The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Senate bill to amend an act entitled "An act to
provide for the better security of the lives Of pas
sengers on boats propelled in whole or In part oy
steam.
Mr.. SEYMOUR. Of New York, said the Com
mittee on Commerce had agreed upon sundry
amendments, some Of them Tor the correction oi
typographical errors. and others to reconcile the
conflicting interests involved in the bill.
Mr.. STANTON. of Kentucky, caused to be read
eating the western rivers against portion OF the
bill which acquires them to be licensed.
| Mr.. CLINGMAN said the bill contained h'ty
five pages OF printed matter, and considering the
approach Of the termination OF the session, II
| could not be disposed Of during the morning hour,
which the bill would monopoiize, TO the exclusion
of all other business. With a view 81 as ertain-
| ing the sense Of the House. under these crcum.
stances, while he was Of opinion that there should.
if time permitted. be legislation on the subject, ne
moved TO postpone it's further consideration until
the second Monday Of December next.
Mr.. STANTON suggested that the gentleman
move that the bill be referred to the Committee Of
the Whole on the stale Of The Union.
MIR. CLING MAN acquesced, saying he was sat
ishcd that, during the sho time only which re
maned of the sessi m, it would be impossible to
mine The bill and perfect it
Mr.. SEYMOUR, Of New York, called attention
to the last section Of the bill, which provides that,
far the western waters are concerned, this bill
shall not 20 into effect until the first Of January
next. The object that the people Of the west
country, who desire the passage Of the bill.
may have an opportunity Of adapting sheir uoats
60 into operation until the fret of March, giving
ample time for modification. He therefore ex.
pressed the hope that action upon this bill would
Mr.. CLINGMAN replied, the remarks of the
gentle man satisfied him there ought " be post
pouemeDt of the bill. lft is not to go into effect
until January or March. the House had better take
Mr.. CARTIER inquired whether the merits Of
the bill could not be as we'll considered now as ut
| any future time
Ho could get through with the bill during the
morning hour.
The question was then taken on referring the
bill to the Committee Of the Whole the state Of
nays l2l.
The morning hour here expired.
THE sEcRErARY OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
COMMITTEES.
Mr.. OLDS asked leave to offer the following
preamble and resolutions, which were read for in
for ina ton, viz:
Whereas it 10 believed that spurious and FRAUD
ulent elaine have been passed upon and allowed
| by the Mexican Claims Commission; and whereas
among the claims said to have been fraudulent
amounting to large sum. said to be nearly half a
million Of dollars; and whereas grand jury for
the District Of Columbia. upon their oaths, have
presented the said DR.. Gardner for the crime of
perjury committed in bis testimony substa ntiating
| his said claim before said Mexican Claims Conn
mission; and whereas public rumor charges that
| the secretary OF the treasury WAS the agent or
counsel Of The said Dr. Gardner in the prosecution
Of the said alleged fraudulent claim, and that the
said Secretary had fee interest In said claim
amounting to a large sum, said to be one hundred
still further charges that the said Secretary Of the
| Treasury, for o sum said not to exceed fifteen
| thousand dollars, purchased and held tho one
fourth interest of said alleged fraudulent claim;
| and whereas the said claim, amounting to four
| hundred and twenty. eight thousand seven hun
dred and fifty dollars, has, upon the warrant OF
the said Secretary OF the Treasury. been paid; and
& Ss. Dsasf r
! an investigation Of said allegations: Therefore
I Resolved, That a committee, consisting Of five
members Of this House, be appointed by the Speak.
er, to investigate all the facts touching the connex
ion of the said Thomas Corwin, the present Score.
tary Of the Treasury with the said Gardiner claim;
what fee If any, he was to receive for his services
agent or counsel Of said Gsrdinei what interest,
If any, other than his fee interest, he purchased
| and held, either directly or indirectly, in said
claim, and the amount paid or stipulated to be
paid therefor and conditions Of such purchase; It
Of said Gardiner; to whom. and for what consider.
alton, he disposed his fee interest," to whom and
for what consideration, he disposed Of his
| fourth interest in said claim.
Resolped, further, That the said committee have
power to send for persons and papers.
Mr.. CABELL, Of Florida, asked that the first
sentence Of the preamble be read, and It was read
objected the introduction of the proposition, be
cause no gentleman took the responsibility OF max.
| ing the charges involved in it.
Mr.. OLDS moved suspension of the rules; and,
The question having been taken. it was decided
in the aftirmative-yeas l42, nays Gas follows:
YEAS -Messrs. Charles Allen, Willis Alien,
Avereti, Babcock, Thomas H. Bayly, Barrere.
Beals. Bbighaur, Bssell, Bocock Bowie. Bovine,
Brown. Buell., Busby. Joseph Cable, Lewis D.
Campbell, Thompson Campbell. Cartier, Caskie,
Chasiain, Churchwell, Clark, CIinglnan Cobb.
Dawson. Dean. Dimmick. Disney. Doekery, Doty,
Dunham. Edgerton, Edmunds0n, Faulkner, Fitch,
Florence, Floyd, Fowler, H. M. Fuller, Gamble,
Gaylord, Gentry, Gilmore, Goodrich, g teeD, Hall,
Sampson w. HArris, Hart. Haws, Hendricks, Hem,
Hibbard, Holiday. Houston, Howard, John w.
Howe, Thomas M. Howe, Thomas Y. How. jr.,
!ngersoll, Ives. Jackson. Andrew Johnson, John
Preston King Kubns, Kurtz. Letcher, Lockhart,
Mann, Martin, Mason, McCorkle, McLanahan,
NIcNair. Mcqueen. Meade, Miller, Mlson, Mo.
Ps1fs1 wMoI Ps od G
Penn, Pennman, Perkins, Phelps, Polk. Powell.
Price, Richardson, Riddle, Robbins, jr Robbie,
Ross. Savage, Scurry, David +. Seymour, Shelton.
Richard H Stanton, Abraham P. stevens. St
Martin, Stratton, Stuart, Sutherland, Sweetser,
Thompson, Thurston. Townshend, venable, Wal.
! lace, Walsh, Watkins, WEIGH, Alexander White,
Wilcox, Wildrick, Woodward, and Yates-l42
NAYS-Messrs. w. Appleton, Bennett, Brooks.
George H. Brown. E. Darlington Cabell. Caldwell,
Chandler. Chapman, Duncan. Evans. Goodenow,
HascaIl. Haven, George G. King, Landry, Henry
d. Moore, John Moore, Outlaw, Reed, Schoon
maker, Scudder, Stanly. Thaddcus Stevens, Tay.
| lor, Tuck, Walbridge, and WeIls-T.
Mr.. oLDs then introduced the resolutions, and
| entered into explanations, and replied To the
marks heretofore made by his colleague, Mr..
| CAMPBELL, who had defended Mr.. Corwin against
charges similar to those now presented.
Mr.. CAMPBELL responded, and repeated, that
whenever competent person shalt come forward
and make such charges against the Secretary,
that gentleman would challenge investigation.
And he objected that the investigation should be
| made on the ground of mere yumor, when no 70.
sponsibe person makes the charge Of corruption?
| Mr.. MEADE moved q substitute for the original
preamble, to the effect, "whereas, strong suspi.
cion exists in the public mind that fraudulent
| claims were allowed by the late Mexican Claims
Commission, with Of which Il 10 suspected that
Thomas Corwin, Secretary Of the Treasury, has
been improperly connected" Therefore, re-
! solved, &c.
The substitute was agreed to; and the preamble.
as thus amended, together with the resolutions,
were then adopted.
NAIL OCEAN sr.AMrRs.