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

4
Mr. PEARCE. The whole cost is put down at sl2,270
Now beg leave TO make another remark IN this connexion
Tho Senator from California has assumed that this
sent out for the sole purpose of conducting Mr. Wilson
his agency would refer the senator to the report Of
the late Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Mr.. Medr, a
democrat, holding Office underline administration OF MIR.
Polk, and who suffered continue office after General
Tayor's Inauguration. IL will be found page 1873, Of
Document No H. of the first session Of the 3lst Congress
will read only single sentence from his letter to Gene
raj Wilson;
CAS- you viii doubtless avail yourself Of the military
cort which will leave st. Louis shortly funds viii be placed
in the hands Of the superintendent Of Indian Affairs that
place TO be turned over TO you"
That is the letter OF instruction from the Commissioner
Of Indian Affairs this identical ageAt, General John Viii
He told him that military force going out, and
il would be better for him fall in with it, The fact
have ascertaned OF the Quartermastrrs department
that troops by which General Wilson escorted
recruits which The department sending to Santa Fe
At Santa Fe he procured another escort and went
The Senate viii perceive that this expedition
got up for the sole benefit Of this Indian AGENT but that he
was directed by the democratic Commissioner of Indian
Affairs avail himself of the opportunity of military
| force going TO Santa Fe. ...
The senator complains that General Wilson left his
ton at the Great Salt Lake. and California and
that then ne resigned his Office ! know nothing Of the
particulars of that admit that il does to be
aey proper that officer appointed to such station
this should immediately upon arriving at the seat of his
operations resign one place bat what say that
improperly the part Of General Wilson known
the present Executive nor so far as ascertain to
he essned Office, and when he appointed to
other The complaint which the senator makes ia that,
having gone upon this expedition at great cost, having
signed his Office before he did anything except 10 write two
dispatches, Mr.. Wilson appointed navy
San Francisco. That the charges offence
upon the present administration Now the is that Mr.
WILSON, who personal friend Of General Taylor,
appointed navy sgen by General Taylor lie received his
nomination from him. IL had been TO the Senate but
for long Enacted unon. II not il 10 true,
acted upon at the e when Mr. Fillmore succeeded the
presidency but the Senate know very well that the policy
of the present Executive withdraw nominations
made by his predecessor but to send them all in To the
Senate unless there special to the contrary
This administration knew Of special reason why Mr..
Wilson should be appointed navy agent The
had at that time made complaint against him. Nobody
had made complaints against him that ascertain and
he in under the nomination Of General Taylor and
was confirmed by the Senatethe senator from California
being then, believe, member Of the Senate a member
elect ready take his seat here, when his State should be
admitted, as she soon
Bot the does stop this point He says
that Mr. Wilson suffered TO remain as navy agent at
San Francisco although he gave official bond
that he allowed for long time to receive the emou
ments Of mis- Office and that that Office finally abolished
in order get nd OF him. most extraordinary series OF
mistakes II il very true, that under his temporary APP
pon,meni, Mr. Wilson did offer bond, which passed
upon by the persons appointed do California and
rejected. But Is also true, that he offered another
bond which accepted and that after HIS confirmation
by the Senate ne again offered another bond which was
also accepted Then the senator is entirely mistaken IN
these particular He is also greatly mistaken in another
and mistake about which mast confess my surprise.
California
and interchangeable member Of the Senate No man here
believe is attentive to his duties. No man. think
scye part than the senator from California in
the duties Of the committees OF which he ia member But
he chairman or the Naval Committee OF this body. Upon
him peculiarly devoges all the duties which belong thar
committee. II there u any man IN this body bound to
know law and the facts regard any particular
in relation a naval officer, that senator is rresminenty
bound 70 know them lie has told the Senate that tia man
received emoumens Of the Office OF navy agent during
considerable lergh OF time say the senator on
the information have obtained the department that he
never received any enoumsnH ct all. confess
press nv surprise again that the should have so
far forgotten those naval affairs which we're committed to
his chargr 70 know that navy agent receives
salary The only compensation he is commission Of
one per cent the amount he dsburses. Before the
made the charge, think he should have looked
INTO the facts General Wilson is Of his constituents
who has right 10 look 70 him, IL to anybody for defonce
The senator II he had inquired mgat have erained e
fact that never dueag tho whole General wilson held
his commission, dad he receive dollar Of the public money
disburse, and, therefore, he received Of
emnament That il tho fac. Besides the Office not
abolished 70 get rid Of General Wilson Very soon after
the present Secretary office he discovered that
the navy agent San Francisco had nothing do No
money nto his hands and therefore there nothing
Tor him 20 do. There experienced purser on that
station and az il - policy keep ships-ofwar
here there would always be purser compeent 70 do all
The business devolVng the navy agent Therefore,
dering the Office be useless he recommended the Prcs
dent discontinue t. That IL the history Of General
John Wilson.
The has alluded the which sent out
with Mr. Caller who appointed collector Of the
toms in California There IL maniicsy nothing very ex-
traodinary in ihis do know thar the troops which
escorted Mr. Collier out IN order the
army in California do not undertake 70 that. But
the has stated TINT Mr. Collier out with
great outfit and il understood him Alright, that when he
got California that outfit not turned the
public service ought have been, but appro
nriae1 his ask the il he can fur
nsh any evidence in support OF his charger IL thing
which he tskss for graned' Is there any Official evidence
OF the factf
Mr. GwIN. 30 understood tho chairman Of the Com
mce Finance who had made inquiry in regard to the
subject
Mr. PEARCE. Then the senator made another mis-
take that is ALL A regards the sending Of military
these occasions, il very manifest that
II you going 10 send public agent thousands ef miles
from Of your civilization, through barren and in
hospabe wastes where no civilized man lives but where
the fsrcest and most wakc search plum
der you would send military escort with him, unless you
wanted have his scalp taken. II you send money with
him he will lose that and his scslp too unless he be pro-
tccled by military force In point OF fact from tho very
foundation Of the government when civil employees
havs been sent into hostile Indian territory, into
territory where, though the Indians hos
tile they yet occupied such doubtful attitude that
could say when they would become hostile military escorts
have been employed for their protection suppose nobody
knows that better than the from Michigan, Mr
GAss take Il for granted, though do not know the fact
that IN tho o. his experience he hiss avaed himself Of
military many mes in making Indian treaties.
recosct Tint, looking ut Of the treaties which he
made, found the Of number Of officers Of the army
appended 20 suppose they part Of
the escort which projected him. No would deplore
deeply than should do any negligence Of the govern
ment in past tmes, by which ttat honorable gentleman
should have been lost 20 tina country might have been