32D CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION.

yielding the floor.) As I suppose the gentleman intends to move the previous question, according to his promise, I wish to say a word or two upon this subject now. The resolution declares that these clerks shall be appointed with the usual pay or salary. Now, I do not know what is usual.. I want the gentleman who introduced the resolution, to tell the House what he means by it.

Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. I do not know what is usual.

Mr. BAYLY, of Virginia. Four dollars a day. Mr. MASON. The usual compensation for all these clerks is fifteen hundred dollars; and at the end of every session, we give them two hundred and fifty dollars extra.

Mr. STEPHENS. Then, that is what we are to understand to be the usual compensation. Now, notwithstanding the remarks of the gentleman from Tennessee, I do not see what these clerks can have to do; and I want the gentleman to tell me again, distinctly, what he wants with a clerk. Does he want to draw up the reports of the committee?

Mr. STANTON. What do the Ways and Means want with a clerk?

Mr. STEPHENS. I put the question distinctly, what functions are these clerks to perform? The gentleman from Tennessee answers my question, by asking what do the Ways and Means want with a clerk? The Ways and Means need a clerk, because of the immense amount of writing in drawing up the usual bills. All our appropriation bills, which make up nearly half our statutes every year, are bills drawn up strictly in pursuance of law, and a clerk can do that business just as well as any member of the committee. There is an immense deal of manual labor to be performed, and the House therefore, very properly, allows that committee to employ a clerk. Now, I ask the gentleman from Tennessee, if he wants a clerk to draw up his bills?

Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. I think the gentleman from Georgia is entirely mistaken in his description of the work performed by the clerk of the Ways and Means. He is not employed for the purpose of drawing up their bills, but for the purpose of carrying on correspondence with the Departments. Now, there is scarcely a case among one hundred cases before the Committee on Naval Affairs, that does not require some correspondence with the Department.

Mr. STEPHENS. Will the gentleman tell me a single case?

Mr. STANTON. I mention the case that was sent by this House back to the Committee on Naval Affairs, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of the physician's bill, in the case of Commander Pendergrast. The House seems to have adopted the principle that committees shall not refer matters to the Departments to determine the amount that may be due on the testimony presented to them, but that the committee shall receive the testimony and determine upon it. I have given the gentleman a case.

Mr. STEPHENS. The gentleman refers to a case in which the committee had to correspond with the Department to ascertain the amount of a certain bill said to be due. Well, I say that if the party claiming an amount of money cannot tell the committee, and prove to it, what is due to him, the Committee ought to reject the claim. Are we to employ clerks to hunt up proof in order to perfect the evidence of claims against this Govern

ment?

Mr. CABELL, (interposing.) Being a member of the Naval Committee, I desire to answer the question of the gentleman, what necessity we have for this clerk. For four years I have been a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs, with very desire to inform myself with regard to the terests of the Navy, and we all know the reforms ecessary, and the legislation necessary, in order to estore that branch of the public service. But I mave found that, notwithstanding this desire, it has Seen utterly out of my power to give any attention o those public matters connected with the Navy, From the fact that every claim against the Government arising out of any service connected with the

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1852.

Navy, is referred to the committee. These claimants have their agents here, or are here themselves, and are constantly urging upon the members of the committee to examine their particular cases, and it is almost impossible to avoid yielding to these solicita ions. For myself, as a member of that committee, I do not act upon these cases until I have the full information from the Department necessary to predicate my report upon. This involves upon me the necessity either of going to the Departments, and from one clerk to another, spending whole days there in getting this informatlon, or else of a very extensive correspondence, and my whole time is thus occupied. We ask to be allowed to employ a clerk, not for the purpose of making out our reports, but for the purpose of obtaining the necessary information.

Mr. STEPHENS. Then, that comes right down to the point which I pressed upon the gentleman from Tennessee. If any persons have claims against this Government, connected with the Navy or Army Departments, let them present their own papers.

Mr. CABELL. They do it.

Mr. STEPHENS. Then is this House to constitute a court of one of its committees to decide upon claims against the Government, and then send a clerk to hunt up additional evidence against the Government? Is that the object of the clerk? If a memorial or claim is referred to the committee, the allegations in which are not sustained by evidence, let the committee report it to this House.

