Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 9, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 1, 1845 Page: 5 of 8
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February 1
TEXAS NATIONAL REGISTER
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famishes a" safe and'spectfy mode for die trans-
portation and reception of the public revenues
wlicrever they may be collected facilitates
their transmission to the treasury department
and places them immediately and directly un-
der (he control of ill.: head of that department.
And because I think if you strike that out
you will strike out one of the most important
provisions of the bill vesting a controlling in-
fluence for the safe collection and speedy
transmission of the revenues. I support this
section because I think it embraces one of
the most wise provisions for the support and
sustcntation of the government; and 1 ibinkif
struck out the chances of defalcation will be
increased a hundred fold. 1 think it one of
the best securities which has been or perhaps
can be proposed.
The House refused to adopt the amend-
ment. On the amendment to strike out Clerk of
Comptroller's Office
Mr McLeod said I think upon reflection
ihe House will agree that this officer is certain-
ly necessary. I regard this as one of the most
important officers in the government far more
go than the entire war department or slate
department. It is one directly connected with
the settlement of the expenditures without
which it is impossible for the government to
be carried on with any degree of exactness or
expedition. It is one that requires the most
thorough and comprehensive knowledge on
the part ot its hend.)The gentleman who now
occupies the office like the auditor has been
in office nearly ever since its establishment;
and has become thoroughly familiar with
every account in the office in its connection
with eve.y other ; and is able to lay his hands
on any paper in relation to which he is called
upon for information. Suppose however in
case of his sickness a clerk should be ap-
pointed to fill his place I would ask if it
would be possible for the business of the office
to he carried on with any sort of expedition ?
Could it be carried on at all? I apprehend
that the delay the difficulties :he consump-
tion of time consequent upon the occupation
of the office by a person entirely incompetent
and unconversant with the business to be
transacted there would far outweigh the small
amount required to secure the services of a
proper clerk. I think when wc take into con-
sideration the peculiar nature of the dures
the thorough understanding of them by the
present occupant and the difficulty of finding
any one competent to discharge them in the
hurry of the moment this House will agree
not to sustain the amendmeut of the commit-
tee. Mr. Robinson r One of the principles which
will overn me in my vote with regard f a
number of these officers is the fact that in
1841 when a very essential and great reform-
ation was made in the economy of the govern-
ment the committee on retrenchment at that
time a the head of which was a distinguished
man then the representative from the county
of Gonzales entered into a thorough investi-
gation of the necessary wants of the govern-
ment in respect to the number of officers and
tiipir mmnensation. I know that the gentle
man at the head of that committee of which'
I was then a member entered upon the work
of retrenchment with a zeal and energy per-
haps unparalleled by the zeal and energy of
any gentlemen upon this floor. They sum-
moned witnesses and brought the officers
themselves before the committee. After a
thorough investigation of the necessities of ev-
ery department the committee in discharge
of the duties imposed upon them and having
in view the lowering clouds of adversity and
embarrassment then overshadowing the coun-
try brought back into the House a report au-
thoVizinjTthe establishment of these officers
and the House sustained and adopted it. They
concluded from a full knowledge of the facts
lhat these officers were indispensably t.ecessa-
ry for the. proper and speedy execution of the
duties required in the various departments of
the o-overnment: and moreover that their ser
vices were indispensable to the attainment of
an economic reform in the expenses of the go-
vernment. At no time since then has this
House been in possession of information so
full and definite. And unless gentlemen pre-
sent some new facts to change my opinion
showing the existence of necessities different
from those of that time the impressions
then made by the facts then presented to my
consideration will remain in undiminished
force precision and definiteness. The subject
f rP.!riMichment was then thoroughly consi
dered and thoroughly understood by every
gentleman on the committee and every indi-
vidual entitled to a seat upon the floor of ei-
ther liouse of congress. It was then brought
down to the absolute wants and necessities of
the government; beyond that they thought
they could not gowithout disturbing the ne-
cessary checks and balances; I can see no
difference in the state of things at present to
cause us to alter our mind upon the subject.
