Mr. HOWARD. I am far from indulging the presumption that every officer in that or any other Dept will abuse the authority that we bestowu on him. I am more charitable than that at still, with reference to the present SecyTreasury, it cannot be forgotten, and I presume it is not forgottencertainly itought notto be flirgotten that he has very recently taken a position in party polities which is very extraordinary, to say the least. In a public speech not long since. speakingin ref erence to a measure then pending before congress for the amendment of the Constitution of the U.S., he so far forgot the dig nity of the position which he holds, and the measure of respect which, if it be not due to Congress, ought always to be observed toward Congress, as to say that most ofus were but a set of Constitution tinkers, an expression which was unworthy, not perhaps of him, but of the position which he occupies, indicating that he ml placed himself in a state of antagonism with what then appeared to be the revailing sentiment of Congress upon a most important public measure. Now sir, if it is his determination to conl tinue in this attitude of antagonism and of l: contempt toward the bodies from which HENDERives not only his office but. his bread, I do " not feel disposed to trust him with the exer i cise of so broad a discretionary writer in the selection and payment of his clerks as this amendment confers upon him. I do not think it rudent exactly to say to him, “You have ful authority to reward a partisan of your own by a high salary, whatever may be his qualitications as a clerk, and to reject other appli i cants or to give them however small a pittance they may be contented with.” I would far. prefer to lay down some rigid rule. of law by which the clerk, whoever he may he, shall t know for a certainty, by act of Congress, how much he is to receive for his services, and not to make him dependent upon the good will or the whim of the SecyTreasury, or any other public officer. It may not be pos. sible at this moment to secure such a provision; but I throw out these ideas as the ground of my opposition to the amendment in its pres' out form.