Washington sentinel., 1854-01-05

the committee consist of nine Senators, and that
they be designated by the chair.
And then on motion the Senate adjourned.
House of Representatives.
sMITHsoYIAN FUND.
The following named gentlemen constitute the
select committee ordered TO be appointed yestcr-
day, and instructed 10 inquire into the expediency
of Withdrawing from the treasury of the United
States the Smithsonian fund, and investing the
same in sound stocks, or in such other way ms
may be TO the interest Of said fund: Messrs
CHANDLER, of Pa, SEWARD, Of Geo.. TAYLOR, of
Ohio JONES' of La, SMITH, of N. Y, EDDY, of Ia,
BELcHER, of CT, DowDELE, OF Ala, and FRANKLIN,
of Md.
PERSONAL ExPLANATIoN.
Mr. HUNT, of Louisiana, by unanimous con-
sent, made personal explanation. Under mis-
take 10 the proceedings of the House, which he
did not hear fully and correctly, and misappre-
hending the effect of motion to lay on the table
a resolution offered by member from Louisiana,
instructing the Committee on Commerce to report
bill TO repeal the duties railroad iron he voted
in error against the motion.
FoRTIFIcATIoNs.
Mr.. HOUSTON, from the Committee of Ways
and Means, reported bill making appropriations
for Notifications and other works of defence, and
for the repair Of quarters for the year ending June
30, 1855. Referred to the Committee ofthe Whole
on the State of the Union
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Mr.. CHANDLER, from the Committee on For
egn Affairs, made a report on the petition of b. l..
Swan and..others, touching claims on the govern
ment of Venezuela, and expressing the opinion
that it is proper subject for the executive depart
ment Laid on the table, and ordered TO be
printed.
FRENCH sPoLIATIoNs.
w., a.
Affairs, reported bill to provide for the ascertain
ment and satisfaction Of claims of American cit-
gems for spoliations cnmmitted by the French
prior to July 81, 1901. Referred 10 the Commit
tee ofthe Whole on the state of the Union.
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY AND Ex-
COLLECTOR BRONSON.
Mr.. CUTTING called for the order Of business,
pursuant to the sixty-frst rule of the House,
The SPEAKER said that resolutions were now
regularly in order.
The following resolution, offered by Mr.. Cur
TING yesterday, was read, as follows:
Whereas publications have appeared in the public prints
Secretary Of the Treasury and Greene Bronson the late
collector Of the customs for the port Of New York. relating
S oess {, &c assr &c
different sections of e party and in which, after referring
o that portion Of te party TO Dich M. Bronson adhered"
the Secretary Of the Treasury expressed expectation
that the collector would recone Me other portion Of TIE
party in the only ioay that 0oud carry conricion oh
Secretary Of the Treasury to the collector aforesaid bear
ing date respectively the third fourth and
days October last and Of letters from the latter to the
former bearing the seventeenth and days
of October last
And ,ohersas in the newspaper called the Daily Jio"
of Wednesday, the Of December last 1t is
stated sy authority that the removal Of Mr. Bronson
the act Of the President who sreely shoulders the
the ground Of alleged Official insubordinaon but upon
the further distinct ground that the late collector had
sprostted hs office for political ed, and otherwise abused
his official trust for party purposes" therefore,
Resolved That the Secretary Of the Treasury be- and he
hereby this House copy
the correspondence above referred to- f any such there
and Of other letters that have passed between
himself and Greene Bronson the late coector Of the
matter aforesaid.
Mr.. CUTTING. remarked yesterday to the
House, when offered this resolution, that it was
not my purpose to enter into any discussion or
debate OF the topics involved in il, because, until
we had authentic information before the House,
il would not, in my opinion, answer any good pur-
pose to discuss that which must necessarily, when
il comes up, excite our attention. That design
remains unchanged.
The time, trust, will come when we shall have
an opportunity to enter fully into the merits of
matter which has occupied the public mind, per-
haps than any other question Of that descrip-
tion which has ever occurred-certainly, more
than any have ever known in the course Of my
experience My purpose now is, to move the
adoption of this resolution, and upon that motion,
as the time for debate has not yet arrived, shall
ask the previous question
Mr.. ORR. desire to ask the gentleman-
The SPEAKER. No debate is in order, unless
the demand for the previous question be with
drawn.
Mr.. CUTTING. / desire simply to conclude
my sentence, for l do not wish to take my seat
with it unfinished say, DESIRE nasmuch ms
the period for debate has not arrived, to ask
simply for the adoption of the resolution and for
that reason shall call the previous question AT
the same time l will remark, that should there be
to sustaining the call shall ask for the
yeas and nays, in order that we may ascertain
whether or no there is any disposition to shrink
from this investigation. There has been uttered
what believe 10 be calumny against the char
acter of an eminent citizen of my State; and as the
of that State, trust are here TO
stand by its when they assailed. no matter
from what quarter il may come. / ask for the pre-
vious question.
Mr.. CLINGMAN. Before the previous aues-
ton is seconded, / desire to ask the gentleman
from New York single question.
Mr.. CUTTING. ! will withdraw the call for
that purpose.
Mr.. CLINGMAN. My object is simply this.
desire to know whether the purpose of the gen.
tleman, In getting this information, Isl if the facts
should require it, TO take any further steps in the
mattera will explain to him the object Of my
question in a few words II has always been nv
practice to vote against mere political resolutions
upon this floor. At the same time, if the object
VI II
enable us to legisate, if necessary, or to direct
proceedings against any officer which il is compe-
tent TO under the Constitution TO do, think he
is entitled to the information. While, therefore,
would vote against the adoption of any mere po-
itcal resolution intended to make political capital,
al the same time, if understand that the object
of the gentleman from New York is TO obtain in
ormation which, in his Judgment, may be impor-
ant either 10 regulate the Legislation Of this House.
,r if he has any further object in view as an
American representative, / will, Of course vote |
or his proposition. cannot tell what his object
., for the resolution is not very definite in some
respects. desire TO vote understandingly upon
his question. do not intend 10 take any part in |
mere political contest. On the contrary, al |
ways vote TO lay the table mere political reso-
utions, when they introduced here by any
gentleman. ask the gentleman the question with |
his view.
Mr.. CUTTING In answer to the question
by the gentleman from North Caroli-
Ia, beg leave to say that, this question stood
10 longer than week ago, il would not have
,een necessary, in my judgment, TO have troubled
his body with the questions involved in that reso-
ulion. would have been content, sir, as the |
between the Secretary Of the |
Treasury and the late Collector of New York had |
,ecn published in almost every print of large or |