If any thing new or novel has transpired since
that lime it is new milter and should be pre-
scaled to the Howe. But we have here in
c
this present congress a committee upon re-
trenchment composed of gentlemen as patri-
otic as any and as faithful in the performance
of their duties. It is their peculiar duty to ex-
amine into the wants and necessities of the
government and if they find any need of lop-
ping or retrenching any thing to report the
matter to the House. My confidence in those
gentlemen is unimpaired. 1 believe they have
performed their duty and have ascertained
where retrenchment is necessary and the very
fact that they have failed to recommend re-
trenching this officer is a conclusive argument
to my mind that it would be impolitic and un-
wise to make this retrenchment. If they have
failed to detect the 'existence of any superflu-
ous officers what propriety would there be in
supposing that we in our ignorance have made
the discovery.
I hope the House will sustain the original
provision in the bill.
Mr. Smith of Fannin : 1 hope the motion
will be sustained. Since I have been in this
town I have presented a number of claims at
that office to the Comptroller himself: and he
told me that he could not possibly transact
any business until the papers at Austin could
he brought to this place or the office taken
back again. In that case 1 can see no use
for a clerk.
Mr. Williamson; I cannot say much on
nc-otlnt of the state of my health: but duty
requires that I should say at least one word.
Not like the gentleman from Brazoria by
way of eulogy upon a former committee of a
former Congress though 1 too Mr. Speaker
was a member thereof; nor for the purpose of
sustaining lhat gentleman in the position he
assumes respecting the condition of the Comp-
troller's office then and now. I catechized
most of the officers myself and learned from
that officer that at a different stage of busi-
ness he could dispense with a clerk. Under
the circumstances as they were he was then
permitted to retain the clerk. How does the
matter now stand? Why sir all the business
he detailed in testimony at that time has long
since been dispensed with and nothing of a
similar character has come up. 1 would not
censure the committee upon retrenchment;
but we can act without them. 1 entertain in-
formation satisfactory to me that this office
can be dispensed with. I trust the motion to
strike out will carry.
Mr. Menefee would call the attention of the
House to one fact. The present Comptroller
has been almost the whole of the present year
Secretary of the Treasury. He has had a
clerk competent and able to discharge the
duties of Comptroller. I propose that the
Secretary of the Treasury do his own busi-
ness and the Comptroller can attend to his
without' a clerk."
Mr. Armstrong; I can only say for myself
that-1 am not well acquainted with the duties
appertaining to the office; but I differ from
my friend from Washington in this matter.
I am satisfied that this office requires a clerk;
and it is the opinion of gentlemen with whom
I have conversed who are much better ac
quainted with these matters than myself. I
am satisfied upon good authority that this
officer is indispensable.
Mr. Williamson: In the event of death or
'sickness alluded to by the gentleman from
Galveston I can see no objection to the ap
pointment of a clerk by the Secretary of the
Treasury for the time being.
The ayes rnd noes were called for
stood 19 to IS. Amendment made.
Mr. Tohnsnn moved a reconsideration of
the vote by which the amendment was adopt-
ed striking out the clerk of the Comptroller.
Mr. Menefee moved to lay the motion on
the table until the loth day of February next.
Mr. Williamson moved a call of the House;
refused. Mr. Ogden would state for the in-
formation of gentlemen that the Comptroller
had stated on this floor last evening that the
clerkship was absolutely necessary to carry
on the business of the office.
The ayes and noes were called on the mo
tion to lay the motion to reconsider on the
table: Ayes 15 Noes 23. Lost.
Question on the reconsideration: Mr. Wil-
liamson moved a call of the House ; refused.
Air. Williamson moved that a committee be
appointed to wait upon the gentlemen absent
and receive their votes. Mr. Sadler moved
that those gentlemen who were sick be ex-
cused. Mr. Williamson said he did not know that
they wish to be excused. He would state
that he was not advised how they would cast
their votes.
Mr. Henderson hoped the House would not
appoint that committee. At least one of the
gentlemen was in such a situation that a visit
for this purpose might be injurious. lie was
not expected to live. As to other gentlemen
there was no necessity for this action unless
he or some of his friends should especially
desire it.
Mr. Smith of Fannin said be had visited
Mr. Parker and found him unable to speak.
Mr. Ford would state for the information
of tbe House that the gentleman fromFort
r any
Bend was able to speak but it wasithe reqjiest
of his physicians .that lie should notjnlk.
