The republic., 1852-01-15
RnuNrY IANn IAn.

/
2s, 1850.
/ Mr. BISSELL said that it must be manifest TO
every man who had paid attention to the provisions
of this bill that it required more than any other one
that delberaton and attention which it could only
receive In Committee of the Whole on the state OF
the Union. He is bold man, who, understanding
the provisions and luresccing the operations OF this
bill, should vote to- day that ii become law, and
he rash man who shall vote for it without such
understanding and foresight. This bill. if any
other, should go to the Committee of the Whole on
the state OF the Union.
He hoped that, unlcss members are prepared 10 re-
Icct the bill they would permit II to take the course
which bills OF far less Importance generally do. To
some portions OF the bill he had no objection; to 9th
he thought that large majority of the mem
bers of the House would object. To some portions
he had no language sufficiently strong 10 express
his disapprobation He then discussed the several
provisions of the bill; and, when he concluded his
/ remarks
Mr. TUCK obtained the floor He had not pro-
ceeded far before the morning hour expired.
THE SECRETARY OF rHE>ISrERIoR.
Mr. JONES, Of Tennessee, yesterday moved to
! reconsider the vote by which the communication Of
the Secretary OF the lnterior-tra transmitting osti-
mates of deficiencies in the appropriations for that
| Department for the year ending June 30, ls52--
laid upon the table, and TO lay that motion
! upon the table.
/ He now withdrew the latter part OF the motion,
and expressed the hope that the motion to recon
slider would prevail; and that the question would
be examined, being one worthy of the attention OF
! the House
! The question then taken, and the motion to
! reconsider prevailed
The question now REQUIRED on referring the
! communication to the Committee OF Ways and
Means, and that it be printed
] Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, said that he made the
motion TO lay the communication upon the table
because he considered that the Of the Secre
tary OF the Interior was an infraction Of custom
and violation OF the law; and that, far as he had
been able TO investigate this case it was the first
time that any Department, other than the Treasu
\ hsTl1r ont hnd hAfT he and
submitted their estimates of appropriations, and
ked for laws making these appropriations. He
then referred 10 several laws, with view of show
ing that the estimates referred TO should have been
presented through the Treasury Department.; and
asked why these estimates had been separated. 1t
either for the reason that this Administration
Is not unit that the heads OF the Departments
are not on such friendly terms and intercourse
that they can harmonize as heretofore, all the De-
| partments OF the Government in making and sub
hitting the estimates II this is not the case, and
they still on friendly and social relations and
if each docs not wish TO set up for himself it must
| be because they are not inclined to let the esi-
mates come in altogether, go that they may be
at view. He expressed the hope that the House
would correct this abuse at the threshold.
! Mr.. BAYLY, Of Virginia, remarked that on
/ yesterday, when the communication from the Sec
! retary OF the Interior laid before the House,
/ the gentleman from Tennessee Mr.. JoNEs) said
! that it was a violation of the law and moved that
| it be returned TO the Secretary. Such
had not been pursued towards any one of the other
Secretaries, and he thought that il was designed to
show dscourtesy TO the Secretary OF the Interior.
Although he and the Secretary had differed from
time to time on political questions they mad, from
the time they were classmates at college, been
terms OF intimate personal relations. And when
be that the House about to set him out for
an ndignity, evidently by mistake, he thought il
due 10 himself, and the State of which they were
both sons, 10 suggest that the Secretary guilty
OF violation OF the law, and that his course vas
not unusual He suggested this morning to drop
the debate; but the gentleman from Tennessee de-
clined the overture. There was, then, no alterna-
tive for him but to vindicate the statement which
he had made, namely: that in sending in these
estimates there was nothing illegal and unusual;
therefore nothing that would Justify the House in
offering 10 the Secretary an indignity. He then
referred 10 several laws, IN vndication Of the Sec
retary, and showed the provisions with regard TO
special and the annual estimates
Mr.. LETCHER said that he the immediate
representative Of the district in which Mr.. Stuart
resided, and that this morning he went to the De-
partment of the Interior for the purpose of learn
ing something ia relation 10 this matter which had
Occasoned so much trouble in the House While
there, the Secretary sent for Mr.. Harrington, the
chief clerk Of the Treasury Department, who stated
in the presence OF MIR. Stuart, that the Committee
II Ways and Means had sent instructions TO him
that instead Of sending his communication as
heretofore, 70 that committee, be should send them
~ the Speaker Of the House.