I am altogether opposed to the practice of committees of this House doing their business by proxy. If we grant those clerks, the operation of the system will be this: Large and voluminous papers, submitted to the committees, will not be examined by the members themselves, but the clerks will be directed to sift out the important facts, and the report of the committee will be based upon those facts. You see that by this course of proceeding much mischief will arise when the clerk comes to report the facts. He may not report them truly. He may give them a false coloring. So far as I am concerned, therefore, I am in favor of requiring every committee of this House, when it takes a subject into its hands, to give it a rigid personal examination, so that facts may not be reported to the House which have only been compiled by a clerk.

One other remark. The gentleman from Pennsylvania, [Mr. McLANAHAN] chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, on yesterday made a report from that committee, of which we ordered the Committee on Printing to take into consideration the proposition to print five thousand extra copies. The object of that report is to call the attention of the country to the enormous increase in the expenses of your courts of justice. He stated that those expenses had now run up to the enormous sum of nearly $900,000. That gentleman moved the printing of those extra copies because the country ought to know what the expenses of your judiciary are. I admit that they are enormous, and I am for cutting them down. But what a view does this House present in this respect! Our contingent expenses, exclusive of the pay of members, alone will be $250,000 this year. The gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McLANAHAN] says that the expenses of the judiciary have increased more than twelve hundred per cent. within the last few years; and I think he is correct. I believe the contingent expenses of this House has been increased in a much larger ratio; and I think if we desire to give the country information in relation to the extravagant waste of the public money, that we had better begin at home. And when the proposition comes up to print extra copies of the report of the Committee on the Judiciary, I shall move that we also give to the country information of the enormous increase of the expenses of the contingent fund of this House. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for yielding me the floor.

But

Mr. HEBARD, (the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. STANLY] yielding the floor for the

NEW SERIES....No. 28.

purpose, said, I desire, in the first place, to inquire whether the resolution as it now stands provides for giving a clerk to each of the two committees named in it, or only one for both?

The SPEAKER. The original resolution provides for giving a clerk to the Committee on Naval Affairs. An amendment has been offered to give a clerk also to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. HEBARD. I do not pretend to know very much about the interests or the wants of the Committee on Naval Affairs. But during the last Congress I was appointed a member of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, and those who were members of that committee will probably recollect, that during that Congress there was considerable business for that committee to do. The whole subject of postage, and everything connected with the post offices of the country, were overhauled, and we were borne down with the number of petitions and memorials from every portion of the country upon that subject. The chairman of that committee did ask for a clerk. I did not see that there was much use for a clerk for that committee, and was glad when the House refused to give one. Now, if I can make any calculation upon the subject, the amount of business before the Committee of the Post Office and Post Roads for the present session cannot be half what it was for the last session. But whether it is half as much, or twice as much, if it is of the same character as then, there is very little of it which can be properly performed by a clerk. There was very little during the last Congress which I should have been willing to have reported to the House, if it had been prepared by a clerk, without being examined by the members of the committee themselves. There was one single item of labor upon which a clerk could have been profitably employed. It is usual in every session to have one general bill creating new post routes. They are generally made up from petitions and memorials, and are then imbodied in one general bill.

A clerk can as well do that as the members of the committee themselves. But this will not require more than two or three days, or, at most, a week, near the close of the session. For that time, it would be convenient enough for that committee to have a clerk.

A VOICE. One day will do it all.

Mr. HEBARD. The gentleman says one day will do it all. I have no doubt it will; but for the sake of being liberal, I allowed a week; and I am willing that committee shall have a clerk for that time; but I am satisfied, from the experience I had then, that there is a class of men about this city, and hanging about Congress, who are anxious to get provided for. Some of them do get provided for; and I will remark, that sometimes they are provided for meritoriously, and a great many times they are not. I know that it is not very popular to talk about economy, but it does seem to me that we must begin somewhere.

I recollect during the last Congress there was an attempt made to get a clerk for the Supreme Court; not for the purpose of helping to do their general business, but a private clerk to the Judges. But there was at that time a disposition to exercise the principles of economy enough to resist it, and it was not granted.

Mr. JOHN W. HOWE. I should like to know

Mr. STANLY. I am very much gratified at these explanations; but I ask the Chair how much of my hour I have yet left?