They think the result of his disease very
doubtful. He would request of the House
that he should not be disturbed.
Mr. Menefee moved to lay the motion to
reconsider on the table till the first day of
February. Ayes and noes called for; ayes
17 Noes 21. Lost.
Question on the reconsideration: ayes and
noes called for; 21 ayes IG noesv The vote
reconsideied. Question on the adoption of
the amendment: ayes and noes called for:
14 ayes 22 noes. Amendment rejected.
On the motion to fill the blank for frontier
protection with $57000
Mr. Erath said. By the time this bill can
reach the Sennte the one in the Senate' will
be determined. They will know how much
is needed. The bill had better be left in its
present shape or let that section be left blank
no if HAttf olnnrlo
14 il II IIUT ClflllU 1
iur. iricjucoa: iiie senate navmg me two
bills before them may either curtail or in-
crease the amount as may be required and it
would then come back into the House in a
more advanced state than if left blank. The
two hills will not clash and by leaving in the
amount we may facilitate legislation.
Mr. Dunn : The object of this appropria
tion is not to fight Indians it is to put a
force on the frontier as much to give protec-
tioa to commerce as to put down the Indians.
Take away the military force and you will
have no commerce. There is a large amount
of revenue collected at the custom-houses at
Calhoun and Dimitt's; and there is a very
considerable commerce at Bexar. The more
we are protected the more commerce we shall
have. The money is not to be entirely ex-
pended in fighting Indians. It will give a
double protection by keeping down maraud-
ing parties and banditti.
Mr. Johnson of Shelby said he was oppo-
sed to the section as it now stands ; not for
want of a disposition on his part to afford the
protection which was due the frontier but he
thought the amount too larjje. He would vote
for an appropriation as high as 40000 dol-
lars: further than that he could not go. He
hoped the amendment would not carry.
Mr. Williamson would move to amend by
inserting 45000 dollars; which amount was
recommended by the joint committee the
other dav. That was the amount thought re-
quisite for the general defence of the whole
line of frontier from Red river in the north
to Corpus Christi.
Mr. McLeod said he would cheerfully con-
cur with the gentleman from Washington if
it could be ascertained that the Senate had
agreed .upon that amount. But he under-
stood that modifications had been made. He
would therefore propose to send in the largest
amount in order that they might have an
opportunity to curtail if necessary.
Mr. Ford had understood that some of the
members of the Senate had last night made a
calculation and concluded that 45000 dol-
lars would be sufficient.
Mr. Erath: Forty-five thousand dollars
was the amount arrived at giving the reve-
nues of Corpus Christi to the government.
On the present plan 30000 dollars would be
required for the rortheru frontier and 15000
for the western frontier.
Mr. Johnson of Shelby thought the object
could be attained by leaving the blank unfill-
ed. The amount of the appropriation could
be inserted afterwards.
Mr. Gage moved to lay the till and amend-
ments on the table. Lost.
Mr. Jones of S. F. suggested tlmt it made
no difference whether the blank was left un-
filled or was filled with 57000 dollars.
Question on the adoption of the amend-
ment. The ayes and noes were called for:
17 ayes 19 noes.
On the appropriation of eight thousand dol
lars to lay the navy in ordinary
Mr. Dunn said this House on yesterday
refused an appropriation for Charges d Af-
faires and here we have now an appropriation
of 8000 dollars for the navy Ate. I would
call upon gentlemen to awake from their slum-
bers and see what an item this is ; 3000 dol-
lars ! to retain the navy. I do sincerely hope
that the sense of the House will refuse the
appropriation and knock off this real excres-
LV)OV
Mr. McLeod: I thii.k a simple statement
of the facts ought to be sufficient upon this
head. VVe now stand in a peculiar attitude
as regards our foreign relations. We do not
know whether our destiny as a nation is to be
changed or to remain as it is. Our vessels
are now in a good condition to he kept : no
other disposition in my opinion would be jus-
tifiable at present. Their value is too great
to be put in comparison with the small amount
of 8000 dollars required to keep them in pre-
servation for the year. They arc certainly
worth looking after during the continuance of
n doubtful altitude towards other nations. In
case a neccs-ity arises to put a navy afloat
we nave men a toundntion to eo upon ine
"gS tacft(e necessary to put them afloat.