Mr.. HOUSTON remarked, in explanation, that
the House would at once perceive that the state
ment Of the gentleman from Virginia was wholly
incorrect and entirely unlonnded. A few days
since lac was at the Treasury Department, ana the
Acting Secretary OF the Treasury informed him
that be had failed to send estimates from his Depart
rnent, asking the Committee Of Ways and Means
TO authorize the Secretary Of the Treasury to build
~ purchase SIX revenue cutters. lie told the Act
ing Sccrctary-thc chief clerk, Mr. Harrington
beng prcsent-that the regular course 10 pursue
would be TO communicate these estimates TO tho
Speaker Of the House, though they both insisted
that the regular mode was 20 communicate them
20 the Committee of Ways and Means. What be
reference %
Treasury Department, and had no cUnnc1 1ion with
itc other heads Of Departments.
MIR. LETCHER OF the opinion that, when
the communication made by the chairman Of
tho Committee Of Ways and Means 20 the Acting
Secretary Ci the Treasury the chief clerk no doubt
thought that II necessarily referred to tho various
departments connected with the Treasury Depart
/ meut.
| Mr.. HOUSTON remarked that the conversation
WAS confined exclusively 10 ono point, and that
point related TO the Secretary of tho Treasury and
/ no other head II Department.
/ Mr.. LETCHER said II thus appeared that there
was couvcr5ation upon the mode OF intercourse
] between the various departments Of the Govern
ment connected with the Treasury Department
and the House Of Representatives.
/ Mr. HOUSTON. Not tho yarious Departments
/ Mr. LETCHER could very readily that il
might have occurred, in the conversation between
| the chairman of the Committee Of Ways and
\ Means and the Acting Secretary Of the Treasury
and the chief clerk, that the conc lusisn. might
/ have been drawn, as it was by Mr. stuart and
. others iu bis Department connected with him.
/ that il would be proper - communicate these
estimates directly TO Congress. Every member
I he presumed, apprehcpdcd that, 80 far as these
/ cumm0nicatons Of the various Departments
. arc concerned, they are made generally through
clerks who are acquainted with the various fJrrns
AID arc merely sent % the Secretary for his official
/ signature. This he understood 90 be the entire
matterthat the clerk Of the Department Of the In.
terror prepared the communication, that the Sccrc-
tary Of the Interior signed il, acting under the be-
bci that there was nothing disrespcCtfu in IT, md
that Il was then sent to the House. An the ac ts
which were read by the gentleman from Tcnncs.
scc (Mr. JUSEs) went to show that the estimates
ol revenue and expenditure, which are required 10
Be made annually, come from the Secretary Of the
Treasury 20 the Speaker Of ibis body. Were not
thcgc very estimates Of deficiencies contained In
the report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury Know
ing Mr. Stuart personally, and regarding him ss
an excellent man, be was satisfied that the Secrc.
tary did not mean 10 offend in sending the COM
muuict ton 70 the House. as he had done
Mr.. SGANLG thought that this matter had oc-
cupicd more Of tie time Of the HJuse than il was
worth. Both the gentlemen from virginia had
satisfied the House that Mr. Stuart had precedeuts
and bad acted right in the premises. lie therefore
moved the previous question bot withdrew The
motion al the rcqucst Of
Mr. HOUSTON, who wished to say AZ ne re-.
marked yesterday, that he did not believe the SCI.
rotary deserved the rebuke. and that the Secretary
bod pufFucd this course with any purpo4c n yio.