DEBATES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LIST OF MEMBERS Of the House of Representatives, twenty-third Congress, second session. James M. H. Beale, James W. Bouldin, Joseph W. MAINE-George Evans, Joseph Hall, Leonard Jar-don, George Loyall, Edward Lucas, John Y. Mason, William McComas, Charles F. Mercer, Samuel McDowvis, Edward Kavanagh, Moses Mason, Jun., Rufus Mc-ell Moore, John M. Patton, John Robertson, William Intire, Gorham Parks, Francis O. J. Smith-8. NEW HAMPSHIRE--Benning M. Bean, Robert P. Taylor, Edgar C. Wilson, Henry A. Wise--21. Burns, Joseph M. Harper, Henry Hubbard, Franklin Pierce-5. NORTH CAROLINA--Daniel L. Barringer, Jesse A. Bynum, Henry W. Connor, Edmund Deberry, MASSACHUSETTS-John Quincy Adams, Isaac C. James Graham, Thomas H. Hall, Micajah T. Hawkins, Bates, William Baylies, George N. Briggs, Edward Ev. James J. McKay, Abraham Rencher, William B. Sheperett, Benjamin Gorham, George Grennell, Jun., Wil-ard, Augustine H. Shepperd, Jesse Speight, Lewis liam Jackson, Levi Lincoln, Gayton P. Osgood, Stephen C. Phillips, John Reed--12. Pearce-2. Williams-13. SOUTH CAROLINA--Robert B. Campbell, William K. Clowney, Warren R. Davis, John M. Felder, William J. Grayson, John K. Griffin, Richard J. Manning, RHODE ISLAND--Tristam Burges, Dutee J. CONNECTICUT--Noyes Barber, Ebenezer Jack-Francis W. Pickens, Henry L. Pinckney--9. son, Phineas Miner, Joseph Trumbull, Samuel Tweedy, Ebenezer Young--6. VERMONT--Heman Allen, Horace Everett, Hiland Hall, Henry F. Janes, William Slade-5. NEW YORK--John Adams, Samuel Beardsley, Abraham Bockee, Charles Bodle, John W. Brown, Churchill C. Cambreleng, Samuel Clark, John Cramer, Rowland Day, John Dickson, Charles G. Ferris, Millard Fillmore, Philo C. Fuller, William K. Fuller, Ransom H. Gillet, Nicol! Halsey, Gideon Hard, Samuel G. Hathaway, Abner Hazeltine, Edward Howell, Abel Huntington, Noadiah Johnson, Gerrit Y. Lansing, George W. Lay, Abijah Mann, Jun., Henry C. Martin dale, John J. Morgan, Charles McVean, Henry Mitchell, Sherman Page, Job Pierson, William Taylor, Joel Turrill, Aaron Vanderpoel, Isaac B. Van Houten, Aaron Ward, Daniel Wardwell, Reuben Whallon, Campbell P. White, Frederick Whittlesey-40. NEW JERSEY--Philemon Dickerson, Samuel Fow. ler, Thomas Lee, James Parker, Ferdinand S. Schenck, William N. Shinn-6. B. Anthony, John 28. DELAWARE--John J. Milligan--1. MARYLAND-Richard B. Carmichael, James P. Heath, William Cost Johnson, Isaac McKim, John N. Steele, John T. Stoddert, Francis Thomas, James Turner--8. VIRGINIA-John J. Allen, William S. Archer, GEORGIA--Augustine S. Clayton, John Coffee, Thomas F. Foster, Roger L. Gamble, George R. Gilmer, Seaborn Jones, William Schley, James M. Wayne, Richard H. Wilde--9. KENTUCKY--Chilton Allan, Martin Beaty, Thomas Chilton, Amos Davis, Benjamin Hardin, Albert G. Hawes, Richard M. Johnson, Robert P. Letcher, James Love, Chittenden Lyon, Thomas A. Marshall, Patrick H. Pope, Christopher Tompkins--13. TENNESSEE--John Bell, (Speaker,) John Blair, Samuel Bunch, David Crockett, David W. Dickinson, William C. Dunlap, John B. Forester, William M. Inge, Cave Johnson, Luke Lea, Balie Peyton, James K. Polk, James Standefer--13. OHIO--William Allen, James M. Bell, John Chaney, Thomas Corwin, Joseph H. Crane, Thomas L. Hamer, Benjamin Jones, Daniel Kilgore, Robert T. Lytle, Jeremiah McLene, Robert Mitchell, William Patterson, Jonathan Sloane, David Spangler, John Thomson, Joseph Vance, Samuel F. Vinton, Taylor Webster, Elisha Whittlesey--19. LOUISIANA--Rice Garland, Henry Johnson, Philemon Thomas--3. INDIANA--Ratliff Boon, John Carr, John Ewing, Edward A. Hannegan, George L. Kinnard, Amos Lane, Jonathan McCarty--7. MISSISSIPPI--Harry Cage, Franklin E. Plummer --2. ILLINOIS--Zadok Casey, William L. May, John Reynolds--3. ALABAMA--Clement C. Clay, Dixon H. Lewis, Samuel W. Mardis, John McKinley, John Murphy--5. MISSOURI--William H. Ashley, John Bull--2. DELEGATES. MICHIGAN TERRITORY--Lucius Lyon. H. OF R.] Death of Mr. Slade and Mr. Deming--Annual Treasury Report-Gen. Lafayette. [Dɛc. 1-4, 1834. