The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-11


Mr.. ATCHISoN. wish the Senator would
inform me what the costof Transporting Gen
eral Wilson TO his agency at Utah
Mr.. PEARCE. The whole cost is put down
at Sl2.270 IL. Now beg leave to make another
remark in this connection. The Senator from
California has assumed that this escort was sent
out for the sole purpose Of conducting Mr.. Wilson
to his agency. ! would refer the Senator 10 the
report of the late Commissioner Of Indian Affairs,
Mr. Medill, a Democrat, holding Office under the
administration Of Mr.. Polk and who was suffered
guraton. II will be found at page 1873, Of Docu-
ment No. IL, Of the first session Of the 3lst Con.
gress. will read only one single sentence from,
his letter to General Wilson:
"As you will doubtless avail yourself Of the military
cou which will leave ST. Louis shortly, funds will be
placed In the hands OF the Superintendent OF Indian Fairs
at that place TO be turned over 10 you"
That is the letter Of instruction from the Com.
missioner of Indian Affairs to this identical agent
General John Wilson. He told him that mill
tary force was going out, and that it would be-
better for him to fall in with il. The fact is, as
have ascertained at the Quarfermaster's Depart
ment, that the troops by which General Wilson
was escorted, were recruits which the Department
was sending TO Santa Fe. At Santa Fe he pro-
cured another escort and went on.
The Senate will perceive that this was not an
eNpe0ltlOn EOt the sole DeneNt on tnfS lnuluN
agent; hut that he was directed by the Demo
cratt Commissioner Of Indian Affairs to avail
himself Of the opportunity ola military force going
out TO Santa Fee
The Senator complains that General Wilson lefi
his station at tho. Great Salt Lake, and went on &c
California, and Tint then he resigned his office.
know nothing Of the particulars of that. | admit
that il does not seem 10 I've exactly proper that az
officer appointed 10 such station as this, should
toni, cd at hp Of ne
atoms, resign his place: but what ! mean TO say
is, that no improprety on the part Of Genera
Wilson was known To the present Executive, nor
80 far as | can ascertain, 20 the Executive who
preceded the present, at the time when he resigned
his office, and when he was appointed to another
The complaint which the Senator makes is: that
having gone upon this expedition at great cost
having resigned his office before he did anythint
except to write two or three dispatches, Mr.. vii
son was appointed navy agent at San Francisco
That the Senator charges as an offense upon I'll,
present Administration. Now, the fact is, tina
Mr.. Wilson, who was n personal friend of Gen
eral Taylor, was appointed navy agent by Genera
Taylor. He received his nomination from him
Il had been sent to the Senate, but was for
long time Enacted upon. IL was not, it is true
acted upon at the time when Mr.. Fillmore sue
coded to the Presidency; but the Senate know
very well that the policy of the present Execu
tive was not 10 withdraw nominations made nv hi,
predecessor, but send them all in to the Senate
unless there was some special reason to the con
trary. This Administration knew of no speria
reason why MIR. Wilson should not be appointed
navy agent. The Senator had, at that time, mad
no complaints against him. Nobody had mad
complaints against him, that can ascertain; an,
he went in under the nomination OF General Tay
lor, and was confirmed by the Senate--the Sena
tor from California being then believe, membe
Of the Senate, or a member elect, ready to tax
his seat here, when his State should be admitted
as she soon was.
But the Senator does not stop at this point. II