The daily union., 1852-08-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
SATURDAY, AUGUST IA, 1852.
SENATE.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

Mr. MERIWETHER moved that the Senate proceed
to the consideration oil The following resolution offered by
him on the 12lh instant
Rsolcsd That the President OF the Ualted States be re-
quesed inform the Senate hat amount OF public money
has paid Gen Winfield Scout and Gen. Franklin
Pierce respectively from the time OF their first entrance
into the public service up 10 tue pesen. date dls'insusn
what said amounts paid whether for proper ra
lions. forage horses, mileage transportation, servants
Of the preceding items Also that he inform the Sena'e
what of compensation has been claimed by
either OF each and every such claim when first
presented and when and by whom allowed or rejected and
o1 s rseon snd whelher any item Or i,em claim or
claims dsullowed, subsequently, presented Tor
payment and ii SO, how often, and when and if subse
auently allowed paid, by whom and when. and the
amounts thereof and the reasons for such allowance and
the thereof And that he also inform the Senate
whether either OF the abovenamed generals has received
from the public treasury pay or emolumes Tor dlscharg
ing the duties of than office or employment at the
same time and if what offices empoyments, and the
amount Of such pay and emoamenls, and the ,ne when
sened discharge OF the duties OF TWO more Offices
or mpoyMen,s tie same tme by either Of them, and
dsalowed and so, by whom disalowed, when, and for
then given And that he also inform the SEN
ate whether either of the abovenamed generals has
urder color Of charging for per eenage or for extra com
pensaon for other reason or reasons, or IN any
hands any OF the public funds, property, without
thory of law and il So when, and The amount or value
or any part thereof has been repaid the United
States and il so, what and when repaid and
has ever come the hands either Of them
remains naccounted for and SO, in whose hands and
how much
The motion agreed to-
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee. shall not oppose the
adoption of this resolution but desire TO offer amend
ment and The senator from New Jersey Mr. MILLER i
who is not in his seat also desires 10 offer
therefore that the further consideration OF the
resolution be postponed until Monday in order that the
special order OF the day may he taken up.
Mr. MERIWETHER. 1 hope that motion will not
prevail We want get response TO that resolution, if
possible before the Senate adlourns
The question beng taken upon the motion to postpone,
" III re IeecIed-ayeS
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, desire TO offer the fol-
lowing amendment:
Insert after "da'e'--
Saring particularly the date of their entrance
into the public service, and how appointed whether
Cost Of course Of study at that Institution and the sum
paid to either, or both, while there
After : medical attendance"-
For what diseases, far be ascerained, such
attendance re1uired whether for wounds received
and what service such wounds received, and how
often such s.;sndaacep nc , was required ty each"
Senate whether General Scos General Pierce has
s 2 hs ss IN Of 0 sapas 0as haa
pyd End " m paid out 'ss Of the sasay @
mileage travelling expenses, allowed and paid to
each. and the amount 50 paid.
Mr. JONES asked for the yeas and nays; which were
Mr. MERIWETHER. would barely suggest that if
the amendment is adopted, cannot hope get
sponse 10 The resolution during the present session
Mr. BRIGHT. III the honorable senator from Tennes-
see will offer his amendment distinct proposition in
the form OF separate resolution, apprehend that II
will meet with no objection shall not oppose H. at
any rate But are unwilling 10 embarrass the reso-
luton offered by the senator from Kentucky with the
amendment offered by the senator from Tennessee
hope The senator will take the course suggest, and
withdraw his amendment.
Mr.. JONES. | certainly have such purpose as TO
embarass this resolution, which the senator from Indiana
fears will be the result But as The original resolution
Teques nvesg alton and report to the country OF the
OF moneys received by each OF the two gentlemen
for public services. it will certainly be legitimate and
proper inquire what those services have been II GER
iainly cannot delay the investigation single hour while
they making out the account current for the objects
of the expenditure to be stated My object simply TO
determine the time employed in the public service, and
The character OF The service and expenditures offer the
amendment in factous spirit but with the desire that
the country may have the facts think the inquiries 10
any amendment perfectly germane TO the original res
on,ion, and will delay the report at ALL therefore
hope that il will be adopted
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Mr. President, inasmuch as the
amendment, proposed by the honorable senator from
Tennessee Ir JosEsl contains the points OF IN.
quiry only in detail does the original resolution,
think is pertinent and proper that should be adopted
III supposed the amendment was offered with view to
embarrass or with view TO defeat The adoption oil this
resolution, or with view to make The call so particular
as to render il impossible for the department TO give
an answer during this session, should certainly resist
an amendment OF that description ln this case do not
think take more than two or three days TO answer
that resolutions and my opinion IS, that we ought TO
adopt il now and then whether not II is
answered in due time. | hope the resolution will be
adopted Let have all the information which The de-
a prompt reply to the inquiry.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr.. President, whether the resolu-
ton 10 answered promptly not, appears 10 me TO be
only unmporian TO the Senate, bu, also TO the coun
try No gentleman has undertaken 10 say TO what use
fu purpose this Information, thus called for be ap
piled No one snpposes that any particular utility 10
legislation IL 10 be derived from il; and apprehend that
the only purpose TO which IL be applied will be u
crowd the umns ol newspapers, teemng with vi-
fcaon OF these gentlemen, with still more OF the same
kind OF matter. III this amendment offered with
view to interfere with a useful resolution, or with
resolution which we could evidently is OF importance
10 the country, should not sustain it, Sir, should be
as little likely as any else TO sustain anything cacu
lated TO bring individual character into discussion before
the people in manner which would be likely to produce
aspersion on any individual ] should not think Tor
example, OF adding amendment inquiring how much
public money you yourself, sir, have received IN the
course OF your public service being perfectly well sas
fed that whatever you have received you are rlchly
entitled to, not only by law, but for your merton,
services have not the slightest doubt that General
Pierce was alike meritoously emitted TO all he received
! appretiend the saue is true OF General Scott
The answer TO the resolution will disclose what we
all know very well-that General Scott has received
much larger amount OF public money than has General
Pierce, having been much longer in public service
and that will be disparagemen to Genera Pierce,
VINO ls gentleman have always treated with respect;
Bor Whea the duration and the character of he services
performed BY him general are comIared with the dura
on and character of the services OF General Scott, will
De considered that the proportion OF the services per
formed will correspond with the amount OF money paid
bui wish TO wash my hands completely from any ln
Vesllgatons OF this sort believe they are DOM non
orabe men, and fully entitled 10 all they have received
and am not wng- DO not charge that purpose 10 the