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N korsvth-kuitor
j tII R Kl*Ußi COt
pufnrtan aid riMiskm.
r r ~h.*hJ c>*ij Tacaday Morning
•„ Ijiovi u “ Wntrr'i Exchange,”
’ ** *ire*t, abere Randolph, up
in the rear of the Tort-Office.
lKiliars per annum, payable
_ S*r • tabxepMu.
f ****T.l- mil! he diacentinncd nhile any arrear
'* . anted • the option of the proprietors,
i>tl*rs and a Half, will in all cones
*•“ . a here payment ia not made before the
t* r * r - nf the tobaenption yenr.
meats’ conspicuously inserted at One
Jtlr r TT * < l* M *’ *® r l ** e *”* insertion, and
I* , ,a(, |g( every subceqnent continuance,
all t4efthmmcwU seat to us without tpecify
* Ha trrf insertions desired, will bo cou
'• _j,| nsdcswn oat, and charged accordingly.
%dsrrtisements published at the usual
, with strict attention to the requisitions of
Sales under regular executions, must
,^ |W | Thirty Tats; under mortgage fi fas,
“ h jl,„ ishw the day of sale.
** y, land aod Negroes, by Executors, Ad-
or Guardians, for Sl\tj*lJajs before
nsies wisooal property (except negroes) For
fh |lt^
. ~,, ,n by Clerks of Courts of Ordinary,upon
• of .Kimiuistration are to be
*~u..art lor Thirty liny*,
i itst—ns upoa application for dismission, by
„Adsaonntrators, or Guardians, monthly
t<lf ix M -nth*.
■ , r .'. r of Courts of Ordinary, (accompanied
~ icop* of the bond, or agreement) to make
. is Uad, must he published Three Mouths.
Vstieew Ws Emstsnsr Administrators orGnar
- * of a; < ,-eat.on to the Conrt of Ordinary (or
mil the Laud or Negroes of an estate, Four
llnw
*-tiers bx Rrrcotors or Administrators, to the
|w4.!'s sod Creditors of an estate, foi Six Hefts.
*r lattcra to tho proprietors on business must
p. mm.t _—.*d. to eotitlr them to attention.
MERCANTILE.
Ririwir
I10K&W & CLEMONS,
Vic r reeeiv’n— a desirable assortment of
LAMES DRESS GOODS,
t-osattag of Kreuch, Jaconet, Orgaudie, ami
ar-teh Mtdliv (irenadinc and Tissue Silks,
Plats Glsoa Foulards. Fancy color’d. Silk
Barege. Tmkrsidrrtd Mwdins, Sup. French
mdhutrk Ciagkasn, I.inen and Silk do;
i4M (iirnxdlnet, Ac.
Tugrther with n lot of MOURNING Silk and
wmmed Barogeo, Timoe Silks, plain and figured
l-eoch La worn and Muslins, Dress Ildkfs., Greua
dm*, aod Crape Shawls, he.
BROKAW & CLEMONS.
May S. IMS 20 —9t
r\*VM\ AM) LIXiIIOKM HATS.
t| | Large fat, just receised, by
BROKAW dt CLEMONS.
Mae . IMA 20—St
Jl/ST KECKIVEI).
I FRENCH Cloth* and Casstmrrrs, Silk and
* Satin; Verting*; plain and Rib’d Linen Dril
fengn; 83k Warp Italian Cloths; Cashmarctts,
Ac. Ac. BROKAW tc CLEMONS.
May , lMt 20—St
WOODRUFF A WHITTELSEY,
1 TITK jut rnrived u additional supply of
11 SPRING AND SUMMER GOODS, ,
ssnaug srhsrh ran ha found Shawls, Bonnets and
•mttl Rrhhana, Ginghams, Muslins, Calicoes, &c.
Alma goad assortment of FAN AM A and LEG*
•ItMIN H ATH, all of which they will sell very
low far cash or approved credit.
m. A W. have a flew patterns of very fine Barcg
eo, srhuch they mil sell tor about Half Price, rath
er than keep them oxer. LADIES call and sec.
April tS ISt-s. IS—ts
BOOTS, SHOES LEATHER, AC.
At Prime Cost.
IW iR Nolo eriher ionw; determined to diseon-
Osar kit present business in Columbus , will
mM es his stock on hand, consisting of all articles
uualy ftwnd in a Shoe Store,
at iAtinrr. cost. j
7k stock it new, kmag been mostly purchased
o Ukim the lost six months, and is well worth the
, v • lion of merchants and others, wishing to pur
chase if the quantity.
J i ire a goo d assortment of LASTS, PROS,
and Other Ssmcsssaher s Findings, to which the at
. dart of those engaged in the manufacture of
drtl is natriicularlss meited.
ERASTUS REEP.
lone 20, IMS 26—ts
COLUMBUS
arm m manetagtory.
r PK XahcrriVn hare rrraored their COTTON
R GIN MA HU FACTORY from Girard, Ala., to
tbr cate of Columbus, and respectfully inform their
rrtiamrra and the public that they arc prepared to
IMPROVED COTTON BINS
on the mart reasonable terms.
Their establishment is equal, if not superior to
oox to the United States, and is furnished with an
*’ indaeee of the best materials to supply any num
ber or’ Gum which may be ordered.
Thev hare the exdusirc right of using Rabbets
celebrated Metal, for Boxing, and expect to use it
<e all of their Gins. This w ill present the possi-
Mfa of any accident occurring from friction of the
hurt or Saw Cylinder.
Orders oent by Mail, or given to any of our Agents
oil) receive prompt attcuuon, and all work done at
their rrtihlinhmrnt warranted to gire satisfaction.
E. T. TAYLOR & CO.
| Apnl IS, ISIS. 17- ly
LIFE CAN BE PROLONGED!!
OLD AGE PUT OFF!
till HWS HAYS IN HEALTH EX
TEMIEI) TO ONE HUNDRED YEARS!
nv AND VALUABLE WORK.
SII Lrrlnm on the nsrs of the Lungs; rous
es, preveetioa, aod cure ot PULMONARY
niNht MI’TION, ASTHMA, (or Phthisic,) and dis
eams of the Heart; on the laws of Longevity ; and
e Urt mode of preserving Male and Female health
to an hundred vears. —2S Engravings —321 pages.
Hj > INI Ell SELIKIX FITCH, A. M., M.O.
lout received and lor sale by
TARBOX & MARRLE.
Mar t. IMS.
PRICKS REDUCED.
VARIETY WORKS.
HIVING prwoml thr best of Mrrhanies and
Workman offer at very low prices.
H tudovv Sashes,
Hulling Venetian Shutter Hliiuls,
Pan ael Poors, Ar. &c.
Floor.ag Plank dressed, tongued and grooved at
p-iee*. which must render it the interest of all to
give them their patronage.
All orders promptly executed and warranted un
surpassed in materials and workmanship.
Lathes ia any quantities kept constantly on hand
Cos BUvbus Ga. Jane 20, IM<-. 26-ly
COLUMBUS IBON FOUNDERY.
On the River Rank near the Bridge.