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1. The House of Representatives assembled this morning. The honorable JOHN BELL, Speaker, took the chair and called the House to order. The roll of the House was called by the Clerk, in the order of States, upon which it appeared that there were 188 members present. The names of the new members were then called; when the following gentlemen answered to their names, were qualified, and took their seats, viz: Stephen C. Phillips, from Massachusetts; Ebenezer Jackson, Phineas Miner, and Joseph Trumbull, from Connecticut; Charles G. Ferris, and John J. Morgan, from New York; John Robertson, from Virginia; Rob. ert P. Letcher, from Kentucky; Daniel Kilgore, from Ohio; Henry Johnson, from Louisiana; William L. May, and John Reynolds, from Illinois. After passing the usual resolutions for appointing a joint committee to wait upon the President of the United States, and directing a message to be sent to the Senate to inform them that a quorum was present; reg ulating the supply of newspapers; and fixing the hour of meeting at 12 o'clock, The House adjourned. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2. HENRY F. JANES, elected a Representative from the State of Vermont, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of the honorable Benjamin F. Deming, appeared, and was qualified. Open and undisguised, the prominent traits of his character were always before the world. But, suffice it to say that, though the dust of CHARLES SLADE now sleeps with that of his fathers, he still lives in the hearts of hundreds and thousands of his countrymen, who, with sincerity, deplore his death. I therefore respectfully ask the members of this House to concur with me in this humble, this last tribute of respect to his memory. Mr. C. concluded by offering the following resolution, which was agreed to, nem. con. Resolved, unanimously, That the members of this House will testify their respect for the memory of CHARLES SLADE, deceased, late a member of this House from the State of Illinois, by wearing crape on the left arm for one month. DEATH OF MR. DEMING. Mr. JANES, of Vermont, rose and said it had become his melancholy duty to announce to the House the death, since the last session, of another of its number. The honorable BENJAMIN F. DEMING, of Vermont, departed this life, said Mr. J., on the 11th of July last, on his way from this place to his home in that State. The deceased had been but a short time a member of this body, but long had held a distinguished place in the councils of his native State; and was there, and wherever else known, universally esteemed and beloved as an enlightened and honest statesman, as an amiable citizen, as a Christian of pure and unsullied morals. However flattering it may be to hold a seat on the floor of this House, to me it is deeply affecting that the one I Mr. McKINLEY, from the joint committee (consist-have the honor of occupying has been made vacant by ing, on the part of the House, of Messrs. MCKINLEY and LANSING) appointed to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that the two Houses were organized, and ready to receive from him any communication which he might have to make, reported that the committee had discharged that duty, and had received for answer that the President would send a mes sage in writing to each House of Congress this day at 12 o'clock. The message was then received from the President of the United States, by the hands of his private secretary, Mr. A. J. Donelson, and read by the Clerk of the House. (See Appendix.) On motion of Mr. CONNOR, it was ordered that the message be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and that ten thousand copies of the message, and the documents accompanying it, be printed for the use of the House. The House then adjourned. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3. DEATH OF MR. SLADE. Mr. CASEY, of Illinois, rose, he said, to offer a resolution to the House, expressive of the respect of the members of this body for the memory of the honorable CHARLES SLADE, late one of the Representatives from Illinois on this floor. In submitting the resolution, which I now have the honor to do, for the consideration of the House, it is not my purpose, said Mr. C., to trespass on its time or attention by a labored eulogy on the character of my late distinguished colleague and much esteemed friend, now no more. He died near Vincennes, in Indiana, of that scourge of nations, cholera, on his way home from attending the last session of Congress. His amiable manners, his mild and benevolent disposition, his sound sense, and untiring devotion to his legislative duties while