What would it cost us to replace thfm in case
of need? We k now very well whut thesecoat.
This is the smallest possible amount which
we could appropriate for that purpose. When
we take into consideration the repairs neces-
sary to be made during the. year this is ccV-
tainly a small amount for the object in view.
Mr. Jones of S. P.: 1 shall vote for the
8000 dollars for keeping the navy : though
not exactly because I like it. But the bill
which was introduced for the sale of these
vessels having failed the next thing is to havo
them preserved as well and as cheaply as pos-
sible. They are there at Galveston ; it would
cost 200000 dollars to fit them for a'cruise.
But this appropriation is necessary no doubt
if we want to keep them at all. It is necessa-
ry that they should be housed in some way
to protect them from the weather and I sup-
pose some 15 or 20 men will he necessary
there. Even the 15000 dollars heretofore
appropriated has run short. If we do noC
make this appropriation these vessels will be
an obstruction in the harbor of Galveston : see
an example in the Zavala ; every one knows
the situation of that vessel.
Amended and engrossed.
The bill to abolish the Exchequer system
was taken up-
Mr. Williamson said I would remark to
the House that on a former day when an
amendment was under consideration offered
by myself for the purpose of obtaining fur-
ther information upon the subject I yielded
to the motion to lay on the table. I now rise
for the purpose of withdrawing that amend-
ment which proposed to strike out the 5th
section of the bill having received satisfactory
information that the Exchequers alluded to
have long since reached their final destina-
tion to wit: the Treasury. That being the
case there is no necessity for the amend-
ment. Mr. Jones of S. P offered a substitute for
the 5th section.
Mr. Jones: It is simply an entire repeal
of the law. 1 wish it obliterated from the sta-
tute book : it has been a trtigma ever since it
was made. It was conceived in rascality as
I believe and carried out in the same spirit.
Substitute adopted and bill engrossed. .
The bill supplementary to the several acts
relative to direst taxation amended rule sus-
pended and passed. The bill for the relief
of L. S. Hargous and others amended rule
suspended and passed.
The bill providing for the mail establish-
ment for the present year was taken up.
Route from Houston to Liberty via Penn's
and W. Liberty.
Amendment strike out and insert Galves-
ton to Swnrtwout.
Mr. Henderson made some remarks in op-
position to the amendment.
Mr. Hardin: That route is certainly as
necessary as any in the bill f do not know
how the gentleman has taken it into his head
to oppose it for my friend and myself usually
agree ; but some how or other we differ this
time and I know he is wrong. I hope tbe
gentleman will withdraw his opposition. I
think he is altogether wrong. I know there
is not a route in tbe whole country that is
needed more. For an extent of about sixty
miles if the gentleman's motion carry the
people will be entirely cut off from communi-
cation. Mr. Henderson : I do not object to their
having a route ; but I do object to striking out
this and inserting that. The same bill pro-
poses a route to those points to concentrate at
Houston. I have no obiections if their ne
cessities demand it that they should have a
new route to go in that direction. But I do
object to a course which would turn the whole
eastern communication from its natural chan-
nel. Mr. Menefee: We in the west ore not
particularly anxious to have the whole com-
munication between the east and the west
come through Houston. There is a route
from Cincinnati across to Matagorda &c.
Mr. Hardin: As respects the news going
from Houston east there is a route from that
place to Swartwout. Certainly the whole of
our trade in a manner ffoes to Galveston down
that river. What we chiefly want is the pri-
vilege of the newspapers. From that place
the mail route goes clear on to the Bluffs. I
do tn.t see that it makes any difference with
gentlemen about the news. This is what we
want what we believe right. ' I hope the gen-
tleman will yield.
Mr. McFarlaue proposed to amend by in-
serting a route "from Galveston to Paso Ca-
vallo by San Luis Velasco and Matagorda
and thence to Paso Cavallo by water" re-
marking that Matagorda was a point of im-
portance; it was the only one in the weft
which had an extensive correspondence with
the United States. If this route were refused'
them the people of that' place would be obli-
ged to establish one at their private expense-
That wos one. of the few offices that supported-
hulls are good and they have the masts and' itself: nod he thought the Department wsuld
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Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 9, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 1, 1845, newspaper, February 1, 1845; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80103/m1/5/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.