Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-26

partments could take from clerk portion Of the
salary Congress had given him. they could take from him
ALL and if they could transfer portion of his compensa-
ton TO another they might transfer il their pock
cts In his opinion this precisely Of those poiti-
Cal crimes for which impeachment was the only remedy,
Anu TINS was common IN all the Departments here, as he
understood Certainly in this it true because
the head of the Department wrote him long letter.
planning and defending H.
/ VOICES Who is il?
Mr.. GENTRY replied that il was the Secretary of the
Interior Now in making appropriations he thought it
was the duty OF the House TO prevent such Executive
abuses as these, and would be regret with
him, as he was about to retire from public life that he
would not have an opportunity, before doing So Of
operating in the impeachment of head of Depart
ment Tor during the whole period of time lie had been
member OF Congress- he believed majority of them
proper subjects of impeachment 1t was his deliberate
conviction that the House of Representatives was called
upon to meet the contempaons of the constitution and
to teach these Executive officers of the Government that
they were responsible to the popular branch of the
ernment The greatest service they could perform the
country would be TO impeach of the heads of
Departments, and such example would domore good to
the country than any thing else Congress could do.
Mr. BAfLf, of Virginia, begged leave to say that al
though the Secretary of the Interior was no political
friend Of his yet he had alwsys been personal friend
and without consulting the Secretary, he would under
take say that if there was any thing in his official con-
duct proper subject for investigation, he ready
meet it.
Mr.. GENTRY said that he did not intend to make any
charee against the Secretary of the Interior His
ton had been called to this particular case and last
sion he brought the attention the Secretary TO the
lie had learned through him that quite large number of
precedents existed and had also learned from various
other sources, informally, that this was custom of the
Departments. lie did not intend make an onslaught
upon the Secretary of the INTERIOR but upon all who in
dulged in such abuses. !.
Mr. BAYLY said that as to the other Heads Of Denart-
mens he had nothing osay they did not come from
Virginia, laughter but far the Secretary of the
Interior concerned he would say for the very
that that gentleman Virginan that if there was
any cause of impeachment against him, he demanded
should be brought forward.
Mr.. GENTRY said that to crafty his friend from Vr-
gina, he would state that he Vrgnian himself in
the second degree. Laughter He (Mr. G.) was for
old Virginia whenever old Virginia was right aud was
against her when wrong The messenger whom these
three hundred dollars of this poor boys salary had been
transferred was also Vrgnian, daughter, and then he
was in the Pension Office, which he afraid was rather
Virginia concern Renewed laughter.
Mr. STANLY defended the Secretary of the Interior
The gentleman from Tennessee although he knew about
this matter the last session. had waited until now at
the very heel OF the session, before bringing it the
tention of Congress He Mr. knew Mr.. Stuart to be
gentleman Of rreproachable integrity and honesty
Mr. LETCHER referred to a transaction which had oc-
Cured IN the Census office, and read certain papers in
latiou thereto
Mr. GENTRY disclaimed as his motive any personal
hostility political malgnity against the Secretary Of
the Interior lie only desired correct what he con
sdered great abuse which had grown up in the Execu
tive Departments
Mr.. ASHE said that inasmuch as the gentleman from
Virginia had brought forward before the committee the
conduct Of the Superintendent Of the Census act of
justice 10 that gentleman he felt constrained say that
some week or ten days ago, Mr. Kennedy authorized him
to say that he desired investigation Of al the charges
preferred against him. He eourted an investigation at
the hands Of the House. and had disposition
himself from examination Of the charges made against
his official conduct
Mr.. TOOMBS thought that what had been stated by
the gentleman from Tennessee should be examined into
In has opinion such practice that which had been
ferred to was inconsistent with honor and honesty
continued Messrs
THEIR, GENTRY, and others
Mr.. BROWN, Of Mississippi, said that those persons
who were charged to be guilty Of these great mpropre
ties would ont Of Office tomorrow week and they would
be succeeded by who would be guilty of these mis-
demeanor 1t occurred 70 him that this legslatng in
advance against those who were soon 10 come into power
and who would doubt administer the Government pro-
pery.
Mr.. ToOMBS. viii the gentleman tell Us who are to
come in | should like 10 know
Mr.. BROWN. Why, Democrats Laughter
After further debate, the amendment agreed to.
The bill was then laid aside reported TO the House
CONVERSATION OF DErosIrARIEs
On motion Of Mr.. JONES, cf Tennessee the committee
then took the bill Of the Senate TO provide compensa
ton 10 such persons may be designated by the Secrea
y OF the Treasury 10 receive and keep the public money
under the fifteenth section Of tie act Of sixth August
eighteen hundred and forysx for the additional services
required under that heretofore reported from the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means with an amendment
After explanations the amendment was agreed TO- and
the bill laid aside 70 be reported to the House.
MAIL TRANSFORMATIONS
On motion Of Mr. PHELPS the committee next pro-
ceedcd 70 consider the bill making appropriations for the
transportation Of the United States mail BY steamers
and otherwise during the fiscal year ending the Both june
1854 which, having been read, laid aside to be re-
ported to the House.
The committee then rose and reported its action to the
House. when
The two bills last acted BY the committee we're scve-
rally read the third time and passed
The House next proceeded to consider the amendments
made IN committee TO the Indian. appropriation b and
they all agreed to-
The bill was then read the third time and passed
OTHER BILLS PASSED.
Mr.. STANTON, Of Tennessee, from the Committee on
Naval Affairs reported back Senate joint resolution to pro-
vide for Strengthening the eastern boundary line the
naval hospital lands, New York; which was read tie
third time and passed.
Mr.. OLDS, from the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads reported bill establishing certain post routes
which read three times and passed.
Mr.. MlLLSON, from the Committee on Revolutionary
Pensions, reported bill for the relief Of Edward Box
which read three times aud passed
On motion Of Mr.. GENTRY under suspension OF tie
rules Senate blu for the relief Of Benjamin Roberts
taken up, read three times, and passed.
Mr.. COLCOCK moved n suspension Of the rules so as
70 enable him to TO take up Senate resolution
thorzng the adjustment and payment Of the claim of
during the Of the Revolution.
Pending which, the House adjourned.