Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-08-31
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEpNEspAY, AUGUST %, 1850.

Mr.. sTANLY, from the select committee appointed on
the 9th May last, made the following report
The committee appointed May 6, 1850, to inquire and
report the House of Representatives what persons hold
ing Office under the last Administration clerks, IN any OF
the public Offices auditors heads Of bureaus Commissioner Of
Patents Assistant Posmasers General were corresPon-
dents Of newspapers for edited newspapers their
salaries and compensation for the and who parcu
lar the author of certain essays signed
and what Office he then held and also WHETHER during the
last for the Presidency OF the above named OH
absented themselves from their Offices and official duties
make speeches and public addresses against the election OF
Gen. Tayor ALSO whether the above named officers any
them during said called to subscribe or
pay money for eectoneerng fund against Gen. Taylor
whose this DONE beg leave to report in
part that discharge OF the duties imposed upon them by
order Of the House, they caused several witnesses 70 be
before them that among Others Thomas Richie, editor of
ary in this District summoned and appeared before the
committees that the said Richie and Sengsack refused to
questions put them by the committee touching
referred to the committee by the House.
Tho question was put to Thomas Richie State
mentioned in the resolution Of the House appointing this
committee and before which he answered as fol-
lows the correspondence Of the Union the committee
must excuse from answering do not conceive myself at
liberty betray the correspondents of my press &c
And this question also put to Thomas Ritche, viz:
WAS the author of the in the Union Of Sep
TENDER H. 1885, an office holder embraced in the resolution
Of the Heuse which question the said Ritche declined to
answer.
relation the referred to in the May
$780, said follows As to the officers named in the
ney for eleconeerng fund against General Taylor de-
cline unless also state what officers paid
for electoneerng fund in favor of General
Wheeupon the committee adopted the following resou-
tion viz:
Resolved That the refusal of Thomas Richie and c. p.
Sengstack to answer questions ropounded to them by the
committee be reported to the House, and its advice and order
asked therein.
Which report is made accordingly.
Mr.. STANLY did not know that the Clerk had read the
report with sufficient dsnctness enable the House to
~ 0ral CHI
statement The House that some months ago
this committee had been appointed under resolution he had
offered amendment to resolution offered by the gen.
tleman from Illinois, (Mr RIcHARDsoN.) The committee
had proceeded discharge the duties devoved he and
had summoned witnesses and taken good deal Of evidence
In the execution of their duty, they had summoned Thomas
Richie and c. p. Sengsack, who were the pillars of the
Democracy in the years 1874 and e4S and had propounded
to them certain questions which they refused to answer,
stated in the report The committee thought would be
improper to other witnesses who would probably
avail themselves Of this excuse and not reply to the inquiries
put to them without action the part OF the House,
Not having any authority proceed further, they reported
this to the House for advice.
Mr.. HIBBARD considered the whole investigation as
trivial and unworthy occupy the time Of the House. He
supposed that the House, the time authorized the APP
poinment Of the committee, thought that the members Of the
committee had talents that should be employed in something
and accordingly they gave them this duty perform. Mr.,
Richie had been called inform them who the
thors Of certain articles in his paper He had refused to give
them the information, that very properly as he thought
What could they have done if they had ascertaned the nd
viduas The question presented to the House was,
whether they would take any action upon this great and
portant matter The editor of the "Union declined to name
the writers Of certain communications for his paper The
ces contained nothing referring to the business egsa
ton the House Mr. Sengstack had been required say
what persons holding Office contributed money the election
Of General Cass. 1t their money, and what If they
did do it ; They had right to it as they desired He
moved TO lay the report on the table,
EVANS. of MARYLAND. desired the gentleman O with
report.
Mr.. HIBBARD declined.
Mr.. STANLY demanded the yeas and nays the motion
lay the table, which ordered, and being taken,
Yeas IS, nays los.
So the motion disagreed to.
Mr.. EVANS, Of Maryland then obtained the floor, and
was proceeding submit remarks upon the improperly
of Mr. HrBBARDs making his motion 10 Jay on the table,
when he yielded the floor to
Mr. MEADE who desired TO offer, in connection with this
subject, the following resolution:
RcSped That the liberty of the and freedom OF cis
cussion dem aud that editors public journals should not be
required by the any branch thereof to sur
render the of their correspondents for mere political
purposes.
After conversation between Messrs. MEADE, STANLY,
and EVANS
The SPEAKER stated that this resolution coul only be
entertained by uoanimous consent.
Objection mede
Mr.. EVANS then proceeded with his remarks, in the
course Of which he denounced the editor Of the Unon and
tnought that the House should nsst from the
witnesses to the questions propounded by the committee.
Mr.. FITCH then obtained the Aoor but gave way to-
Mr.. STANLY, who offered the following resolutions
esoucd That whereas the select committee Of this House.
acting y the authority Of this House under resolution Of the