New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-01
UousE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Mr. MCPHERSON iRep Pal asked leave, but OBJ
lection made, to offer resolution calling on the
Secretary Of War TO inform tie House hat irlngiers
Of cannon, or munitions Of war have been removed
from tie arsenal rince April 1905 whist saes nj
had been made subsequent TO that time; TO whom aud
wleiber by private or public sale.
Mr.. MCkEAN Rep, ". L asked leave to offer the
following: That the several States did not "ordain
and establish this Governments that II Wa made by
n. teope OF the United States in order TO form more
perfect union. estab6eh justice insure domestic tran
utility provide for the common defense, promote the
genel elfaIe and pecure the blessings OF liberty 20
Themselves and their porerty That for such purpose
the people withdrew from their several State Govern
ments certain powers and vested them in General
Government Who're Constitution, laws, aud treaties
are tie supreme law Of The land anything IN the con-
slluton laws Of any State 10 the contrary notwith-
standing; that not thirty three nations but one
nation uHde such by the Constitution, and known 10
lie world n the American nation that any nation has
tie tight Of tepeseryaOn the hight TO defend Itself
ugani enemies iron without and traitors Within that
We believe this nation has the power to do 30, aud that
il il lis duty TO exercise II.
Mr. MAYNARD Is Am, Tenn objected to the in
PRODUCTION Of the resolution, when Mr. Mexican with
drew it.
Mr.. BINGHAM rep Ohio introduced a. bill to
further provide for the collection of duty on imports
Referred to the judiciary Committee.
Tie SPEAKER laid before the House the following
communication from the late Secretary Of War, ex-
planning the why, and Jusiiiying his eour-e,
in giving certain accept ances TO Russell Majo Co..
WAR DEpARrMEsr, Dec. n, 1860.
SIR: So much has been said very recently about the
policy Of ths Department IN granting acceptances to
contractors Tor transportation across the Plains that
deem ii due alike TO Congress, the pnbllc ard myself,
10 rake q short plain statement oil the facts connected
with the subject.
Al one time il the year 1853, j, became absolutely
recessaiy to start large trains OF transportation across
The las Of Utah, nhen there was an available means
TO Tut those trains in motion. Acceptances were given
10 contractors then To enable them TO start and they
did so. TIE practice thus begun was continued good
while from necessity, and Was afterward followed 10
a I'd accommodation 10 contractors an their very large
and extensive work Their purport is to give prefer
enc to the holder when hed in the Department, out
Of any moneys due TO contractors These aceeptances
have, until the past Autumn, been TO large amounts,
nor has any CONF aint wi aever until then been heard
at meats were not provided to meet and redeem
them There has never been the eist concealment or
nystery about this business. Ii was perfectly known
to u WHO had any interest Ia knowing about
il. Tiey have Teen given only when there was
standing contract, out of which means TO meet them
would certainly arise and for the execution OF which
there was existing appropriation They are prohi'
bited by no law. 49, 80 ,
rested u OH the following considerations Those given
for last season work and which were held as collae-
raj security in different placer the contractors were
anxious to postpone until next season. They repre-
sented that this could be done with acceptances which
on their face represented that they would paid when
the money they called for was earned by the contract
ors for next seasons work The strongest assurances
" 10 CO. by agreement already made into the hands OF
those bar ks and firms who then held unpaid accept,
ances ard for which they to be substituted and
Lid M collateral to their own obligations. The pay
accruing under this contract for next season viii be
more than enough to the amount Of acceptances
| rredicated on il To insure this stipulation,
| | consented to issue paper only In large
| amounts, and in the form which would be ne
certable il at all to hose who knew the perfect SOL
veucy of the contractors, and who had already money
engagements with them TO u large amount, and who
had ms was informed, and asl believed already con
tcnied to and desred tie arrangement II thee pro
misss and faithful Engagements had been performed
no difficulty could ever have resulted from the ransc-
ton Ii could not aud would not have Inssd or de-
ceiyed any ore No expectation based ON II could by
az, hostility have been disappointed. But the pro-
| mice made ne were not kept-weie broken. This
rarer was Seems placed IN the hands Of The Clerk
Of Io Interior who had distracted largo amount Of
securities belonging to the Indian Trust Fund Find
i,c tbis to be the case have not hesiated to give
order to cancel and aunu all those oeeoptanccs III
reryerson has rendered them void and OF no effect
am gratiGed TO assert confident belief that no
ore CONNECTED IN any way, directly remotely, in any
,bsre or form with the duties of the War Department
bpdany the l. st ccnntction with or knowledge OF thu
| emLe5zemdh, In Ita intention or its progress.
The issue Of this rsTer resolves itseh into Question
4 4 think. and