Vl T E kffp on hand and nrr prrpnrrd to make
II to order promptly,
GIN GEAR, FMMXGH POINTS,
and Ploughs of every description ; Anti-Frlctloll
Plate* and Ralls, and puliies for Cotton Presses.
We hare aa extensive assortment of excellent
Mll.l. GEAR, patterns, and are prepared to
afi-rd this species of work as cheap as it can be
r-"cured from the northern markets.
Ok cent per pmmd paid for old Cast Iron.
JOSEPH COLWELL & Cos.
Culumhcw. Ga. Feb. 29, IS4S. 10—ly
RIVER LAND FOR SALE.
A PUSTITIM oaly fire milts. orrr a rood
- Road, from Columbus, comprising Three
Hi ad red acres of first rate River Land, now in cul
t'ltno, adjoining and similar to “ Woolfolk’s
Famous Bead.*’ More Land adjacent of the same
kind eaa be purchased if desired. Good Cribs, O
xrrseer's and Gia Houses, a large Barn, Screw, and
•rfficient Negro Houses, together with a Well of
sseeOtsU Water,and several fine springs are on the
F *e. The purchaser can be supplied with Corn
**d Fodder for the coming year. Visitors will be
•hewn over the place by mv Overseer or self. Cali
and examine. JO*. W. WOOLFOLK.
Jnac 20, IMS- gft—tlj
NOTICE.
TE WVIID IHDViminG rOMPAM,
JL of she city of Columbus, Ga., designing to
pit its machinery into operation, during the month
e J**x, desire to employ sixty fi-male operatives,
>eae of whom mast be under the age of twelve
years.
The Company hare erected a large an-J commo
d.oos kwr store brick building, in which the opera
tti will be boarded and lodged. The House drill
he managed by Matrons of good standing and re-
and under the supervision of the
baud of Directors, and will be supplied with all
necessary article* of furniture. Persons urishing
eutployawni can apply personally or by letter to B.
beartoy, Secretary of the Company, and state
*hether or not they have ever been employed in a
Fwtosy.
•r order of the Board of Directors.
Nee 27,19 F-. 27—ts
HMAGH'AL FAIN EXTRACTOR.
ARRIsOXj* SprciSe Ointment McAllisters
DmimfiH. firccn Mountain Ointment, &r.
’ ; • i-jv pnyp VLICOX.
VOLUME VIII. J
ADVERTISEMENTS.
LAND^ORSALR
I WILL xdl my plaDtaiion lyin? 9 miles above
Columbus,, on the Harris Line, near Stephen
Pace’s consisting of 350 acres, 150 cleared, and in
good order for making a fine crop the next year. I
will sell low for cash, or I will sell for negro pro
perty. Come and sec, fori am determined to move
west. My place is situated on what is called the
10 mile Creek. TIMOTHY G. McCRARY.
July 25,1818. 31—ts
WARM SPRINGS
EXTRAORDINARY’ ATTRACTIONS
FOR VISITORS!
Proprietor of these SPRINGS has the plea-
I sure to announce to the Public, in search of
health or pleasure during the warm season, that he
has recently made the important discovery of two
Springs in the immediate vicinity of his Hotel,
which furnish an ample supply of
Chalybeate and Sulphur Water,
and which enable him to present additional induce
ments to invalids and others, to visit hit establish
ment.
With the unequalled virtues of the WARM
BATHS, combined with pure mountain chalybeate
and mild sulphur, the Proprietor can safely chal
lange competition with any other Watering Place in
the country; for at the “WARM SPRINGS” are
now to be found the various medicinal qualities
which arc adapted to the cure of every form of dc
scase curable by such remedies.
Situated also as this place is, 3934 feet above
the level of the sea, (according to Dr. Botting’s es
timate,) low-country people can he assured of find
ing here as salubrious atmosphere as can he found
in higher latitudes.
In addition of these natural attractions of the
place, the Proprietor haß procured the services of
Mr. James J. Harbet, who is favorably known at
Old Point Comfort ar.d White Sulphur Springs, (Va)
and at Stony Point and Saratoga, (N. Y.) as an ac
complished musicinn and gentleman, who will have
charge of the BALL-ROOM, and devote his whole
time to the amusement of those who may be fond
of Music and the Dance
ROBERT BONNER, Proprietor.
Board, including use of Sulphur and Chaly
beate waters and Warm Baths, S2O per month.
July 11, 1848. 29 4t
~~ PIANO FORTES.
MUSIC, &e.&c. j^|^j
BRUNO &7viRGINS,
Have now on hand, and offer for sale at their
Stores at
Columbus, Ga., under the Bank of St. Mary’s.
Macon, Ga., opposite the Washington Hall.
Montgomery, Ala., under the Madison House.
A large assortment of Piano Fortes, from tho
celebrated Manufactories of
J. CRICK EKING,.. ..NUNNS & CLARK,
LEMUEL GlLßEßT,.. . .and others.
Pianos withColeman’stmproiedJEolian Attachment.
New and Fashionable Music ;
Instruction Books forthc Piano, Guitar, Violin, &c.
&c.; Violins, Bass Viols, Guitars, Flutes, Clarinets,
Flageolets, Fifes, Drums, Mail Horns, Hunting
Horns ; Instruments for Brass Bands ; Violin Bows ;
fine Flutinos and French Accordcons; Seraphincs ;
best Italian, English & French Violin Strings, and
all other articles usually kept in a Music Store.
IgT Also, a splendid assortment of fine
£S> Gold and Silver WATCHES,
Jewelry and Silver Ware ; Silver Pla
tgiTda ted Candlesticks and Castors; Lamps, Giron
delles, Fancy Goods, Spectacles, Mathematical In
struments, Razors, Knives, Scissors ; PISTOLS,
GUNS, and Walker’s Percussion Caps.
JET Watches, Clocks, Jewelry and Musical
Roxcs, REPAIRED and WARRANTED—
Engraving neatly executed.
Feb. 29, 1848 10—ts
PIANOS! PIANOS!!
fffrn AT nfYn
CHARLES REPS’ MUSIC WAREROOM,
Broad street, over Pond & Willcox’s Drug Store.
r PIIE following Piano Fortes with the French
I GRAND ACTION, arc offered for sale at this
place.
3 Rosewood Piano’s of six Octaves from the Mau
nufactory of. H. WORCESTER.
1 Mahogany do. do. H. WORCESTER.
2 Rosowood Piano’s, six Octaves, from the Man
ufactory of. BACON & RAVEN.
1 Mahogany do. do. do. BACON & RAVEN.
1 Mettle Oak Piano Forte of 6l Octaves (Gothic
style) 11. WORCESTER.
2 Rosewood. Piano’s (seven Octaves) from the
Manufactory of BACON & RAVEN.
2 Rosewood A)olian Piano Fortes, manufactured
by T. GILBERT & Cos., Boston.
Piano Stools and Covers of fancy and elegant pat
terns to match any of the above instruments.
Also, new and fashionable Music —FERRETT’S
CHEAP MUSlC—Singing Books and Instruction
Books, and a great variety of Musical Instruments.
March 23, 1848.
