The daily union., 1854-01-06


inability to decide as 10 the opinion OF The President Of The
United States 10 reference 10 the power Of ibis
ment the subject o this resolution My honorable
TREND upon my slt, Mr. BsIoHr who has spok en- upon
this subject 10 . member OF standing committee II be
can splshtcn the Senate, and viii tell what the
opisions OF thai standing commute the opinion oil
the President relation 10 the power OF the government
this matter and that that opinion ia favor OF the
construction OF this road should be in favor OF lis gong
10 that committee. II my honorable friend before me- Mr.
CAssl who supposed TO be better acquainted with the
opinions OF the President has any conclusion as
70 me opinion IN realisn 10 this matter should be very
glad 10 hear from him.
Mr.. CASS. Sln his seat) DO you me
MT PRATT Yes. s'ri mean you, lLanghtertl
4 Mr.. CASS. | have enough to DO 10 find out What my
own opinion is, without endeavorng TO lind the opin-
ion OF any one else Laughter
Mr. PRATT. IL must be apparent, then, that il we
cannot get fion The standing committee what may be
their opinion upon this subject then the proposition OF my
honorable friend from California Mr. GwiSl is The cor
rect one-that we should have as large committee as
possible taken from every section Of The country,
der that We may arrive al what may be the Presidents
views 10 regard to the powers OF thus government
the subject which called 10 legslae upon shall,
therefore. vote with the honorable from Caor-
MIA Messrs GwIN and WELLER for large u committee
- practicable, with view, IL possible. OF ascerlaiDing
IN some way what Is The opinion OF the Chief Executive
Of our government who AT last may control our legisla-
tioD upon subject Of such momenous consequence as
that embraced IN this resolution
Mr.. BUTLER. | am opposed 10 all these motions for
special committees, and have always been opposed to
them. Regular committees are appointed upon the
sumption that they will be competent discharge their
duties within the shce OF the subjects referred TO them
upon the assumption that they not committed upon
this subject or that sabjectlhat they not appointed
TO favor this system or that system OF policy. Each
committee rs impartial jury to consider The subjects
ferred 10 them and lmus be permitted say that think
number OF genlemen, thus appointed from this body
upon one OF these committees, would be quite compe
tcnt 70 consider the subject any number OF gentlemen
selected for select committee, except far they
might or might not favor particular object desired.
know that these select committees always organized
with view 10 a favorable action apon the subjects re-
fered TO them. know that that is al WAYS incidental 10
t1fk kne m Ruta SIN dinu
committee is not supposed to be far committed upon
the subjects referred 10 them, anu therefore would dis
posed to do justice TO The subject do intend to
press my opnon upon the general question referred TO in
this resolution have heretofore expressed that opinion
pretty freely But this method OF appointing special COM
mttces upon question OF great magnitude is danger
ous and mischievous Innovation aPon parliamentary
Mr.. BADGER have finally, after some difficulty
come 70 the same conclusion with my friend from Mary
land Mr.. PRATT, to give my vote with the honorable
senators from California for select committee But
desire IS have nlimated among my trends that this
subject should be referred to standing committee and dis
like 10 make any changes Of opinion without good
Tor doing, to state 10 the Senate what has induced me
1t last TO conclude to 60 Tor the select committee. Ny
reason is different from that of my friend from Mary
land il s not with view, by getting large com
mitles selected from different portions OF the Union,
TO endesvor TO find one who is cognizant OF
the Presidents views upon this subject. in order TO
enable US 50 to shape the measure as TO meet with
his appreciation. My reason is different The hon.
orabe senator from California, Mr.. GwIE,l who sub
its this amendment, has very satisfactorily proven that
measure does
Roads and Canals the Committee Finance. or any
Other OF the particular committees which it thought
nstan by him 10 turn his attention TO- And my friend
fIO Indiana Mr.. BRIGHT has put in his claim, If this
sabjsct to go any standing committee. to have go
70 The Committee Roads and Canals, of which he is
chairman Now, the senator from California has shown
that this matter relates TO road, and therefore, far
belongs 10 that committee. But II embraces ether sub
lects, which would require 60 the Committee on
Finance and still other subjects, which woad require
reference TO still another standing committee And he pro
poses, therefore, order to do injustice TO any OF
those committees who have rghu claims upon special
portions OF this measure, 10 put them all asde and get
select committee Now it had been the pleasure OF the
Senate, instead OF selecting, with nyidous dscrm
nation, two or three committees OF this body, and ns
tung inquiries into the propey OF referring this subject
10 themif had been their pleasure 10 have taken i'm
partial survey OF all the standing committees OF this body
they might without difficulty have found one committee
to which, considering The vast Importance and magnitude
OF this measure and the probability that its adoption
would entail large expenditure upon the country with
a consideration and popreiy this subject should have
been REFERRED and that The committee OF which have
the honor OF being humble member. and at the head
Of which is my friend IRON Mississippi, Mr. ADAMS
the Committee on Rerenchment [I.aughlerl But our
claims have been overlooked; not deemed worthy
OF consideration this occasion from anybody; and
therefore tell the honorable Senator from Indiana Mr.
BRIonT,] that, as he has overlooked committee,
will 90 against his Justice, fair distribution OF the
business o the Senate, end generous appreciation OF the
merits OF those gentlemen who have always dsing ush
ed themselves upon the working committees of this body
think should always Characterize the decision OF the
Senate upon the snbJecr Of reference. [Laugher1 II the
with claiming It's own 80 overlook what properly be
longs to my friend from Mississippi and myself, have
NO other alternative reluctant as to employ il, but
70 disregard the clarr. Of the Committee Roads and
Canals. and 60 Tor The select committee.
Mr. CHASE. apprehend that the claim of the hon
orable gentleman from North Carolina MIR BADoERl Tor
jursdcton over this subject in favor OF the committee
which be belongs. and OF which be is undoubtedly
very worthy member, is founded upon the hypothesis
that that committee has nothing 10 do at this lime.
Mr.. BADGER hope the honorable senator will al
low me 10 interrupt him for a moment He is entirely
mistaken IN that respect He will soon learn from the
gentleman who al the head OF that committee that we
have been busily and promptly engaged upon avery i'm
p0Ftant subject submitted 10 and shall IN day two
present the first fruits OF Iabors that committee by
originating and reporting bill increasing the salaries OF
al the executive officers oil this government Laugh
ter
Mi. CHASE Mr. President, the first fruits, 10 which
the honorable senator has referred of the abors OF that
committee, precisely such might have been xpccted
from q committee admirably constituted that is
Tor the purposes for which IL was originated. was
about 10 suggest that the claim favor OF that committee
10 founded upon the fact that it has nothing TO do
aad am free 10 say that think il may quite well do
nothing 10 report bills increasing the public expend
- when il is formed fer the purpose of considering
tiers az relate to Teirenchmeni and reform. SO
er. as that argument goes, il is in favor OF
nj which my friend from Indiana Mr. |
chairman, and OF which ! am humble |
or that Committee has nothing 10 do. Ii is
D, suppose, ior the purpose OF taking charge
Is OF this character; and bsleve that no refer |
least not more than one reference-has been