The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House met at 10 o'clock, n, m.
Prayer by the chaplain of the Senate
On motion of Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee the reading OF
the journal was dispensed with.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC
Mr. HOUSTON asked leave to that Il message be
sent to the asking the Of the civil and dpo-
matte bill and amendments with view to correct an
Mr. HAVEN objected desiring take up the river and
harbor bill for reference.
Mr. HOUSTON sorry his friend from New York
Mr. HAVEN made any objection to TINS matter ~ inns
time
Mr. HAVEN said it was his intention object to action
on all appropriation bills until the river and harbor bill
shall have been acted upon by the House He was the last
to obsruct the passage of the regular Appropriation
bills and the river and harbor bill was regular appro
pration BILL in his estimation
Subsequently,, committee appointed TO confer with
the Senate committee the dagreeng votes of the two
houses the amendments TO the civil and diplomatic bill
with power TO correct the The referred to
arose from misprint Of the number of the amendment
for eusohouses which, having received the concurrence
of the House by mistake stated non-concurred n
ALTERATION THE RECORDS,
Mr.. CAMPBELL rose to question of privilege and laid
before the House the following unanimous report from the
select committee appointed to examine into the iacs in re-
lation to the recent alterations in the records:
The select committee appointed TO investigate the alter
atons made in House bill No 342 to aid in the
ton of railroad in the Territory of Minnesota and also in
regard all other of Interpolation of bills or joint
resolutions of the House during the present session. in con-
sdering the latter branch of the inquiries have unanimously
agreed upon the following report:
That they have taken testimony in regard to the ntepo-
aton of the joint resolution fixing the compensation OF the
employees the legislative department of the government
which is herewith submitted They have come to the con-
cusion that the words and public folders nterliped
and read the Clerks desk through mistake appears
that Messrs WENTWORTH, of Illinois, and FLORENCE, made
effort procure the said alteration through Mr. CURTIS
he Mr. c. took copy mot the original resolution and as
private memorandum for his inerlined in pencil
on said copy the words mentioned The original well
us said copy, was carried 10 the Clerks desk by
the Speakers page, and at me same uine AR;
From these facts, Mr. Barclay the journal clerk, in
ferred that the committee had directed this change and he
accordingly nterlned upon the original resolution the
said words" and public folders" The resolution was
then twice read and the yeas and suspension of
the rules partly taken when the attention OF this
House called to this Interpolation. Whereupon, Mr..
Curtis having announced that was not authorized by
the committee the Speaker ordered the words stricken out
and the resolution then passed in the form in which it
had been agreed and reported by the Committee on
Accounts.
The committee therefore, think that none of the parties
had any fraudulent or improper design in regard to this
LEWIS d. CAMPBELL,
n, S. BARRY
JOHN q BRECKINRIDGE
| JOHN G. DAVIS,
G. A. SIMMONS.
! Mr. BRECKENRIDGE made majority report on the
other branch of the inquiry, viz the alteration in the bill
granting lands the Territory OF Minnesota to aid in the
construction Of certain railroads therein. The report
stated that considerable portion Of the testimony was IT.
relevant but the committee believed that whatever has
material bearing the subject of the alterations OF the
text of the Minnesota land bill is exhibited the record
1t is impossible Mt this late period of the session to prepare
elaborate report, anayzng the testimony taken The
committee therefore submit the evidence ana the conc-
sion founded upon it,
In reference the particular alteration in the record
the report stated that Mr. Forney thought the change OF The
word orr to aud in the bill was unimportant, having
been governed by practice which Gen. Patton, engossng
clerk of the Senate had assured him prevailed with regard
to verbal alterations in where the design OF bills
Twas uypllu md
4 Mr.. Forpey directed the change OF the word.
After careful review of the evidence the committee do
not mpugn the motives intentions OF those who pro-
cured the alteration but the contrary acquit them Of
any criminal improper purposes The gentleman from
Michigan Mr. STEVENS thought that it was proper to
make the change i'll order TO carry out the intention OF the
bill and the Clerk moved by representations made TO
him. directed the change under the influence of the same
sentiments.
any unauthorized change is of the most dangerous
decy and express the opinion thnt those who make such
changes deserve censure II is censurabie in any
member officer to make any change in the text OF bill
which has passed the House without being authorized to
/ do so,
land bill language before the alteration of the word
corr to and and epncng additional clause, That in
event. by virtue Of any ACT heretofore passed. shall
the governor auditor, and treasurer OF Minnesota Terri
tory have power designate the company companies
TO whom the benefit of the land granted by The bill shalt
! nure
This report signed by Messrs BREouSapes DAVIS of
i indiana and BARRY
| Mr. CAMPBEI L. of the minority OF the committee on
this branch ef the inquiry, made report First that the
alteration made ia the bill subsequent TO its
ment and that the alteration merely verbal but
material completely changing of the most important
features OF the bill The bill which pas cd the Senate and
was approved 10y the President and which now has the
form of law acted by the House OF Repre-
sentafea Secondly, the alteration was made by Mi.
Spoole the engrosng clerk by authority and under the
direction Of Mr. Forney Clerk of tho House after the said
engrossng clerk had refused to make it, Thirdly the
testimony the circumstances under which the change
was made yet ncomplee therefore they do not deem 1t
proper frame q resolution settling wul fraud on any
party on partial information.
The minority do entirely with the bl reported
by the majority Of the committee In the opinion OF the
former the third section of the Minnesota land bill should
be repealed and provision substituted which will un-
doubedy place the land under legislatures hereafter to be
chosen by the people and which will prevent the transfer
of this the governor and other officers appointed
by the Executive This is due TO the popular sovereignty
and accordingly they report such bill. No proof had
been adduced TO show that the alteration procured by
any member officer with design to perpeira'e any
fraud there evidence to show that corrupt or
criminal means employed TO aid the passage OF the
bill While they not p cpared to condemn the motives
they condemn the act OF alteration.
This minority report was signed by Messrs cANPRELI
! and SMMoNS
Mr. c. also reported FROM the MINORITY resolution d.
recting the committee continue their Investigations TO
next session of Congress
Mr. JONES of Tennessee raised the point Of order that
minority report Of committee could not pe received eA-
copt by upan,Binps consent .
= After some debate In which Nessrs. STEPHENS OF
\ Georgia. BARRY aud STANTON Of Tennessee took part
the committee discharged from further consideration
t of the subject-yeas 95 nays 49,