The SPEAKER. About fifteen minutes. Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York. I desire that the gentleman from North Carolina will allow me to inake one suggestion in regard to this resolution. The question now is, I believe, to instruct the Committee on Accounts to inquire into the necessity of employing a clerk for the Committee on Naval Affairs and the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. I would suggest that that committee be authorized to make a general inquiry as to whether any of the standing committees require the services of a clerk. I am very

anxious that the Committee on Commerce shall have one given it.

The SPEAKER. The Chair is of the opinion that all the standing committees are embraced in the resolution as it now stands.

Mr. SEYMOUR. I understand it as embracing only the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads and the Committee on Naval Affairs. I ask that the resolution may be read.

The resolution was read as follows:

Resolved, That the resolution from the Committee on Naval Affairs, with the amendment, be referred to the Committee on Accounts, with instructions to inquire into the number of clerks already employed in the service of the House, and whether the number cannot be reduced without detriment to the public service, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. SEYMOUR. I do not see that the resolution covers any except two committees. I move that the amendment which I have indicated be in

serted.

The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman from North Carolina yield the floor for that purpose? Mr. STANLY. I do not care what amendment is offered.

Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee. I desire to inquire if the morning hour has not expired?

The SPEAKER. It has expired.

Mr. HARRIS. I move that the rules be suspended, and that the House resolve itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

Several MEMBERS. You cannot do that. The SPEAKER. According to the rules of the House, the Chair is under the impression that the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. HARRIS] cannot arrest the business of the House to make that motion. He may move to proceed to the consideration of the business on the Speaker's table, however, if he desires.

Mr. HARRIS. Then I will change my motion. I move that the House do now proceed to the consideration of the business on the Speaker's

table.

Mr. HUNTER. I rise to a question of order. The gentleman cannot take the floor from the gentleman from New York [Mr. SEYMOUR] for the purpose of submitting that motion.

The SPEAKER. By an express rule of the House the gentleman has the right to make the motion.

Mr. HUNTER. But has he the right to take the floor from another member for that purpose? The SPEAKER. He has the right to arrest the business of the House, and can take the floor from another member.

Mr. MASON. I desire to know if this is not private bill day?

The SPEAKER. It is.

ment of a clerk to the Committee of Ways and Means, and being a member of that committee I am frequently met with the inquiry, Is not there a clerk in your committee? There is. And as there is also something said about the duties of that clerk, I will say here, that there is one bill from that committee-the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill-which requires the services of a clerk. When the estimates are first sent to the Committee of Ways and Means, that clerk takes them up and prepares a paper, ruled in parallel columns, and headed with the years 1840, 1841, 1842-and so on with each year to the last appropriation bill-and at the left hand thereof he enters the name of each separate item of expenditure, and opposite each item and under each of the different headings, enters the amount of expenditure for the various years embraced in his list; and also under another heading, enters the amount estimated for the year for which the appropriation is asked, in order that the committee may be able to compare the items of estimates submitted, with the corresponding appropriations in previous years.

The committee take up this bill, go through it and determine upon each item, whether they will allow it, or what corrections they will make in it, and then the clerk takes it and draws up in form the result to which the committee has arrived, and the committee report it to the House. And that is the case with every general appropriation bill that comes before that committee. The civil and diplomatic appropriation, the Army appropriation, the Navy appropriation, the pension appropriation, all these various bills, go through this process by the clerk of that committee. Then, sir, here are hundreds of items in this one solitary bill, the civil and diplomatic bill, and the committee frequently want information upon this item and upon that-they want information as to the amount, or as to the necessity of the appropriation asked for. And this information can only be obtained from the different Departments, and the clerk is charged with the duty, as the organ of the committee, of going to the different Departments and offices, to get the necessary information for the committee to base their action upon. And here I would remark, that there is more labor for a clerk, upon this one, the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill, than there was for a clerk to the Post Office Committee during the whole session of the Congress, while I was a member of that committee.

Now the great labor upon the Post Office Committee when I was a member of it, was to prepare the general post route bill. But the chairman of the committe divided out the applications for post routes to the different members of the committee, dividing the whole Union into districts, and assign

The question was then taken upon the motioning to each member, certain States, to examine the to proceed to the business on the Speaker's table, and it was decided in the negative.