here, have made a lasting impression on all who knew him. He had a heart that responded to every advance of sympathy and benevolence, a heart formed for the most ardent attachments. the death of an able legislator-by the removal from his family of an affectionate husband, a kind parent, and from me a long and most valued personal friend! But if we be permitted to gather hope from the public and private walk, the rectitude of moral character, the daily Christian deportment of man, few, if any, have left more comforting, more enduring evidences, than the deceased, that he has now a crown of immortality, an eternal rest. In testimony of our respect, I move the following resolution. Mr. J. then submitted the following resolution, which was adopted, nem. con. Resolved, unanimously, That the members of this House will testify their respect for the memory of BENJAMIN F. DEMING, deceased, late of the State of Vermont, by wearing crape on the left arm for one month. The Ilouse then adjourned. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4. On motion of Mr. WHITTLESEY, of Ohio, it was ordered that the standing committees of the House be appointed. On motion of Mr. GRENNELL, Resolved, That two chaplains, of different denominations, be elected by Congress, one by each House, to serve during the present session, who shall interchange weekly. ANNUAL TREASURY REPORT. The SPEAKER laid before the House the annual re port of the Secretary of the Treasury on the state of the finances; which, on motion of Mr. POLK, was laid on the table, and 10,000 copies ordered to be printed. Sundry other communications were received from the Secretary of the Treasury; which were laid on the ta ble, and ordered to be printed. GENERAL LAFAYETTE. A message, in writing, was received from the Presi dent of the United States, by Mr. Donelson, his private secretary; which was read, and referred to the Com DEC. 8, 1834.] Standing Committees--Expenditures at Navy Point, N. Y. mittee on Foreign Affairs. [A copy of the message will be found in the proceedings of the Senate of to-day's date.] After some other proceedings, On motion of Mr. MANN, of New York, Ordered, That when this House shall adjourn this day, it will adjourn to meet again on Monday next, the 8th instant. And then the House adjourned. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8. The following committees were announced as the standing committees of the House: Of Elections--Messrs. Claiborne, Griffin, Hawkins, Vanderpoel, Hannegan, Hard, Burns, Bouldin, Kilgore. Of Ways and Means-Messrs. Polk, Wilde, Cambrel eng, McKim, Binney, Loyall, McKinley, Hubbard, Corwin. Of Claims-Messrs. Whittlesey of Ohio, Barbour, McIntire, Gholson, Forester, Stoddert, Banks, Fulton, Miner. Of Commerce-Messrs. Sutherland, Harper of New Hampshire, Pinckney, Heath, Pearce of Rhode Island, Gillet, Phillips, Johnson of Louisiana, Morgan. On the Public Lands--Messrs. Clay, Boon, Clayton, Slade, Ashley, Inge, Williams, Lincoln, Casey. On the Post Office and Post Roads-Messrs. Connor, Kavanagh, Thomas of Louisiana, Briggs, Murphy, Lane, Laporte, Hall of Vermont, Schley. [H. of R. of New York, Schenck, Chilton, Chaney, Mitchell of Ohio, Brown of New York, Janes. On Roads and Canals--Messrs. Mercer, Blair, Vinton, Stewart, Rencher, Johnson of Maryland, Lucas, Pope, Reynolds. On Revisal and Unfinished Business--Messrs. Dickson, Harrison, McVean, Shinn, Taylor of New York. Of Accounts--Messrs. Mann of Pennsylvania, Lee of New Jersey, Mitchell of New York, Crockett, Osgood. The following standing committees of the House, appointed at the last session, remain through the Congress: On Expenditures in the Department of State--Messrs. A. H. Shepperd, Day, Beaumont, Bodle, Patterson. On Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury— Messrs. Allen of Vermont, P. C. Fuller, Harper of Pennsylvania, Spangler, Clark of New York. On Expenditures in the Department of War--Messrs. Whittlesey of New York, Deberry, Chambers, Webster, Halsey. On Expenditures in the Department of the Navy — Messrs. Hall of Maine, Huntington of New York, Ramsay, Sloane, Van Houten. On Expenditures in the Department of the Post Office-Messrs: Hawes, Fulton, Burns, Wagener, Lay. On Expenditures on Public Buildings--Messrs. Whallon, Darlington, Brown, Henderson, Hard. RICHARD J. MANNING, elected a Representative in Congress from the