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

sea in the employment OF clerk 10 regard TO myself
say thai wish clerk 10 be employed for the Naval
Commitee, have no personal business for him TO do
My own business ] do myself. Whether well or i'll
done, II is done with my own hands, and without the
slsiance OF others. And am very we'll satisfied that
there is no gentleman associated with upon the Com
mittee Naval Affairs who wishes clerk for any such
indirect and personal advantage,
The honorable senator admits that the Committee on
Finance has need OF cerk-iha il eminently needs it,
The Senate has been in the habit of furnishing clerk
that committee and have always been glad done
But when honorable gentlemen upon this oor members
OF other committees, announce TO me that IN their judg
ment the transaction aud the despatch OF the public
business given TO them requires that they should
duty to presume that they actuaed by public
slderaons. and are not seeking TO attain any private
ends And now. with regard TO this committee,
committee II seems to me difficult for 10 furnish
dichncion upon which we shall refuse clerk TO this
committee any more than to the others There is the
head Of which is my friend from Texas, [Mr. RusK]
Without being particularly familiar with the business OF
that committee think il might be reasonably supposed
that they would require clerk. My friend has stated
upon former occasions that they did know that he
said it. because he believed and nothing would induce
HIM TO say il he had not believed il SO is with
gard 10 this and SO is with regard 10 the Military Com
mitee with whose business have had some experience
and The business OF which have known 10 suffer, when
was member oil that committee, for the want OF such
| an officer
Now, sir, with regard to the expenditure permit me to
say that think it is little penny wisdom and pound
|
ing out the public money to be carefully engaged in
stopping the little spgoholes out OF which small por-
ton OF the public treasure oozes especially when il is
dispensed for the purpose OF enabling the committee
more satisfactorily and beneicay TO discharge the duties
imposed upon them. The honorable senator says that
members OF the committee ought 10 take this upon them
selves, and that he, Tor one, ID willing TO do It, be-
lieve that he IS. He isa young mana man in vigorous
health fond OF labor and pleased with kind Of inves
tigaton that TO me is absolutely repulsve Well let him
then on and devote those powers he possesses TO the
service of the Senate in the honorable and efficient
he does; but let him not deny clerks TO those who
have not the capacities facilities who, from
age. ndispostion, any other cause, are unable to
come up with him or other members in this regard. !
in'Isat M him M11n%Te no! e do iea.., i o..o, m
order to reach the special order but withdrew the motion
Mr. Bright. who said: This is rather an unmportau,
matter but since the remarks of the honorable senator
from North Carolina, must be INDUCED with short reply
employed no such language in my previous remarks as
that senator attributes TO me; nor did anything which
SAID justify the construction which that honorable
ator sought in his remarks to put upon nine said moi
word which could, by implication even, be regarded
rejecting upon the honor integrity OF any senator and
venture the assertion that the honorable senator from
North Carolina stands alone in this misconcepton OF that
which did say said, in general terms that believe
clerks TO committees OF this body useless appendages as
lar the legitimate business of the body concerned
and their employment an abuse Of privileges here
and this again repeat, by way OF others
who may take different view OF this subject but by way
OF expressing my decided condemnation OF thus summa
ry fastening on the treasury new batch of pension
!
to be employed under this and similar resolutions will
be continued over at the end OF this TO the opening OF the
next Congress- and so on from year to year, adding
another and another TO the long list OF abuses that
daily creeping into every department OF this Capitol and
again mark at the end OF this sessionabout the last
day or night thereof-you will have a resolution offered
BY some kndy-disposcd senator, giving, in addition 10
the 81 500 per annum, (now paid TO cleks qualification
OF $3.50 and this will not only be done at the long,
but unless practice obtains, these very clerks,
that are now employed oaly for present use, will be
continued 10 the short session. and the salary
be given for three months work. and the $3.50 extra pay
again added. am speaking OF the probable future, hav-
ing my eye on the past and have this point only
said what feel quite will be realized unless great
change takes place in our mode Of legislation,
The honorable senator from North Carolina feels AT
liberty 10 read lecture account oil my notice OF
| the Naval Committee. | spoke in the most respectful
terms OF that important committee, and remarked that
when was a member OF il, as had been for two
three sessions past, the chairman and members oil il had
experienced no Inconvenience from the want OF clerk,
and that not aware of any greater necessity for
| clerk now than then and now, notwithstanding the
opinions of the honorable senator from North Carolina,
expressed in very authoritative manner, beg leave
again say that do not believe the Naval Committee
can ud employment for clerk, and will go further and
add that there is not committee OF this body unless it
be the COMMITTEES on Finance, that can rohably employ
one, far the interests OF the public are concerned
Whether, while | was a member oil the Committee on
Naval Affairs, contributed in the least degree to tighten
the labors Of the honorable senator from North Carolina
who known TO shrink from any responsibility,
or the performance OF any duties, however arduous,
is matter OF very little consequence at this time
ne question now whether puDic interest Will be
promoted by this loose system OF creating SET OF
useless officers | think not, and have plainly given
some OF my reasons, without intending TO offend in the
slightest degree any senator Knowing, however, what
do 10 the such propositions as this gen
orally disposed OF here say that have the least
idea II will be defeated and consider all have said or
might say in opposition TO the resolution as labor lost
an content TO aix my mark Of opposition upon II, and
| let IT 60.
| MIR. BADGER. wish TO remind the senator from In.
diana of two things with regan 10 the Naval Committee
which to have escaped his recollection. In the
FIRST place, while he member OF that body, he was
a member of or two other committees furnishing so
much occupation for his lime that il very seldom that
we could demand or that he could give the assistance
his labors, advice, and counsel would have afforded
and hence my friend from New Jersey who sits behind
me, Mr. MLLER,l and who was a, that time member
of that committee and the then senator from Florida, Mf
YULER,l who al the head OF the committee had
thrown upon us an amount OF labor and responsibility
under which we were borne and pressed down, but
Ter OF which he knew nothing That IS the first obser
| valion
And then wonder in the second place. that the honor
able senator had not thought OF the other fscthat
have now the State Of California in the Union, and
requires clerk TO attend to the business OF Cali
forna, even il able TO attend TO the rest oi the
| Union
Mr. HALE. did not intend, sir 10 mingle in this de-
BATE but as the senator from North Carolina says the
Naval Committee has been oppressed" and as hold
myself the advocate OF the oppressed always sir laugh
ler,1 want to say word. II strikes me, sir, that
making mistake in the discussion OF this matter
We are going too much into detail We are not taking
national view OF the thing; and want suggest ma