Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-01-10
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, Jan. :.
SENATE is not in session to-day, having ad.jd
over til Monday.
HousE.-The Speaker laid before the House
a message fiom the President, enclosing the re-
port from the Sec'y Of the Treasury aud Post
master Gen'l, relative to the claim Of MeSsrS.
Carnock and Ramsey for the alleged abrogatiOn
of the contract for carrying the mail by way of
Vera Cruz and Acapulco 10 San Francisco.
Mr.. Nichols, of Ohio, said that the executive
officers of the govt have refused TO carry out
the law authorizing the first comptroller TO adj
Just the damages, and he thought the reasons
assigned for their refusal were utterly indeleaSa-
Bile. 1t was an act Of usurpation Of power,
which it become the dignity of Congress to
sent in the most efficient manner. 1t i'm
portant to know whether the bureau or the
cabinet officers have the right 10 make the law
for themselves. He wanted the Judiciary COm-
nittcc TO examine aud report whether any fur
ther legislation is necessary.
Mr.. Houston Of Ala, said that the former
Attorney Gen'l gave an opinion adverse 10 the
claim, but Mr.. Whittlesey declined to yield
obedience to it, taking the ground that the law
authorized him first Comptroller to adjust the
damages. The present Comptroller AlediiD
governed by similar opinion OF Judge
Black, that there had been no violation Of the
contract, and therefore there could be no dam
ages.
Mr. Nicholas reminded Mr.. Houston of the
fact that the law Instructed the first Comptroller
to carry its VIII into effect, and contended that
the Attorney Genl had no power 10 prevent the
execution of Sle law.
Mr.. Jones' Of Tenn, understood that Con-
gress did not decide whether damages were due
or not, but constituted the first Comptroller a
Chancellor TO act upon and determine the case
on its merits.
Mr. Phillips, of Pa, said the first Comptroller
had no right TO set up his judgement over the
act Of Congress, which hc, a ministerial Off
Ger, had dsrcgardeh.
Mr.. Groesbeck, of o., said that as an effort
had been made To intlict censure on the first
Comptroller, he invited an investigation into his
conduct The documents referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Valandinghan, Of o., reminded the House
of the fact that this the anniversary OF the
battle of New Orleans and that the Senate had
set patriotic example by adjourninS over till
Monday. lie said that from his information
Congress had not been in session on such an
occasion for fifteen years. For these reasons he
moved that the House now adjourn. The yeas
and nays were called on the question, when it
was negatiyed-ycas Sc nays %.
On motion of Mr.. Farnesworth a resolution
was adopted calling on the Sec'y Of the Interior
for information as to whether the Rock Island
military reservation had been transferred from
the War to the Interior Department, and thrown
opon for presumption at dollar and quarter
per acre.
One other incffcctual move TO adjourn.
The Faulkner resolution was adopted, calling
on the Sec'y of War to furnish statement Of
moneys expended in the last ten years for bar
racks, officers, quarters, &c, the object being
to reduce expenses of the quarter masters de
partment
Mr.. Davis, of Miss, moved to adjourn.
Mr.. Morgan demanded the yeas and nays,
saying that he wished to know why the Admin
istratiOn Democrats are wasting time.
Mr.. Letter remarked, if the Democrats deter
mine that no business be DONE they had better
adjourn. Question affirmative-7 majority.