Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, February 21, 1837, Page 266, Image 2
J" !.! JJ-L-L_ L- I
Mr. Whitney's statement. J s
TO Tin: 1TBLIC. t s
Kindiug that misrepresentations have heen ; 1
spread abroad respecting it scene which oc* I 1
runvo on Wednesday night last at the Cap- j1
1h?i i'i t ie room oftlieselect committee oi l1
wnich the llou^Mr. Garland is chairman, 1
I deuu. it a duty alike due to myself and the i
pulifcv, to lay before it a correct statement j (
occurrence.
On that day, after my protest had been
n.id by tuo committee, received, and or- i
?to rod to he placed on the journal, Mr. ;*
Peyton commenced propounding intcrroga- j.
tor es to iikj; some of which I answered, j
and some I declined answering. I
The following was the fifteenth interro-j
g itory j?rojK.ejiidcd by him : "Did you re.!'
e-'ireanv letter of recommendation from k
U. 11, Taney, or did he in any manner j
countenance or encourage you in applying j __
r.rthe agency contemplated; or did he 11
positives refuse to receive or countenance i
* , ) r
you m that capacity white he was nt tne ,
h *ad of the Treasury Department Vs
To theinterrogatory I gave the following : ^
answer: *v I deciinc 'answering this inter- J J
rogatory ; more particularly as the individu-1
Mt propounding it had asserted positively !
and publicly, that :1a substance of the latter j (
part of it is true, beginning with, "or did, |25
vVo." therefore, being the party aroused, I j
am not a proper witness. I think in justice, j
mat tiieindi iduai who has made tho alle- ( '
gation should be ceiled to produce bis i
pr.K^'." Is
This was ii indfd to the chairman, who , i
re id if to the committee; upon which Mr.:
Peyton, in a most violent and passionate ;
manner, sprang from his seat, and exclaimed ;L.
The damned internal scoundrel should 11
not instill him there; that Constitution or no j f
Constitution, lie (as I understood him to
say) would have the lite of the damned vii-!
i anp'atjthe same iimeiadvancing and thrust- J
ing his hand into his bosom, under his waist- S <
coat, as I supposed, for the purpose of draw-; \
ing forth some concealed weapon. K.v i
peeling an assauit, I put myself in a posture i
of defence, before lie had got forward to : s
.?? nn.i l?<? )\M<1 !?i?e Imni 11 i*r\m ! 1
IIIV~9 U?JU lAIUil' 1H> il?IU VMUt* ii llio lUUivi uvui - J
h's bosom. Mr. Wise sprang before him,j >
and pushed him back, saying, "Don't Pey. J
ton; the damned scoundrel is not worth
* |
minding." I immediately took my seat, j
when both Mr. \V jand Mr. Peyton com.?
mcuced tfie most violent abuse of me, the j
latter calling me "a damned plunderer," and ;
4m damned dog;" when I rose and said,!
"Mr. Chairman, 1 claim the protection ?f|
the committee while I am before it." When
Mr. IV v ton, addressing himself to nic said:
Y.mi shan't speak < rod damn you; helJyour
t-mgue;" and when 1 had seated myself, still
keeping my eye U|k>u him, he said : "(rod
damn you, take your eyes off of me; you
shan't look at me;" and after this he rose, &
with Mr. Wise advanced towards inc; the
latter with his hand in his pocket, and stood
before motor a minute or more, as if sup.
jHising they could intimidate me by their
frowns. Soon after this, and when quiet i
hud prevailed, I was requested by the chair.
m iii to retire, which I did. Some time af- I
tor, w hen I was requested to return to the i
room, 1 was informed by the chairman that j 1
the committee had resolved, that the answer j j
which I had given to the interrogatory i
should be returned, as containing something i
disrespectful to a member of the committee; 1
and ttwt tlic interrogatory wnicii lie neiu in ]
his hand should be propouuded; w hen I i
said in substance, (I may not use the pre. i
cise words,) " That if I had done any thing ! *
which a majority of the committee consid- (
trad improper, I certainly regretted it." The j i
interrogatory which the chairman alluded , f
to was then propounded, which was as fol- f
lows : "Did you or not apply to the Sucre- ( 1
tary of tlie Treasury to be appointed, either 1 r
before or after the removal of the Jeposites, ' r
agent of the department, or of the depositc 2
banks, selected or to be selected ?" )
The foregoing is nearly, if not an exact 11
account, of what transpired, ; *
When it is recollected that on the 5th in- i r
stunt, in a Card, published in the Globe, I *
ctiailenged Mr. IVyton to adduce a single i s
particle of proof to sustain the assertion I i
found it reported he had made, us well i i
as declared it false, that "in conse. /
<;uenca of the character of the agent allu- i ;
(led to, Mr. Taney, the former Secretary ! I
?l ihc Treasury, would not recommend him s
as an agent ?i" the dcfmsitc banks," I will11
leave it to the public to decide, who was the i
aggressor on the evening alluded to, .Mr. >
l*ey?on, lor propounding the interrogatory 11
he did; or mysellllbr giving the answer which c
1 did to i*. j <
It is fo" the House of Representatives to ;'
decide, whether it shall be tolerated, tliat I
any individual called before them as a wit. 11
ness, or before n committee upj>ointed by i *
. ! i i i - i I I ,
(hat nonorawe uouv, ami acuug uikht us ?