~ TO mSCHMBEDVOLUNTEERS.
1 nPIIE undersigned have associated
themselves together forthc purpose
of establishing claims of Discharged Sol
diers, who are entitled to Land or Scrip
from Government. Having each been
separately engaged in the same business,
during the past year, their past success
will be a sure guarantee for those who
may hereafter have occasion to employ
them. Arrangements have been made in
Washington by which the earliest and
most efficient attention will be given to all applica
tions entrusted to their management. Since the
act was first passed allowing Volunteers a Bounty,
independent of monthly pay, several amendments
and modifications have been made, by which many
claims that have hitherto been rejected, will now
be allowed. To all such wc solicit a trial, and il
wc do not succeed, wc will charge nothing for our
services. All persons interested will probably find
this the most sure and speedy method of having
their claims adjusted. The best references given
if required. All communications to ensure atten
tion must be post-paid. V. H. CADY,
R. G. MITCHELL.
June 27, IS4S. 27—ts
IRON WORK.
TIIE “Variety Works” are prepared to execute
Iron Work for Mills and Factories, in the
most complete manner.
They have Forgers and Finishers who thorough
ly understand their business and have an Engine
Lathe purchased at great expense, which is large
enough to turn and bore Iron 12 feet long and 42
inches in diameter.
Orders will be promptly executed on terms lower
than usual for cash and the work, warranted equal
to any turned out of the best shops in New En
gland.
Columbus Ga. June 20, IS4B 26—ly
$25 REWARD.
&T> AN'AWAY from the plantation
of P. J. Lucius, in Greene co.,
Ala., near Buck Creek P. 0., a negro
boy, bright mulatto, named PETER,
freckled-face, and bushy head, about
24 years old, stout built, weighing
about ISO lbs., and has a few small
——- scars about his eyes, lie is supposed
to be making his way to South Carolina. I will
give $25 reward to any person who will secure and
confine him in any jail so as I can get him.
P. J. LUCIUS.
July 11, ISIS. 29—ts
ICE ! ICE!!
HATIXG obtained our nsnal quantity for the
season, the house has no ‘ opened. —Being
desirous of serving our customers at the lowest pos
sible rates, in order to place it within the roach of
every family, until farther notice we shall sell at 21
cts. per Ibl For the accommodation of Families
who have to trust to servants, Tickets can be ob
tained. V. H. CADY, for Proprietors.
March 28,1548. 14— ts
MADDEN S. ADAMS,
HAVE rrmoved their Mhrtile Works to the
East side of Broad-sL near the Market-House,
where they will keep constantly on hand a choice
selection of
ITALIAN AND AMERICAN MARBLE,
FOR
Grave Stones, Monuments, Tab
let s*, 5 *, Tombs, &c.,
And solicit a continuance of public patronage.
They are determined to sell at a small advance-on
New York prices, and lower than any establishment
in this part of the country. ALL ORDERS from
the Country attended to, the same as if ordered in
person.
I jer ENGRAVING and CAUVINGdone in the
brst mrtnner. PLASTER of PARIS and ROM Aik
CEMEXT, always on hand, for sale.
April 11. lfy*b. 76— 1 Hj
6EQRBIA AND ALABAMA BLANKS,
I OB - VI E AT -nix Oi l ICE.
Hfie olnml* tt s mimes®
POLITICAL.
r G^TcAisr^
SPEECH OP HON. K. MCCLELLAND,
OF MICHIGAN,
In the House of Representatives, July, 1848,
on the Civil and Diplomatic Appropria
tion Bill.
Mr. McClelland said :
Mr. Chairman : During five years of
service in this House, I have never yet
made a strictly party speech upon any
question, and would not trespass now upon
the rule I prescribed for myseif, had not
the character of a distinguished citizen of
of my own State been most violently attack
ed, and traduced. The gentleman from
Pennsylvania, £Mr- Stewart,3 a few days
ago, made many charges of a grave charac
ter against General Cass, and although
they are very loose, and some of them ex
ceedingly trifling, yet I propose to occupy
a short time in discussing them and similar
ones made elsewhere. If my hour is not
wholly consumed in this way, I may notice
other remarks made by him and other gen
tlemen on this floor.
The most prominent charge against Gen.
Cass is, that whilst Governor of the Ter
ritory’ of Michigan he drew, besides his
salary as Governor, enormous amounts of
extra compensation—some making it in
the aggregate, $100,568 94; but the gen
tleman from Pennsylvania, with every
disposition to increase it, has been obliged,
by some regard for truth, to reduce it to
sixty thousand 400 and 12. I propose to
examine this charge and believe it is
susceptible cf the most satisfactory explan
ation. One great orror committed by those
who have endeavored to distort this matter
is in assuming that each of the three docu
ments (No. 6,27 th Congress 3d session, and
Nos. 112 and 244, 25th Congress, 3d ses
sion) usually referred to, and which con
tain all the necessary information on the
subject, relates to and embraces different
and distinct classes of allowances ; and
they are figured cut and adroitly woven
together so as to make up the sum arrived
at, whiie the slightest glance and most
cursory examination, will show clearly and
unequivocally, that the documents are re
ports from the Secretary of War, in answer
to three separate calls of Congress for nearly
the same information, and that they em
brace, with slight variations, precisely the
same allowances, except that of the amount
contained in document No. 6, $12,712 is
left out of the other two documents.
Thus the whole of the allowances in docu
ment No. 244 and all in document No. G,
except the sum of $12,712,are set forth and
contained in document No. 112.
General Cass was Governor of the Terri
tory of Michigan, and ex officio superinten
dent of Indian affairs in and for this Ter
ritory. As ex officio superintendent of
Indian Affairs, he discharged his duties
within the limits established by the Terri
torial organization, which embraced and
included only the Indians and agencies
within the peninsula of Michigan and the
agency at Green Bay, on the western shore
of Lake Michigan. In document No. 112,
the accounting officers say, “ that as su
perintendent of Indian affairs, Governor
Cass was paid no salary by the Treasury
Department; but an allowance of fifteen
hundred dollars per annum was made to
him by the Secretary of War, and paid
by the Treasury Department, during his
superintendency, to cover his expenses
OF OFFICE RENT, CLERK HIRE, FUEL,
stationery, &c., and, besides this, ten
rations per clay, equal to $730 per year,
were allowed to him, from the date of his
appointment in 1813 till the end of 1821.”
They then go on to show the circumstan
ces under which these allotvances were
made, quoting for that purpose a letter to
Congress upon the subject from Mr. Cal
houn, the Secretary of War, and by whom
they were made, in which the facts and
circumstances are fully set forth. It ap
pears, from this letter, that General Cass
not only performed his appropriate duties
of superintendent, but, in addition, actual
ly executed those of agent for several tribes
which were without agents, both within
and without his superintendency. In ref
erence to the allowance, Mr. Calhoun
states, )Doc. No. 112, page 2,) that shortly
after General Cass received his appoint
ment, “ he made application for a specific
sum to cover the various personal expen
ses to which he was liable in the perfor
mance of his duty as superintendent.
