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

IN, manner OF making this payment; but he eoniended
mai until charge OF corruption or fraud was made for
msy against The Secretary 81 Stale. there was no pro-
Nh McMULIlN held that |. was not the duty OF
apy member TO make such charge TO eject his mir.
MeMuLLR's( ends The proposition 70 direct how the
ave the public money as well as IN the report OF in
MI HOUSTON. again inlenupiing Mr. Mem. made
an explanation show that il there had been deelicon
n The supenlendence OF this matter anywhere, il was
on The part OF the President. not that OF the House. or
Of lis Committee Of Ways and Means.
Mr. McMULLlN, resumng the floor. urged that II
had been charged by the newspapers that fraud and
ruu,on had been perperated in connexon with this mat
,rf This had been done not on the floor. but in the
swsnspers and though, therefore, not formally brought
forward for the action OF the House. yet he contended
,hai they required the immediate attention OF the Com
ml,se Of Ways and Means.
MIR DISNEY, intenupting MIR. Mem. gave his views
az 10 The charge that had been made, and argued that
was within the power OF the chairman OF The Committee
Of Ways and Means at moment TO step over TO the
State Department and ascertain the facts, as TO be
rsady 10 answer in his place here any question the
subject The charge that in former communications
ON be subject the Secretary OF State had evaded giving
direct and truthful answer to the inquiries Congress had
Mr. HOUSTON held that Mr. Disney himself was too
intelligent TO let anything within his reach go
planned on SO important matter. He Mr.; ID was a
member Of the last House. OF which he (M. H was not
member and he commended that If he Mr.. d. believed
i necessary that these charges should be investigated.
was his duty have moved in the matter long before the
Tor The House 10 maks formal cali for such inormaton
and not for an Individual member TO essay 10 get Hno
cnl information on which TO base action the part Of
the House. The proper plan to avoid mistakes and
further controversy this subject would have been for
the gentleman from Ohio Mr. d. to have brought for
ward resolution so drawn up az to have compelled the
Secretary OF State 10 have accorded the information de-
sired.
MIR. DISNEY urged that il was the duty of Mr.. Hous-
TON, a. the chairman Of the Committee OF Ways and
Means, 10 bring forward no appropriation bill until salts
contended that he lMr H was making this case an ex-
ceptou to the general rule which governed his conduct
a. the head Of that important committee. There had
been necessity for the introduction OF such resolu
ton of inquiry If the chairman OF the Committee of
Ways and Means had discharged his whole duty in this
case.
Secretary Of State had been repeatedly made, and that
the duty Of the chairman OF the Committee of Ways
and Means TO have been ready at moment to explain
S Srouah single inouly al the State besr,ment He
was not unwilling 10 offer the resolution. If that was
csssary get al the truth in this though until the
gentleman from Alabama Mr.. HoUsToNl had essayed
ihe Inquiry informally he could that such an OBJ
legation rested upon him. He believed il to be the duty
1.-THE House to investigate the charge which had as
sumed great importance and adduced further arguments
duty have applied at the State Department informally
for information the subject which would have enabled
the House TO act ntegby on the question Of bow these
Mr. HOUSTON then said that the impression OF Mr.
DssrY, that he (Mr. had undertaken TO advise him
@ 10 the proper method OF getting this information, was
He had discharged his whole duty in this matter, and
gued to show that that was only to provide the Of
making the payment not 10 assume 10 interfere with the
been before the COMMITTEES Of Ways and Means to au.
hoeze or require OF that committee an effort 10 interfere
in the matter OF the method Of making this payment He
(Hr had announced to the House that his original
formal call had been evaded by the Secretary Now
could il be believed that If the formal call had been
syaded an informal one would have accomplished the
object,
Mr. DISNEY had not said that he made the original
call or that il had been evaded He had said that such
call bad been made. and that charged that il had
been eyaded in the answer accorded by Mr. Secretary
Mr.. HOUSTON acknowledged the correction and con-
tnued argue that the Committee OF Ways and Means
bad hf T Ssd s duty in this made
day had furnished evidence that the subject des
tined TO be properly investigated by the Committee OF
Ways and Means, This investigation would be made,
he lelt sure, by the Committee OF Ways and Means,
without the adoption Of resolution.
II the Committee Of Ways and Means were OF opinion
that wrong had been done to this government and Mex
in the manner in which this payment had been made,
be (Mr Housrosl would be held responsible by his
s,uens and the country il he failed push the nvestga-
lion with proper energy. III the charges concerning
what had lransped between Corcoran Riggs, the Ba-
rings, and Mr.. Webster, true, great injustice had
been done to Mexico. OF this fact there could be no
diepute.
Now, had been charged that the democracy, by hold
ing Tie majority in The House just previous to the last
presidential election, answerabe for much done by
The whSseven the enormous expenses OF the last few
years had been charged the democratic party,
with evenly divided House the democrats had the
Committee OF Ways and Means in the last Congress.
These allegations were unfounded--how and why Mr.
Mem. explained. He for meeting any wing more
Than half way in the work OF rerenchng the expend
lures OF the government and in this particular he
ready to offer resolution in case the Committee OF
Ways and Means failed 10 push the investigation as il
should be urged He believed that he could satisfy the
House that il there had been corruption in this
affair there had been gross favortsm which had been
very unfortunate in lis effects the public interest
Mr.. APPLETON, of Massachusetts, called for the
reading Of the document accompanying the message OF
The President in question; which was read at length
VIZ communication from Corcoran Riggs, -
Wand, Rowland and Aspnwal, resgning the con.
tract, owing to the delay in the enactment OF the bill
then before the committee but avowing readiness 10 aid
The goyenmeni in the matter Of making the payment il
necessary Tor the governments interest.
Mr.. JOHNSON, OF Tennessee, proposed TO amend the
bill by adding clause directing the Secretary OF State 10
pay the money 10 the Mexican authorities. under the
supervision OF the President OF the United States.
The debate this bill was further continued by MIR.
enactment Of the b. leaving the Investigation into the
popeiy or Improperly OF the manner IN which the pay
meats had been made TO be pressed by those who be.
lisvsd that wrong had been done in thus making them
Mr. DISNEY next addressed the committee in favor OF
making the proposed investigation before the enactment
Of this bill. His purpose was 10 obtain information
which he conceived TO be necessary in guiding the House
m a. nj NM no an m nj