* ,
authority, shall be subject to treatment sini-! i
ilar to that I have experienced, and of which t
I complain, without having it redressed. : i
To a discerning and enlightened public 1 j r
trust the decision, whether the course which t
1 pursued during?the unpleasant affair which ! 1
I have detailed, was the respectful and f
proper one, or whether a more proper one i
would have been such as might lmvc led to ;
a scene of greater confusion, add to still 1
more unpleasant, and, possibly to calami- <
tons consciences. ; 1
Respectfully, j J
The public's humble servant. j I
It. M. WHITNEY.
11
The ground ofoffence is thus exhibited
in the National Intelligencer. \'
Extract from the Journal of the Committee i i
of Ini rgtigation, J. Garland, Chairman. 1 <
Wednesday, January 25, 1S37. j'
Bv Mr. Peyton.?Question 15. Did \ 1
yon receive any letter or recommendation t
irenn Roger H. Taney, or did he in any j'
manner countenance or encourage you in j <
applying for the agency contemplated, or 11
did he positively refuse to recommend, re- 1
ceive, or eountanence you in that capacity, 1
whilu he " oh at the head of the Treasury ! 1
Department ? i
Sir. Whitney.?Answer.?I decline an- ' i
swering this interrogatory: more particular-; t
ly as the irJ. vidua' prop-undlrrg it u < n i
orted positively and publicly, that the subitauce
of the latter part of it is true, beginng
with "or did he," &c. therefore, being
he party accused, I am not a proper witless,
I think, in justice, that the individu. ;
d who has made the allegation sliould be
tailed to produce his proof.
Mr. Peyton thus explains the subsequent
iccmvctice as given in the Intelligencer.
'*1 did not wish to enter into personal nl- '
creation with one who is as completely J
shielded from the notice of al! honorable
lien by bis infamy, as u mad dog is bv
lis hydrophobia. But, sir, he accompanied
hat answer with a scowl, a frown an insul
in\glook of drfiance, directed boldly to me
icrsonally, which perhaps no one else then
taw. I appealed, sir, immediately to the
:hair, to know if the witness should be pernitted
to insult inc. 1 walked up to him,
ind said I would teach him better than to
nsult mc; that I would let him know that I
cquired no constitutional privilege to chasiso
him if he dared to insult me; that, if he
lid, I would put him to death on the spot.
ili? T kmuI l'llKflMmi il'ipcll flip 1 W!iu #>VCI.
-'? * lu..(j?uSv -v. . .
ed, .19 ?iny man would have boon who has
i soul in him fit to be saved. The chair
:alicd to order, and I took my seat. He
ays I drew a pistol upon hi.u; it is false,
\itur I sat down he rose and began again;
walked up to liiin again, and he, at that
Moment seemed ns if he was about to use a
vcapen: he had his hand ui his pocket, and
t hen I waked up to him, I put my hand in
ny besom, but I drew nothing from it.?
ivery one present believed, from his attiudo
that he was armed with deadly wcap.
>ns. My friend from Virginia (Mr. Wise)
nterposed, the witness was withdrawn, and
he committee unanimously passed a reso.
ution censuring his.insulting behavior."
Mr. Wise's version is as follows:
As soon as t!..c answer was read, I look- J
:d at my friend, and saw he was flou.shed j
vith excitcmcut; his face beamed with in- j
liguation; no one could mistake his feel. J
ngs. He Orst addressed the chairman, by !
aying, "Mr. Chairman, I wish you distinct, i
y to iufotm the witness that lie is not to in.
iiilt nie here.*' He was proceeding, when
arose, and remarked, Mr. Chairman, the
1 d insolence of this witness is insurterible,
and has been borne long enough.?
ilc had, in fact, Mr. Speaker, declined to
loswer one question because it was "inquis*
to rial;" and, because another was "inquis.