State of South Carolina, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Hon. James Blair, appeared, was qualified, and took his seat. FRANCIS W. PICKENS, elected a Representative from the State of South Carolina, to supply the vacancy ocFill-casioned by the resignation of the Hon. George McDuffie, appeared, was qualified, and took his seat. For the District of Columbia-Messrs. Chinn, W. B. Shepard, McKennan, Allen of Virginia, Hiester, more, King, Vanderpoel, Steele. On the Judiciary--Messrs. Foster, Gordon, Beardsley, Thomas of Maryland, Hardin, Parks, Pierce of New Hampshire, Robinson, Hamer. On Revolutionary Claims--Messrs. Muhlenberg, Crane, Bates, Standefer, Marshall, Young, Baylies, Turrill, Kinnard. On Public Expenditures-Messrs. Davenport, Lyon, Page, Clark of Pennsylvania, Tweedy, McLene, Jackson of Massachusetts, Hazeltine, Ferris. On Private Land Claims-Messrs. Johnson of Tennessee, Mardis, Carr, Galbraith, Mann of New York, Bull, Chambers, Davis of Kentucky, May. On Manufactures-Messrs. Adams of Massachusetts, Denny, Dickerson of New Jersey, Martindale, McComas, Osgood, Clowney, Cramer, Jackson of Connecticut. On Agriculture-Messrs. Bockee, Taylor of Virginia, Hathaway, Barnitz, Bean, Dunlap, Clowney, Turner, Beaty. On Indian Affairs--Messrs. Gilmer, McCarty, Everett of Vermont, Graham, Allen of Ohio, Dickinson of Tennessee, Howell, Love of Kentucky, Grennell. On Military Affairs--Messrs. Johnson of Kentucky, Vance, Speight, Ward, Thomson, Coffee, Bunch, McKay, Anthony. After the reception and reference of petitions, Resolved, That a committee of three members be appointed on the part of this House, who, together with three persons to be appointed on the part of the Senate, shall direct the expenditure of the money appropriated for the library of Congress. EXPENDITURES AT NAVY POINT, N. Y. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be directed to report to this House the amount expended in erecting the ship-house at Navy point, in the county of Jefferson, and State of New York, and the expense of keeping the same in repair. Also, the like information in relation to the vessel built and lately sold at Storr's harbor, in said county, and the amount of compensation allowed to the officer or officers, person or persons, who have from time to time had charge of the same. Also, the reasons, if any exist, for the further preservation of the vessel and ship-house at Navy point. Also, that he report the amount heretofore paid for the use and occupation of the land now belonging to the heirs of Henry Eckford, deceased, at Navy point and Storr's On Naval Affairs--Messrs. White of New York, Mil-harbor, on which the vessels New Orleans and Chippewa ligan, Watmough, Lansing, Reed, Grayson, Parker, Smith, Wise. were built, and also the terms of any contract which may have been made with the Government, or its auOn Foreign Affairs-Messrs. Wayne, Everett of Mas-thorized agent, for the use and occupation of such land. sachusetts, Hall of North Carolina, Coulter, Jarvis, Pierson, Patton, Letcher, Peyton. On Territories--Messrs. Allan of Kentucky, Potts, Johnson of New York, Wilson, Jones of Ohio, Ewing, Gamble, Cage, Trumbull. On Revolutionary Pensions--Messrs. Wardwell, Barringer, Tompkins, Moore of Virginia, Lea of Tennessee, W. K. Fuller, Fowler, Bell, Lay. On Invalid Pensions--Messrs. Miller, Beale, Adams VOL. XI.-48 Mr. WHITE moved the following amendment, which was accepted by Mr. WARDWELL; and, thus amended, the resolution was agreed to, viz: "And any other information in possession of the Department relative thereto." After disposing of sundry resolutions, the bill to regulate the pay of the navy of the United States was taken up; and, on motion of Mr. WATMOUGH, made the special order of the day for this day week. H. OF R.] WEST POINT ACADEMY. West Point Academy. Mr. HAWES, of Kentucky, submitted the following resolution: Resolved, That a select committee, consisting of one member from each State, be appointed, with power to inquire into the expediency of amending the laws relating to the Military Academy at West Point, in the State of New York, or whether it would not comport with the public interests to abolish said institution. Mr. H. asked the yeas and nays on the adoption of the resolution, and they were ordered. Mr. CLAYTON rose and remarked that, from the sound of the negatives on the