The daily union., 1852-12-29

made, There are great complaints made occasionally
that we are little negligent about matters that ought 10
take up aud consider the business contested II we
10 do could get clear OF that kind OF business
al
The PRESIDENT The bill now under consideration
must be first disposed Of The pending question Is upon
conturIins wlh the cemmitise ei the whole m their
amendments
Mr. BROOKE called for the yeas aud nays upon that
question. and they were accordingly ordered
Mr. BORLAND. will siaio before the vote is taken.
TO gentlemen who may not be OF the character OF
the bill now before that is OF such character that II
Il ls understood opposition Will be made 10 II from
any quafIer II the bill, with the aendens, could be
read think all will that there possible ground
Tor objection 10 1t therefore ask that the bill amend
ed may be read 30 that gentlemen who were not attend
ing to II when IL read before may what the bill
proposes 10 do.
The bill as amended was then read
The question being then laken by The yeas and nays
upon concurrins with the committee Of the whole in
their amendments, II was unanimously agreed toyeas
80, nays Gas follows;
YEAs--Messr Adams, Atchison, Borland, Bradbury,
saussure. Dixon Dodge Of Wisconsin. Dodge Of Iowa,
Downs, Felch. Fish Hale, Hamln, Mangun, Morton.
Norris, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Seward, Shields, Smth,
Walker, aud Weller-s6
The bill as amended was then ordered to be eogrossed
for lis third reading and by unanimous consent II
read the third time and passed.
em hASepos KAsroH.
MIR. SHIELDS. With the permission of the Senate. I
desire to call up for consideration Senate bill 489
being "a bill for The relief Of Captain Langdon C. Easton,
assistant quarternas,er United States army"
The question being then taken the motion agreed
to, and the bill taken up and read The bill proposes
drec the proper accounting officer OF the treasury to place
TO the credit OF Captain Langdon c. Easton the SUN of
81 $780, that being the amount OF which he d1frauded
by mis- late chief clerk, while stationed at Santa Fe
The report OF the committee was then read.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the bill as in
committee OF the whole. .A
Mr. CASS | do net like TO oppose this BILL but
must say that do not sufficiently understand il at present
II 10 that this is very singular ground OF ap-
pcaon. Here, where the officer has the appointment
OF his clerk it is proposed that he should not be respon
sble for him. am not aware that we have ever had
such this before US until now. The officer OF
the pay department OF the army appoints his own clerk
and yet is not to be held responsible for his actions
think this opening very dangerous ground OF applica
tion for relief from the government
Mr. UNDERWOOD. rise for the purpose OF saying
that would rather that this should go for
little while. readily perceive that il will be very
great hardship upon any ohcer TO make him responsible
for The frauds which may be pepetraed by those who
empoyed aiding him the discharge OF the
duties OF his office Now, these assistant commssa
possibly attend all the duties of their station with
out help; they have clerks il would be physically
impossible them attend to all the duties themselves
And when they constrained from the nature OF their
employment have assistance, il would be very hard
case indeed make them responsible for all the frauds
pepeated by those assistants That taking the view
favorable to the commssary the quartermasler, or any
other officer OF the government who must necessarily
employ assistants.
But the danger resulting from freeing them from this
responsibility this: when ofcer has the selection
of his assistant he ought at least TO be constrained
guaranty their fidelity and honesty because OF the
possibility If they fraudulent be may be partcl
pang with them in their fraudulent practices. The
olealion OF the principle which seems to be mboded IN
this bill opens the door, therefore, TO some extent TO the
practice OF fraud Now, want some little time to think
upon these conflicting POSITIONS and in what possible
manner this thing be settled have had great deal
do with these claims for the last ten twelve years
- faof~ ryly
to this one therefore think we had better think lit
tie more about it, and would therefore prefer that my
irsnd from Illinois Mr. SHELDsl would let this bill lie
Mr. SHIELDS 1 will do 40. as promised 10 call up
bill that would be opposed Bot will say how
evef-for may as well do II now as at any other time
that this peculiar has been Justly said by the
senator IRON Michigan, Mr CAss,] and one that
pied the attention OF the Senate committee more than
any other case that before them think there is
necessity Tor some general legislation upon this SUBJECT
and we intend to propose something OF ha, kind. which
will officers against the possibility oil fraud by
Their clerks by requiring security on the pari oil The clerk
But this is OF the mos, extraordinary cases that have
before us, and The committee were unanimous IN
reporting in favor OF IT,
This genlleman-Captain Easton--was sent to this
country Immediately alter we had taken possession OF it,
and there were not only double duties but nnumerabIe
duties imposed upon him, he being required 10 act
conmssary, quartermaster, and paymaster he had 10
perform all duties. He sent home for assistance
The department home sent him this man. by whom he
defauded the most able aud competent declaring
10 him that this man would aid him in carrying out all his
duties After receiving this from Washing upon the
recommendation of the department, confidential clerk
OF the department 10 aid hun 10 expend the money OF the
department--a duty which he no, himself bound
perform, for he ipaymaser-this loss by fraud
occurred has been stated the report OF the commit
tee which has been read cannot state II clearly
than it is stated there This seemed TO 10 be
one OF the hardest cases that had to notice
THIS officer had faithfully performed his duty, and more
tha his duty and has served 10 that army
with more zeal and fidelity than this has II seemed
be one Of the most extraordinary that could
be produoed-a where, If relief was not Afforded by
this government this officer would be ruined for life
However, will not urge the al this tune
Mr.. SEWARD With the consent OF the honorable
senator from Illinois, Mr. SHrKLps,l move that this
bill be passed over for the present
Mr.. SHIELDS II there s any objection to the present
consideration OF this BILL and ha, objection is persisted
in, then will consent TO have il passed over.
Mr.. SEWARD desire to examine IL further
Mr. UNDERWOOD. | am inclined to vote for IT,
Mr.. CAsS, As for myself, am also inclined 10 vote
for this bill after The statement made BY the honorable
chairman OF the Committee on Military A6ars, IMr
SHELpsJ that II contemplated 10 bring IN general
bill requiring security from the clerks well "a irom
the superior officers There IN the world IN re-
qurng security to be given by the head Of the office
the custom house officer, ,hs receiver any other dis
bursng officer OF the United Satesf he turn the
money over the clerk and leave him 10 discharge the
duty without any responsibility attaching 10 him. There
fore think that in all where IL s necessary for
the public money 90 into the hands OF third person.
third person ougb, be made give security for the
faithful performance of his duty.
Mr.. SEWARD shall be prepared to vote Tor this
bill whenever comes up, il il should come up lo-mor-
row.
Mr. SHIELDS hope the Senate will dispose of IL
in some way.
Mr. HALE Let us vote upon II now.
A. a mats axrhy yxxcs hnuld mi IN