Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-09
ruIRTY.FIFTm C0NGHEss-I.t Session.
THURSDAY. MARCH 4, 1858.
CEAAtEE

Y, il,
SENATE.
Mr. Stuart, from The committee on the subject re-
ported adversely on the bill amending the act OF
March 81, 1853, granting bounty lands to certain otll
cera, Sc.
Mr. Doolittle made speech in opposition to the
admission Of Kansas under the LecOnpton constitu'
ton.
After An executive session the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The Speaker announced the first business in order
to be MIR. Towards resolution asking the appoint.
ment of select committee to examine into charges oil
executive influence controlling the action OF members,
the question pending being, shall the resolution be
entertained rs question of privilege.
MIR. Hoard proposed al amendment charging, on
hi own authority and common fame, the President
With endeavoring to control the action of the HOUSE,
on the question Of the admission of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution, by executive patronage.
Mr.. Humphrey Marshall suggested postponement
for month.
MIR. Burnett objected to pospopement, and said ii
was due to MIR. Burns, the member implicated, that
he should have hearing now. The charge was base
less and contemplate, intended to injure the Demo-
cratic party as well az Mr.. Burns.
Mr.. Hoard said he had twice disclaimed personal
hostility.
Mr.. Burns sent up a written statement charging
that Mr. Hoard intended to make false and Islander
Gus record against him, and that he shall hereafter
treat Mr. Hoard aud his slang with the contempt they
merit in the estimation of all honorable men. He
further denied any collision with the President or his
caulnet as 10 Ills VOTE Nothing OF the KIND mad &C.
CURED directly or indirectly.
Mr.. Hoard again disclamed any party spirit or in
tention to wound the feelings of any man. When he
introduced the proposition he did not suppose there
would DO any opposition. He contended that it was
a legitimate subject of inquiry; that common fame
was sufficient ground for an investigation 1t s the
common rumor that the Executive is now endeavor
ing to control the action of this House, as he has
| heretofore endesvored to do 1t was common ri
NOR that led TO an investigation in Wolcoits case.
In moving an inquiry, lie not in pureuit of a
| victim but of an offender. He had been informed
that Mr.. Morris of Ohio had twice endeavored TO get
the floor to make some affirmation OF the truth OF the
statement which Mr. Burns had denied relative TO his
vote on the reference OF the Lecompton message to
the committee on Territories. Messrs Smith OF Hi
nois, and Morris OF Illinois, had both informed him
that Mr.. Burns was previously relied upon as anti
Lecompton.
Mr.. Blair repeated the conversation he had with
Mr.. Morris, corroboratng MIR. Hoard's statement.
Mr. Nichols said that when common sense was
perverted as the ground of the investigation it was
beneath the dignity of the House to entertain the
subject: The allegation against bis COLLEAGUES was
false He had never expected, as charged, the ap-
pointment of the marshaship of Ohio. The mem
bers all knew, without investigation, that power and
patronage had been brought to bear in favor Of the
passage OF the administration measures. This had
been the practice Of all administrations.
Mr.. Giddings asked Mr. Nichols to make an ex-
ception in favor of the administration of John Qun-
cy Adams, who once declared on this floor that while
President he had never but on occasion asked
| appointment, and that was deputy postmaster, in
whose favor he wrote note 10 his Postmaster Gene
raj. MIR. Mclean, who declared the applicant unfit,
and there the matter ended
Mr.. Nichols replied that there were honorable
captions. As to SIR. Burns vote, no member had
stated on his responsibility any reason or motive
for change. He therefore moved 10 ley the resolu
ton OH the table, including the resolution of Mr..
Burns, which Mr.. Hoad had accepted as substitute.
This substitute provided for the appointment of
vbathu had hnap
collision between Mr.. Burns and the President, and
whether improper attempts had been made, directly
or indirectly, to influence the action of any member
OF the House on any question on which the House
has acted has under consideration, with power to
send for persons and papers
The subject was finally tabled, by vote OF yeas
~, nays ~.
Mr.. Quitman made speech in support Of the bill
reported by him from the committee on military al:
fairs authorizing regiment Of mounted volunteers
for the defense of the Texas frontier, and that the
President accept the services of four additional regi
nen,s of volunteers. He paid high compliment to
the bravery Of the volunteers of the Mexican war,
and was listened to with much interest by bis fellow
members.
When he concluded the House adjourned
To Tie Editors Of The Enquirer:
i.YNoHBuRG Feb. Il, lS5s.
Through the medium Ut your columns, | oh.
that petition has been prsenad by Mr.. fancey
the Virginia Legislature, asking that the prorsion
Continental line that made by Congress for the Stac
ne7by the net OF July 5th lS3a-hc rst by strange
biuadr being omitted entirely in the provisions 81 SAID
Ac,-though explicitly pr0ridd Tor, IN common with the
State line in the resolution Of the Virginia Legislature oil
May 779 which promises half pay for HE, to such oicers
of Tho Vircnn State and lines shord
To end OF the become by the
reduction OF their regiments and which promise c State
of Virginia is jonnd TO t" unless Congress shd make
like au,daou prOrsiOn the COhtiR,Rid! linz that
has done Tor the State line officers by the OF July 5h
1889.
Tho members of the Virginia Legislature thc. seeing
that the State is bound both in honor and law 70 make
good to the heirs the half pay due their ancestts they
should never relax their efforts, through their senators
and Representatives have the heirs of the ohcers
or its stead permit the heirs 10 the Staeas the
state line officers and their heirs permitted do
and when ud gnent has been obtained the Sntc
the same make account vs. the General iovern
mcnt Tor it, payment &c,
such as was them should become supernumerari Con
contends that promised hcf pay for m except
10 those officers Of The Continental line pho became sssrnn
asrdries and otter January ISL ISL served The enc
of the The class OF officers then who became super
numeraries Fl ON May 18TH lis TO October 2st, l70 tho
entitled half pay from Virginia by virtue Of the -esou
ton May yet by poiiue actcf Congress in
cords being only by virtue of the compact between the
State Virginia and the General Government in the deed
Of cesso made by the former of all its Wfssrn domain.
On the conditions part that Congress would make pro
vision the payment of the officers and soldiers Of the
Va Sate and Continental lines promised them by
Va either oflsnd communication or halt pay Thsreforewh
Congress by directly this class
OF cnms no pa. ,b S, h o. h r p
Tue 1, ~ W ~ ,a ,h , o, IT,, ~ 80, ~
cou'a not us' t w" i%a 90 a'tJ, inc Stae
had pAu ine ne'f' uA"' '"us''' w. "e'' "'ougu hc'
courts Oh law. ,,o cor. r.con,o,do, hr oo.-,,,o
Indeed h's ID tne eoulsc Recommended ny committee
OF Congress IN l 10 whom ne sunect was referred Tor
report and whicn says @ wa nenaed ny the passage
OF the act OF July Nh 1872 10 feneVe the state OF virgil
mia from all liabilities winch snc nad incurred under the
act OF May LIZ Inat these aoies were incurred oy
virginia 10. lht eoo , "uu VI aHa To. aIoE And
therefore she tou'. DC luny iuuecu MOI ohiy ioT ex
penses anu pivse " 1 pay sue " her soIe
me but also 10 nct ,h ian anu su a,,s com
heirs OF the oeers OF me agalns inc state
ana mat .ns u' 'a w eiIar "od py ,c SAM on
tne GeihSn n W d Md ,ho h; r i f a.e y.
riren" ,i I've IL This ,b.o oT Ea D. n IL VI
te m ~, ioI 1st session SsJ conSress Iaas I
p.rnour Chairman and lieutenant Henry Tsn,n's