The question recurred on the motion to refer, with instructions to the Committee on Accounts the resolution for the appointment of a clerk to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York, moved to add to the instructions the following, viz:

And whether any of the standing committees of the House require the services of a clerk.

Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. I ask the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. STANLY] to yield me the floor for a moment. It is not so much for the purpose of opposing the appointment of clerks -for upon that point I believe my opinions are well known. I will say, however, that I have served upon this Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, and I never saw the necessity of a clerk while I was a member of that committee. But many of the gentlemen who support this application

Mr. MARSHALL, of Kentucky. I rise to a question of order. I do not understand that under the rules of the House the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. STANLY] can keep the floor and yield it to whom he pleases in this manner. make the point that he has no right to retain the floor and parcel it out as he pleases.

I

The SPEAKER. According to universal custom he may yield it for the purpose of explanation to whatever gentleman may desiré it.

Mr. JONËS, (resuming.) It is known that I am opposed to the appointment of clerks to these committees, because I believe they are unnecessary, and not required. I voted for the appoint

applications from those States for post routes; and the members severally made out reports for their districts, and the chairman put them all together and made one bill of the whole, and so reported it to the House.

Mr. STANLY. I perceive my time, which has mostly been occupied by others, has nearly expired.

Mr. JONES. The gentleman has informed me that his time is out, and I will not extend my remarks.

Mr. STANLY. I have hardly time to move the previous question. I move the previous ques

tion.

Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. I presume that, having reported this resolution, I have the right to make a reply to what has been said. The SPEAKER. After the previous question is seconded.

The previous question then received a second, and the main question was ordered to be put.

Mr. STANTON. I do not intend to occupy the floor for any length of time.

the House long, if I have an opportunity to speak.

The question was then taken upon the amend ment of the gentleman from New York, [Mr. SEYMOUR;] which amendment was, "and also whether any of the standing committees of this House require the services of a clerk?" and it was agreed to.

Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. Is it now in order to move to lay the whole subject upon the table?

The SPEAKER. It is.

Mr. STEPHENS. Then I make that motion. Mr. STANTON. I insist that upon that motion I have a right to be heard.

The SPEAKER. The Chair thinks the gentleman has no such right.

Mr. STEPHENS. I withdraw my motion to lay upon the table. I have no objection to let this subject go to the Committee on Accounts for investigation.

The question was then taken upon the motion to refer the resolution, with the instructions, to the Committee on Accounts; and it was agreed to.

Mr. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was referred to the Committee on Accounts, and to lay the motion to reconsider upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. DANIEL. I move that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House upon the Private Calendar. I renew my

Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee. motion, that the rules be suspended, and that the

House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole upon the state of the Union upon the special orders.

Mr. CAMPBELL, of Illinois. I rise to a privileged motion. I move that when this House adjourns to-day, it adjourn to meet on Monday next at twelve o'clock.

[Cries of "That's right!" "That's right!"] Mr. GOODENOW demanded the yeas and nays upon the motion; which were not ordered. The question was then taken; and it was agreed

to.

Committee on Naval Affairs are still in order? Mr. FLORENCE. I suppose reports from the

The SPEAKER. The gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. DANIEL] moves, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole upon the Private Calendar

Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York. I wish to sug gest to the gentleman from North Carolina, the chairman of the Committee of Claims, in reference to his motion, that the members of the House have not been provided this morning with the usual calendar of business.

VOICES. "Yes they have." "Here they are." Mr. SEYMOUR. They have been laid upon the tables of some of the members, but not of a great majority; and I have been informed that the supply furnished by the printer has been distributed, but there is not enough for more than one third of the members. I hope the gentleman will, under the circumstances, withdraw his motion, and let us go into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

The SPEAKER. Gentlemen will recollect that the proposition is not debatable.

Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. I only want to say to the gentleman from New York, that here is the Calendar, and I was wonderfully struck with the superior paper upon which it has been printed.

The SPEAKER. The Chair must arrest this conversation. It is out of order.

Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. What is the order of business if the rules are not suspended? The SPEAKER. The call for reports from committees will be continued until finished. Mr. CABELL. If it is in order, I wish to call

Claims [Mr. DANIEL] to the

The SPEAKER. The Chair will be compelled to arrest this conversation.

