The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY. DECEMBER is. 1858.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY or THK TREASURY,

THURSDAY. DECEMBER 49, 1853.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
The bill from The SENATE, prescribing the manner OF
appointing The Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury, was
nex taken from the Speakers table, and read hrst and
Mr.. HOUSTON, move TO refer this bill to the Com,
Mr. EWING | move 10 refer il TO the Committee OF
the Whole on The stale OF the Unon and, Il be IN or
der, will briefly give my reasons Tor making the mo-
ton.
| A MEMBER. Let the bill be read FIRST.
The bill Was read through by the Clerk.
ltpovidss That hereafter the officer OF the government
known as Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury shall DC
appointed by The President Of The United States, by and
with the advice and consent OF the Senate,
mo.ion think il would be better disposition Of this
bill to refer il 10 the Committee OF the Whole on the
state OF the Union than 10 any private standing COM
mntee. am extremely anxious, and believe II is the
desire Of the people all the country, that This war
which has been stealing upon should at last be OPEN
ly conducted. II is The custom among all civilized ma
tl0ns, when they 20 10 to declare what the
upon which their warfare is 10 be waged, that
enlightened world may Judge OF the justice OF those is
| sues.
friends The existence OF avery proper and prasewor,hy
State pride For instance the other day. when the ancient
pescnpve right OF Vrgnians 10 hold office assailed
most ouageousIy and unprecedentedly (aughier,] my
worthy friend over the way. Mr. BAYLY,l from Viz
gnia--greatly be il said TO his honor-at once in
defence OF the rights of Virginia. That gentleman has
taken under his charge the protection OF the department
OF the library OF the House OF Representatives, and l.
keniuckan, clam the same right in reference to
other branch 0 the government and assume 10 take the
Treasury Department under my wing [Renewed laugh
ter , a. sa
| Sir, know OF no other reason but the one have
given which the gentleman could offer in justification
and vndcation of his Two years ago. when the
head OF that venerable whlg, the librarian, rolled upon
the sands, stained with his sacred blood-when he fell
under the OF prescription, removed IRON this same
Office by this high funconary who pres!des al hat
desk do not remember that single word then said
OF the supreme importance OF the House taking the cleo
tio0 of Librarian into their hands. We poor pro-
scrbed, and downrodden whigs, had then, have
since only Congress now, but in the executive de-
pa5tmens OF The government, 70 submi. to The torture
Inflicted upon by relentless conquerors with In
dian sioicsm not being allowed even the privilege OF
grumbling though now beg leave TO give solitary
gIoan of agony for the fate OF some OF my friends.
do net like this sor, OF warfare let us have fair
and open fight. Let US have courageous, energetic
fight no underhandrd game; guerilla warfare, cut
iiOg of sentnes and pickes, and sknishing with out
posts Let US good national democrats as they call
themselves come out with true courage. am weary OF
these assaults upon Kentucky Secretary OF the Treas
ury whom believe to be the best OF the whole batch
He might well exclam with honest Jack FastaH, Com
pany, vliano6s company, bath been the spoil OF me-
Great laughter believe that be IL an honest man. and
say II all sincerity and do mol want any laugh
ter Introduced by the reporter just here in his report OF
these remarks SO as TO make II appear am not now
speaking sincerity repeat again, sincerely that
believe he is honest reliable, courageous man.
know il. have known him Tor years and both in his
public and private character esteem him most highly
believe him 10 be man OF courage, man OF energy,
man OF sincerity believe that the strength OF his
vcons and the honesty OF his purposes have been used
BY others who had perhaps less courage and less EN-.
ergy, and less sincerity. know that he has been an,
horsei haps, in The opinion OF many IN recent uli
which he had IN New York arena, Perhaps his luck
rnen have their faults and Their weakness Dogbeny
says that 40 be we-iavored is the gilt OF
fortune; bu. 10 write and to read comes BY ma, ma
tufe." llaugher] And !, Is not IN the nature OF all
men to wne with sbliiy lie may have allied in that
| encounter. lie may have been unfortunate. so much
the stronger them The call upon the sympathies OF his
counlry men Keninck ians. / appeal 10 ali OF them
around me 10 come to the Let defend bim,
and have open warfare, aud then perhaps | might feel
There was some chIvary IN the combat. do not know
that might not be tempted even TO enlist myself in the
army, If was declared against the whole adninslfa
ton, the head and front. from the chief down 10 the
ssiant secretaries and the lowest clerks Why, they do
not even assaii our Kentucky Secretary directly himself
They attack him BY sor OF indirect blows al the As
slslsnt SecreaIyby passing resolution somewhat like
the resolution ot my Trend IRON Virginia. Mr. BAYLr1
who has Just DISCOVERED after several years service in
Congress, that is highly important for the proper care
the books tha, the Librarian should be elec,ed by the
House etaughierl-ihey discovered after long series
OF years that /, not sale 10 inrust the appointment
the Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury 10 the head
OF the Treasury Department himself, but that he ought
| TO be confirmed BY the Senate.
Mr. BAYLY, OF Nsinia. As the gentleman has
leed 10 me frequently, probably may be justified in
series OF years the Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury
has been appointed by the Secretary OF the Treasury.
| I'LL he be good enough to inform me when the law
passed authorizing the appo nment OF Assistant Sec
reary OF the Treasury II occurs to me that tits late
law. F.
MIR. JONES' OF Tennessee oh, no; it was two years
ago
Mr.. EWING. The gentleman from Virginia. like the
gentleman from Illinois, on his left, MIR. RICHARDSON
has sort OF Socra,c mode of Argument He IL peculi
ary given TO asking questions order 10 entrap young
| aud aDsopbistcated members like myself. who do
know the dates OF the passage OF laws. Laughter,
knew he only asked that question in order to give
himself h opportunity OF showing that he knows
great deal better thaa do when laws passed Well.
gress and, unfortunately you have got Kentucky Sec
feiafya democratic Serrelaryand you want to deprive
him of power. Sir, | call upon the democracy-be or
ganized democracy oi the House--the democracy who
20 Tor true organ zaonthe great and general demo-
cratic psryine universal. all absorbing democratic par
~, composed. as is OF s. many elements throughout
this universal nation OF ouTsl cali upon the organized
democracy OF the House refuse TO that refractory Sen
ate the right 10 sill Judgment upon the appointments OF
States. Laughter EEEa slEa
Why, cir, what next are they TO perpetraei Here,
within few days past have they not decared-not ex-
acy open warfare they have not come 10 that yebut
have they declared this newly invented guerilla
against the organization OF the democratic party and alb
soutey, with unprecedented audsciy, anpardonabe.
too IL is, darei to elect their public printer,
llaughieGl without consul ation with Mr. Armstrong,
the President either OF The Secretaeso o the United
States, although. as am informed, those gentlemen
most amiably offered nber OF senators their best
advice and counsel IN reference TO the matierf IRE
newed laughterl Who ever heard OF such audac,ty
We know II has been inrnaed BY the Union that they
woua not have dared do but Tor the secret ballot
But he Is aier Them He intends to ferret out those pu