Itwial" he declined to answer it, and had
rung all the changes upon that word till, if i
reiteration could convince and supply the
:>lace of truth, one might have believed from
uore repetition, that the committee was,
what it has ix:en denounced to bo. worse
. a t I I
limn u tSpiunsii inquisition : ^ir, nc nuu re.
:eivod his cue.
But to proceed: My friend rose as I utter.
?d these words respecting the witness, put
rnc back with his arm, and said, 44 This is
my business, Wise, not yours." And he
walked straight up to the witness where he I
wt, and said to him nearly in these words !
?I will endeavor to give his very words,
however harsh: "You talk about mv shield,
ing myself behind my constitutional privileges.
Now, I toll you that I claim no constitutional
privileges to protect me from your
nsults in my presence; and you d ?d
Kief and robber, if you dare to insult me
lore or elsewhere, to my face, I will put
( ou to death on the spot!" The Chair,
nan had called me to ordor, and I sat down;
ic immediately called my friend back to his
K;at, tor it is but due, Mr. Speaker, to the I
Chairman to say, that he has done his duty |
n all respects on that committee. My I
riend took his scat, when the witness rose, I
ind began to say, "Mr. Chairman, 1 have
)ccn summoned to appear before this com- ;
nlttnn I i?l:iini its nrotection"?-lie did I
?- - - I
mt finish the sentence before my friend rose
md told hiin to sit down, "Sit down, sir!
ou have no right to speak kere but in wriing,
and you shall not utter a word; if you
peak another word I will" Sir, I do :
lot remember here exactly what lie said he
vould do, he used many harsh epithets,
iucli as "d ?d scoundrel." The wit.
less uttered not a word, but he was stand- 1
ng & immediately advanced his loft foot,and
mt his right hand into his pantaloon s right '
yockrt. 1 was standing then immediately
>ehind my friend, and seeing Whitney as.
;umc this attitude, I walked quickly around '
he edge of the table, near to Whitney's j
eft side. I expected him to draw a deadly
I 0
veapon on my friend. I watched the moion
of that right arm die elbow of which
roulii be seen bv inc; and had it moved
me inch, he had died upon the spot!?
That was my determination. Let me not
>o misunderstood or misrepresented?I
nean to say that if lie had drawn his deadly
veapon on my friend it skmtd never have
lone its execution. I considered my friend
n imminent danger, and stood prepared
o arrest it?to prevent his life from beng
taken by a villain, who wore every
ippcarancc, and assumed the very attiudc
of an insidious assassin. Happily, I
lad no occasion to interpose, but in a
ricndlv manner, to lbrcc my friend away,
vho had, seeing the position of the witness
kr, n,l V.i In'p A/ionm I ctonrtoil in
mi m-y wuic*. ... ni.i * u?^,.| ...
xjtwecn them, took hold of .Mr. Peyton,
. aught him by his waistcoat, and closed it.?
[ told him \\ hitney's blood was not worth
spilling, and was not fit to slain any man?
ic was not worthy of his notice. My friend
sat down, saving, " Yes, he is worth noice
w hen he comes to my face and insults
me. I would notice any d d dog."
The chairman expostulated with him, and .
ny friend replied, "You have not seen him,
sir; he has been looking at me,?looking
\l me, sir; and he shall not look at me again!
[ submit it to you, sir, whether I have not
reated him as if he irrre a gentleman"?
The chair remonstrated against further disjrder.
Whitney had not uttered a word
ificr he was ordered by my friend to be sient,
and did not until after he had retired j
md returned to the committee room. Mr. I
flarncr had been speaking; the witness was |
eqncs'cd to retire. Mr. 1 tamer offered the j
esolution you have heard read; it passed;
inanimoushi. Whitney was called in.? j
Phe fhoirwm returned him his effusive
answer and informed him of tho resolution, C
and he immediately said Mr. Chairman, if n
1 have been disrespectful to the committee, n
I regret it, sir, and apologize for it.'' t<
Mr. Wise closes with this coup (Vdil of r
tho affair. ; j
''Sir, if you had been present and witness- I a
eil the scene of that, night, you would have ^
l?een struck with the immense difference be- p
lween the two men. I will tell you what a
you would have seen; you would have seen ; j|
the high elevation of an honest, bold, cour- r
ngcous, manly, noble disposition, above a j
low, bases cowering, cowardly, dishonest r
wretch ! That, sir, was the only spectacle tj
you would have seen. And I say, sir, let C
tnose of the tico c/asses of spirits then pres. a
ent he respectively consorted together, and v
assimilated to each other /" p
Mr. Whitney has addressed a memorial to fi
the House praying for redress of wrong suffer- o
cd before the committee, and for an investiga
tion into the statements published by him and 11
denied by Messrs. Peyton and Wise in the 0
House. 'j
Having been summoned to appear as a .
