Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-21
CONGRESS.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1S-m continuation.
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.

senate consideration TO-
solution, originally proposed by Mr.. BRApBuRr:
Resolved That the President be requested to be
laid the charges which have been preferred
filed in any Of the Departments against individuals who
have been removed from Office since The 4h day Of March
last with specification of the cases. any, in which the Off
charged have had opportunity to be heard and
oil the number OF made under each Department
including subordnaes the and other branches
OF the public service.
For this resolution when under Consideration on the 18th
instant, Mr.. BRADBURr substituted amendment in these
words:
Tha the President be requested be laid before
the Senate list of all the officers of the Government who
and the OF the Senate who have been removed
from Office since the 4th day Of March, IS+9 denong such
list their and grades and the dates Of their
also of the number of removals OF other officers
der each Department. including subordnates in the
houses and other branches of public service"
To this Mr.. UNDERWOOD offered the following amendment
which is now the pending question:
And that the President be also requested furnish the
Senate with the number of removals which have taken place
during each Administration in every Department Of the Gov
eminent since the 4th OF March, 1895"
Mr.. WHITGOMB addressed the Senate a, some length
in defence Of Cen Lane, to whom aluson made when
this subject last under consideration His Speech which
sent for revision, has not yet reached US.
Mr.. MANGUM. Mr.. President, think il very probable
that the prediction which made to the length Of time this
resolution will occupy is the point Of being verified But
wish say word upon the matter which the Senator
from Indiana has referred and wish to be understood that
in any expression Of opinion may make upon this occasion
last Administration special favorite with Be-
Sides Gen Lane believe of North Carolina BIRTH and
has many friends in that State, whom have the honor
present this foo and who ympahze in every thing that
attached him. that affect him in the slightest de-
gree He has been called the Marion of the Mexican
he deserves that reputation, hope he does reflects
degree Of honor upon his native State In reference bis
removal from office, would say that, according my
sucon of Executive duty and Executive sefrespec there
alternative left with the President Of the United States
but to him Sir, if you the President of the
United States the President neither of
very sure, would hesitate to turn out from position highly
honorable and responsible any individual who acted
dersand Gen. Lane have acted II will be remembe red
that far back the battle Of Buena Visa there
plants made Of of the troops in the field 1t
have been understood inferred that Cen Taylor
with those who expressed opinion detrimental to the epu
aton OF of those troops My recollection of this
action this and may stand corrected by gentleman
who knows facts BETTER that after the appointment Of Gen.
Lane Governor Of Oregon for which position all his quail
fca,ons may have fitted him, he made publication
eminent degree vuperave OF the late President of the Uni
ted States My opinion is that that publication the
extent of mpeaching the reputation of Gen. Taylor phi
vate gentleman. .r@. i. ..#..t
try above all mputaons upon bis personal honor a
fecng his veracy, Gen. Taylor had that character high
any known in this country, the Father of his
Country alone excepted If that impeachment Of his veracy
made, it such reflection upon his personal honor,
and if he should have retained in office high dgned
and responsible the held by Gen. Lane any individual
that attempted to nct such injury upon him, he would
have lost the respect of many of the best friends he had the
country. +. =@, ."# .,,....
AS to the report, know nothing sbout it, As to Gen.
Lanes merits am proud to think them very high. would
not pebble from the foundation which he stands
as to weaken his position before the public But of
that peculiar temperament who distinguish themselves
the field Of battle, may indulge in remarks that highly
eprehensbe, and of which they would be ashamed their
cooler moments put this matter upon this ground if in
any publications Of his Gen. Lane went to the extent Of i'm
~hinuf hph nna Tautn
upon the of his veracy, then the President owed
himself owed TO his positoD owed to his friends, owed
it to proper degree Of selrespec to dispense with the
vices OF that officer ~... .@.'
assaed with erceness than the late President and his
Cabinet have yet met the who uttered nsin
uaton calculated to affect the honor Of that
bic mantle late President OF the United States His pr
character is national property and the browning
glory Of bis brilliant and useful career.
Mr. CASS When this matter was before the Senate
few days ago. the honorable Senator from Ohio said that
asked him if Col Weller would have been removed he had
been Wing He answered that be would. | wish now
read the law, and show that he would have been
moved if he were Wing A memorial has been given to
by the honorable Senator from California, from which
appears that Col Weller left the United States the I'd of
March, left Panama on the l7h removed the 18th of
June, and arrived at his station the 9th of July.
Mr.. GWIN. He arrived the first OF June, but the
mission was not organized until the 9th Of July.
Mr.. CAsS. Here is the law
ceve public money which he authorized retain
larry pay, emoumen shall render his quarter
yearly the proper accounting officers of the Treasury with
the vouchers and prompt settlement
thereof within three months least after the expiration of
each successive quarter if resident within the United States
and within six months if resident in foreign country Pro-
1ided That nothing herein contained shall be construed
restrain the Secretaries of of the Departments from
curing such returns any agent subject
control Secretaries the public interest require
So that according the very terms Of the law this sub
ect Col Weller only make quarterly reports and then
Office the six months which the law gave him
make bis report before he removed He removed
before he actually in office for six months. Hence the
Senator entirely wrong in saying that he would have
been removed if he Wing No chance allowed
him render lis accounts and be removed because he
had not rendered them. ....
Mr.. GWIN. Mr.. President, was in my in the
Senate Thursday last when the removal OF Col Weller
from the position Of boundary commissioner discussed by
The Senator from Iowa (Mr DoDGE) and the Senator from
Ohio, (Mr EwIyG) On being informed that the Senator
from Ohio had given the for the removal asked him
to repeat them might know the grounds taken by
that Senator justify the The Senator made brief
statement, 10 which briefly replied. There is
sues OF TACT between US arising part from being entire
y unpIepared for such discussion, and doubt the
operated with The Senator from Ohio. conceive TO
be due 10 Col Weller to give complete reutaton to
the charges brought against him. and have accordingly looked
into the documents TO which the Senator referred and the
result OF my examination will lay before the Senate.
In the first place, find from the published debates that the
statement OF the Senator from Ohio Mr. EwING in reply
to the Senator from Iowa. (Mr DoDeE) is much inu-
the character Of Col Weller than what he said in an
my Inquiry. He is reported in the National Ino-
gencer to have said as follows:
GAS to Col Weller, there difficulty with respect to
,nna ~ottttnn pEh I,tf. No.