The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-21
Census Board. By an amendment to a recent bin,


which does not seem to have attracted much atten-
ton at the time difficulty has been presented to
the Treasury Department as to the true interpre.
| tation of the act of 1850. wish to call
the attention of the Senate to the fact that that
resolution is intended to leave the officers of the
| Treasury to true Interpretation of the act of
$780, and to decide aoheher t,co salaries or one shall
1 be paid for the same services. ''-Page2 200.
Now, what can be clearer than that this joint re-
solution understood to give one salary of
/ $1,000, but to preclude the receiving OF two!
What can be clearer than that twas so stated; and,
| to manifest it's propriety, the assertion made
that two salaries had been demanded. the truth OF
witch emphaticalIy deny. Can, then. the adop-
ton OF this Joint resolution be termed 'sverdict'
against the salary of $4,000 in principle? Does it
/ not prove exactly the reverse?
1t ls, then, clear that, in all the legislation to
effect the passage of the soint resolution the idea
was held out that it did not preclude the receiving
OF the salary OF $4,000; but when it is found that
| 1t may, be construed to effect what was never
Claimed when its adoption was urged, and when a.
remedy is desired, and is attempted to be applied,
nen II Is stated that the passage Of that joint reso
salary; without considering that they who
place that construction thereon, introduced it, and
brought into its support the Senate, from pro
fessed belief that the liberal was then deemed the
! proper construction, and who contend that
the JOINT resolution passed with full understand
ing OF what are now discovered to be its effects.
| know, however, and can prove to the satisfaction
OF any committee, that it's effect was known the
| mover as to place me on salary of 50 500 per
annum; but It was also known thatit would reduce
retrospecticely for than two years, the three
thousand dollars salary which was by the Attor-
ney General, the Census Board, and the Secretary
! Of the Interior declared entitled.
1t Is with great regret realize that the last off,
clal acts OF any Senator, this day, should declare
1eehngs OF so unfortunate nature respecting my
sell, as they were exhibited than three years
| since, when entered on my official duties, and
| thatthe same feeling should be manifested on
my account, to the head of that department to
which am now attached as then manifested
against the Census Board.
Under all these circumstances, then, should be
charged with troubling Congress with my affairs;
and II think that, under misapprehension,
injustice has been done me, then will any generous
man deny me the right of the public press to
make explanation, especially when notwithstand-
ing the efforts made in the Senate to warp the
minds OF legislators from unbiased view of my
claims, on the ground that had malgned and
car!catured some of them in the newspapers? /
declare that this is the first time according to the
best of my belief that have brought the acts
OF that body, or the Official acts of member, in
| any way before the public
1t was said, by the Senator from Massachusetts,
that had In most ungentlemanly terms reviewed
| the report OF the Committee Census" and used
language very exceptionable and almost libellous;
while the speaker declared he had never read nor
heard the report of that committee and therefore
should have escaped such censure. In reply to
this, can only say, that where adverse reports
| are not made nor dissents expressed, common
opinion is inclined to view a report as the
work of a whole committee, especially when
| the word 'sunanimous' appears in the first few
| lines, and that on subject which includes no
small portion of the work reported on; but deny
that the review is "scurrlous,' or that it contains
such lndecorous or exceptonable words as does the
| report of the committee; if it does | am extreme
~ sorry and shall ever exceedingly regret the cir
cumstance. The 'sreview'' was prepared and
printed side by side with the ssrepor'' Of the COM
mittee, that its fairness ght easily be determined;
but this is not all. Before distributed copies of
the review, sent numbers to members of that
committee, Gov Davis among the rest, and re-
quested the to be returned with any exception
as to the language, and being informed of excep-
ton to the words every rif1ing, and is moreover
at page H. had them struck out of all the COPIES
| distributed at that time to Senators; but that
1 and 1t may be rightly judged, will on Monday
send to each Senator the document as it originally
existed, and that body then judge between u.s.
1t was stated by Senator that have an ar
rangement to reap pecuniary reward for what
| have prepared for publication. Now, to me it
does seem like Injustice to make such a charge
while am censured for defending its retention By
Congress. l must say, that the charge of any
such arrangement has foundation in fact;
and must be permitted to say, that of the charges
made BY the Senator from Wisconsin respecting
me, while they may be very confidently stated by
| that "pure officer of the Government to whom
ne refers, as we'll as by many to whom would not
| give worse name, who have been dismissed from
this office, and Senators honest in their belief not
| ore auiH be sustained by The facts.
In the debate alluded to there has occurred one
thing against the proprlety and justice of which
deem it my duty american citizen to protest.
and that ls, the right assumed by a member of an
investigating committee of eT parte examination
rising in his place, and to defeat measure which
should be tey decided on its wn merits
rendering his verdict formed by testimony secretlu
obtained, through means unknown to the accused,
and that without afording any opportunity for the
defence to make explanation. If to secret COM
mlttee hearsay statements are received of nature
which the volunteer authors dare not utter to the
world 1t IS cruel and unjust that such statements
should ind their way in manner which secures
secrecy to the authors, and immunity from respon-
sbility because the bels of an interested inormer
are uttered by those who are rightly protected
by their constitutional privileges. such conduct
contrary to the genius of our institutions, repug
nant TO the sensibilities of every American and if
persisted in will subvert our Government
All will say in addition is, that the sjont reso-
luton was originally prepared in the mystic form
presented, with the design to limit my salary to
$2,5O0, and by one who has been no SIN all recip-
lent OF public money in his day; and while inter
erng with the hberaty of Con gress to Others now,
| in his own family, holds under the Government
| offices of moro than $4,000 income. One who is
| very prone to charge fraud on others, and whose
| participation in combination against so humble
an individual as myself, will, at the proper time
| receive due attention.
1t is not for me to notice illusions to my incom-
| potency for my position; | am free to admit it;
while am equally well assured that the time and
| labor devoted thereto would receive much better
remuneration than in position which is only re.
| tanned from desire to complete the performance
OF its duties as Congress may require, when if not
taken before, 1t Will be gladly surrendered.
Feb 2l-It JOS. G.. G, KENNEDY
MIssoURI.-The annexed resolutions were intro
duced in the Missouri Legislature on the 9Th in
| slant by Mr.. Blair:
Joint resolutions resembling the resolutions upon
the subject OF slavery, approved March 10, 1849,
commonly known as the Notification resolu-
TONS
Resolved By the General assembly of the StGte of
Missouri, That the people of this State love the