witness before the " Committee of Investigation*'of
which Mr. Wise is chairman, he ad- t
dressed a letter to the committee, in which a
after repeating some of the statements of Mr. s.
Wise made in the House, and denying that he c
was, at all, armed before the committee, he e
adds, ' Under these circumstances, I peremptorily
decline appearing before the committee, n
of which Mr. Wise is chairman, or a member, }
until the honorable House of Representatives
shall have redressed the wrongs which I have ^
experienced by obeying its mandate, and until
full protection is extended to me from future (j
insult and violence." v
; w
THE COMMITTEE OX MK. WISE S RESOLUTION
OF INQUIRY AND THE PRESIDENT.
The following resolutions were adopted, n
and thu Chairman directed to furnish the jJ(
President of the United States with a copy 0
of the same. tc
1. Resolved, That the President of the tc
United States he requested, and the heads j,
of the several Executive Departments be ^
directed, to furnish this committee with a ^
list of all officers, or agents, or deputies, n
who have been appointed or cinplfyed and w
paid, since tiie 4th of March, 1829, to the 0l
first of December last, if any, without au- jj(
thority of law, or whose names are not 5,
contained in the lust printed Register of ^
public officers, commonly called the "Blue U1
Book," by the President or either of the n
said heads of Departments respectively, and
without nomination to. or the advice and w
" % "" ' # j 1
consent of the Senate of the United States; t u,
showing the name of such officers, agents, j x
or deputies; the sum jKiid to each ; the '
services tendered, and hv what authority ! \
appointed and paid, aud what reasons for i e,
such appointments.
2. Resolved, That the various Executive ,
officers in replying fo the foregoing resolution,
be requested at the same time to furnish
a statement of the period at which any in. j|,
novations not authorized by law, if such j '
exist, had their origin; their causes, and the ^
necessity which has required their con- |
tiuuancc.
Attest. B.F.IIALLETT, Clerk.
The President's Letter to the Committee. jn
[Copy.] ?
Washington Citv, Jan. 26,1837.
Sir: I received on the evening of the w
24th inst. your letter, covering a copy of fx
certain resolutions purporting to have been st
adopted by a committee of the House of p<
Representatives, of which you are chair- le
man, and request that you will lay before pi
that committee, this, my reply, which 1 pi
hastened to make.
It appears, by the published proceedings cj
of the House of Representatives, that the V(
committee, of which you arc chairman, jn
was appointed on your motion. The w
resolution offered by you, and finally adopt- w
ed by the House, raised a direct issue with 5,
that part of my annual message in which yj
I held the following language: "Before y(
concluding this paper, I think it due to the w
Executive Departments, to bear testimony ei
of their prosperous condition, and to the t0
ability and integrity with which they have j^,
been conducted. It has been my aim to a{
enforce in all of them a vigilant and faith- q
till discharge of the public business; and tj,
it is gratifying to me to believe that there c|
is no just cause of complaint, from any c,
quarter, at the manner in which they have tf(
fulfilled the objects of their creation."? i s.
Your resolution is in the following words; j sj
7,?/v7 miipli r>rtlin I
IH-Ol/ilVUJ A UUb WV IUUVIA V? lliv ? avw%4w..k U ||]
message as relates to the 'condition of the ai
various Executive Departments, the ability jf
and integrity with which they have been ?.
conducted, the vigilant and faithful dis- ^
charge of the public business in all of them, n]
and the causes of complaint from any p
quarter, at the manner in which they have CI
fulfilled the objects of their creation, bore- v<
ferred to a select committee, to consist of
nine members, with power to send for persons
and papers, and with instruction to j
inquire into the condition of the various j 111
Executive Departments, the ability and in- [
tegrity with which they have been conduct. n'
ed, into the maimer in which the public ]
business lias been discharged in all of them, ^
i III
and into ail causes ot complaint, from any j
quarter, at the manner in which said depart- ^
ments, or their bureaus or officers, or any j
of their officers or agents of any descrip- ^
tion whatever, directly or indirectly con- j .