Without objecting to the amount which
he thought necessary for the purpose, he
was informed that a specific amount could
not be allowed; but at the same time it
was stated, that on presenting his account,
what was reasonable Would be allowed.
The claim, from its nature, could only be
adjusted on equitable principles, it being
impossible to state the items of expense to
which, situated as hewas, he was exposed
from his intercourse with the Indians.”
The duties which Governor Cass perform
ed as superintendent being similar to those
of Governor Clark, (Governor and super
intendent of Indian affairs for the Mis
souri Territory,) “ but more extensive, and
in their performance attended with greater
expense, in the adjustment of his ac
counts reference was had to the allowance
which had been made to the latter, making
such additional allowance as the difference
in the two cases and a regard to equity
required.” Among the reasons given by
Mr. Calhoun for the allowance was “ the
exjicnse necessarily attending the inter
course with the Indians at a point to
which there is so great a resort of Indians
as Detroit, and where, from the neighboi
hood of the adjoining province of Canada,
it is necessary to extend to them greater lib
erality and attention than at any ether
place.” The case had previously been
submitted to the President, (Mr. Madison,)
who expressed the opinion that General
Cass “ should be remunerated for these ad
ditional expenses.” Notwithstanding all
this, the gentleman from Pennsylvania in
timates that these claims were “ allowed by
Mr. Calhoun six years after he was out of
office.” What he means I cannot con
ceive, unless it be to charge Mr. Calhoun
with a gross dereliction of duty. But the
assertion is so devoid of all reasonableness
and plausibility, (without taking into con
sideration the purity of that distinguished
man’s character,) that it must be ascribed
to the gentleman’s distempered imagina
tion, as no man in his proper senses would
make so unwarrantable and disingenuous
au imputation.
[Mr Burt said, by the permission of my
friend from Michigan, I wish to add a word
to the explanation he has already made.
I speak as to the item of extra allowance
made by the Secretary of War during Mr.
Monroe’s administration, and of that alone.
I am authorised to say, tha,t this item was
allowed during that administration, and
thus the gentleman from Pennsylvania
[Mr. Stewart] is utterly mistaken in sup
posing that it was allowed subsequently.
The allowance wasF to remunerate General
Cass as Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
for subsistence actually furnished Indians
ir<i a distance who visited him eu official
“THE UNION OF THE STATES AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF TH K F* AT B S
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, 1848.
business. These demands upon 1 him be
came very frequent. It was an expense
which he was under no duty ts bear, and
his salary was inadequate to sustain it.
From the Very nature of the expenditure,
specific vouchers could not be adduced or
obtained. This sum was allowed, because
it was supposed no mere than the actual ex
penditures, which Mr .Calhoun was satisfied
had been made by General Cass in the
course of his official and important duties.
Sir, I undertake to say, it was a charge as
just on the Gen. Cass as its allow
ance was honorable and proper on the part
of Mr. Calhoun. His reasons are assigned
on the account and folly vindicate the pro
priety of the allowance.]
But sir, to the narration. The account
ing officer states that “Governor Clark
was allowed by law a salary, as superinten
dent, of $1,500 per annum. And on refer
ence to his accounts, it appears that the
sum paid to him to cover his expenses for
office rent, clerk hire, fuel, stationery, &c.,
was about $2,000 per annum; which great
ly exceeds the allowance to Gen. Cass fbr
those objects, excepting for the first seven
or eight years of his superintendency.”—
Thus the allowance of $2,230 from Octo
ber 9th, 1813, to May 29th, 1822, when it
was reduced to $1,500, and of that amount
from the latter date to July 31,1831, made
by Mr. Calhoun, and sanctioned by Presi
dent Madison, for expenses and expendi
tures to which Gen. Cass was actually
subjected in the performance of his official
duties as superintendent of Indian Affairs,
and amounting in all to $33,325, is by
some of his unscrupulous assailants and
defamers, not only run out for the whole
period at $2,230 per annum as an “ extra
allowance for services incident to the office
of Governor,” but, by their peculiar facil
ity at figures, is taken up from another
document and made to amount to a much
larger sum than that of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania. He must be surprised, and
admire their fertility of invention, when
he finds it surpasses his own.
The next item of allowance, as shown by
the documents, is $1,500 per annum from
1822 to July 31, 1831, inclusive, amount
ing to $14,375. This is the itcm.in re
gard to which the most infamous and
groundless charge has been made, that Mr.
Calhoun refused to allow it, and that Gen.
Cass allowed it to himself when he became
Secretary of War. It has already been
seen from the quotations from Mr. Cal
houn’s letter, that Gen. Cass actually per
formed, besides the duties within his terri
torial limits, those of agent for Indians, for
which no agents were provided, as well’
without as within the boundaries of his ap
propriate superintendency. He could not
legally be required to attend to other duties
than those strictly pertaining to his legiti
mate superintendency, and within its lim
its ; but so great was his activity, efficien
cy, and success in the management of In
dians, that under peculiar circumstances
of difficulty and embarrassment in con
ducting our Indian relations in that quarter
at that time, he was selected to take charge
of numerous other tribes far beyond his
superintendency, in Ohio, Illinois, and
what is now Wisconsin. Many of those
Indians it was difficult to manage, being
disaffected towards our Government and
citizens, from having been employed against
us during the last Avar with Great Britain,
and in consequence of tfye intrigues of the
agents of the British Government and the
Hudson Bay Company, who made them
large presents annually, and taught them
to look to their Government and citizens as
friends and protectors, and to ours as ene
mies and foes, from whom they had noth
ing to expect but injustice and wrong. It
was only by the most energetic measures
and firm and determined personal conduct,
that on frequent occasions they were pre
vented from breaking out into open hostil
ities and deluging an extensive frontier
with the blood of our scattered and de
fenceless citizens. On one occasion the
Indians abruptly withdrew from the coun
cil with threatening words and gestures,
and had drawn up in battle array, and
hoisted the British flag in defiance, when
Gen. Cass, at the imminent peril cf his
life, accompanied only by an interpreter,
went directly among them, tore down the
flag and trampled it under his feet, and
told them that no such emblem of foreign
power should wave over territory of the
United States in his presence. This chiv
alric act so astounded the Indians and ex
cited their admiration for his daring and
courage, as to change completely the
whole tone of their feelings, and they soon
submitted, and entered into friendly coun
cil and satisfactorily arranged their difficul
ties. This is only one of the many in
stances in which Gen. Cass subjected him
self to similar risk and danger, with the
same promptness and determination and
with like auspicious results. He was sub
jected to great and various inconveniences,
and his difficulties and his embarrassments
were greatly increased by his being com
pelled to take with him large amounts of
money, which, on account of the bad slate
of the currency, he had to collect ahd
transport to Detroit with much danger and
risk. Any one who will take the trouble
to consult the documents referred to, will
acknowledge the almost insurmountable
difficulties he had to encounter, and won
der how he ever succeeded so well in the
discharge of his duties. It was customary
at the time to allow two and a half per
cent, on all moneys disbursed under simi
ilarcircumstances; and though somes4oo,-
000 passed through his hands, (most of
which he had at his own cost and expense
to transport from the interior of Ohio
through an unsettled country of about two
hundred miles,) he never was allowed one
cent for it, except in what the gentleman
from Pennsylvania calls extra allowances.
