The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-19
GRESSlONAL..
SPEECH or HON. ). A. PEARCE
OF MARYLAND,
liz rHE sesArr. April 20, 1852,

n"f' Of affairs in California.
~ ssnats az in committee OF the whole resumng the
liberation Of the bill from the House Of Representatives
! noy deficiencies ia tho appropriations for the service
= ~ asea year ending the 30th June, 1852
n, PEARCE rose and said
tn, Senate trust will pardon for departing from
IN OF debate strictly proper at this stage of the discus
IA consider Il necessity which cannot disregard 10
go Upon the introduction of this bill, remarks were
-. nv he chairman Of the Committee Finance Mr..
g,,a and by the from California, Mr.. GwIS,
snlnaing the present administration Those charges
NE zone forth to the public. They making some
mors.oa upon the public mind and, If not answered
omply those Impressions may become fixed and nerad-
be 50 that force of fact argument may suffice 10
moys them The Senate knows that have not been in
M habit Of INDUCING in what is called partisan debate
~ no pleasure in elimination recrimnation but the
~ have before is not that of partisan debater My
nnose Is 10 vndcae men Of pure and honorable eharac-
q engaged zeaousy in the faithful discharge Of duties as
.riuous as they are important
The senator from California has made open and avow-
;. n,ck upon the administration He has charged them
Oo merely with official negligence, but with the liberation
Il various abuses and even with the reward OF them he
has ndeayored to fix upon this administration the respon-
blty Of the errors real imaginary of General Taylor
mnsraoI although the Senate must perceive with how
us Justice such attempt as that can be made As well
night undertake charge upon the administration OF Mr.
pk the frauds peculatons and dealcatons enormous In
nt and almost incalculable in number which per-
,sd nnder the ADMINISTRATION Of his democratic prede-
The senator from California has pointed out spe-
c6c instances Of violation Of duty and he has attempted TO
sustain his charges by documentary display OF several
COLUMNS IL will be for the Senate Judge in the sequel
whether The success OF this attack is equal the rashness
which prompted it, the vigor with which il has been
prosecuted
The senator from Virginia moderate lis the
At his speech which had the pleasure of hearing
beng the city when II delivered. As reported IN the
Globe believe he dsclansd any purpose of assaing the
administration. Sometimes he bestowed faint praise upon
he head Of Departments then again he might be said
hint fault and hesitate dislike At anohe place, he
Doke Of abuses and Of system OF INSTRUMENTATION,
which the members of the present cabinet were tardy IN
,ceivng and feeble IN correcting, He fancied that the
rorms which the present administration had undertaken
anne too that they did not go far enough that they
I'D strike the root of the natter that they required
ne Stimulus OF congressional criticism. He said that he
hought these gentlemen not born remedy the
s which had prevailed and which still act the public
svce All this said the of presidential cleo.
| un Now, sir, we know how greediy the mnions OF
party catch accusations and how particularly at time
Ike his such speech that, coming from The senator
rom Virginia. who, during very considerable experience
his body, has earned reputation for fairness and cam
r might from that circumstance alone, derive peculiar
0nt | know not indeed, whether, II wered has
rch would operate with even more injustice upon the
ADMINISTRATION than the open attack OF The senator from
|forna know that il viii, in respects require
more critical analysis shall enfeavor TO give that
kysis and hope shall be able to satisfy, the Senate
lny into which he has fallen, well expose
k more papabe mistakes Of the senator from California
snail commence with the remarks of the latter senator
a eonfnng myself however entirely to the defence Of the
resent administration, but advertng, briefly may be-
he charges brought agant the administration Of General
iElor.
rra TAYLOR might have escaped these assaults. That
GIANT honest artess old patriot has gone down TO the
mh There he seeps, as
Sleep the brave, who sink to rest
BY all their eountry's wishes best"
The members Of his cabinet no longer hold Official
|aOns Not Of them has executive Office seat in
Of a n re-
\. Injustice furnish his friends with the
LII defending him do know that shared very largely
tho confidence Of that cabinet still, there were gentle
in with whom recognized the relations OF persona
friendship; and will permit them now or hereafter TO
assaed erroneousy and therefore unjusy, when have
| The means OF their defence in my hands.
The from California started with charge which
the Senate alone were concerned, should think it
worth while refue. But these things make impress
upon tho public when not conuadcted Hence il is
hat notice them. The first charge the senator makes 10,
very soon after General Tayors inauguration he
tasi agent visit California upon pubic busiress
the gentsman whom he selected had been, during the
wedding fall elected member OF the House Of Represen
aavs-hat his term OF service commenced on the 4h Of
March although the Congress which he to take his
would not, by law, until the following Decsm-
vi and he considered this To De violation Of that Provi-
non Of the constitution which declares that person
odng anv cfcs under the United States shall be
r Of either House during HIS In Office Now
member OF the Senate is there who that
ysncy, such that conferred upon Mr. Thomas Butler
tng, office within the meaning Of the constitution
What is office II is thing created By aU. But an
g.ny derived from and created by executive appointment
not thing created by law. IL ia very different thing,
Nd does some within the letter the spirit Of the
ntuinna provision.
Besides these are not new things The from Cali
that there has been scarcely President
snee the foundation OF The who has not
me Or other selected agent for the performances Of du-
les very similar those which intrused TO Mr. King
Why 60 farther back than the time Of General Jack
who does not remember that he dcpu,ed gentleman Of
ne city % 60 70 Texas for nearly the same objects ~ those
which Mr. King charged with IN California; Mr..
Pdks administration, the gentleman from Vermont Mr..
CFaAnl suggests appointed Mr.. Hopkins executive
gn to Paraguay. Ii Is not uncommon thing at all
not necessary for multiply Instances 70 the Senate
e Senate knows that there nothing extraordinary ~ tt
Startling novelty about it-nothing but what Is common
70 What 10 proper
Bat the senator not with charging the then Pfesi-
cent Of the United States with violating the constitution by
Ah appointment suggested that there was another
my-ha, Mr. King was allowed eight dsllsrs a day and
rvting expenses while away in addition 10 his pay
member q Congress take il for granted that the gentle
nan DID hst say that he 70 receive pay
vent vblsst the snme time he was receiving pay as .
MEMBER n Congress- for that would be thing physically
impossible and directly contradIccd by the letter Of his
n'ueons His appointment was 70 have effect, and his
vas 70 be receivable, only while he was absent on this
'ion and Immediately upon his return. He
Fal only member os Congress elsctnot qualified not
a'ng taken his seanoi entitled TO dollars pay
member n Congress- unt he should return from the
w agency m CHlhorna} anu' wv POM, " 'et ~ never
os bis ihs House Of Representatives al ALL bot
snsf while still on the Pacific coast This additional
~ therefore Of which the senator speaks, was merely
ny Compensation which, agent he might receive during
recess Il did multiply compen' ation as he seems
suppose. But il still grnvcr matter OF charge with
Y Hnator from California that Mr. King, thus appointed
mere agent Of tho Executive, was intrused with entre
miro the army and navy and treasury Of the United
Yates They ALL he snys, placed al his dsposalj the
y and naval commanders 10 California bad no discre-
~ they we're actually fetered by the cnpucious viii i
teose 20 to exert IT, of Mr. King. Now, how does the
dprivs hal hat he U0ulf 10