nccted with them in any manner, officially j .
or unofficially, in duties pertaining to the !
public interest; have fulfilled or failed to 10
accomplish the object of their creation; or
have violated their duties, or have injured j
and impaired the public service and interest,
and that said committee, in its inquireis,1
mav refer to such periods of time as to thein I
uiay seem expedient and proper." It also j
appears, from the published proceedings of
the House, that this resolution was accotn- j
panied and sup[>ortcd by a speech of con-;
siderablc length, in which you preferred j
many severe but vague charges of corrup- i os
tion and abuse in the Executive Depart-.
nter.*?. T> llcso'utbris rulop'H by the
Jommittcc as well as by the House itself, j
tjlist be taken in connection wiili your,
itroduclory speech, which gives a charac- j
:r to the whole proceedings. When thus
egardeil, it is obvious that, bv the resolution j
f the House, an issue is made with the.
'residentof the Tuned States; as he had !
lleged, in his annual message, that the !
icads of the Executive Departments had
erformed their official duties with ability
nd integrity. In your speech you denied
bis; you charged them with tyanitbid cor- j
uptions, and abuse of trust, as \ou Iirul j
lone in former speeches, to which you
efcrred ; and you demanded an investiga.
on through the medium of a committee.
Certain otticr members of Congress, as
ppears hv the published debates, united
Mb vou in these accusations; and for the
y 1
urposo of ascertaining their truth or falseood,
the committee you demanded was
rdered to he raised, and you were placed
t its head. The first proceeding of the
ivestigating committee is to pass a series
i - i j I _
t resolutions, wmcn, inougn arnenaeu m
leir passage, were, as understood, introuced
by you, calling on the President and
ic heads of the departments?not to an.
wer to anv specific charge ; not to explain
ny alleged abuse ; not to give information )
s to anv particular transaction : but, as- j
uming that thev have been guilty of the J
barges alleged, calls upon them to furnish !
vidence against themselves. i
After the reiterated charges you have j
lade, it was to have been expected that i
cu would have been prepared to reduce j
icni to specifications, and that the com- {
iirtee would then proceed 10 investigate the ;
lattors alleged. But instead of this you :
Jsort to generalities, even more vague
lan your original accusations, and in open
iolation of the Constitution, and of that j
ell established and wise maxim, " that all j
len are presumed to be innocent until,
roven gnilfy, according to the established
lies of law," you request myself and the
eads of the departments to become our
wn accusers, and to furnish the evidence
> convict ourselves; and this call purports
? be founded on the authority of that body
? *- _i i.? ?i? ,il0
I wnicri atoiiU) ;iy me iA>tiaiiiuuuii) i
ower of impeaching us is vested! The
cads of departmer/s may answer such a
jquest as they please, provided they do not
ithdraw their own time, and that of the i
dicers under their direction, from the pub. j
c business, to the injury thereof. To that!
usiness I shall direct them to devote them. :
dves, in preference t j any illegal and
nconstitutional calls for information, 110
latter from what source it may come, or
owever anxious they may lie to meet it.
or myself, I shall rejicl a!! such attempts
s an invasion of the principles of justice,
s well as die Constitution ; and I shall es:eiii
it my sacred duty to the people of the j
nitcd States, to resist them as I would the j
Publishment of a Spanish inqusition.
If, after all the severe accusations con.,
lined in the various speeches of yourself <
[id your associates, you are unwilling of
our own accord, to bring specitic charges,
ion I request your committee to call vour
:lf and associates, and every other inemsrof
Congress who lias made the general j
large of corruption, to testify before God j
nd our country, whether you or they know i
f any specific corruption or abuse of trust
i the Executive Departments; and if so, i'
hat it is.
If you are able to point to any case, I
here there is the slightest reason to sus. i1
jet corruption or abuse of trust, no ab-1'
acle which I can remove, shall be inter, j
:>sed to prevent the fullest scrutiny by all j *
gal means. The offices of all the de. 1
lrtmenfs will be open to you and every |
oper facility furnished fox this purpose. !'
I hope, sir, we shall at last have your j,
mrges, and that you will proceed to in- J,
istigatc them, not like an inquisitor, but
i the accustomed mode. If you either
ill not make specific accusations, or if,
hen made, you attempt to establish them j
{making freemen their own accusers,
3U will not expect me to countenance .