Under these circumstances, he consid
ered that some reasonable allowance should
be made to him for the extra labor and
heavy expenses to which, in various ways,
he was subjected, and for disbursing this
large amount of money, none of which
duties legitimately belonged to him. Ac
cordingly, in the year 1828, he submitted
an account for these extra and extraordi
nary services, for the seven years ending
with 1828, amounting $14,373 55, being
at the same rate as had been allowed his
predecessor [Governor Hull) for similar
services. Without questioning the justice
of the claim, the Secretary of War, Gen.
P. B. Porter, submitted it to the Attorney
General, the upright and eminent Mr.
Wirt, for his opinion, and Mr. Wirt deci
ding it favorably, said;
“ I understand the facta stated in Gov. Cass’s
letter of the 26th November to be admitted; and
if so, I can perceive no ground on which his claim
can properly be resisted. His salary as Governor
is compensation for Governor, but the services for
which he claims, do not belong to his duty as Gov
ernor of the Michigan Territory, and having been
employed by Government to perform these services,
he has a fair claim for them on the principles of a
quantum meruit. The facts conceded, his right is
undeniable.”
Thereupon the Sccretaiy of War al
lowed Gen. Cass $10,500. being at the
rate of $1,500 per annum, for the period
embraced ia the account, and that sum was
accordingly paid some time prior to his be
coming Secretary of War, and Mr. Cal
houn never had the claim under consider
ation, (so far as I can ascertain,) and there
fore Could not have rejected it.
When Gen. Cass entered upon his du
ties as Secretary of War, there was due to
him the same allowance for the balance of
his term as superintendent, namely, from
1829 to July 31st, 1831, inclusive, amount
ingtos3,B7s. Thisallowance being based
on the same principles as the case decided
by Mr. Wirt, there would have been no
impropriety in the accounting officer’s ac
ting on the account, and paying him the
amount; but governed by the most scru
pulous fhe nicest sense of
propriety, he endorsed upon the account
the following:
“In the peculiar position in which I now stand
in relation to the department, although the charge
is not only unexceptionable in itself, but supported
by a previous decision of the War Department, yet
I am willing it should remain suspended and not
acted on until it can with propriety be decided.”
It accordingly remained suspended un
til November, 1837, a year after he had
left the country for France, when it was
taken up and allowed, as a matter of course.
Another item of the tissue of misrepre
sentations is, that in addition to the other
allowances noticed, Gen. Cass was .paid
$27,087 for extra services as commissioner
in negotiating treaties with various tribes
of Indians, &c. This item is taken from
document No. 6, and $14,375 of the
amount is a repetition of the same sum
contained in document 112, being the al
lowance before noticed, so; labor and ex
penses in superintending Indians and ma
king disbursements not within his superin
tendency, granted under the opinion of
Mr. Wirt. Thus, instead of being the
amount falsely stated, it was only $12,712;
and even of this sum the document shows
that a considerable portion was for expen
ses. The items have been critically an
alyzed and the expenses calculated by a
gentleman of long experience in, and per
fectly conversant with, such matters, who
was with Gen. Cass on many of the occa
sions for which the allowances were made,
and who states that the actual and una
voidable expenses could not have been less
than $6,442, leaving for compensation only
$6,270 —a small compensation for pro
longed absences from his family, through
a period of seventeen years ; great expo
sure, risk, and danger, and a travel of over
ten thousand miles, in birch-bark canoes,
along the lakes and rivers, on horseback
and on foot—all involving great toil and
discomfort.
Os all the posts of Governors of Terri
tories, that of Gen. Cass was, perhaps, the
most important and responsible. His sala
ry as Governor was $2,000 per annum ;
whilst that allowed to the Governor of the
Territory of Orleans, who had no superin
tendency tf Indian affairs, was $5,000 per
annum ; and the strong probability is that
the duties of the one as Governor were
more arduous than those of the other.
To recapitulate: the allowances, as
shown by a correct analysis of the docu
ments which have been so frequently re
ferred to, were as follows :
1. The allowances made by Mr. Cal
houu, November 2. 1821, and sanc
tioned by President Madison, and
continued to him by subsequent
Secretaries of War, (one for ra
tions from October 9, 1813, to May
29, 1822—10 rations per day, at 20
cents each—for supporting tho In
dians, $6,610; and the other being
for office rent, clerk hire, fuel, sta
tionery, &c., from October 9, 1813,
to July 31, 1831, §26,715. See
Due. No. 112, p. tt, and Doc. No.
244, yj 2.) §33,325 00
2. The allowances made under the o
pinion of Mr. Wirt, by the Secreta
ry of War, during Mr. Adams’ ad
ministration, and subsequently, (one
for services in superintending the
agencies of Piqua in Ohio, Fort
Wayne in Indiana, Chicago in Illi
nois, &c., at §1,500 per annum, for
the years 1822-’23-’24-’25-’26-
’27 and ’2B, §10,500; and another
for similar services, same agencies,
for 1829, 1830, and the first seven
months of 1831, at §1,500 per an
num, a* allowed for previous years
—being amounts received for actual
services and expenses, as superinten
dent, in travelling, attending coun
cils, and disbursing some §400,000
for which others were allowed 2£
per cent. See Doc. No. 6 ,p. 13, and
Doc. No. 112, p. 9. §14,376 00
3. The other allowances, vizi
For a per diem of §8 per day, sos
fifty-five days’ extra services, ai com
missioner at the treaty of Greenville,
itt 1814, and Bt, Mary’s in 1818, and
concluding arrangements with the
Wyandots in 1817 and 1818,(440) ;
travelling expenses incident to same
business, (260) ; al tendance and
travelling allowance at Fort Meigs
in 1817, (§200); travelling and
other expenses incident to the treaty
of St. Mary's, in September and
October, 1818, (§600), travelling
and other expenses incident to the
treaty of Saganaw, in 1819, (§240); .
travelling and other expenses inci
dent to the treaty of Sault de Ste.
Marie, in 1820 (§336) ; and so; fifty
days’ eXtra services, previous and
subsequent to the aforesaid treaties,
in preparing for and carrying into
effect the several stipulations there
of, (§400.)
Services as commissioner at trea
ty of Chicago, 52 days at §8 per
day, between June and November,
1821, (§4 id); and mileage for 350
miles, at §8 for every 26 miles,
(§280.)
Attendance at scat of Government*
by order of the Secretary of War*
on settlement of his accounts, from
October 31, 1821, to May 29, 1822,
208 days, at 10 rations, (at 20 cents
each per day) (§416); and allowance
for expenses travelling to and from
Washington, and whilst there (§l,-
022.)
Services as commissioner to treat
with Indians at Wapagh-Konetta,
and histraveUing allowance from 4th
to 30th May, 1825, (§256.)
Airt), for similar services at Prai
rie due Chien, from 4th Jane to 7th
October, 1825, including travel
ling allowance and attendance in
taking the treaty to Washington,
(§2,092.)
