Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Twenty-Fifth Congress Page: 1,325
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1325
OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS.
1326
Oct. 7, 183V.]
Treasury Notes.
[H. of R.
with the previous practice of the House, as it was precise-
ly in the same situation in which it had been in for the
last four years, and he had never before heard any com-
plaint in relation to it. But the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts had urged another objection against this commit-
tee, and that objection was, that there were eight, of its
members taken from the Southern States, and only one
left to take charge of the peculiar interests of the Northern
States. Now, if the gentleman would look into the organi-
zation of the other committees, he would find the same ob-
jections to lie against them.
How is it with, the Committee of Ways and Means?
Out of the nine members of that committee, there was only
one member, the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. Hameu,] to
take care of the interests qf the whole valley of the Missis-
sippi and Ohio. How is it with regard to the committee
of which the gentleman from Massachusetts himself is
chairman, the Committee on Manufactures—a committee
whose measures affect all branches of industry in the coun-
try 1 Seven of its members live in the Northern States,
and four of that seven in the New England States, while
the whole of the Southern States had but one person on it
to represent their interests. How is it with regard to the
Committee on Naval Affairs and the Committee on Com-
merce 1 The Western States have not a single member
on the Committee on Naval Affairs or the Committee on
Commerce to represent their interests.
But, could not the gentleman from Massachusetts see
the fallacy of these objections? There were only nine
members on each committee, and there were twenty-six
States in the Union; so that it was a natural consequence
that at least seventeen States must be unrepresented oil
each committee. There was, therefore, nothing in the ob-
jection. He would next call the attention of the gentle-
man to the Committee on Roads and Canals—a committee
so intimately connected with the great question of inter-
nal improvements. That committee stands seven to two,
and only one of its number to take care of the interests of
the ten States in the South and Southwest. That com-
mittee, too, stands, in regard to the administration, in pre-
cisely the same situation as the Committee on Military
Affairs.
The gentleman from Massachusetts, on yesterday, said
that, during the last long session of Congress, a resolution
way adopted calling on the late President of the United
States to lay before Congress a statement in relation to the
late Creek war,, and that no answer was returned by the
President. On this morning, however, the gentleman had
corrected this statement, but had again fallen into an error.
The gentleman had said that the resolution was answered
by the President within a day or two of the end of the ses-
sion. Now, if the gentleman would consult the journal,
he will find that this communication was sent in on the
14th day of February; that it was only a report in part;
and that the commissioners appointed by the President to
make the necessary examinations were engaged in the fur-
ther prosecution of the inquiry ; and Mr. McK, understood
that they were now in this city preparing a report, to be
laid before Congress at its next regular session.
The resolution offered by the gentleman from Virginia
[Mr. Wise] proposes an inquiry into the cause3 of delay
and expenditure in the prosecution of the Florida war.
Now, that gentleman will recollect that, during a former
Congress, he submitted a resolution calling for information
from the departments relative to this identical subject. On
the 22d of May, it would be found, by referring to the
journals, that a resolution was adopted, on .motion of the
gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Wise,] calling on the
President to communicate to the House all measures taken
to suppress Indian hostilities in Florida, and also to com-
municate the causes of such hostilities. It would also be
found that on the 26th the President sent a report from
the Secretary of War on the subject; on the 27th, an ad-
ditional report; and on the 3d of June, a supplemental re-
port on the same subject; therefore, there were three re-
ports made in answer to this resolution, giving all the in-
formation in relation to the causes of the war and the
means taken to suppress Indian hostilities.
Mr. WISE said he knew that this report did not contain
all the information in possession of the Department. He
would not say by what authority he knew this ; but the
late Secretary of War himself knew by what authority he
(Mr. Wise) knjsw that he did not communicate to this
House all the information in his possession.
Mr. McKAY resumed. That did not affect what he
was going to say. Tho gentleman says all the informa-
tion was not communicated. That was extraordinary.
He did not pretend to say that the gentleman had not good
grounds for making the assertion; but let us look to the
terms of the resolution. They were, that the President be
requested to communicate all the measures taken for the
suppression of Indian hostilities, and all the information
relative to the causes of those hostilities. Now, if what
was stated by the gentleman from Virginia was true, it
would form a grave matter of inquiry for the House to take
notice of, and it would be called upon to institute some in-,
quiry into the conduct of the late Secretary of War in con-
sequence of this dereliction of duty. But, would the House
suppose that the Secretary was so very regardless of his
official duty as not to comply with the order of the House,
requiring him to communicate all the information in regard
to the causes of this war 1
Mr. WISE said he would now state by what authority
he spoke. Sir, (said Mr. W.,) the Secretary of War,
unless his messenger told a falsehood, did, before he an-
swered that very call, send a gentleman to me with certain
papers marked confidential. They were submitted to me,
and I know it upon this information. I read them, and
tho question was put to me, " Do you want these papers 1"
My reply was, that I wanted all relating to. the subjecf.
Mr. McKAY rose to resume; when,
On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG, the House pro-
ceeded to the orders of the day.
TREASURY NOTE BILL.
The House then resumed the consideration of the "bill
to authorize the issuing of Treasury notes," being the sub-
stitute reported from the Committee of the Whole.
The question being .on an amendment to the amendment
proposed by Mr. Rhett—
Mr. RHETT modified his amendment so as to declare
that the faith of (he United States was pledged for the pay-
ment of the- notes, on presentation, at six months after
their dates, respectively. . â–
Mr. BELL rose and said: It had been his wish to sub-
mit'lis views upon this important subject while the bill
was in committee, but he had been prevented by indisposi-
tion ; he did now intend to extend his remarks as far as
he had designed to do, if time had permitted. Tho objec-
tions to this measure, (said.Mr. B.,) are in my mind great
and insuperable. .It may possibly lie that I am misled by
suspicions, and that I may mistake the object of the bill,
and do gross injustice to the intentions of the administra-
tion m pressing it upon Congress, but I must say, in my
own vindication, that if I should be mistaken, my suspi-
cions are honestly and sincerely entertained. In ordinary
times, and under ordinary circumstances, I could always
find some clew to the .real object of a measure; now no
light comes from any quarter to direct my course. I
might, and I did expect some light to spring up from the
discussion of this question, but neither from the spirit nor
matter of the past discussion can I gather any thing satis-
factory. If I look to the votes of honorable members ! am
slill left in the dark. It is well known that there is a re-
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Twenty-Fifth Congress, book, 1837; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30751/m1/83/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.