)ur jwroceedings. In the short period
hicli remains of my official duty, I shall
ideavor, as I heretofore have endeavored, j
. fulfil the obligations of that oath of office, j j
/ which, I engaged " to the best of my |
jilily, to preserve, protect, and defend the 1
onstitution of the United States," and for j
ic fini I other reasons of the most solemn I
laracter, I shall on the one hand, cause I,
. cry facility, consistent with law and jus- i
:e, to be given to the investigation of;
>ecific, tangible charges, and on the other,:
iall repudiate all attempts to invade the :
st rights of the Executive Departments,;
id the individuals composing the same, j
, after all your clamor, you will make no 1
iccific charges, or bring no proof of such t
; shall be made, you and your associates
iust be regarded by the good people of the
nited States as the authors of unfounded -,
ilumnics; and the public servants whom j |
du have assailed, will, in the estimation ' ^
l all honorable men, stand fully acquitted.
In the mean time, I cannot but express 1
y astonishment, that members of Con. .
rcss should call for information, as to the j,
lmes of persons to whom contingent 11
lonevs are paid, and the objects of those j.
lyments, when there are six standing com- j j
littees, under the seventy-seventh rule of:,
ic House of Representatives, whose special \ <
jties arc to examine annually into al! the j
2tai!sof those expenditures in each of the j
xecutivc Departments. The like remark ?
applicable to some other branches of the j j
formation sought by you, ample details ; |
i respect to which, arc to be found in the j,
qiorts laid before Congress, and now on
:>ur files, and to which I recommend you jj
i have recourcc. ,
I am respectfully, (fee.
Signed. ANDREW JACKSON, j i
0 tlie Hon. Henry A. Wise. ;
Chairman of the Investigating Committee
of the abuses and corruptions charg- j
ed against the Executive Departments, j _
1 certify that'this is a true copy from the l j
igiuHi. !1
Test: i1
A J \CKSOX, J - IVivatc So,' 1
RESOLUTION* OF INQUIRY.
TJic following resolutions, as amended,were
adopted, and a copy frf the same dir.
ected to be sent, by the chairman; to each
of the Heads of the Departments
1. Resolved, That the Heads of the several
Departments, be directed to furnish this
Committee with a statement, showing the
sums of money paid within the year ending
on the first of December last, by such Departments
respectively, their agents or dcputies,
without authority of law, if any, to
printers or editors of newspapers ; speci/ying
the names and residence of such printers
and editors, and also the names and
places of publication of the newspapers owrv j
ed or published by them ; and showing the I
nml /.nnfirloralinn fr?r whis*ll >iiir?H I
scr> ICU3 ami WIW.UV.UI.V.. .w. .....w..
sums liuvc been paid, giving each item, as
stated in the account of such printer or edi.
tor, and the reasons for making such pay. j
meats.
2. Resolved, That the President of the !
United States be requested, and the Heads |
of the several Executive Departments be dir.
ectcd, to furnish this Committee with a list,
or lists of all the officers, or agents, or de.
puties, who have been appointed or employed
and paid, since the 4th of March j 1829,
to the 1st December last, if any, without authority
of law, or whose names are not contained
in the last printed-Register of public j
officers, commonly called the Blue Book,
tlx. Prnaii^nnt n.ntlinr S.1 irt H Kills
ujt IIIV/ A IV>JiUViU)U t WVUV I w* ? ? _
of Department respectively ; and without
nomination to, or the advice and consent of
the Senate of the U. S., showing the names |
of such officers, agents, or deputies; the
sums j>aid to each, the services rendered,
and by what authority appointed aud paid,
and what reasons for such appointments.
II. Resolved^ That the Heads of the several
Departments be required to furnish this
Committee with a statement, showing the
various amounts of money paid within the
last four years, ending on the 1st of Decern,
ber last, for contingencies, whether appro-,
priated or not by law, to whom, and for what
paid ; showing whether any, and if any,
what appropriations have been changed
from specific to other objects of expenditure
than those for which they were made, and
how such change was authorised or effected, |
and showing the amount of illegal or irregu- j
lar expenditures, allowances, or payments j
of ever}' description whatever, if any, made |
by said Departments respectively, since the I
4th day ot Itlurcn, ic^y, to inc isi or jjcceinber,
1836, and whether paid by Treasury
warrant or draft, or otherwise, to whom,
and for what paid, and the authority and
reasons for such expenditures.
