indulge IN remarks that are highly
r,Jehensble, that in their cooler moments they would
stand ready TO condemn. Gen Lame went the extent
OF impeaching the honor oil Gen. Taylor private
gentleman upon the score OF hs veraciy the Presi
Dent owed TO himself TO his ends, 10 his poslton and
proper degree OF selfIespect to dispense with any Off
Ger whomsoevef who may have thus reflected upon bm
repeat again, and do il with great pleasure that, in all
my e in the berest contest OF political partyand
man, perhaps was assaulted with more herceness than
Gen Taylor and his cabinet-l have met the
yet who ever uttered even an insnuaton which was
calculated to affect the personal honor OF that lamented
parsonage. Sir, his character genteman-as pri-
gentemanis national property, and is the crown
ing glory Of his brilliant and useful iie; and man who
would assa il do think ought be retained in the
general government That is all have to say upon the
matter al present ..'s.a.
Mr.. CASS. When this matter before the Senate
few days ago, the honorable senator from Ohio said
that asked him il Colonel Weller would have been re-
moved II he had been whig. He answered that he
would wish now to read the law, and show that he
would not have been removed ii be were whg. A
memorial has been given to me by the honorable Senator
from California, from which appears that Col Weller
left the United States on the I'd OF March, LETT Panama
the 7th, removed on the 26lh OF June, and
rived al his station on the 9Th OF July
Mr.. GWlN. He arrived on the LIST OF June, bat the
commission was not organized until the 9th OF July
Mr. CASS. Here Is the law:
Every officer or agent Of the United States who sa re-
cciye public money which he n not authorized to retain
salary pay, or eoument shall render his accounts
ter yearly the proper accounting officers OF the treasury
with the vouchers 70 the and prompt
dement, theteo within three onhs AT eas, aIer the exp
ration OF each successive qusrier II resident within the
United Sates and within sx monhs IL resident Ia
egn country Pocidtd, That nobing herein contained
shall be cosrued to restrain the Secretaries Of any of The
department.. from requiring such returns from any officer
sgent subject 10 the control of such Sscrsac the
public interest may require"
So that according to the very terms OF the law on this
subject. Col Weller only 10 make quarterly reports
and then not until the end OF the next quarter This gen.
eman then, was not in Office the SIX months which the
law gave him TO make his report before be was removed
He was removed before he was actually sice for six
months Hence the senator was entirely wrong IN say
ing that he would have been removed il he were whg
No chance allowed him render his accounts and
be was removed because he bad not rendered them.
Mr.. GWlN. Mr.. President, was not in my seat in
NE Senate on Thursday last when the removal Of COL
discussed by the senator from Iowa Mr. DoDoEl and
the senator from Ohio, Mr., EwfSe1 On being informed
that The senator from Ohio had given the for the
removal, asked him 10 repeat them, that might know
be exact grounds taken by that senator Justify the act
lbe senator made brief statement, 10 which briefly
replied Tberc were some issues OF fact between us,
arising on my part from being entirely unprepared for
such discussion and doubt the cause operated
With the senator from Ohie ! conceive il TO be due TO
~. Weller TO give more complete refutation to the
charges brought against him, and have accordingly
looked into the documents TO which The senator referred
Us, and the result Of my examination will lay be-
lore the Senate. In the rst place, find from the pub
nshed debates that the statement of the senator from
Ohio. Mr.. EwIso,l In tepy TO the senator from Iowa.
lMr DoDcE s much more injurious the character oil
Vol Weller than what be said answer 10 my inquiry
lie is reported in The National lniegencer to have said
- iollows;
As to Col. Weller, there difficulty ih respect TO
am and the excnon Of hs duty There an sppro.
whole sum was expended and In addition to that FAR
eoud be ascerained, twenty twenty-five thousand
uosswerc drawn tor and work done by him
hsn simply FIX tbciniis point the Pacific that
~ measure marine leagues south Of the bay San
ego, eIcc rough monument there and lind the point
o Junction Of the Ga and the Colorado. The services per
omed bore JUST relation 10 expenditure la addi-
on % ha there Were heavy complaints against him IRON
snd wsnt Of attention his duty Az these things, and
more appear iron, the papers accompanying the reports
presented 70 the Senate, and gentlemen, m they please
@i can read and understand them. Le
y nave said thus much, however, not because wish
% 20 Into particulars for do teel disposed do that
m general challenge lwsnt to deal with MS char.
ctet bat because the Of Col Weller was distinctly
sno specifically put, could remain silent without
seeming 10 admit what wSs 70 poinrediy alleged" t
Although the senator Gays that he to deal with