The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
ExEcUTrvE COMMUNICATIONS.


ExEcuTNR COMMUNICATIONS.
The SPEAKER laid before the House letter from the
Secretary of the Interior asking appropriation OF $500
for repairs of water pipes which was referred TO the
COMMITTEES OF Ways and Means and ordered 10 pc printed
Also a communication from the Post Office Department
transmitting abstracts OF offers made, contracts entered
into new roads established and additional allowances
made for mail services during the past fiscal year which
was referred tho Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads and ordered TO be printed ..... y. -.
Also a communication from the Department of State
transmitting the claim of James Walton for compensa
ton as messenger to the government Of Texas which
referred TO the Committee OF Claims and ordered TO DO
printed.
RESOLUTION
On motion of Mr. CADWALADER, of Pennsylvania,
Resolped That the Committee Foreign Affairs be- and
they hereby instructed to inquire and report upon Tue
ting and arranging the collection Of hsorogaphica maps
in the Department OF STATE
SENATE REFERRED.
On motion of Mr. DENVER, of California Senate bill for
the construction of military road from some point In the
State of Missouri via Great Salt Lake city, to carson
Valley settlement" the frontier of the State OF California
and for the establishment of military posts and the sink
ing OF wells thereupon taken from the Speakers table,
and referred to the Committee On Military Affairs
RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY.
The SPEAKER stated the first business in order to be
the consideration of the following preamble and resolution
submitted by Mr.. BALL, Of Ohio, yesterday
Whereas in an affidavit made in January, 1854 by Corne
bosv end which AFFIDAVIT reads as follows to wit
Aianson Sweet Milwaukee, Wisconsin, informed me that
custom house contract that it necessary to fix Mr.
Young the architect Of the Treasury and that the amount
Sweet had procured to be made also, pro-
cure said alterations it was necessary fix friend of Mr.
Guthrie and that he had made the necessary
to have him right. v. '" ELL.
WASHINGTON, January IA, 1854.
Subscribed and sworn to before me- j. W. Beck justice of
the peace
ton of the Mobile custom house have been made by the
chtect and others ntrusted with the construction said
building the instance of the contractor for considera
ton in money whereas other statements exist which
tend the accusations and also to specify
is the duty of the peoples representatives, to in
qure the truth of such allegations when sustained by
evidence such as to render their truth @
lect committee of five members, whose duty shall be to IN
sure into the and expenditures connect
ed with the public buildings works constructed pur
chased process Of construction by the United States
whatsoever descriptions whether at the seat OF govern
esewhere aud that said committee be authorized
to send persons and and to examine witnesses
touching the manner of construction and the manner OF
awarding contracts whether brides fees have at any
time been by any officer in the service of the govern
consideration for awarding any contract or Tor
making any changes in the original terms of contract
for making alterations in the plan of work. for using
his influence manner in obtaining any contract or ex
ira any person for such work. for being
in any other manner instrumental in aiding defraud the
government and that said committee be authorized to in
sue into the capacity well char for integrity Of
ny architect other officer and that they
have to appoint clerk aid in the performance Of
duties and also authorized to report In whole or In
part at any time.
Mr. rTKErNwUuD or arhunsors said thnt did. not
propose to make any observations the resolution He
thought that the charges against public officers should be
investigated by committee and the result of that inves
pation communicated 10 the House He was, however,
opposed to that portion Of the resolution authorizing the
appointment Of special committee The rapidity with
which the gentleman from Ohio Mr. BALL seemed to get
I'M resolutions of this character satisfied him that he had
looked into this question of fraud and therefore, that the
Committee Public Buildings and Grounds of which the
gentleman chairman, should take charge of the mat
ter He necessity for raising select committee TO
take into consideration the questions involved in the
lutions He that committee the Speaker could
appont would be competent TO discharge the duties
devoyed by the resolution than the Committee Public
Buildings He had opposition 10 make TO the nvesga
ton 1t due to the officers implicated that 1t should
be made and he only desired TO move TO amend the eso
luton by striking that portion Of which proposed TO
raise special committee Of Eve members, and to insert
the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
Mr. ELLIOTT, Of Kentucky, remarked that he did not
rise for the purpose OF making any opposition to the
luton which had been proposed but as involved dis
nguishod officer Of the government from tho Common
wealth Of Kentucky he desired 10 state although he had
not seen that gentleman the subject that Mr.. Guthrie
did not seek evade the fullest investigation and be
tured predict from his knowledge OF him personally and
politically that the charge would turn out TO be the ves
SANDER and calumny that attempted TO be pepe
trated upon public officer Of the government As far
that officer concerned he could state TO the American
Congress from his knowledge OF the man. that he did not
shrink from any investigation Of this kind He
y say the House and the country that there
distinguished officer Of the Commonwealth Of Kentucky
implicated he desired select committee 10 be appointed
and testimony be taken he confident II would
turn out that the charges Of Mr. SWEET were falsely made
for political purposes.
Mr.. HOUSTON, Of Alabama, said that while he was
willing TO crafty gentlemen the other side Of the
House who proposed this investigation by allowing them
have IL made by any committee they m 10 ask of
the House. still there two standing committees al
ready existing under the rules Of the House whose duty
was to examine this very subject lie thought the
mttee Of which the gentleman from OHIO Mr. BALL
chairman ought TO examine these charges and also the
Committee Expenditures In the Treasury Department
He would like know what duty the latter committee had
II Il was not TO examine into the expenditures which had
gres and report TO the House whether they proper
and legitimate or whether they fair and honest
Aher some further debate, In which Messrs BALL Of
Ohio BURNETT OF Kentucky, COBB Of Georgia, McMUL-
LIN Of Virginia and BARKSDALE Of Mississippi partic
pated,
Mr.. GREENWOOD, Of Arkansas withdrew bis amend
ment and the resolution unanimously adopted.
SUMNER AFFAIR
The House then resumed the consideration Of the major
ity and minority reports OF the special committee appoint
ed investigate the assaut committed upon Senator Sum
ner by member Of the House the question being ON the
motion Of Mr. Conn., Of Georgia TO substitute the minority
for the majority report
heard terms OF condemnation Of the assault which did
injustice 10 the perpetrator The blow which felled Mr.
SuMxER fell alone on Massachusetts, more than any
other State II evident that the slave power having
failed to sustain itself in the intellectual conflict with free
DOM bad resorted to brute force and beat freedom
the head with bludgeon.
The gentleman from Georgia TMr. Corn was about to
expound the constitutional view Of the question. The
stuton had been ampled in the dust by the slave pow
err and there little for the gentleman TO do but to