The question was then taken upon the motion of Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee, that the rules be suspended, and that the House resolve itself into Committee of the Whole upon the special orders; and it was disagreed to.

The question recurring upon the motion of Mr. DANIEL, that the House resolve itself into a Com

mittee of the Whole upon the Private Calendar, it was put and disagreed to.

The SPEAKER. Reports are still in order from the Committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion by Mr. FLORENCE, it was
Ordered, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be dis-
charged from the further consideration of the memorial of
A. Saunders, and that it be referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs.

Mr. GOODENOW, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, and made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the reports accompanying, ordered to be printed, viz:

A bill for the relief of Jacob J. Storer; and
A bill for the relief of James A. Fawns.

Mr. G. also from the same committee, reported a bill to modify the pay of certain warrant officers of the Navy; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and, with the report accompanying, ordered to be printed.

Mr. CABELL, of Florida, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill for the relief of Monmouth B. Hart, Joel Kelly, and William Close, securities of the late Benjamin F. Hart, a purser in the United States Navy; which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to a Committee of the Whole, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the accompanying report, ordered to be printed.

On motion by Mr. BAYLY, of Virginia, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Foreign Affairs be dis charged from the further consideration of the memorial of John H. Wesche, of the firm of Wesche & Co., of Puebla, Mexico, praying indemnity for losses sustained by said firm in consequence of the annulling of a contract made with the agent of the United States, for supplying the army with certain articles; and it was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. BAYLY, of Virginia, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of Samuel Adams, and others, citizens of Castine, in Maine, praying Congress to take measures to have international disputes settled by umpirage rather than by any appeal to the sword, and that nations will war no more; and that the memorial do lie on the table.

On motion by Mr. BAYLY, of Virginia, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of C. W. Jay, and others, asking Congress to pass a law fixing the residences of foreign ministers of the Despotic Governments at least one hundred miles from the seat of Government; and that the memorial do lie on the table.

On motion by Mr. BAYLY, of Virginia, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of citizens of Pennsylvania, praying that a law may be passed to prevent the immigration of foreign convicts, felons, and paupers, into the United States; and that said petition be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

On motion by Mr. SCUDDER, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Territories be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of the Legislative Assembly of New Mexico, praying for appropriations for the completing of a road from Santa Fé to Taos, and that it be referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Mr. STUART, from the same committee, reported the following resolution:

Resolved, That the third week in April next be set apart for the consideration of territorial business, and that during that week such business shall take precedence over other business, and be regarded as the special order.

Mr. STUART. I was told by the chairman of the committee, who was expected to make this report, that such was the arrangement at the last Congress, that certain days were set apart for that purpose.

Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. I rise to a question of order. The House never instructed this committee to take into consideration the time at Which territorial business should be taken up, and hence they can submit no report upon the subject. They can report only upon matters committed to them. It is not competent for a committee to ask the suspension of the rules for the purpose of inoducing a resolution, except on Monday of each Week.

The SPEAKER. The Chair cannot entertain motion to suspend the rules of the House, at ny time, except on Monday of every week. The Chair overrules the point of order of the gentleman Tom Georgia in this, that he thinks it competent For the committee to consider and report upon the ime proper to take up territorial business; but the

committee has no more right than an individual member of the House to submit a resolution to make a special order, which would, if objected to, require a suspension of the rules-motions for which purpose being in order only on Mondays. Mr. GIDDINGS. Has not this been the uniform practice of the House?

The SPEAKER. It has been customary to set apart days for the consideration of territorial business, but not in the manner proposed.

Mr. HALL. It can be done only by the suspension of the rules, which motion is not in order to-day.

Mr. STUART. I will withdraw the motion, intending to submit it on Monday, as I do not wish to consume the time of the House upon points of order.

Mr. GIDDINGS, from the Committee on Territories, reported "A bill authorizing the Governor of the Territory of New Mexico to call an extra Territory, if the same be deemed necessary and session of the Legislative Assembly of the said expedient;" which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to the Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for tomorrow, and, with the report accompanying, ordered to be printed.

