The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-21
TIE D MON.


The following communication from Judge Young,
Clerk OF the House OF Representatives OF the United
States, utterly reiues and scatters the winds foul
caamny put into circulation against Speaker Cobb We
may aid TO this triumphant yindcaon the fact that it
was altogether impossible for MIR Cobb. il he had been
disposed TO have perperaled the act imputed 10 him
The whole subject the hands OF the Committee
ENDORSEMENT and the Speaker had no control
Their action than any other member OF the House We
have seldom read a shameless libel. and never
have seen one more completely exploded by the facts,
To the Editor of The UaionE
Ia view OF the very serious charge made by the
Rochester Democrat upon the authority OF The New
York Tribune, against the late Speaker OF the House Of
Representatives, OF having privately nterpolated the
navy bill by the insertion of amendment which was
rejected by decided majority of the Senate, the follow
ing statement OF facts is presented 10 the public
The navy bill passed the House of Representatives
the Isl OF March, 1885, and contained amongst others the
following provision the latter clause Of which, in Italics
is understood to be the alluded TO. viz
..For the floating dry-dock in California one hund rod
and fifty thousand dollars and Secretary Of the Navy
hereby equed modify the contract alleged 10 la ve
been made the seventeenth January last the
tho construction of the floating dock alone without
tho basin and railway; provided the will agree
do the work the estimates made by the depamen
November and December last and provided the Seere
ary considers the said estimates fair and reasonable and
much OF said law authorizes the construction Of the
basin and railway is hereby repeaed Propidd That be-
fo,s making said contract the Secretary of the Nary .ha
gtue least Hrty days notice by advertisement the
Uay,"
The bill was then engrossed, (the foregoing provision
being upon pages and of the engrossed BILL and on
the Sd inst. sent 10 the Senate On the same day il
returned from the Senate, with sundry amendments
which amendments engrossed and certified to by
Nacra pf tha NpnS has
then severay read and agreed TO by the House. Upon
reference to the amendments certified by the Secre-
tary, there appears to be aluson whatever the
foregoing provision or even to the pages upon which il
is engrossed II may be proper to ha, there is a
pencimark enclosing the latter proviso" and at the
end Of the item, in pencil BELL, to strike ou-agreed !"
which is nformay understood to indicate that the Sen
ate voted upon Mr.. Bells motion strike out the said
proviso In the hurry of business however the action
of the Senate overlooked by their clerks and the
House was never advised OF it, officially otherwise be
fore its passage that notice could have been taken
it properly upon the final action OF that body This pro
vision having been incorporated the original bill BY
vote of the House. and no official information having
been received OF adverse action upon by the Senate
but the contrary. the Secretary having implicitly Ger
tilted to their favorable action upon it. by Inadvertently
emitting TO include II among the amendments made by
the Senate-t became the day Of the enrolling clerk OF
the House retain in the bill Ii was consequently SC
retained, and enrolled part OF the law by The clerk
and not, is falsely charged, prvaely n,epolated by
| the Speaker"
Such is brief statement of the facts in reference to
provision of the navy BILL the effect of which, said
is nullfy contracts made by the Secretary OF tn,
! Navy" What shall be said OF the author of this fou
calumny, who wan,only assails the character of
man perfectly honorable and upright in all his conduc
as Howell Cobb grosser SANDER was certainly neve
before perpetraed than this goundess charge against tn.
late Speaker.
/ RICHARD M. YOUNG,
| Clerk House OF Representatives u. S.
i MARCH 40, 1851.