Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-06-07

South or anywhere else-just the same
as we created commission for the pur-
pose of examining into these very mat
ters OF rsvenue. Itdoes not come with
in the meaning of the Constitution at
all, and never has been so considered.
propose no violation of an office Of the
Constitution, This is not an Office.
We propose simply TO appoint an agent
to do q particular thing. We might, If
we chose, authorize committee OF this
House to do it. 1t requires no appoint
ment by the President. Whether or not
the gentleman from New York Mr..
Halel deems those arguments of the
Secretary of the Treasury wicked" |
do deem them wicked. do not believe
that the gentleman so regards them |
think they rather appeal to his taste or
appetite.
The gentleman from Vermont Mr..
Morrill, says that he is for keeping the
Secretary Of the Treasury free from pol
itics. So am | and it is for that very
reason that | have introduced this
amendments and made these remarks.
Mr.. DELANo, of Ohio.-I observe, Mr..
Chairman, that this sixty-sixth section
provides
That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby
authorized to appoint an officer in his Depart
ment who shall be styled Especial Commits
sioner of the Revenue, whose office shall ter
inmate in four years from the passage of this
act.
AS understand, this provides for the
appointment of an "officer;" and when
appointed he will hold an "office." ]
cannot, therefore, readily comprehend
the statement of the able and distin-
guished gentleman from Pennsylvania
that this is not an office, unless we are
using words of which we do not COM
prehend the meaning. | suppose that
is all that need be said on that point in
addition to the we'll taken constitutional
objection of my friend from New York
(Mr. HALE. But I ask this committee
to consider for single moment in what
attitude they will place themselves by
taking from the Secretary Of the Treas
ty the usual and customary authority of
appointing the officer. 1t can be looked
upon in no other light than that of re-
proach to this officer. 1t can be looked
upon in no other light than that of con-
domination of his conduct.
Treasury has done which deserves this
reproach and provokes this attack On
the question of reconstruction he differs
from the majority of this House. Is he
the slave OF the majority of this House ?
Is he not entitled to entertain his own
opinions about the proper manner of re-
organizing these States? Are we all to
square our opinions TO particular line
of conduct or to particular rule that is
to be marked out by those in the major
ity? Cannot an officer of this Govern
ment have opinions on this subject
without deserving the censure of this
House in exercising the legitimate pow
ers which belong to his office? What
do we do by this line of policy? What
do we effect in the country except to
provoke and irritate public sentiment
already too much excited, and to pre-
vent ourselves from arriving at those
wise and calm conclusions which the
country demands at our hands?
Mr.. Morrill,, in order to terminate the
debate, moved that the committee of the
whole rise, and the motion was carried.
A vote was taken, the next day, on Mr..
Stevens amendment, when it was reject
ed-yeas As, nays 70.
Thus we have in this little by-play
the temper Of the members of the House.
We see that the spirit of bitterness, of
vengeance, exhibited by Thaddeus Ste
vens is not shared in by majority of
the members, and we regret to see even
forty-siX voting to sustain the fiery
member from Pennsylvania. There are
doubtless men in all the States who are
in sympathy with this vindictive spirit,
but we are certain that his temper is
not possessed by majority of the people
in any State now represented in Con-
grassland certainly by the mass of So
ber candid, thinking men of Vermont.
SALE OF GoLD.-It is expected that
the report Of the Secretary of the Treas
ury in reference to the sales of gold will
be sent to the Senate on Monday. 1t is
stated that it will show total sales
amounting to about $35,000,000, at a
premium since the first of May of 80 IL.
Also that no gold was sold in March and
April for a less premium than 81.