question just taken, it appeared probable that this inquiry was about to be refused. He wished, therefore, to say that there was an impression abroad that the institution of West Point was nothing but a nursery for the children of members of Congress, and of other great men. If that was a slander upon the institution, it might be easily refuted. General and strong prejudices existed against the institution. It was believed to be conducted, not for the general benefit, but for the interests of a favored few; for the sons of military officers, members of Congress, and other Government officers. This, he said, was a suspicion. He did not assert it as a fact. But it was necessary that the proposed inquiry should be made. Mr. HAWES said the resolution which he had offered proposed a committee of one member from each State, to inquire into the propriety of regulating or abolishing the West Point Academy. As had been remarked by his friend from Georgia, [Mr. CLAYTON,] there were matters in circulation with regard to this institution, which demanded a full inquiry. He would not say that his own mind was made up on the subject, but the minds of his constituents were. Gentlemen who were opposed to this inquiry could not, he thought, condemn the course of the Bank of the United States in refusing to show its books to the committee of the House of Representatives: no one, he hoped, who joined in abusing the bank for resisting an inquiry, would attempt to screen the Military Academy. Mr. PARKER would be very willing, he said, to vote for the resolution, if the mover would strike out so much of it as refers to the abolition of the Academy. He moved to strike out that clause, and also so much of the resolution as proposed a committee of twenty-four. He would prefer a seleot committee of the usual number. Mr. SPEIGHT was opposed to the suggestion of the gentleman from New Jersey. If, upon examination, the reports concerning the management of the institution should be found to be true, it would be necessary for the committee to report a bill to abolish it. In regard to the number of the committee he also disagreed with the gentleman. The institution was of a general character and concerned the whole country; and it was, therefore, proper that the committee of inquiry should embrace a member from each State. After all the censure which had been cast upon the Bank of the United States for withholding information required from it, he hoped there would be no disposition to screen this institution from inquiry. Last year, a resolution for this investigation was sent to the standing Committee on Military Affairs, consisting of friends to the institution, and no examination was made. There was much complaint among the people of the neglect with which this subject was treated. He hoped that all objections to the resolution would be withdrawn. Mr. R. M. JOHNSON, after calling for the reading of the resolution, remarked that it was not important whether it embraced an inquiry as to the expediency of abolishing the institution or not. Whatever might be the result, it was proper that the broadest inquiry [DEC. 8, 1834. That should be made. He had risen for the purpose of sug- Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, said that he was entirely friendly to the proposed investigation, and he hoped it would take place. As to the institution is question, he had always regarded it as one essential branch of our military system. To him it seemed that a gentleman might as well get up and move an inquiry into the propriety of abolishing the army of the United States. The one was, in his judgment, as necessary to the defence of the country as the other. Yet he was in favor of the inquiry, because, if rumors were afloat through the country, to the disadvantage of the institu tion, they ought, by inquiry, to be confirmed or refuted. He thought, however, that the inquiry ought properly to go to the Committee on Military Affairs. All matters of a military kind were referred to that committee, as of course: and why? because it was taken for granted that the members of that committee were better acquainted with subjects of this description than other gentlemen of the House: and if this was true generally, why not in reference to this particular branch of our military affairs? There might be a propriety in inquiring whether the rule at present