4. Resolved, that the Heads of the several
Departments be directed to furnish tlus
Committee with a list of all officers, agents,
or deputies, who liave, since the 4th day of
March, 1829, to the 1st December _ last
within the Departments respectively, received
salaries, pay, or emolument of any kind,
without rendering service to the Government;
who have received salaries, pay, or
emolument of any kind, without being in
office; whose commissions have been antedated;
who held other stations or appointments,
State or Federal, when receiving pay
for particular offices or agcncicf, or who
have been engaged in private employment,
and that, whilst receiving pay from, and ren
tiering no service to, the Government of the
United States, with the names of such offi.
ctcrs or such agents, or deputies; the sums
or salaries paid to each, and the times of
service of each respectively.
5. Resolved, That the various Executive
officers, in replying to the foregoing resolutions,
be requested, at the same time, to
furnish a statement of the period at which
any innovations, not authorised by law, if
such exist, had their origin; the causes, and
the necessity which has required their con-:
tinuancc.
G. Resolved, That the secretary of the
Navy be directed to furnish this committee
with the report of John P. Van Ness and
Amos Kendall, commissioners appointed by
authority of the President of the United
States, to receive and report such testimony
as might be offered touching certain char,
ges preferred by Mr. Hanson Gassaway,
relative to the condemnation, delivery and to
him, of sundry pieces of ordinance at
Washington arsenal; and certain otherchar.
ges connected wiih sundry contracts, and
other matters connected with the office of
^ ??-?^ /l ?y*jc_
the INavy commissioners, wmui wtumnsioners,
sat during the year 1833. ,
A true copy from the journal. i
Attest. B. F. IIALLETT, Clerk.
RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.
The following message was received
from the President of the United States,
through Mr. Jackson, his private Secrc.
fary.
To the Senate of the United States :
At the beginning of this last session,
Congress was informed that our claims
upon Mexico had not been adjusted, but
that, notwithstanding the irritating effect ;
upon her councils of tho movements in ,
Texas, I hoped by great forbearance, to
avoid the necessity of again bringing the
subject of them to your notice. That j
liope has been disappointed. Having in
i'ain urcred upon that Govornmcnt the just
?
ice of those claims, and my indispensable |
obligation to insist that there should be !
no further delay in the acknowledgement, j;
if not in the redress of the injuries complained
of," my duty requires that the whole :
subject should be presented, as it now is, i
for the action of Congress, whose exclusive <
right it is to decide on the further measures
of redress to be employed.
The length of time since some of the in
1
juries have been committed, the repeated
and unavaling applications for redress, tbe ,
wanton character of some of the outrages |
upon the property and persons ot our citi- ;
sens, upon the officers and flag of the
United States, independent of recent insults
to this Government and People by the late
Extraordinary Mexican Minister, would
ustifv, in the eves of all nations, immediate
war. That remedy, however, should not :
be used by just and generous nations, con'id!'1
" 51 t l'"-* "?M rrf: j *'
mittcd, if it can be honorably avoidedt and
it lias occurred to ine that considering tbo
present embarrassed condition of that country,
we should act with both wisdom and
moderation by giving to Mexico one more
opportunity to atone for the past, before wc
take redresa into our own hand9.
To avoid all misconception on the part
of Mexico, as well as to protect our national
character from reproach this opportunity
should be given, with the avowed design
and full preparation to take immediate
satisfaction if it should not be obtained on
a repetition of the demand for it. To this
end 1 have recommended that an act be
passed authorizing reprisal, and the use of
the naval force of the United States Ij tber
Executive against Mexico, to enforce them
in the event of a refusal by the Mexican
Government to come to an amicable adjustment
of tho matters in controversy
between us, upon another demand thereof
made from on board one of our vessels of
war on the coast of Mexico.
That document herewith transmitted,with
those accompanying rrty message in answer
te a call of the House of Representatives
of the 17th ultimo, will enable Congress
to judge of the propriety of the
course heretofore pursued, and to decide
upon the necessity of that now recommanded.
ff these views should fail to meet the
A lUnt ttfufv
WituuilVllbg \J I V/VllglUtKTf UI1U MlUk
be able to find in the condition of the at*
fairs between the two countries, as disclosed
by the accompanying documents, with
those referred to, any well grounded reasons
.to hope that an adjustment of the controversy
between them can be effected without
a resort to the measures I have fek it my
duty to recommend, they may he assured
of my co-operation in any other cours*
that shall be deemed honorable and proper.