Similar services, holding treaties
in Indiana, in September and Octo
ber, 1826, 46 days, at §8 per day,
(§368); andhistravellingallowance,
(§184.)
Similar services at Fond du Lac,
65 days, between the 10th June and
10th September, 1826, at §8 per day,
(§520) ; and travelling allowance
for 2,100 miles, at 40 cents per mile,
(§840.)
Similar services at Butte des Mor
tc, in June, July and August, 1827,
60 days, at §8 per day, (§480) ; and
travelling allowance for 1,200 miles,
at 40 cents per mile, (§480.)
Similar services at Green Bay, 51
days from 10th July to 29th August,
1828, at §8 per day, (§408) ; and 15
daysin preparation and arrangements
for the treaties and closing their con
cerns, (§120); and travelling al
lowance for 1,460 miles at 40 cents
per mile, (§584.)
Similar services at St. Joseph, in
September, 1827, 10 days, at §8 per
day, (§80) ; and mileage. 400 miles,
at 40 cenU per mile, (§160.)
Services and expenses at seat of
Government, 111 days, between 22J
October, 1628, and 10th February,
1829, in preparing a code for (he reg
ulation Os Indian affairs, in confor
mity to orders of the Secretary of
War, at §8” per day, (§880) ; and
mileage for 1,600 rfiiles from De
troit to Washington city, and back,
at §8 for every 20 miles, (§640.)
; In all, 12,712 00
1 Total, - §60,412 00
The first, as has been shown, was for
the actual and necessary expenses of his
local office, as superintendent of Indian af
fairs, within’ the peninsula of Michigan,
during a space’ of over eighteen-and-a-half
years. It was, therefore, hto emolument or
compensation whatever. It was to cover
the expenses of the office, and not tlfe offi
cer. And Gen. Cass, when applying for
it in 1821, says: “It may be readily pre
sumed that, upon such a frontier, and in
such times, my expenses must have far ex
ceeded the salary of my office. 1 can sol
emnly aver, that I expended much more
than the whole sum received as salary/’
[52,000 per annum ;] and refers to Col.
Hunt and Gen. Macomb, and incidentally
to Gen. McArthur and Mr. Graham, all
gentlemen distinguished for their veracity
and Integrity. [See Doc. 112, pages 4
and 5.]
The second item was for services and
expenses as superintendent and agent for
numerous tribes of Indians not within his
superintendency, which duties the law did
not require him to perforin, and for which,
as decided by Mr. Wirt, he was clearly en
titled to extra compensation. One-lialf of
this amount at least was for expenses.
Os the third item, it has already been
shown that only $6,270 was for compen
sation, the balance being for actual and
necessary expenses. Thus, instead of his
having received oversloo,soo, or $60,412,
mainly as extra compensation, the whole
amount paid him, for extra services of all
kinds, beyond his salary as Governor, did
not exceed, in eighteen-and-a-half years,
$13,457 50. This is probably a far less
sum than, on examination of the accounts
of his distinguished opponent, would show
that he has received an extra compensa
tion during his career of service; which
service, it is no disparagement to him to
say, has, for the greater part of his time,
consisted of only the formal routine of light
military duty, at comparatively unimpor
tant posts, and for which a calculation of
only his regular and ordinary pay and al
lowances, in the several grades through
which he has passed, will show that he re
ceived, separate and apart from extra al
lowances—the large sum of $127,000 —
as will appear by a statement in my pos
session, and subject to any person’s exam
ination.
I do not desire to, and shall not, draw
any invidious comparison between these
two men. My only design is to show that
Gen. Taylor, as well as Gen. Cass, has re
ceived his share of the public treasure ;
at the same time I am candid enough to
frankly admit my belief that he has de
served every farthing he received. Gen.
Cass has received nothing from the Gene
ral Government that others have not receiv
ed for similar services.
I will now devote a few moments to
showing that it has been the invariable
practice of the Government to make what
the gentleman pleases to denominate extra
allowances ; and I do it with no malicious
or improper spirit, but only for the purpose
of relieving a distinguished man’s charac
ter from a vile aspersion.
Gen. Scott received the following, [see
Doc. No. 6, p. 41:]
1. For a per diem of §6, from Septem
ber 22d, 1818, to 17th May, 1819,
engaged in the compilation of a
military work for the army, by order
of the War Department, §1,428 00
2. For a per diem of §6, engaged in
1824 in revising infantry tactics 1,104 00
3. Similar services in 1826 640 00
4. Compensation as author and compi
ler of the new system of discipline
and tactics, and for superintending
the printing of the same 5,000 00
5. For a per diem of §B, for one hun
dred and eighteen days’ services as
Commissioner with Pottawatomie
Indians, and treating with the Win
nebagoes, Sacs and Foxes, at Chi
cago, Prairie du Chicniand Rock Is
land, from 22d June to 17th Octo
ber, 1832, [§944,] and mileage from
New York, by way of Chicago and
Prairie du Chien, to Rock Island and
back, 2,980 miles, at 40 cents per
mile, [§1,192 ;] but Gen. Scott not
to charge for army transportations
in his account as Major General 2,130 00
6. For a per diem of §8 for two hun
dred and forty four days’ services as
commissioner to treat and make ar
rangements with the Cherokee In
dians, from the 11th April to 10th
December, 1838, [§1,952,] and his
expenses during the time, [§3sß 71] 2,310 71
Total, - - - §12,518 71
George B. Porter, late Governor of
the Territory of Michigan, for servi
ces similar to those of General Cass,
[see Doc. No. 6, p. 38,] received du
ring four years and five months §8,472 60
I might also refer to the cases of Gov.
Duval, of Florida, abd Governors Miller,
Izard and Pope, of Arkansas, and others,
ill all the different departments of the Gov
ernment ; but to do so would be consuming
your time to little purpose.
But, after all, the gentleman from Penn
sylvania, has not, in his own legislative ca
reer, manifested any antipathy to these
extra allowances. Only a few days ago,
the bill to pay the widow of Joseph Nourse
—which was for the payment of 2d per
cent, for disbursing moneys whilst he was
Register of the Treasury—-amounting to
$23,582 72, and whilst Mr. Nourse was,
during most of the time, receiving a salary
of $4,000 and 3000 per annum-was under
consideration, and its merits were fully dis
cussed and the gentleman could not have mis
understood it; and yet, when the yeas and
nays were ordered, he voted for it. The
gentleman’s party also gave as a gratuity
to Mrs. Harrison, widow of General Har
rison, $26,000. Idb not give these instances
for the purpose of showing my disappro
bation of them—for of that Ido not speak
—but merely to exhibit the spirit and feel
ings of the man who has made many of these
reckless charges.
I will now, Mr. Chairman, direct the at
tention of the committee to the manner in
which the gentleman has stated the several
items in his printed speech, in order to ex
hibit its unfairness, and the injustice done
to Gen. Cass. One of the charges in his
account, which, up to 1822, was allowed
by Mr. Calhoun, runs thus in the gentle
man’s speech : “From October 5, 1813,
to July 31, 1831, $1,500 per annum, ex
tra salary;” when, by referring to Doc.