existing in relation to the admission of candidates into the Academy ought not to be altered. As he understood the matter, the chief objection abroad in the country had reference to this rule. If another rule of admission would tend more equally to diffuse the benefits of the institution, it ought certainly to be adopted. Mr. W. concluded by moving to amend the resolution, by striking out a select committee, and inserting the Committee on Military Affairs. He said he should vote for the inquiry, let it take which form it might: but he thought something was due to the general propriety of the usage of the House, in referring such subjects to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. BROWN hoped the amendment would prevail; and he trusted that no gentleman, friendly to the institu tion, would oppose it. If injurious reports were prevailing, this would be the readiest mode of quieting them. But he was opposed to appointing a committee of twen ty-four members. The most proper committee was that on Military Affairs. As had been suggested, this Acade my constituted one branch of our military establishment; and why disconnect it from the rest by sending it to a different committee? All the branches of the system were closely connected; and why thus disrupt them? Why not start a separate inquiry into any other particular branch of it? He was willing, however, that the inquiry should be made, either by a standing or a select committee, provided it was not so unwieldy as had been now proposed. He had supposed that the subject had been already investigated; and, if gentlemen would look at the able report of the Military Committee of the last session, they would be convinced that such was the fact. Yet, if they insisted on a select committee, he should not oppose it. Let the nation be informed of the truth. For himself, he had no doubt that the only issue of the investigation would be to establish more fully than ever the utility and importance of the school, and the vanity of expecting to maintain our army on its present plan without such an institution. Mr. HARDIN, of Kentucky, was opposed to the resolution. The Academy was necessarily connected with the well-being of our army. He should as soon expect to have a good orchard with no nursery of young trees as to keep up our army without a preparatory school of this character. For his part, he had heard of no welldefined or distinct specific charge against the institution; and mere floating rumor was to be disregarded. As to the admission of cadets, that was a matter usually confided, in practice, to the members of Congress from each district. Whatever candidate they agreed to recommend was usually appointed by the Secretary of War. If, then, there was any fault in this matter, it rested with members of Congress, not with the conductors of the Military Academy. Having heard of no specific charge, he should conclude by moving to lay the resolution on the table. On this question Mr. HUBBARD, of New Hampshire, demanded the yeas and nays; which, being taken, resulted as follows: Yeas 20, nays 109. So the motion to lay on the table was negatived. Mr. HAWES said that he was very sorry that a resolution of mere inquiry should have excited so much debate. He did not now know who constituted the Committee on Military Affairs; he knew but one gentleman certainly to be a member of it, (looking towards Mr. R. M. JOHNSON,) and that gentleman he would as soon trust with the present investigation, or any other which related to abuses of Government, as any other individual upon the face of the earth. But the gentleman from New York [Mr. BRowN] had stated that the Military Committee had made a full report on the subject, declaring that the affairs of the Academy were all going on extremely well. Let him, then, ask why it was that that gentleman (within whose district the institution was situated) was so extremely anxious that the present inquiry should be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs? Could there be a more equitable arrangement than to intrust a subject in which all parts of the Union were so much interested, with a committee constituted of members from each State? He could conceive of none. The gentleman from Kentucky, however, [Mr. HARDIN,] was strongly opposed to abolishing the school. Did this resolution propose to abolish the school? It proposed