The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-19

the newspaper press and whether that utteanoe
for against particular officer Ia the discharge Of his Of
ial duty fur If that were done 1t would leave them but
little else 10 do IL time enough 10 inquire into the
conduct of officer of this House when il made the
subject Of remark In the House. He supposed that ii
called upon by the proper committee they could examine
and inquire and and know, and would al the proper
time report TO the House whether there weIe
not anything wrong in his official conduct But AZ seem
cd that they had been forealed and he perfectly
willing that it should be SO and II the honorable mem.
Der from North Carolina would modify his resolution 30
as bring it within the scope OF his remarks he would
be Obliged to him. H,gs
+ Mr. CIINGMAN replied that he hoped the gentleman
would move his resolution himself He preferred not 10
be on any COMMITTEES OF that kind he would move IT,
he would vote or it, Not being Of the political
party he did not wish TO make any further motion than
\ he had.
Mr. MAYNARD hoped that ii would not be made pc.
! litioal question.
I Mr. CLINGMAN hoped 50 too. Ii he had made the
! Motion ii might have been thought
/ Mr. MAYNARD asked the honorable member again Ii
he would modify and adopt his suggestion fer the
that he member of the House, and inexpe-
renced in its rules. He asked il as personal favor
! Mr.. CLINGMAN replied that IL the gentleman would
move proposition he desired be would accept It,
Mr.. MAYNARD stated that the proposition he
about TO offer for the appointment of committee TO
whom the accounts of the outgoing Clerk should be
feied for investigation, and which should report upon
| the same to the House. ass
Mr. CIINGMAN then submitted the following amend.
ment
Resoiped That the accounts and conduct of William
Culum late Clerk of the House of Representatives be
referred to select committee OF FIVE with instructions
inquire into the various items of his accounts and report
thereon any time and shall have power to send for
persons and papers, and that they likewise have author
ity look into the and conduct of any previous
Clerk and to report thereon at such time they may
think proper.
| Mr. MAYNARD said that this not time when he
was prepared to discuss the conduct of the outgoing
Clerk any officer but he had this confidence in the
character and integrity Of that gentleman amounting to
| a conviction that when the investigation made he
would have no occasion to regret it or to be ashamed
! of it,
Mr. NICHOLS of Ohio caused the l52d rule of the
House to be read which directs that from and after the
passage of that resolution all accounts shall be made To
the Clerk approved by him. before any allowance shall
be made therefor by the Committee on Accounts. Ho
added that If he understood the law Of the House, all
accounts of the Clerk must be referred to the Committee
on Accounts Under this rule, this investigation could
not be made by select committee, az 1t would take from
the Committee Accounts the accounts OF the Clerk
The SPEAKER stated that he did not understand IT,
| Mr.. KELLOGG, Of Illinois, remarked that he was
about To say that he anxious that the widest latitude
should be given investigation into the OF
any officer of the House and the general government
whenever the ntimation wasmade that such
necessary. He anxious this occasion account
| of the demand of the outgoing Clerk II was wholly
materia TO him whether he of his political faith
not when it asked to investigate his accounts he
would vote for it in resolution imbodyng the greatest
power to know whether there had been wrong right
In the execution OF his duties officer of the House
He would however, prefer personally, that the condi-
tions to this should not be made in the language ia
which it was made He would not him in the
ton ofany other Clerk II gentlemen desired to inves
gate the action Of the other Clerks they could dogo by
motion But he would vote for this resolution with the
view of securing the rights and sustaining the honor OF
the outgoing Clerk for he was worthy OF being sustained
and there way by which they could get fully
and properly the conduct and popety of the discharge
of the duties of officer than by direct examination
He feared no investigation in this matter m
Mr.. MAYNARD. Since this view has been TAKEN by
Twill mar of
ment and let it stand with reference to the late Clerk
himself, and let him stand or fall with It
Alr. KELLOGG ! concur with the gentleman, and
shall most cordially vote for the resolution it now
stands before the House.
/ Mr.. BURNETT, of Kentucky, remarked that there
seemed to be disposition to order this investigation
As the House fully understood the subject there
necessity for further debate and he would therefore
| the previous question. 8t
| Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama, hoped the gentleman
from kentucky would withdraw the previous question to
allow him to suggest modification
! Mr.. BURNETT declined to do So
/ The question received second, the amendment
agreed to- and the resolution as amended adopted
FROM COMMITTEE OF WAYS MraSs
] Mr. JONES' OF Pennsylvania, from the Committee Of
WAYS and Means reported the following bills which
respectively read twice by their titles referred to the
Committee OF the Whole on the state of the Union
| and ordered to be printed
Al bill to authorize the issue of treasury notes.
a bill making appropriations for the current and CON
tingent expenses Of the Indian department. and fulfilling
treaty spuatons with various Indian tribes for the year
ending June 80, 1859.
A bill making appropriations for the consular and d.
pomatc expenses of the government for the year ending
3Oth Of June, 1859
Mr. HARRIS, of Illinois, presented the memorial Of
Mr.. Vallandingham, contrasting the seat of LEWIS D.
CAMPBELL the sitting member for the third congressional
district Of Ohio which referred to the Committee Of
Elections and ordered TO be printed
REPORTS PROM COMMITTEES g
The committees being called for reports,
Mr.. QUITMAN from the Committee Military AT
! fairs, submitted the following resolution
Resolved That the Committee Military Affairs be
thorized to employ clerk ut compensation Of four
dollars day during his service.
/ Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, moved to amend the
resolution to include the Committees Of Elections,
Foreign Affairs, Naval Affairs, Judiciary Territories
| Commerce. and Post Office and Post Roads.
! The question taken the amendment and 1t was
disagreed toayes l5 nays 81 and the original resou
| ton lost
! Mr.. FAULKNER, of Virginia, from the commit
| tee, reported the following resolution:
! Resoired, That the communication recently received
from the Secretary of War calling the attention of the
House to the clerical by which the appropriation for
the support of the national armories omitted in
rolling the last army appropriation BILL and which
laid upon the table, be taken up and referred to the Com
mittee Military Affairs
The resolution agreed TO.
TREASURY NOTES
/ Mr. CAMPBELL of Ohio, remarking that It was known
that the treasury almost the verge of bankruptcy