On motion by Mr. MILLSON, it was

Ordered, That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of the heirs of Daniel Starr, asking seven years half pay for his services as a lieutenant in the Navy; and it was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

On motion by Mr. MILLSON, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Rachel Moorey, of Clinton county, New York, praying for a pension on account of the services of her late husband, and that it do lie on the table.

Mr. MILLSON, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made adverse reports in the following cases; which were severally ordered to lie on the table and be printed, viz:

The petition of James S. Mitchell, praying for an allowance under the bounty land law of 1850; and

The petition of the heirs of certain revolutionary soldiers residing in Chenango county, New York, asking for grants of bounty land.

Mr. TUCK, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made an adverse report on the petition of John King, of New York, praying arrears of pensions from 1818 to 1824, at the rate of $8 per month; which was ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

Mr. TOWNSHEND, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, reported a bill for the relief of Isaac Cobb; which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to a Committee of the Whole, made the order of the day for tomorrow, and, with the accompanying report, ordered to be printed.

On motion by Mr. TOWNSHEND, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of William K. Blair for additional compensation for services rendered in the State of Tennessee, from 1836 to 1847; which was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. BOCOCK, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill for the relief of David Myerly; which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to a Committee of the Whole, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the report accompanying, ordered to be printed.

Mr. EDGERTON. With the consent of the House I will make a report from the Committee of Claims, being absent from the Hall when that committee was called.

Mr. MARTIN. I object.

Mr. ALLEN, of Illinois, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made an adverse report on the petition of David Berry and others, and the resolution of the State of Ohio in favor of a pension for Henry Johnson; which was ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for tomorrow, and ordered to be printed, together with the accompanying reports, viz:

A bill for the relief of Catharine Clark;
A bill for the relief of Jacob Shade; and
A bill for the relief of Thomas P. Dudley.
Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee, said he had been

instructed by the Committee on Invalid Pensions to ask that said committee be discharged from the further consideration of the following petitions, and that they be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, viz:

The petition of John Duncan for an invalid pension in consequence of a disability received in the naval service of the United States;

The petition of Mary Woodward, of Connecticut, the widow of Lieutenant Woodward, who lost his life in the service of the United States, asking for a pension; and

The petition of Lot Davis for a pension in consideration of a disability incurred in the United States service in the war with Great Britain.

Mr. CABELL, of Florida. I ask respectfully what is the purport of all these applications from which the Naval Committee asked to be discharged? They all ask, I believe, pensions for naval service.

Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee. They are memorials for the allowance of pensions for injuries sustained in the naval service of the country. The examination I have given the subject has convinced me, that heretofore that class of cases has been considered and reported upon by the Committee on Naval Affairs. The committee of which I am a member, instructed me to ask that these cases be referred to that committee.

It

Mr. CABELL. The Committee on Naval Affairs have unanimously passed a resolution, that they will report back cases of this kind to the House, with a recommendation that they be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. is no argument, as a reason for the reference to the Committee on Naval Affairs, that the pension arose from services connected with the Navy-no more than that pensions growing out of military operations should be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. As a member of the Naval Committee, I shall object to the reference.

Mr. HARRIS. I will state, as a member of the Committee on Invalid Pensions, that these cases belong to the Naval Committee. The committee are willing to discharge the duty, but after an examination of that class of cases, and from the precedents heretofore established, the committee think that they appropriately belong to the other committee. I desire to get the sense of the House as to which is the appropriate committee for the consideration of that class of cases.

Mr. CABELL. I will merely state, that the chief ground upon which the Committee on Naval Affairs applied for a clerk was, that their time was very much engaged with private claims. Here is a committee appointed specially for the consideration of these particular cases, and I beg the House will refer these memorials to the appropriate committee, and not refer them to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. I concur with the gentleman from Florida [Mr. CABELL] in regard to the disposition which ought to be made of these memorials. If I understand them correctly, they concern pensions, and, therefore, ought to go to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. I stated this morning, and it is very proper to say it here, that the Committee on Naval Affairs have more of these cases than it is possible for them to attend to. So far as I am individually concerned, I do not care a farthing whether the House give a clerk to that committee or not. I do not ask a clerk for them, upon my own account. I believe no one will charge me with neglect of duty, as head of that committee, so far as I have capacity to do it. No one will charge me with want of industry, at least as much industry as ought to be applied to public business under these circumstances. I say to the House, that it is impossible for us to do the business of that committee, as things now are. I shall, however, do as much as I can, and the balance I shall leave undone. I think it is wholly unnecessary to send this memorial to the Committee on Naval Affairs, when another committee can more appropriately dispose of it. I say further, that, if it goes there, it cannot probably receive the attention of the committee.

