Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-15
REMARKS OF Mn. GWIN,

OF CALIFORNIA, t,
on THE DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATION BILL.

IsrHE SENATE, APRIL 10 AND 20, 1852.
The Senate having under consideration the bill TO sup
ply deficiencies in the appropriations for the service OF the
fiscal year ending the 30th Of June, 1852
Mr. GWIN said Mr.. President it was not my purpose
to make any remarks in reference to this bill except 70
explain some Of the amendments which have been offered
by the Committee on Finance But the discussion which
took pdac on Friday has made Il duty on my part 70
present some facts TO the Senate, which shall % as
briefly Us possible Although dissent from the CHAIR
Of the Finance Committee in of the positions
assumed by him in opening this discussion, should pe
yerheess have remained silent but for remark which
fell from the Senator from Georgia. (r. BERRIES That
senator stated that he struck with the popularity Of
this discussion with which have been favored from
the chairman Of the Finance Committee the subectof
deciency b And he went on 10 state that he was not
now prepared for the discussion; but he added al
II me,ey for the Of having understoodby
the country that this Naturalization il capable Of defence
whoa the proper moment arrives for mAkingit it." gkl
Now here is notice given to that the Senator in
tends TO defend this Administration at the proper te
and, ~ order that he may have additional mats.ias TO
those that were furnished by the Senator from Virgins
Mr.. HuNTER, will give him some other items which
will demand explanation from the champions Of the ADJ
shall commence by calling the attention
Of the Senator to this provision Of the Constitution Of the
United States: $500 IN
"No Senator Representative shall, during the time ot
which he elected be appointed any civil Office under
the authority Of the United States which shall have been
created the emoents shall have been increased
during such time and person holding Office under the
United States shall BE- member Of either House during his
in Office" 4it L4slT na.ta A
w hs WIN nd IN tss G aceS%
psdyng the Presidents message on California and New
Mexico addressed to the Hon. Thomas Butler King, who
at the time member Of Congress elect from the dis
trict believe In which the Senator resides The Secre
tary Of State says: Dl& sa@E 1 Ea
q The President reposng full confidence in your integrity
ability and prudence has appointed you agent for the pur
naval and military commanders in California" .e
Attic close of this letter he says: M
Your compensation shall be ut the rate of eight dollars
diem from the time Of your departure the business Of
mission until return home and you will be allowed
your travelling and other expenses during your ABSENCE
Mr.. DAWSON What is the date Of that letter? sE9iI
Mr.. GwN. It is dated April Sd, la49. Mr.. King was
been elected believe, the previous October His term
had commenced and here he receives of the most inn
portant appointments shall presently show con-
ferred upon any individual from the beginning Of the Co
yernment to the present time still retaining his seat in
Congress- and receiving compensation at the rate of eight
dollars day and his travelling expenses in addition to
what he might receive member of Congress. Now,
what was Mr. Kings mission? He had placed under his
control the whole power Of this Government the Pac
c coast that portion Of it included within the Terri
tory of California He had placed at his disposal the
army navy, and treasury Of the United States. have
the documents to prove what state read from letter
from Gen. Smith, who in chief command in Califor-
mia, addressed to the Secretary of War, He says:
"sm: have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your communication by the hands the Hon. Butler King
With the view Of afordng him every possible opportu-
nifty Of acquiring information relating California its present
situation its capabilities and prospects, have prepared the
OF making journey the most OF the territory
that nhabited going from the upper part Of the Sacra
mento along the foot of the Sierra Nevada to the upper waters
the San Joaquin and returning by the coast
after visiting the country north Of this bay the
Several officers Of the staff will accompany us and an expe
renced geoog Dr. Tyson Of Maryland has promised 20
along Commodore Jones win also be Of the party he finds
he be spared from the We shall leave
the steamer is dispatched"
Now this expedition is one Of the items that has within
few years sweed the expenditures in the quartermas
ter's department to such extraordinary amount It
fitted out by the quartermaster at expense and
Mr.. King escorted by the general and commodore in
command of the army and navy the Pacific into
the interior Of California, accompanied by an armed
escort The authority by which Mr. King controlled these
movements emanated from the President of the United
States There discretion left to the military
manders in California. will show now what Mr. King
did to the navy He delivered his instructions COM
modore Jones, in command that station who writes
letter to the Secretary of the Navy, as follows:
"SR: have the acknowledge receipt your
letter of the th of April handed the 5th instant by
Lieutenant Rnggod of the navy In company with the Hon.
7. Butler King. acceptable vser than Mr. King
could hardly have been sent to California could his
rival here have been opporne being himself the bearer
Of the first authentic intelligence Of the failure of all efforts in
Congress extend the laws of the United States this
Territory Mr. King viii doubtless report by the first
the state and condition Of affairs here he found them 1t
gratifying to that portion of the and navy
ing this station find that the they have adopted
for security persons property for the collection
Of duties on foreign imports approved by Mr. King
hope they will be by the President" t NcG Nf
To show what unlimited power was conferred on Mr..
King, will read letter addressed by him to Commodore
Jones, dated .@ leett eih
.s4 sv.t 4r f4A 4 i"SAs FRAscIsco, AuGusr 10, IS49
Sn In carrying into effect the views and policy indicated
in the letter Of the Secretary Of the Navy which had the
homer deliver you arrival in this place II has be-
necessary that request you to dispatch the steamer
Edith practicable to San Diego touching at the In.
temediate ports and to return Monterey by the M prox
Please TO have her supplied with stores &C. to accom-
modate twenty in her cabin AS she is
informed undergoing repairs must beg that will not
employ such force will ensure her being ready
for sea- If possible, by Saturday next
have the honor TO be- great respect and esteem
"Conlanodore T. Ar G. JOKES, DC. &C. de-" ~
Commodore Jones, on the frst Of September, notifies
the Secretary Of the Navy Of this order :47r ss r
"Srn; The steam propees Edith and Massachusetts, have
transferred from the War 20 the Navy Department the
the squadron and the latter the joint commission.
The Edith In very unservceable condition. that is her
propeng machinery, which has been repaired very
siderable cost S3500 and she in charge of Leuten
ant Mccormick with two engineers hired for the occasion and
has gone to leeward upon requon Of the Hon r. B. King,
to bring the members elect from San Diego, Los Angeles and
Santa Barbara Monterey where the convention for forming
a State constitution win this day meet .,
On the 18th Of September he writes another despatch
to the Secretary as follows: 91@ tte
."FLAe Ssrr ONO, SAN FaAScrsco
SEPTEMBER IL, 1S49. IL
SIN: The enclosed copy OF letter from Lieutenant james
Mccormick will inform you Of the shpwreck and loss Of
the United States steam-p propeller Edith My letter NO
G5 the Let OF September last informed You Of the object for
which the Edith dispatched to lecwad which viii be bet
ter understood by the accompanying copy Of letter from the
Hon. Butler King TO addressed pleased to say
that Notwithstanding the loss of the Edith the object Of her
visit below has not been defeated all the members elected
70 the convention from the southern districts with single
ception attendance Monterey when the convention