Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-21

The Legislature Of Mississippi Of purpori similar TO
LAID on the table and ordered 10 be printed.
EDUcATIoN.
Mr.. WASHBURNE, Of Illinois, presented the
resolutions Of the legislature Of that State, asking
for a donation of five hundred thousand acres of
land 10 every State, for the purpose of endowing
colleges for practical and general education among
the people.
Laid on the table and ordered TO be printed
SUPPLIES FOR THE NAVY.
Mr.. BOCOCK, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, introduced joint resolution relative &c
the bids for provisions, clothing and small stores
fo1the use of the navy.
Il provides that all bids may be rejected at the
option of the department, il the person bidding is
not known as manufacturer or regular dealer
in the articles.
He said the resolution proposed 10 take con-
tracts out Of the hands of spectators and to con-
| fine them 10 the real dealers in those articles.
| Contracts, in many cases, We're entire failures.
| The department should DO permitted to go into
| open market.
| Mr.. BISHOP PERKINS could soc no reason
| why miller should furnish flour more faithfully
! 10 contract than a>respectable merchant who has
entered INTO DOnu Tor tnat purposes Iic Couio
| see no reason for the change. II seemed rather
TO open the door to the contractor than to benefit
the United States.
Mr.. BOcOCK said the principle of the resolu-
ton was already extended to several articles,
including butter and cheese. and the desire was
TO extend il to -four and few o. her articles by
this resolution.
Mr.. BAYLY nd vocated the proposition, showing
that the principle had been applied to~ butter.
cheese, and tobacco, and that more than fifty per
cent had been saved to the government, in con-
| Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, thought the resolu-
ton was right as far as it went |; but he asked
whether it would not be better to go further, and
permit the Secretary Of the Navy to advertise or
go at his option into open market and purchase
all necessary supplies
MIR. BOOOCK believed il would be better in all
cases for the Secretary TO go into open market !;
but lie knew that the resolution seould take that
extensive scope, it would lead TO protracted dis
cussion on the merits OF the contract system !;
| therefore he proposed to take what he could now
get for the exgencies of the occasion, and let the
| future take care of the balance.
| The resolution was then passed.
TERRITORIAL BUSINESS.
| Mr. RICHARDSON moved that the first week
in Nav next be set apart for the consideration of
business appertaining to the Territories.
| Mr. CUTTING Does that motion include the
! Nebraska billa
Mr.. RICHARDSON. mean the business Of
| the local organized Territories.
| The motion was agreed to.
| SELECT coMMITTEE-THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
! Mr.. BARRY asked leave TO offer the following,
| which was read for information:
/ Whereas It has been declared by member Of this
body, upon the floor Of the House, that " usurpation
Of power and perverson the very principles OF civil
liberty itself have been committed by democratic SEQ
| the same member has used In debate the following
language: II charge, and 1t cannot be denied, that
and ed' a the ey
the government as could and by this means has been
to he 1 hs and %
and whereas 1t due to the officer against whom
charges Of such gravity have been made well as to the
ton Of the legal distinction between the civil and military
branches of the public service that these charges should
be Mt and thoroughly investigated; therefore
! Resolved, That committee Of seven members be ap
pointed inquire into the truth Of these charges In their
widest scope and whether the Secretary War has trans
his legal and the u-ages Of the War Depart
relation to the extension Of the Capitol and other
tho origin nature, and purposes Of the charge made
against the Secretary OF War; and TO report the same 70
| persons and papers.
/ Mr.. BARRY remarked that the charges were
/ simply quotation from the published remarks OF
| the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr.. STANTON, and
| his object was to have committee ofinvestiga-
4 ton.
/ Objection was made.
Mr.. CAMPBELL inquired whether there was
4 not already select committee appointed to in
qure into the facts charged.
T. Mr.. BARRY took il for granted there was none,
because the gentleman from Kentucky would not
have made the speech he did in anticipation ofthc
! report.
| Mr.. STANTON, Of Kentucky. said that. before
the House adopted the resolution of inquiry II
would be well TO ascertain whether the charges had
been made He had made no charge against the
| Secretary of War; but he did say that the War
| Department had engrossed and had insidiousy
monopolized appointments to certain positions
| 1t began twenty wears ago. and had been increas-
1 ing until the evil had become formidable He "
4 no means intended TO charge the Secretary OF War
i with having introduced, though he may be in ia
vor of continuing it.
| Mr. CRAIGE did not see a necessity for this
resolution. Shortly after Congress met, a resolu-
| ton of inquiry was introduced by the gentleman
| from Kentucky, proposing the appointment of
select committee on this subject. II was adopted,
and the matters now in the course Of investi-
| CATION.
| Mr. BARRY moved that the rules be suspend
ed, in order that he might introduce the resolution.
Mr.. HESTER moved that il be laid upon the
| table.
The SPEAKER reminded the lastshamed gen.
| tleman that the resolution had not yet been
| ceived
/ Mr.. BARRY remarked whether or not there
were specific charges against the Secretary Of War,
| he considers that they wero made by the gentle
! man, and therefore wants them investigated.
The House refused to suspend the rues--two-
thirds not voting in the affirmative
| PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Mr.. EWING moved a suspension Of the rules,
| in order that he might move that the Pacific rail-
| road bill, reported by the select committee, be
made the special order Of the day for the second
1 Wednesday in May next.
| Mr.. HAVEN said that the House had already
made special order this morning, and he was op-
/ posed to the House further tying its hands.
Mr.. EWING replied that there were so many
4 things that this subject could not be reached
less by special order.
/ FLETCHER said he would go with the gen.
tleman if he would move to make the bill the spe-
i cia nrder fnrf hn Of nhar