Mr. HALL. I move that these memorials be recommitted to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. BOCOCK. The question raised by the chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions is, whether these subjects come legitimately before the Committee on Invalid Pensions, or the Committee on Naval Affairs. I believe the practice of

this House has been both ways. Very many of these petitions have been referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs; and many of them, also, have been referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. The appropriate duties of these committees, it seems to me, can be ascertained by referring to the rules establishing the committees, and defining their duties. Now, upon reference to the rules in relation to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, I find that it shall be the duty of the Committee on Invalid Pensions to take into consideration, all such matters respecting invalid 'pensions as shall be referred to them by the 'House."

The rule does not say, invalid pensions arising from service in the military establishments of the country, but it says, "all such matters respecting invalid pensions as shall be referred to them by the House."

When I refer to the other rule defining the duties of the Committee on Naval Affairs, I find it provides that "it shall be the duty of the Committee on Naval Affairs to take into consideration all matters which concern the naval establishment, and which shall be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon; and also to report, from time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability

in the said establishment.

with the reports accompanying, ordered to be. printed, viz:

A bill for the relief of Anthony Walter Bayard; and

A bill for the relief of David Murphy, of Ohio. Mr. MARTIN, from the same committee, made adverse reports in the following cases; which were ordered to lie on the table, and be printed, viz: The petition of Clemens Eaton, for arrears of pension;

The petition of Henry and Robert Blow, of Tennessee, for arrears of pension for services in the war with Great Britain in 1812;

The petition of Daniel Hager, jr., of Scolarie county, New York, for arrears of pension; The petition of John Davenport, of Missouri, for arrearages of pension from 1824 to 1844;

The petition of the heirs of Robert H. Dysen, of Tennessee, on account of services during the war with Great Britain, and the more recent wars with the Indians;

The petition of Hall Hutson, for a pension on account of disability in the war of 1812; and

without amendment, and moved its reference to a Committee of the Whole House, that it be made the order of the day for to-morrow, and be printed.

Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee. I ask the gentleman from New York to withdraw his motion for a moment, to enable me to offer an amendment to that bill to go with it to the Committee of the Whole House.

Mr. JONES, withdrew his motion.

Mr. HARRIS then moved to amend the bill by striking out all after the enacting clause, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby directed to place the name of Mrs. Margaret L. Worth, widow of the late General Worth, upon the pension roll at the rate of thirty dollars per month, to commence on the day of and to continue for five years: Provided, That in case of the death or marriage of the said Mrs. Margaret L. Worth before the expiration of the said five years, the peusion, for the remainder of the time, shall be paid to the children of the said General Worth, if there be any under the age of sixteen years, and if there be no children under the age of sixteen years, said pension shall cease.

The petition of Lucy Morrison, of Kentucky, the widow of Archibald Morrison, for a pension

on account of the death of her husband from disease contracted in the service of the United States; The petition of David Troxell, of Tennessee, asking for an invalid pension; and

Mr. KUHNS demanded the previous ques

Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, made an adverse report on the petition of Mary Perrigo, of New York, for arrears of pensions due to her late husband; which was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. HAVEN. I desire to inquire if there is a report accompanying the paper? If so, I ask that it be printed. I think the rule should be adopted in all cases to print adverse reports.

Mr. HARRIS moved that the report lie upon the table and be printed.

There being no objection, it was so ordered. Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, made an adverse report on the memorial of Nathaniel A. Willis, praying for arrearages of pensions from 1839 to 1850; which was ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

Mr. EASTMAN, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the reports accompanying, ordered to be printed, viz:

A bill for the relief of the late George Cassady; A bill for the relief of John Haven; and A bill for the relief of William Dwellys. Mr. EASTMAN, from the same committee, made adverse reports in the following cases, which were ordered to lie on the table and be printed, viz: The petition of Fielding G. Brown, asking for an invalid pension for injuries in the service of the United States; and

The petition of John O. Hodge, of Cleveland, Ohio, now receiving a pension for disability, asking for an increase of pension.

