The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-21

Gus applications 10 that committee. and great deal o.
business before Them and great deal of investigation Il
necessary, and running from tbe committee room TO The
Patent Office think il due, therefore. 10 that commit
lee that they should have clerk and so have offered
4 this amendment
Mr. CASS Does the senator from Georgia Mr.. DAw.
SOM say that the committee have ordered an application
Tor clerk TO be made to the Senate.
MI. DAWSON. In reply 10 the honorable senator
made special order TO that effect But we have agreed
among ourselves that il clerk is necessary for other
committees TO relieve the members from some OF THEN
j The Question being then taken upon the amendment
upon division no quorum voted, as follows--yeas IL
| The PRESIDENT There Is evidently quorum pres
en, and The Chair hopes senators will vote The ques.
Mr. RUSk. II this application be made at the request
t1e committee and they say that they need the services
OF clerk, will vote cheeruly for giving them
one. But we embarrassing the proposition OF the
Committee on Indian Affairs BY Joining this informal ap
pllcaton on the part OF the other committee.
Mr. JAMES. have only to say. as one Of The Com-
mttee on PATENTS and the Patent Office, that the duties
now before our committee are very arduous, and i IS
highly necessary that should have clerk and that,
MIR CASS II seems 10 me that il we are TO do this
thing we should have the formal action of the committee
to support the appointment oil the clerk and not do in this
way. We should have their application, their opinion,
and their responsibility for this measure
| Mr.. BADGER. suppose the only thing to be accom-
pshed Is 10 become satisfied that the committee deem
clerk necessary whether be announced by The ndvid.
ual members OF the committee here, brought forward
by any particular member OF the committee by nstruc-
tion OF the other members TO that we have
this information new in regard TO the Committee on Pat
ents and the Patent Office. The members OF that COM
miitee say that they need a clerk, and therefore
Mr.. SEBASTIAN. So far as regards the necessity of
the appointment of clerk for the Committee on Indian
Affairs have the authority OF the committee for asking
IT. and was instructed by them to report this resolution
1t was subject considered by that committee, and we
now feel and fea the last session, the necessity OF hay-
ing the clerk we now ask We forbore asking It at the
last session in consequence of what understood to
be very general Discrimination upon the part oil the Sen
ate to extend that kind OF relief to the committees Since
then however, as the Senate is aware there has been
great accumulation OF business before that committee
and constituted il s with some OF lis members dis
qualified from i'll health and other considerations from
giving punctuaI attendance to Their dutes It seems
charge only the duties incumbent upon the members
OF that committees as committee but also the ordl-
nary legislative duties which pertain to them as mem
bers of this body There has been vast accumulation
of business upon the hands OF that committee. Some
thing like fifty treaties, which have been entered into by
the government with the Indians, have been submitted TO
that committee; and the relations OF policy in refer
10 the Indian tribes constitute probably the most
complicated piece of patch work Of any system that ex-
lists in any department OF this government in reference to
any subject whatever.
have felt il necessary to make this explanation in
view OF some misunderstanding which seems 10 exist on
the part of members here We do not ask this as
a personal exemption from duty men, but as thing
we deem absolutely necessary for the commes;
j Mr. DAWSON. donot desire 10 embarrass The action
OF the Senate at all by Offering any amendment which
might nure the direct application OF the Committee on
Indian Affairs. | therefore withdraw the proposition
have offered
make will influence the Senate to vote down this popo
son Nevertheless. this consideration shall not deter
me from effort to correct that which regard as an
abuse for every proposition that adds clerk TO the
committees OF the Senate regard abuse, and it
cannot have my vote. Heretofore, the Committee on
Finance have had clerk, and am willing TO admit there
thto In artn
gress for the labors OF this committee are oil kind that
competent make himself useful as clerk but
there reasons operating IN favor oi the employment
OF clerk by this committee that do not exist with any
other OF the body. need not waste time on this point
Senators all know TO what refer.
| A few days since ordered clerks for the Com
mtees on Naval Affairs and Commerce. Now we
are asked 10 order clerks for the Indian Committee
and Committee Patents and il the order ia
made, (as | presume il will be, judging from the
past and in view OF the great facility with which
we act aHirmatvey on all such malters) we will be
asked to grant clerks 10 every standing committee OF
the body. Why the Committee on Naval Affairs should
ask clerk is a matter OF astonishment 10 me. What
duty will the clerk of that Committee perform Will he
make up brief in each presented for the decision oil
the Committee and decide the merits of the casef II so,
we will have only the opinion oil the clerk, and not the
majority opinion OF the committee founded actual
| examination OF the case. While, as general rule,
might be willing 70 acl upon the opinion OF senator ex
pressed after full examination OF the report presented
by him, would not be thus willing TO adopt and act
upon the opinion Of clerk OF whom | know nothing,
and who has no legislative responsibility was Tor sew
era years member OF the Naval Committee, and there
fore have singled out and remarked upon what con-
sdered the claims Of this committee, and have no hes
ta,on in saying that while had the honor Of place on
that committee should have opposed the employment OF
clerk, the ground that he would have been use
less piece OF furniture lar the proper legitimate
business OF the committee concerned. II would be
source of convenience to every senator 10 have the
services OF a competent gentleman about his general
business affairs ransactng business at the departments
and keeping up his correspondence and do mol say
there would be anything wrong in thus employing an EN-
poyee o the committees But II this abuse or as such
practice let il be general Give all the committees OF
The body cetks. and then will all be upon an equal
footing II this resolution be adopted. as matter oil
coarse will expect 10 order clerk for each standing
| committee.
! Mr. BADGER. 10 not know how my honorable
friend from Indiana happens to be confident as TO
what is and what is required by all the committees Of
the Senate think we a great deal better able 10
Judge with regard the demands OF the committees with
which we are connected think we ought to speak tor
our own committees and TO confne ourselves, as former
senator from Missouri used say, TO our own ba-
wicks" Now sir the senator has referred TO The Com
mitee on Naval Affairs, and supposes that we cannot
have any need OF clerk This il but an instance TO
show what have ndicaed-the hazard OF ageneman
who undertakes pronounce upon the condition OF other
committees than his Sir, have very great need
OF clerk in the present condition of affairs We have
need OF active and intelligent clerk to facilitate
our Transaction OF the business which the Senate gives
10 us to carry on transact the necessary intercourse
between and the bureaus OF the departments, Tor the
purpose OF collecting the information we require, and 10
facilitate those inquiries which the Senate demand OF us
TO make, and upon which 10 report our own jndg
mani We do him communicate his