Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-04

fore the alteration of the word or" 10 and" and
enacing. further, that in no event, nor be virtue
| of any act heretofore passed. shall the governor,
auditor and treasurer ofthat Territory have power
| 10 designate the company or companies 10 whom
the benefit of the land granted by the bill shall
| inure.
This report is signed by Messrs. BREcKINRIDaE,
| DAVIS OF INDIANA. and BARRY.
| Mr.. CAMPBELL, Of the minority OF the COM
| mittee, made report first: that the alteration
| was made 10 the bill subsequent 10 lis engross-
ment and that the alteration was not merely YER
bal, but material, completely changing one OF the
most important features Of the bill
The bill which passed the Senate, and was APP
proved by the President, and which now has the
form of law, never was acted on by The House OF
| Representatives..
| Secondly the alteration was made by Mr..
| Sprole the engrossng clerk by authority and
| under the direction OF Mr.. Forney, clerk of the
| House, after the said engrossing clerk had re-
| fused 10 make H.
| Thirdly: the testimony as to the circumstances
| under which the change was made, is yet incom-
| plete therefore they do not deem i proper TO
| frame resolution settling wilful fraud on any
| party, on partial information.
The minority do not agree entirely with the bill
| reported by the majority of the COMMITTEES. In
the opinion Of the former the third section of the
Minnesota land bill should be repealed, and pro-
vision substituted which will undoubtedly place
the land under legislatures hereafter 10 be chosen
by the people, and which will prevent the transfer
OF this important power 10 the governor and other
officers appointed by the Executive. This was
due 10 the popular sovereignty, and accordingly
| they report such a bill. No proof had been adj
duced 10 show that the alteration procured by
any member or officer with design to perpei rate
any fraud nor was there evidence 10 show that
| corrupt or criminal means were employed TO aid
| the passage Of the bill. While they not pre-
pared 10 condemn the motives, the committee con-
| denim the act of alteration.
| This majority report was signed by Messrs.
| CAMPBELL and SIMMONS.
| The report concluded with resolution direct
| ing the committee 10 continue their investigation
| al the next session of Congress. &c.
| Mr. PHILLIPS wished 10 know the object Of
| this. as both reports exonorate the parties who
made the alteration Of fraudulent intention.
Mr.. CAMPBELL replied, that further testimo-
| ny might implicate guilty parties and that if il
did not, il was due that even suspicion Of fraud
| should be effecuay wiped ont.
| Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE was instructed 10 say
| that the committee believe they have examined
| the subject thoroughly, and therefore he saw no
necessity for continuing the committee in exist
| ence.
| He moved that the committee be discharged
| from the further consideration Of the subject, and
| that the report be printed
| After further debate, the committee were dis
charged-yeas 95 nays 73-and the report ordered
| 10 be printed
| The SPEAKER said that the bills reported by
the majority and minority Of the committee were
now before the House. A
| Mr.. CRAIGE moved substitute, providing for
the repeal Of the Minnesota Land bill, aud this
was passed-yeas los, nays So
| RECIPROCITY TREATY.
| The SPEAKER laid before the House a mes
sage from the President Of the United States.
| Transmitting copy OF treaty recently concluded
between The United States and Great Britain. He
| says he has no doubt that the Publications will
| soon be exchanged, and therefore recommends
| that Congress pass such a law as 10 give, on the
part of the United States, effect TO the provisions
| Of the treaty,
| Referred TO the Committee of Foreign Affairs,
and ordered TO be printed.
| JOHN W. FoRNEY.
| Mr.. HUNT, rising 10 question of privilege
| offered a resolution that John w. Forney, Clerk
of the House, by directing and causing TO be made
alteration in the House bill 10 aid the Territory
| of Minnesota in the construction OF railroads
| therein, mentioned in the report Of the special
committee, has falsifed the record Of this House,
| in violation Of the parliamentary law, and his
| sworn duty; and therefore the said John W. For
ney should be, and is hereby removed from the
| Office of Clerk OF this House.
1 He urged several reasons why this resolution
should be adopted. The Clerk having falsifed
| the record was he said, unworthy any longer oil
the confidence OF the House and the country; aud
the House owed il to its integrity and dignity 10
expel him.
4
luton. The report shows that the Clerk had moi
the slightest intention TO commit the least impro-
| priety, much less fraud.
Mr.. ORR likewise opposed the resolution, TAX
ing similar ground
/ Mr.. CHANDLER rose, not TO defend the Clerk
because he had been relieved of any intention 10
do wrong, but asserter Of justice, and 10 ap.
peal 10 the House not 10 strike the Clerk blow
without giving him an opportunity TO be heard in
his own defence.
L 4 n
i Clerk 10 take hasty action on this subject, and
therefore he suggested that the House delay fur
Their action until next December, when the testi
mony will have been printed
Mr.. CHANDLER said he had spokenas man,
for man, and, as member OF this House, foi
justice-notb:ng more.
The resolution, after further debate, was re-
jected-yeas is, nays 1874
COLT SELECT COMMITTEE.
Mr.. LETCHER, from the Select Committee on
| the Colt Patent, made a report, in part, on this
/ subject, saying that four other members OF the
committee had prepared reports. Laid on the
table, and ordered 10 be printed. The committee
indicated their desire further TO investigate the
matter.
WASHINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA RAILROAD.
Mr.. McMULLEN, from the Committee of Con.
ference the dsagreeng votes To the bill for The
benefit Of the Washington and Alexandra rail
road, made report thereon, which was adopted.
| HOMESTEAD BILL.
Mr.. DAWSON moved suspension Of the
rules, with a view Of taking up the Homestead
bill, as returned from the Senate with amend
ments, but the motion was disagreed to-yeas 10
nays o.
HON. THOMAS II. BAYLY.
Mr.. VALLEY, from the select committee ap
pointed on the 2lst Of July, to investigate certain
charges preferred by Benjamen E. Green against
the representative character Of Thomas II. Bayly
made a report on the subject They say they can
not report in full, for want of time; but they
satisfied that the complainant failed entirely TO es
tablish his first charge. As TO the remaining
charges they express no opinion, as they have not
had time TO examine read the record and docu
meniary evidence submitted by the said Green
They reserve the privilege, however, of reporting
in full, at a future day.
The report was ordered 10 be printed.
On motion Of Mr.. MlLLSON, the committee
were authorized TO continue their investigation al
the next session of Congress.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL
| Mr.. WENTWORTH, Of Illinois, moved sus
| penson of the rules with view 10 take up the