Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-25


Mr.. LETCHER had no objection to making this bill
the special order if it should be put fur enough of II
the gentleman from Kentucky would the 3Oth Of
October as the day for the consideration of this subject
he would go with him.
The question was then taken, and the motion to sus-
pend the rules disagreed to, yeas 10 nays rs, two
thirds not voting in favor thereof.
MONEY DRAWN FOR SERVICES NOT RENDERED.
Mr.. CAMPBELL asked consent to submit the following
resolution:
Resolced, That the Committee on the Judiciary charg
ed with the duty of devng the money
supposed to have been audueny drawn from the Treasury
the claims Of Gardiner and Mears be further instructed to
repo what measures are necessary any to recover moray
which has been drawn from the Treasury ofhe United States
either outfit salary for services Ministers Penpoen
tary Charges dAres and Secretaries of Legation at for
ogn Courts other offices of the General Government by
who have not entered discharged the duties
of the Offices to which they appointed and also to report
such additional measures may be necessary to prevent in
future such frauds upon the Treasury with send for
persons and papers.
No objection being made
Mr.. CAMPBELL remarked that he understood, from
report which laid their desks that this practice
had prevailed to some extent Persons had received ap
pontmens foreign minister's secretaries Of legations
judges &C., who had drawn money from the Treasury and
never proceeded In way to discharge of the duties
Of their Offices. He thought that this Md, out
rageous fraud, which called for prs apt action
the part of Congress. 1t true tina. he had not
heard of any of these gentlemen taking strichnne yet
he should prefer that this investigation should be had
while they now living so that they could make their
defence, if they had any. -
Mr.. BAYLY of Virginia, suggested that the proper
would be to call upon the Department to know il
any such thing had occurred that alluded to by the
gentleman from Ohio.
Mr.. CAMPBELL replied that that information mad al
ready been called for, and he presumed the gentleman
from Virginia could find the document this subject in
the document room.
Mr. BAYLY of Virginia, said that if the information
had already been called for and received he in favor
of the resolution.
Mr.. CAMPBELL, continuing, said that he singled out
no individual case, nor mentioned no mans name but
merely asserted that they had information from the De-
parment in regard TO this matter and that action
called for the part Of the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. RICHARDSON said that if anv persons had been
guilty of drawing money for services not rendered. they
ought to be exposed and punished but he thought that
committee should be raised to investigate the mat.
ter and the gentleman from Ohio himself placed at the
head of it.
Mr.. CAMPBELL replied that he had no sort Of ambi-
ton be placed at the head of any committee and should
prefer the friends of the Administration have charge
Of this subject for he supposed it matter which
affected them much it did those the Wing side Of
the House There were other reasons why he did not
wish to be active in this inquiry and he doubted not that
the Judiciary Committee would be fully competent do
justice to the subject 1t quite likely that it would
be found that additional measures necessary pre-
vent Of these things 1t might be possible
chat there law furnishing persons for receiving in
advance their salaries without afterwards dischargng the
duties of their oces-which he regarded nothing bet
ter than an absolute ROBBERY OF treasury
second the muchtaksd Of Gardiner fraud-and for
these reasons he desired the subject to go to the Judi
clary Committee that they might be able to ascertain
whether any measures necessary to protect the pub
lie Treasury from frauds OF this kind.
Mr. PRESTON conceived it would be very proper to
adopt the resolution of the gentleman from Ohio, it
evidently based information before the House. In
House document No. 81, communicated in compliance
with resolution Of the body, would be found list of the
paid to various diplomatic agents. in which APP
peared that the 1st of July last the Of So 900
paid to Samuel Medary, who was nominated as Min
lister to Chilli He had no hesitation in saying that he
thought proper that the committee should be instructed
to investigate the matter.
Mr. CAMPBELL said that his resolution was not in
tended to apply to Mr.. Medary alone; he had heard
in relation to other cases He did not know but
trusted they would to prove that he had been guilty of
no improperly in this connection.
Mr. CUTTING said that before the House should send
to the Judiciary Committee sort of rowing resolution to
inquire into all things appcrtaning abuses of Office it
seemed to him there ought to be something of case
made to show that it was proper subjectto be examin
ed by that committee. He understood the gentleman
from Ohio to say that he hal heard various rumors of
payment received before services rendered Certainly
such vague ntimatons these this subject ought
not to be sent to acommittee for investigation.
Mr.. CAMPBELL replied that his resolution was not
based upon mere vague and idle rumor If the gentle
man would post himself up little he would find that it
was predicated upon authentic information. i
Mr.. DISNEY wished to know how far back the inquiry
was to extend?
Mr.. CAMPBELL replied just as far back as the Com
mtee the Judiciary wished to make it go and if his
colleague supposed that he stood here for the purpose of
throwing any obstacle in the way of investigation that
would affect him Mr. c. and his party friends he mis-
took his The gentleman and his friends might seek
raise objections for the purpose of sitting this nvest
gatisn but if any frauds committed under the late
Administration he hir desired to them exposed
Mr.. DISNEY disclaimed any desire to throw obstacles
in the way of this investigation but desired to know if
bis colleague was anxious to pursue this inquiry into
case which occurred under the late Administrator and
which was common street talk
Mr.. CAMPBELL said that he wished all these frauds
exposed He had couched his resolution general terms
and gave to the committee general power bring in
the treasury In conclusion he demanded the previous
question.
The previous question seconded and under its ope
ration the resolution agreed to.
Mr.. GROW by consent, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs to which referred the memorial Of the Chero
kee Indians residing i'll the States of the Mississippi
river, submitted report which was laid on the table
and ordered TO be printed.
Mr.. DENT, by consent, from the Committee Invalid
Pensions, reported bill to regulate and define the duty
of the Commissioner Of Pensions in certain cases which
was read twice.
Mr. DENT explained the bill, and asked its immediate
consideration.
1t was however after brief debate referred to the
Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.
Mr. MILLER Of Indiana, by consent, introduced bill
to ascertain and adjust the titles to certain lands in the
State OF Indiana which read twice and referred to
the Committee on Private Land Claims.
On motion by Mr.. CLARK, by consent,
Resotrci That the Committee Commerce be instructed
to inquire into the expectancy of constructing custom
house in the city Of Detroit Michigan, the lot owned by
the General Government in said city, which there is Co