The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-14


atey upon his appointment, upwards of $4,000 Of the
public money. He gave bond-he required to
give any. tie left the United States with this money
while the suit pending after the matter referred
to The master, and before his report made, and he
failed to render account present statement TO the
commissioner but LETT him TO lind out the date and
OF his detacaon he best could He sailed for Panama
as showed the other day. than month before the
duties OF his commission required him. and the only object
that can conjecture he had in view was to be out OF the
United States before the administration should come
into power Certainly he did not forward the business Of
his commission by going hastily for he was further from
the place OF ms destination in point Of time At the end Of
York the same day He could have obtained transporta
lion from New York for himself and his party, while he
had provided and could obtain none from Panama
And from The had OF his conduct while lin
gerng there, any must have been satisfied that he
was wholly unit % be inrnsied with the command OF
that had Col Weller been political partisan connected
with me- matter how closely, and had that Office been
in my department. should most unhesatingy have ad-
vised his removal and would have felt nexcasabe to
trust so large amount OF the public money in his hands
The senator from Michigan may be incredulous yet but
venture to assert that had been his private funds
which in the hands OF Col Weller he would have
taken them out, if he could get them, Immediately. Wha,
he would have done with regard to public funds of which
he had the care is for him and not for TO determine
But have doubt that had he occupied the executive
chair, he would have ed Col w Weller from that
ua.on, however else be night have bestowed him
But, further to remove doubts from The mind OF the
senator from Michigan, mus, be permitted to say tha,
the very occurred that did remove rather
advise the removal of a whig who was in every way
qualified Tor his Office except in the particular merely
because had ascerlaaed he was defauer in his own
State advised his removal, and Gen. Taylor removed
HIM do not wish to name nor is i necessary that
should name, the individual. will, however, inform
the senator from Michigan privately OF the person and
the Office if he desresit.
So much, MI President. for Colonel Weller do not
wish 10 dwell upon his any longer, return to
i again. unless the senator from Michigan still thinks
that my statement and my needs further sup
port II he does, will give it to him in public or in pr
Mr. CASS. will make my statement after you have
done. 3
Mr.. EWING. will now say word as to this case
removal has been pronounced by half dozen voices
here. Col Weller, democrat, wholly without qnalih-
cations. moi trustworthy. not fit for the office. was
moved from it, and Col. Fremont another democrat most
highly qualified, in every respect trustworthy, OF perfect
fitness and capacity for the duties of the Office ap
pointed in his place. This is the prescription for opn-
iona sake eloquently denounced by gentlemen on the
Perhaps ought 10 explain one thing further however,
before leave this Col Weller was according to
democratic party The previous administration here had
given the defeated candidate for governor of Ohio
office under the federal government and OF course
Col Weller must have one. But my point is, and
do not to be driven from IT, that this was not the
proper Office. They selected badly-a foreign mission
being the just reward for the services OF the candidate.
and the usual salvo for his feelings wounded by defeat
Before proceeding 10 the case OF General Lane will
consider for moment item OF executive history,
kindly furnished TO me by the senator from Indiana he
says:
promising that the time General Lane governor OF
Oregon the duties ogovemo,s of Territories Indian agents
similar officers under the supervision OF the De-
partment Of the Interior There had been what OF
conflict between that department and the Department
OF State which entitled to the Jurisdiction oil
these officers understand that laery has been settled
in OF the Department Of State and therefore that
became the proper place which should apply for in
information"
! Now, this all new information TO me-entirely so.
heard suspected that there was the slightest
question between those two departments as TO Jursdc-
tion The Department OF State had jurisdiction over
the territorial Office proper; the Department OF the
Interior over the superintendent OF Indian ailars lhe
governor OF Oregon performed the double duty lie was
the governor, and otdo superintendent OF Indian
affairs. His office OF governor was Within and he was
appointed and removed through the State Department.
The Department Of the Interior had nothing 10 do with
it, except 10 attend and the discharge of his duties
as superintendent Hence il is that everything which
related to the Indian affairs TO the Department OF
the Interior and all that related 10 his other duties 10 the
Department OF State do not know where the senator
got his informaon-from what letter writer or IN what
ne wspaper he found it but he stated il here as matter
OF history OF which be had become well informed, There
is great deal of history which gets abroad with jus,
much foundation that. Owing 10 the fact that Gen.
Lane was from my State and not in my department.
removal, the passing events Of a day but re-
membered very general manner hts neglect OF duty as
superintendent Of Indian affairs and the complaints made
against him in that capacity, and on the spur OF the mo
meni stated them as remember them and find, on
examination, that my memory has not mlsled me. |
said
"As to Governor Lane, report was made by him to
the d. partment very long alter his appointment
Great made against him from tue Terri.
tory of Oregon. and from the most authentic aud reliable
sources-those which the Executive ought to respect
As matter Of fact and memory at the moment, said
that this the caseno, that he was removed on this
ground for, having nothing 10 do with his removal,
cou not answer for its cause any further than have
said Knowing by whom 1t was done, knew II was
rghlfully done,
Now with respect to the first Of the objections stated
against Governor Lane-namey, that he neglected TO re.
port as superintendent OF Indian afairsthe senator from
Indiana, not present Mr. BRIGHT Offered as an
apology explanation that General Lane was appointed
by ,eeeaphc despatch and that he Immediately sci out,
making toilsome journey over an lnhospable region,
and did not reach Oregon until January or February,
Well these are all truths but his first report does not
bear date until October, and Gen Lane knew perfectly well
that il was necessary for the department to receive his
report to Congress 10 the condition OF the Indian tribes
in Oregon, and TO recommend 10 that body what was
be done for the beneht Of the Indians and OF
our own people
MIR. WHIfCOMB. If the senator will allow me, |
merely wish state that Governor Lane arrived IN Ore
gon on the Sd OF MARCH, If my information is correct
MIR EWING Very well; could not remember ey-
actly He arrived there on the 80 of March, and he
made Hrs report in October Now, he knew perfectly
we'll that The necessities of the department required that
as much information OF the actual condlon oil affairs IN
Oregon could be got should be presented to the depart
men rs early possible Had this been an adnlnis'ra-
ton hch he was inclined to favor, does any man be-
lieve he would have withheld his report nll October,
when il could reach the department I'LL il was too
late to have il embraced in the report made to Congress
Was he in this prompt and dgent IN the discharge OF his
Official duties