Mr. CLINGMAN entered a motion for the reconsideration of the case of Fielding G. Brown. On motion by Mr. EASTMAN, it was

Ordered, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Robert Gibson for a pension, as an invalid in the war of 1812; and it was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. MARTIN, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole, and made the order of the day for to-morrow, and,

The petition of Thomas Russell, a disabled me

ry, asking to be placed on the pension roll. Mr. MARTIN said the latter was a case of great hardship, but could not be admitted without forming a new class of cases.

Mr. KUHNS, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, and made the order of the day for tomorrow, and, with the reports accompanying, ordered to be printed, viz:

A bill for the relief of Elizabeth E. V. Fields, the widow of Captain G. P. Fields, of the United States Army;

A bill for the relief of Henry Miller, a soldier in the war of 1812; and

A bill for the relief William Lynch, a soldier in the late war with Great Britain.

Mr. KUHNS, from the same committee, made an adverse report in the case of Moses Olmstead, of New York, for a pension; which was ordered to lie on the table, and be printed.

Mr. JOHNSON, of Ohio, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, made an adverse report on the petition of David Montgomery, for arrears of his invalid pension for disability incurred in the war of 1812; which was ordered to lie on the table, and be printed.

On motion by Mr. JOHNSON, of Ohio,

Ordered, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Sam Slick, of Berford, Pennsylvania, asking for a pension for services rendered by his father in the revolutionary war, and that the same be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

Mr. PRICE, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their ti tles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and ordered to be printed, together with the accompanying reports, viz:

A bill for the relief of Jonas D. Platt, of New York; and

A bill for an increase of pension to Henry Click, of Cocke county, Tennessee.

Mr. JONES, of New York, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, and made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the reports accompanying, ordered to be printed, viz:

A bill for the relief of Charles Staple; and A bill for the relief of Aaron Stafford, a soldier of the late war with Great Britain.

Mr. JONES, of New York, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported back Senate bill for the relief of Margaret L. Worth, widow of the late General Worth, of the United States Army,

Mr. JONES, of New York, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, made adverse reports on the following cases; which were ordered to lie on the table, and be printed, viz:

The petition of Moses Cremer, for arrearages of invalid pension, on account of disability incurred in the military service of the United States;

The petition of Samuel Smith, of Maine, for arrearages of pension;

The petition of John Pearl, of Maine, for arrearages of pension;

The petition of Peter Frost, for arrearages of pension;

The petition of Abraham Pettingill, for an invalid pension;

The petition of Joshua Lewis, a disabled mechanic in the armory at Harper's Ferry;

The petition of John Harrington, for a back pension;

The petition of Shebal Adams, for a pension on account of disability from exposure in the service of the United States;

The petition of Cornelius Zielie, for a back pension;

The petition of Lewis Robert, for a pension on account of disability incurred in the war of 1812; and

The petition of John English, for a pension for a disability incurred in the service of the United States in the late war with Great Britain.

Mr. MOLONY, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and ordered to be printed, together with the accompanying reports, viz:

A bill for the relief of B. B. Bennett; and A bill for the relief of Maurice Simons. Mr. MOLONY asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a bill, of which previous notice had been given.

Mr. SACKETT objected.

Mr. MOLONY, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, made adverse reports in the following be printed, viz: cases; which were ordered to lie on the table and

The petition of Catharine Clark, the adminis tratrix of Joseph Clark, for a pension;

The petition of Robert Trevitt, for arrearages of pension; and

Kentucky, asking for the increase of his invalid The petition of Aaron Adams, of Grant county, pension.

Invalid Pensions be discharged from the further Mr. MOLONY moved that the Committee on consideration of the petition of Asa Leach, for a pension on account of wounds received in the naval service, and that it be referred to the Com. mittee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. CABELL moved that the petition be recommitted to the Committee on Invalid Pensions; which motion was agreed to.

On motion by Mr. MOLONY, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Phoebe Thompson, the widow of John Thompson, for a pension, and that it do lie on the table.