Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-06-28

facts staring them in the face. they can vote
mo upon the resolution. HoaV can the gen
asmdn from Virginia rois ..no2u
Upon the facts he cannot. And this being
so, we can understand why it is that tech
meal objections are thrown in our way.
First comes the Secretary and the gentle
man from Virginia, Mr.. Bocock-1 the re-
cogniZed leader of his party on this floor,
with plea in abatement to The jurisdiction
of this body, denying that we have any
right to consider these propositions. much
less to pass upon them by a vote. Then. the
gentleman xho Immediately preceded me
the honorable member from Virginia, Mr..
Millsonl-a gentleman, permit me 10 say tor
whose distinguished ability and personal
worth l entertain the highest respect-rises
in his place, and files a regular plea of the
statute of Limitations, DECLARING that ''the
time has passed." and that we cannot pro-
pcrly act upon any proof taken at the last
Congress affecting the character of the Sec
rotary. The point is so nice, it is difficult OF
comprehension. The admitted reasoning ca
pacity of the gentleman has not enabled him
to make an argument in its support even
plausible in its character. Very certain
feel that, had the honorable Secretary and
his friends not regarded his case as a dcs-
perate one, no such plea would lave been
filed and relied upon in argument.
Bnt to those who may suppose there is
more weight in this suggestion than L have
been disposed to give to it, | refer 10 a case
directly in point, occurring in the Senate of
the United States, in 1928. By resolution
of 9th August, 1852, n committee was raised
to investigate certain alleged abuses in va
riOus Departments of the Government. A
large amount OF testimony was taken, III
yolving serious charges of malfeasance in
office; but the session Of Congress closed be-
fore the committee reported. AT the next
session. session, too, OF new Congress-
report was made, and without objection, upon
the testimony taken during the past Con-
gress.
The fourth resolution is as follows:
ResO'red, That the President aud Secretary
OF the Navy, by receiving and consideriD 2
the party relations Of bidders, for contracts
with the United States, aud the effect Of
awarding contracts upon pending elections.
have set an example dangerous 10 the pablo
safety, and deserving the reproof OF this
House.
Can the language of this resolution be JUS
tilted by anything in the report of the gen.
tleman from Virginia? in that report find
letter from W. g. Patterson, Of Philadel-
pha, addressed to Mr.. Buchanan, asking that
the contract for the machinery of slOOp.
building at the Eavy-yard at Philadelphia,
which read the following:
Theirs (Merrick x Sons) is the only estab-
lishment in the first district which employs a
large number of mechanics; at this time, three
hundred and ninety when in full blast, four
hundred and fifty.
The managing partners (Mr. NJ, ST., being
absent in bad healthy are full of energy,
straining every nerve TO keep their force du-
ring this depression; and, in SO far as know,
the only old Wings Of any influence in that dis
trct uhO are in favor Of the reelection Of Colonel
Florence.
81 know, from former experience, the value of
that influence, aud feel persuaded that it is
the interest Of the Democratic party to increase
it.
1.-THE first district will, hope, be carried in
any event, bit ,0ifh that shop at ,cork full-hand-
ed t0o sceeks prior 10 the election, the result
would, | think, be placed beyond all doubt.
with much respect,