ANDREW JACKSON.
Washington, February 6,1837.
The Message was read, and,
On motion of Mr. Buchanan, it was
I 1 I ? .1 M .1
oruereu to dc pnntea, togetner wun mo
accompanying documents, and referred tt>
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
CONGRESS.
:n senate.
Saturday. Feb. 4.
Mr. Clay presented a memorial from sundry
authors in the United Stater, complaining of
the existing laws in relation to copy rights,and
and praying that the same may be revised and
amended; Mr. Grundy, from the select committee
on the election of President and Vice
President of the United States, made a report
ii'itli tu'n rnanlutinns *K?> first n>SAlntinn nrc^
??IH1 HIV ? VWV?m?VMV | %MV ?MV* V?Vfaw?*WM V"
viding that the two. Houses should meet on
Wednesday next, at twelve o'clock, in the
Hall of the House, to determine and settle the
election of President and Vice President, iu
the usual manner, which was specified.
The second resolution provided that the
votes of Michigan should be recorded, with a
statement that if they were counted, the vote '
would be so; and if they were not counted,
the vote would be so; and in either case the
general result would be the same. Thus
leaving the question of the genuineness of the
Michigan votes undecided. Adopted.
The land bill was recommitted for amendment.
, v
Feb. 6, Mr. Tipton presented a petition
from his State, Indiana, praving for the abolition
of slavery in the District of Columbia, but
opposed its prayer, arguing strongly against
tiie constitutionality of such a measure.
Mr. Calhoun objected to the reception, and
the chair decided that an objection was sufficient
to raise the question of reception,without
a formal motion to reject.
Similar petitions were also presented by
Messrs. Ewing, Swift, Morris, Wall, Prentiss,
Knight, Buchanan,and Davis. Messrs. Ewing
and Morris were in favor of a reference and
report. Mr. Swift vindicated the character
of the petitioners from the appellation of fanatics
and incendiaries. Messrs. Ewing and
Morris, also bore testimony to their respecta- ,
bility. Mr. Buchanan wished to have the petitions
at once laid on the table. Mr. Calhoun
took a very vehement part in the debate, in
ia? ur uj uiiuiuuiaia tcjcuviuu.
Mr. Morris said that since the commencement
of the debate he had received a petition
from abolitionists in Ohio, lie moved that thepetition
be received, read, printed, tnd referred
with instructions to the committee to report
on the various points, (which he specified,) to
which such petitions related.
On this a discussion arose, which was con- ?
tinued to a late hour, when the motion to receive
was laid on the table, as before.
Feb. 7. A message from the President on
our relations with Mexico, was received, which
will be found in another column.
Mr. Bayard presented the preamble and resolutions
of the Legislature of Delaware, instructing
their Senators to introduce and support
a resolution to rescind the expunging resolution
of Mr. Benton, and to restore the
Journal of the Senate to the state in which itwas
before this act of violence was committed
upon it.
Mr. Bayard gave notice that, in compliance
with these instructions, he would introduce
such a resolution at rne next Beaeiuu, ?uu
would no so at every succeeding session, m
long as be should continue a Senator, till th*
object should be accomplished.
Feb. 8. Mr. Webstar presented a petitiea
signed by fourteen or fifteen hundred mercantile
houses in the city of New York, praying
the establishment of a National Bank ia that
city. '
The Senate adjourned to the House to witness
the counting of the votes for President
and Vice President.
After returning, the Senate proceeded to
ballot, riva voce, for Vice President of the
Lnted States, the result of which was as follows
: for Richard M. Johnson of Kentucky,
33; for Francis Granger of New York, IB.
Feb. 9. Mr. Calhoun, agreeably to notice
introduced a bill to cede the public lands to
the States in which they lie, under certainjconditions,
whicn was read the first time.
The land bill was ?aken up when Messrs.
Davis, Ewing and Clay opposed it. It finally
passed, 27 to 23.
It provides tiiat no person shall enter more J
than two sections. The person entering must J
swear that he is twenty one years of age, that J
the land is for himsell; and that he has not I
previously entered or purchased land under I
this act which together with that now bought I
exceeds two sections. He gets a receipt for I
the money, and must prove by the oa?h of two I
witnesses within five years that he has eleared
one tenth of the land, or resided on it one I
year, and erected a dwelling house upon it, H
Then a patent will be issued. Any sale,lea6c, B
mortgage, or contract for sale before the pateyt B
~~ I