Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-21
CONGRESS-.
SATURDAY, AUGUST Ii, 1852,
IN SENATE.


SATURDAY, AUGUST IL, 1852.
IN SENATE
message received from the President Of the Uni
ted States in compliance with resolution of the
Senate of the 10th july transmitting report from the
Secretary of Sate covering documents in relation the
Imprisonment of the United States consul, Mr. Rice at
Acapulco
Mr.. BORLAND desired to make brief explanation to
the Senate which in effect that the resolution which
had been submitted by the chairman of the select
mttee to investigate abuses frauds had reported hat
one of the witnesses had proved contumacious. This
morning the witness referred to in that resolution had
appeared before the committee where the oath prescribed
was taken by that individual and his examination was
then in progress His object simply ask that the
resolution be taken up in order that he might that
| II lie on the table,
And the resolution ordered to lie the table.
EMoLUNENTS OF GENERALS SCOTT AND PIERCE.
Mr.. MERIWETHER. ask the Senate to take up the
resolution which submitted on Thursday apprelend
il will take but few moments to adopt ii.
The motion agreed to- and the resolution read
as follows:
Resotred That the President of the United States
quested inform the Senate what Of public money
has been paid General Winfield Scott and Gen. Franklin
Pierce respectively from the time of their first entrance into
the public service up to the present date distinguishing be-
tween regular and extra compensaon ALSO for what said
amounts paid whether for pay proper rations ge
horses mileage, transportation, servants quarters, fuel
dca attendance or Communication for any OF the preceding
items.
Also that he inform the Senate what of
pensaon has been claimed by either the items of each and
every such claim when first presented aid when and whom
allowed rejected, and the official given the time
for such allowance rejection and whether item em
claim or claims dsaowed, subsequently presented
for payments and, If SO, how Often and when and subss
queny allowed paid by wnom ana and the amounts
thereof and the for such allowance and the amounts
thereof -
And that he also inform the Senate whether either of the
above named Generals has received from the public treasury
pay emoumen for dischaging the duties of than
10
offices employment and the amount Of such pay and emou
ments and the time when paid and whether any claim or
claims have been presented for the discharge Of the duties of
Offices empoyments the sams time by either
Them and dsaowed; and So by whom dalowed when
and for what reasons then given.
And that he also inform the Senate whether either of the
above named Generals has under color If charging for
per centage or for extra compensation or f other
reasons, any form, applied to his
retained in his hands, any of the pubic funds pro-
pery, without authority of law; and if when, and the
value thereof whether thus applied
retained any part thereof has beer repaid the
United States and what amount and when repaid;
and whether any amount of public money or property which
has the hands possession of either of them
mains unaccouned for and in whose hnds and how
much.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee shall oppose the adop-
ton Of that resolution desire, however to amend it,
if possible. The Senator from New Jersey r. MILLER,
not in his seat also desires to offer amendment
therefore postpone the consideration of the
solution until Monday next and also that the special
der of the day may now be taken up.
Mr. MEhlN nope the consideration OF the
resolution will not be postponed We response to
the resolution before the adjournment of Congress- and
fear shall receive if the consideration Of the
resolution be postponed.
The question taken the motion postpone and
on a division there were: Ayes IL, noes 90.
SO the motion was not agreed to.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee. have amendment which
wish to offer ask that it may be read.
1t was read as follows
Insert after the word date" the words
Stating particularly the exact date of their entrance into
the public service and how apponted whether graduate
of the military academy otherwise and the Of
OF study at that institution and the paid to either or both
while there"
After the words medical attendance insert the words
for what diseases far be ascerained such attend
anee required whether for wounds received in battle
for ordinary sickness and for wounds when and in what
vice such wounds received and how often such attend
ance was required by EACH"
Add the Ionowing resolution:
Resored That the President requested to inform
the Senate whether Gen. Scott Gen. Pierce has rendered
service 10 the country in any capacity other than military
and So the length Of time each employed and the
amount paid of the Treasury for such service dis
nguishng between the regular pay and fees, mileage,
travelling expenses allowed and paid to EACH and the amount
sopad.
Mr. JONES On that amendment ask that the yeas
and nays may be taken.
The yeas and nays were ordered
Mr. MERIWETHER. will simply suggest that If
that amendment be adopted cannot hope to get
spouse to the resolution during the present session
Mr.. BRIGHT If the honorable Senator from Tonnes
see Will 0Uef MS amendment as
the form Of resolution apprehend it viii meet with no
opposition from this side of the chamber; but
willing to embarrass the object of the resolution it
came from the hands of the Senator from Kentucky
Mr.. JONES | certainly have no such purpose as that
indicated by the Senator from Indiana 1t is not my
purpose to embarrass the resolution offered by the Sena
tor from Kentucky The object of that resolution
derstand is publish to the country at large the amount
OF money received by each Of the individuals named IN
compensation for their public services and the nforma
ton for which have asked will not add much to the
labor necessary to answer the queries proposed by it. 1t
cannot delay the investigation when they making up
their account current If thought it would lead de-
lay should not have offered it. have offered in no
cautious spirit but simply for the purpose Of obtaining
possession Of all the facts and conceive that 1t is per-
fectly germane to the original resolution.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Inasmuch as the amendment Is GER
name and pertinent to the original resolution think it
should be adopted II il offered for the purpose Of
embarrassing the resolution to make the call broad
as 70 render II impossible for the Departments to return
an answer during the present session. should vote against
it. In this case, do not believe that than two
three days will be necessary to return an answer, and
therefore my view is that should adopt the amend
Their the viii be returned in due time repeat,
that we ought to adopt the amendment and obtain all the
information which the Department can give
Mr.. PEARCE. Whether the resolution is answered
promptly not appears me tc be entirely unimpor-
tant 10 the Senate to the country No gentleman has
undertaken TO say to what useful purpose the nerma
ton called for can be applied No has said that he
supposes any particular facility legislation will be de-
rived from IT. and specific charge requiring investga
ton has been made against either Of the parties named
apprehend that the only purpose to which IL viii be