an inquiry, and nothing more. An honorable gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. WILLIAMS] was of opinion that this Academy was essentially connected with the military defence of the country. Mr. H's opinion was diametrically the reverse. This school was not necessarily connected with it, at least as at present conducted; it had little or nothing to do with it. As to the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. HARDIN,] he would not act upon floating rumor: he must have a specific charge or he would do nothing. Well, the gentleman should have a specific charge. would state this specific charge against this institution Mr. H. [H. OF R. that a relative of that gentleman, a gentleman of wealth and standing in the country, had been admitted to receive its advantages and benefits, while hundreds and thousands of the children of the poor were excluded from any participation in them. The gentleman had now a specific charge to go upon. Mr. MANN, of New York, said that it seemed to be generally conceded that an inquiry ought to be made. He was in favor of such an inquiry, but he was for going further, and extending the inquiry to one or two other abuses in the management of our military concerns. If it was in order, he should move that the committee of investigation extend their labors a little further; for it was always desirable that, in matters of this kind, as large a field should be embraced as possible. He had no doubt that mal-administration existed at West Point; as one evidence of which, he learned from the official reports on that subject, that it cost this Government between five and six thousand dollars to educate an officer for the army of the United States. Surely, such an enormous expenditure as this for each cadet ought to be looked into. Although the school was located within his own State, Mr. M. could never sanction a scale of expense like this. Mr. M. then moved an amendment to the last amendment, proposing that the committee be also instructed to inquire into the expediency of abolishing the office of major general commanding in chief; and apportioning more equitably the pay, rations, and emoluments, of the general officers of the army. The CHAIR reminded Mr. MANN that this could not be received until the amendment to the amendment now under consideration was disposed of. Mr. MANN said that he would, then, offer his amendment as soon as it should be in order. He understood that the commander-in-chief now received, in pay, rations, and one way or another, in all about ten thousand dollars a year. Although he was friendly to the individual who now filled the office, he knew of no reason why the emolument should be so disproportionably large. It was double the pay of the heads of the Departments. The CHAIR here again interposed to remind Mr. MANN that, as the amendment was not before the House, remarks upon it were out of order. Mr. MANN then observed that he was generally in favor of sending important subjects to the standing committees of the House, but as the mover of the inquiry complained that the Military Committee had not given the subject their attention, he was willing that it should go to a select committee, though not so large a one as the gentleman was in favor of. Mr. WARD observed that the Committee on Military Affairs had not omitted or refused to give the subject their fullest attention. On the contrary, it had excited the gravest discussion; which discussion had issued in the presentation of one of the ablest reports the committee had ever made. As, notwithstanding this, the inquiry was still renewed, he, as one of the members of the Military Committee, should greatly prefer that the sub. ject should be sent to some other committec. Let the gentleman have his select committee. But he trusted the honorable gentleman, before he sent an investigation of this kind to any committee of that House, would designate the specific charges which they were to examine into. Let him specify the abuses, if any existed. And he further hoped that, if the matter went to a select committee, it would be one of the usual dimensions, consisting of seven or nine members. The question being now put on the amendment proposed by Mr. WILLIAMS, to substitute the Committee on Military Affairs for a select committee of twentyfour, it was decided in the negative: Ayes 76, noes 98. |