112, wc find, instead of being for “extra
salary,” it was “to cover his expenses for
office rent, clerk hire, fuel, stationery,”
&c. In noting the item for making trea
ties, &c., at Greenville, Sagina, and Sault
St. Marie, &c.,he closes with these words
—“Fifty days preparing before and after
treaty leaving it naked and unintelligi
ble, and conveying the impression that
General Cass had really put so much mon
ey into his pocket, without having per
formed any service tc deserve it; when the
| NUMBER 3a.
language used in the document, No. 6,
from which he copied, is this: : “And for
fifty days extra services, previous and sub
sequent to the aforesaid treaties, in prepar
ing for and carrying into effect’ tfie several
stipulations thereof,” explaining this part
of the item satisfactorily.- As the rules of
order will not permit me to state why he
has resorted to the Procrustean system
here, I leave it to you to determine what
inference might be drawn from it.- In his
second statement, which appears to be gen
eral, he asserts that “fifteen hundred per
annum extra salary, [the same to which-1
have before alluded,] from 1813 to 1831,
nearly eighteen years, was paid m 1831
which was years after the services were
rendered. Now the documents and the
accounts stated show that the several s
mounts were paid in 1822, and thereafter
whenever the accounts of General Cass
were audited. There was no postpone
ment or refusal of payment, and no extra-
I ordinary delay. The gentleman from
Pennsylvania has inserted in his speech a
particular and general statement of these
items of account, and in his addition of
one of his columns of figures, he has com
mitted art error of more than four thousand
dollars; and it will be seen, that if he had
entered the items properly, and made his
calculation correctly, it would have satis
fied him, that imputation of General
Cass’s charging twice for the same item
was without foundation.
Mr. Chairman, my mind will not permit
me longer to dwell on this portion of his
speech, which, from the adroit manner in
which it is drawn up, is calculated and
perhaps designed to mislead and deceive
the people. If such was not his purpose,
why were not all the items of account set
down as they appeared in the official docu
ments from which they purported to have
been taken ? Did he act upon the maxim
that “all’sfair in politics?” I should be
glad to throw the mantle of charity over it,
but all the circumstances are so strong, that
I am in doubt whether it can be ascribed
to anything else than a disposition to per
vert the truth.
Thus, Mr. Chairman, I have endeavor
ed, as briefly as the nature of the case
would permit, to reply to this charge, and
whether successfully or not, I submit most
cheerfully to the candor and good sense of
the committee.
I will now proceed to the examination of
another accusation of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, [Mr. Stewart,] which will
be found to be equally groundless and un
justifiable. He says:
“General Cass was once a great lover of the vol
unteers. He was a volunteer himself and was some
times called the‘old volunteer.’ liut now it was
on the records of Congress, and there was no es
cape from it, that on the 29th of December, Gener
al Cass introduced into the Senate a bill reducing
the pay of volunteers, for commutation for cloth
ing, one third. He knew it was said that Gene
ral Cass had seen the Adjutant General, and got
him or the Pre tdent to nullify by construction, or
veto it ex post facto. He might have found it
would not do to strip the volunteers of their cloth
ing; HANGING ANl> BURNING IN EFFIGT might have
been unpleasant.”
To such as the gentleman from Penn
sylvania to be burnt in effigy, might be ve
ry unpleasant, and I doubt not it would ;
but in the mind of a man of as high moral
and intellectual character as General Cass,
it could cause not even a feeling of dis
pleasure against the perpetrators of such an
act. Now, I undertake to say, Mr. Chair
man, that a paragraph most replete with
wilful errors was never, in so few words,
uttered. The volunteer who first made
the charge in Mexico had not access to the
records, could not ascertain the facts, and
therefore, on the impulse of the moment,
and under undue excitement, and from false
information, he did that which I doubt not
he will deeply regret when he learns the
truth. But what palliation of the offence
can be found for the gentleman from Penn
sylvania ? All the facts were within his
reach, many of the circumstances should
have been within his own knowledge, and
yet.to villify a distinguished political oppo
nent he resorts to the most monstrous mis
representations. That gentleman could
not fail to remember the return of Colonel
Baker, of Illinois, from Mexico to this ball,
on the 28th of December, 1846, for it was
rendered memorable by many of the ac
companying circumstances, and exhibited a
scene w hich we all hope never to witness
again. Colonel Baker claimed the privi
lege of addressing the House; and after
some objections were obviated, proceeded,
and told most unpalatable truths. In his
remarks, he said he had been deputed to
come here to effect a change of the system
for supplying clothing to the volunteers;
and stated, that of the twenty-six regiments
of volunteers who had been sent to Mexi
co, there were but two or three who were
possessed of decent clothing for the cam
paign, and urged, inthe most impressive
and imploring manner, the adoption of a
resolution he proposed for that purpose.
On the 20th July, 1847, Lieut. McWil
liams, Second Pennsylvania Volunteers,
says, in a letter forwarded to the War De
partment: “As regards clothing, I would
prefer the clothing instead of the commu
tation thereof.”
On the 14th of August, 1847, Lieut.
Ankrim, First Pennsylvania Volunteers,
in speaking of the want ofclothing, says:
“The dissatisfaction has been on the increase
for two weeks past, during which time Several have
deserted, and others have manilested a disjiosition
to follow their example.”
And again, December 11, 1847:
“I cannot see the propriety of withholding cloth
ing from our service.”
Captain Scott,First Pennsylvania Volun
teers, says, November 23, 1847:
“Some of the recruits come here in a truly desti
tute condition. One of those received this morn
ing had but one shirt, and no shoes. When Con
gress meets, cannot provision be made to supply
the volunteer recruits with clothing as the regulars
are supplied?”
A joint application was also made by of
ficers of the two Pennsylvania regiments
of volunteers for the same allowance of
clothing as regulars receive.
I have also extracts from letters receiv
ed at the War Department, and written
by Lieut. Ashley, Lieut- Gardner, Lieut.
Kenney, and Capt. Carrington, of the Vir
ginia volunteers, Col. Walbach, command
ing depot for Virginia volunteers, and Col.
Morgan, late superintendent of the recruit
ing service—all urging the department to
press the matter through Congress as
speedily as possible, as the volunteers
were actually suffering,and the service, in
consequence, was much injured.
In compliance with these solicitations,
the Adjutant General, from the purest and
noblest motives, recommended the measure
to the department in this strong language:
“I respectfully repeat the recommendation in my
last annual report on the subjectof clothing in kind
for volunteers, in lieu of the money which is at pres
ent paid to them as) a commutation. The experi
ence of the past year has shown the necessity for
this change. The clothing provided by the volun
teers themselves, both in kind and quality, is gen
erally unsuited for the service, and often proves to
be deficient in quality. Serving in an enemy’s
country, and at a distance from the ordinary sour
ces of supply, it can seldom be replaced when lost
or worn out, anJ always at au cxoibilant price.
