The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-19

that subject will give you another extraordinary ex-
endture from this civil and-such an one as was never
eminent read from letter OF the secretary OF State
for California, Captain Halleck, 10 Major Allen, the
treasurer Of this civil fund who asked for information in
ieIred to him. After relating what had become OF
tain sums placed in the hands OF Captain Marcy Lieut.
Davidson. and Major Hardes, he gives this item
"The $4,000 transferred Parser Forest was for pay
Ing the expenses oil bringing emgrants from Lower Cali
orna The loan was made 10 the navy at the request Of
Commodore Jones"
No complaint was made against Commodore Jones
for making this extraordinary requsilion upon fund
claimed 10 belong TO the United States have before me
voluminous document showing that Commodore Jones
was tried, when he home, upon various charges
brought against him. arising from his acls in California
but was ntimated IN those charges and the specl
eauons which 50 into great minute and detail that he
had done wrong in making this requisltion on the civil
fund.- TO send TO Lower California 10 import Mexican citi
zens into our territory He has been censured for
this nor has the officer oil the army who loaned him the
some oil the extraordinary assumptions OF power in
spending money 10 which l. 10 part referred the other
day, when stated that, according TO my judgment the
military the overshadowing power of this government
and lis alarming encroachments upon the civil power
could be distinctly traced TO the commencement OF the
presidential career the 4th OF March, Si9 OF a
cessfnl general, with no knowledge OF civil affairs As
further evidence OF the exercise of military power in
California, during this PERIOD will read one or two other
orders found IN this document, General Taylos Caor
MIA message which, with many Of similar import,
received the slightest censure the part oil the govern
ment. will read one OF General Rleys appointments
"Know all men by these presents, that Bennett Riley,
bvevet brgader general United States army and governor
OF California by virtue Of authority in vested do hereby
port OF Monterey with a salary OF $50 per month"
That is something after the Louis Napoleon style.
When collector is appointed by virtue of The authority
OF Congress The appointment is made by the President by
salary is fixed by law. But here is commission issued
by military commander. not only appointing the officer,
bat fixing his salary Here is another letter, from which
will read an extract:
81 am also inform you that the governor will order
be paid over TO the town Of Santa Barbara the sum of
$500 So to be expended in the purchase erection of
suitable building tor a jail This money accrued from
military contribution levied the of Santa Barbara
during the and will be paid the sindco
been purchased or erected"
Here we have the amount of this war contribution,
collected from the inhabitants oil Santa Barbara when al
war with the United States. by the simple edict of mill
lary commander, paid back 10 the town to build Jail,
long after the contribution has been collected and dis
bursed for war purposes and the war closed.
do not refer 10 these of General Riley and Cap
tain Haleck his secretary of State for the purpose of
attaching to them. 1t is the acquiescence of the
government wish TO bring to the notice of the country
such men had The control Of the military power Of the
country. General Riley is not only brave soldier, but
one OF the most honest and upright men ever knew.
II was his bravery and honesty which gave him influence
with the people, and preserved the peace OF that country
Captain Halleck gentleman oil great energy and high
administrative talent w hen the army, through OF
It's most successful generals into the possession Of
the government, il was fortunate for California left
without law, to have fallen into such hands
The senator has alluded TO the civil fund Of California
and its collection, and says he will not go into that sub
ect again will. But assert now, as have be-
fore in the Senate and Proved and will always be able to
prove, that this fund collected without authority of
law, and that in the absence OF all legislation extending
the revenue laws TO California, the citizens of that Ter
rtoy had the right TO import their food and clothing from
all countries without paying duty that the government,
in failing to extend the revenue laws over the territories
of the United States could not take advantage OF its
wrong. and resort TO arbitrary military power col
ec those taxes that civil officer had the power col
lec
The senator says great good resulted TO California from
the OF this civil fand supporting the de Jaeio gov.
ernment preserving order, paying the expenses OF the
convention and thus contributing TO the formation of the
present State government. But why should the Of
this fund, for the benefit oil those from whom il
acted, have stopped here The head OF the War Depart
men had obsnately remained silent in regard 10 its col
lection and disbursement unit, he was informed by Gen
Riley that unless otherwise ordered he should pay 10
the State government OF California, lis organization,
and Tor lis support the oyerplus OF this fund then on
hand The Secretary then walked up, and ordered him
to withhold the fund from the State authorities This
der came just as the government going into ope.
ration and Gen. Riley had authorized his determine
ton TO pay this fund to the State authorities 10 be
nounced IN the convention IL confidently expected
that the department would still give its quiet acquiescence
TO his acts as TO the fund, and the State government
would thus be enabled TO organize without imposing
heavy taxes on the people But we were visited with a
positive refusal TO give us the use OF this fund the State
government went into operation without dollar OF ready
snoHey IN W were
AT once greatly deprecated, and people are now
groaning under the weight Of heavy taxation thus
menced all Of which would have been averted il this
civil fund had been paid 10 And where is this
fund Who telll The future will show whether
it has been applied 10 more legal useful purposes.
| Now, Mr.. President, come TO the Indian commits.
soners | not fortunate as the senator from
Maryland in getting from the Quartermasters Depart
ment its exact expenditure for the escort to the Indian
commission.
find that the gallant old General at the head of that
department, for whom have the highest respect and in
whose integrity have most unlimited confidence, is very
close in imparting information which is to be used in
review OF the acts OF the head OF the War Department
do not intend 10 say that he showed alacrity in
furnishing information 10 the from Maryland than
to me; but certainly made application for the very
which the senator has furnished 10 and was told that
it was very incomplete Hence had 10 look for il in
other quarters did not want incomplete testimony
and by accident met with the letter OF Mr. King, in
which he says he had advanced TO the quarter
MASTER to enable that department to FIT out the expedition
OF the Indian commissioners. 1 gave Mt Kings exact
words and II there discrepancy, il is between Mr.
King and the Quartemasier General; have nothing to
do with it.
As to the question OF withholding these treaties from
the Senate until the letters from the Secretary OF the In.
terror and the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs, which the
senator read Published will withhold the staten emf
OF my colleagues in the other House. that will fully sub
stantiae everything said yesterday when the senator
brought the subject up have the highest respect for
those two gentlemen | have known the Commissioners
OF Indian Affairs for years. and have the most unbounded
confidence his integrity and fully appreciate his ab
IT, The only objection have to him in the world is that
he is not quite fast enough for my country have been
squirting him up in friendly way, and have bad many
interviews with him the business OF his department in
r.I,f Il,