Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-17

people of the Territory which have the honor TO repre-
sent and, without saying more at this time,
the House. on presenting the copy Of that report which
furnished to me by the Department Of State that the
same be printed and laid before this House. have not
carefully compared any of the reports, and know not
which to rely ON as authentic and official except be the
one ON file at the State Department and furnished me by
that Department shall hold this be the true copy Of
the Indictment and trust that this House will order
IT after it shall be printed and laid before the House
BOUNTY LAND ACT.
The SPEAKER announced that the next business in
order the motion to refer 10 the Committee of the
Whole the state Of the Union the report Of the Select
Committee on the bill explanatory of the act approved
September 2o, 1850 entitled An granting bounty
land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engag
ed in the military service of the United States"
Mr. BlSSELL then discussed the substitute reported
by the committee at considerable length stating that he
opposed it in its present shape that if it should
be referred to the Committee of the Whole the state of
the Union, he would, whenever it should be considered
submit behalf of the minority of the select committee
an amendment for the substitute reported by the majority
Mr. TUCK then obtained the floor, and after submit
ting few remarks
The morning hour expired.
On motion of Mr. JONES, of Tennessee the House
then proceeded to consider the business the Speakers
table.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
The SPEAKER stated that the first business in order
the consideration of the motion refer the report Of
the Secretary of the Interior the Committee Of Ways
and Means, and ordering it to be printed
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee then addressed the House
length referring laws to show that the Secre-
tary Of the Interior in communicating these estimates to
Congress directly had acted contrary law and in vo-
laon OF the uniform practice and custom of the Depart
ments This was the first time this had occurred,
and he hoped that the House would take such
would correct this malpractice at the threshold
He was at loss to say what had influenced the officers
of the Government to pursue this of sending their
estimates to Congress their responsibility but it
seemed to him that it must be for of reasons
either that this Administration not unit and that
the Heads of Departments not upon such friendly
terms and intercourse to harmonize heretofore all
the Departments had done, in making and submitting
their estimates to Congress or if this not the case
and they upon friendly and social terms and rela
TONS it must be because they not inclined to allow
their estimates to in together and to thus show at
view the amount of deficiencies which they require
Mr.. BAYLY of Virginia, remarked that it would be
collected that when this communication from the Sc
cretay of the Interior yesterday the gentleman from Ten
nessee (Nlr JONES' said that it violation of law,
and moved return to the Secretary This had
not been pursued toward any of the other Secretaries
and he Nr b. thought it designed to show discour
tesy to the Secretary of the Interior Although that Sc
cretary and himself had differed politicians from the
day they were classmates at college to the present time,
he believed they had always been upon terms of the most
intimate personal relations and when he saw that the
House disposed to select him from the others for
an indgnty, he thought under mistake, he felt it
due to him and to the State of which they both
suggest that in this matter there violation Of
law any thing unusual He had suggested to the gen.
eman from Tennessee this morning to drop this debates
but the gentleman had declined accept the overture
there alternative left him but to vindicate the
statement he had made that there nothing illegal
unusual in the which the Secretary of the Interior
had pursued and consequently nothing to justify the
House in offering him this ndgnity Mr. b. then refer
red to several laws to show that the Secretary had not
acted in violation of any law contrary to practice and
in conclusion said that this communication had been sent
to the Speaker instead of the Committee of Ways and
Means the usual course the instance of the chairman
of that committee, Mr.. HousToN
Mr. HOUSTON said that there mistake in
relation to this matter.
Mr. fletcher asked to explain. He stated that being
the immediate representative of the district in which Mr.
Stuart resided he proceeded this morning to the Depart
ment of the Interior for the purpose of ascertanng
thing relation to this matter which had created much
trouble in the House While there, the Secretary sent
for Mr. Harrington the chief clerk of the Treasury who
stated in the presence of Mr. Stuart that the Committee
of Ways and Means had instructions to him that in
stead of sending his communications heretofore to that
committee, he should send them to the Speaker of the
House.
After further debate,
AIFJGNES. of Tennessee, nnovod la, the
cation ON the table, which motion not agreed to
Yeas SO, nays Ill.
The communication then referred to the Committee
OF Ways and Means and ordered to be printed.
Mr. CLARK introduced bill for the benefit of the Ter
rtory of Minnesota and the State of Iowa which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Public Lands
The House then adjourned