Much of the suffering which has been exueiianctu
I in liHHTTHMini .
by these troops may be attributed to the want of
proper clothing. Ifauthority were given to supply
the volunteers in the manner provided for the reg
ular troops it is believed they would be better
clothed, and st less cost to themselves and to the
Government, than by the present mode. It is un
derstood, that if such provision is mode, the arrange
ments of the quartermaster’s department are such,
in-relation to supplying clothing, that it can readi
ly fhinish a supply to the volunteers-” [Sec Ex.
Doc. No. 1, p. Off.]
The war Department adopted the sug
gestions made by the Ad/atant General,
and prepared and sent the Military C'otn
fmittee of the Senate a bill to authorize tin
Ptesident to call out twenty thousand vol
unteers few the further prosecution of the
war with’ Mexico,, with the substance of
the law alluded to as one of the sections.
For the benefit of the volunteers, the com
mittee in the Senate—composed of Messrs.
Cass, BentoßyCriHenden, Davis of Missis
sippi; Dix, Badger, and Rusk—unanimous
ly decided to report this section as a sepa
rate bill, and thus obtain for that measure
more speedy action than was anticipated
for the bill of which it was a component
part. On the motion: of the gallant Colo
nel Davis—than whom no man has shown
! a stronger attachment to the volunteers—
the committee changed the phraseology
so as, in their opinion, ro render the condi
tion of the volunteers inthe matter of cloth
ing tess identical with that of the regular
army, and to avoid the construction that was
afterwards temporarily placed upon it; and
the section, thus modified, was reported by
a member of the military committee to the
Senate, arhich, on the 3d day of January
last, passed it without division or amend
ment- (See letter of Col. Jeff. Davis, of
the Senate, to Wm. C. 11. Waddell, of
New York city, June 28, 1848.) This
shows clearly that it was thoroughly in
vestigated and fully understood in the Sen
ate. . .
Now lor the action of the House. The
bill was sent to it, and the gentleman from
Pennsylvania says, it was stated to be a bill
“for the benefit of volunteers;” and it pas
sed at once, without inquiry or opposition.
Is this true? On the contrary, the Jour
nals convict the gentleman of a most pal
pable and unjustifiable error. No man
should prefer such an accusation without
at least endeavoring to ascertain the tacts;
but what are we authorized to say of an
honorable member, who ought to be con
versant with the proceedings of the House,
who makes such an unfounded assertion
in order to shelter himself, and condemn
the “old volunteer?” I have no doubt I
might easily select an epithet from the
gentleman’s own vocabulary which would
be appropriate to the present occasion ; but
if he is not callous to the higher and more
ennobling impulses of the human heart, his
punishment will be severe enough when
he reflects soberly upon the injustice he
has attempted to do. What were the pro
ceedings of the House upon this bill? It
was referred to the Military Committee,
composed of Messrs. Bolts, Burt, Wilson,
Haralson, Dickey, Boyd, Marvin, Haskell,
and Fisher, (six Whigs and three Demo
crats,) not one of whom was hostile to the
volunteers. On the 19th of January, they,
through their chairman, (Mr. Bolts) report
ed it back to the House, without amend
ment, and recommended its passage, in
which recommendation the House imme
diately concurred, and the gentleman him
self voted for it. Where was his profes
sed attachment for the volunteers then ?
Why did he vote for a bill which, in his
opinion, was shameful and unjust? Igno
rance of its contents docs not excuse him,
nor does it, in the slightest degree, mitigate
his offence.
As soon as the order of the Adjutant
Gen. [of which the gentleman complains]
was known, Col. Davis brought it Jo the
notice of the Military Committee of the
Senate; and General Cass, and all the mem
bers of the committee, declared that no such
result was intended, or believed to be de
ducible.from the terms of the act. Colo
nel Davis was thereupon deputed to make
this known to the department, and after
wards the order was changed, and the true
spirit and meaning of the law was carried
into effect. *
Now, sir, this brief history shows the
participation of General Cass in this mat
ter; and is there another Whig on this
floor so regardless of a proper sense of hon
or as to attempt to distort these facts so as
to bring down odium and censure upon a
gallant old soldier? If there be such
amongst us, I know him not. See what
two high minded and honorable men say
of it. Col. Davis of the Senate, in his let
ter, says:
“The consuie cast upon Gen. Cass, on account
of a bill which was reported froin a the Military
Committee of the Senate during the present session
to provide clothing for volunteers inthe service o f
the U. States, is in every sense unjust.”
Adjutant Gen. Jones, (an honest Whig,
who in the discharge of xiis official duties
knows no party,) says itt a letter to Gov
ernor Felch and myself:
“It is certainly unjust to attribute to Gen. Cass
any agency in construing the last act of (Aingress
in any way prejudicial to the volunteers; and I may
add, I well know that his views arc always liberal,
and that he would be the last to advocate any nwa
sure which had for its object the reiluctiun of their
pay and allowances.
Sirs, I cltse this part of my remarks with
commending the coufse of the latter gen
tleman, one of his own party, to the atten
tion of the member from Pennsylvania, and
advise him hereafter to imitate it.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania char
ges that the expenses of the Government,
under Mr. Polk, have run up to #60,000,-
000 a year; intending to convey the idea
that such has been and would be the annu
al expenditures of the Government, under
the present Administration. Now, sir,
what are the facts? The expenditures for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1845, were,
exclusive of the public debt, only $21,895,-
36961;these of 1845-6, 26,418,459 59;
those of 1846-’7, [during the war,] $53,-
801,569 37; and now that the war is over,
they will not probably exceed $20,000,000.
annually. How can it be possible, then,
that he should gravely state to this House,
in another portion of his remarks, that “the
President and his party could take sixty
millions of a year into Mexico ?”
Does he not know that the ordinary expen
ditures of the Government during a war
could not be less than $25,000,000, and
that of the balance of the largest appropri
ation made, [553,801,509 37,] at least one
third, and perhaps one half, was expended
in this country ? This can be ascertained
to a common certainty by application to the
proper sources of information; but my es
timate I believe closely approximates to the
true amounts expended here and there.
Again he ‘says, “Mr. Polk bad found
, some $17,000,000 of debt and had now
run it up to $100,000,000 or over.” Now,
sir, if I am correctly informed, the nation
al debt, at the expiration of the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1848, did not exceed but
a fraction over $65,000,000, and of the
$16,000,000 loan not one cent has been
expended, and it is altogether probable that
it will Cover nearly [if not all] the contin
gencies of the war. But why does the
gentleman object so strongly to a national
debt ? Is it not the opinion of his party
that a “national debt is a national blessing?”
We certainly should judge so from their
legislative conduct and from the tendency
of their measures.
• “Aimutant General’s Office,?
Washington, June 14, 1848. 5
“Sir : In reply to your note of the 12th inst., I
have to inform yon, that the allowance for clothing
to volunteers, as at present fixed, has not been di
minished from former rates, hut is the name [; 3 SO
per month,] as allowed before the passage of tho
act of January 26, 1848, and more than one dollar
per mouth greater thanT* allowed to soldiers of the
regular army.
“Very respectfully,
R. JONES, Adjutant General.
“ Hon. Alphf.us Pej.ch,
“Senate U. S. Washington; D.
The gentleman frem