Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-04-01

THE whole ftriod Of session will BE Trade
quate tothis object. it is to get rid OF the
Igreat difficulties which such an enquiry
would impose, and more especiallyto re-
move beyond ourreach the possibility OF
renewing the unpleasant discussiouswhlch
this subject has produced, and which Tor
the honor of my country, I hope will ne
lver be Witnessed again, that 1 am DESTROYS
ltorefer the question as 10 the cases Which
are deserving compensation, and the eYent
of Ito commissioners TO be selected by tie
president, in whom the utmost confidence
can be placed. My colleague near mede.
cIsrsd that no contract originating IN fraud
can ever be rendered valid by any sAer
transaction.
] willprove to him an exception to tlIis
role: in the laws and judicial decision IF
thestate toswhich he belongs, and this sir
will be sufficient to shew thas the univer-
salty ofthe rule cannot be contende9 yfoT
In Virginia our laws declare that no bond
given Tor gaming contract can be avalla'
bic in law, that money won at gaming
be recovered in suit brought either by
the party losing or arr, other person who
will sue for il; that all conve yances ofiand
on.that account shall be utterly void, jet
under this law tie high courtsof appeals
have decided that whsre.a party gaze a
bond for the payment OF gaming debt
and assured third person in the presence
of an obigee that it is good and hewould
pay it; which third person received the
bond by assignment, he should ever after
be incapable of claiming the benefit Of the
statute, and the debt should be paid. But
shall be told by the gentleman that this is
not case analogous 10 the one before Us,
in answs, to this I will say, It is notnecee~
sary that it shoald be, it is 4 strong excep-
ton to this rule, ard that was what en-
gagged to have. Mr.. Speaker, strip this
question fall extraueous matter, and Whist
is it? plainly th;s-thc United States are
appointed trustees by the state OF Georgia,
to dispose Of a certain designated fund
which belonged originally to Georgia, and
by the claimants it is contended was coded
TO others. but which Georgia denies was
legitimate act. This fund lhave shewn
cost nathing; we are requested nay we
have engaged to appropriate u tor qnieting
and compromising those claims thus con.
tested, and to carry these engagements IN.
to execution, we are about TO appoint COM
missioners of our own choice, with powers
adequate to the object, and this act is de-
nounced as stupendous robbery, by anap-
peal to the people be itie so. People of
the United States we invite your attention
to this transaction, we confde in the puri.
ty of our motives which are Influenced by
considerations ofjustice alone; and we re-
" on YOU for an approval of our conduct.
The persons, whose claims are before us,
are purchasers ofland from the grantees of
Georgia, for a VARIABLE consideration with.
out notice of fraud, those from whom they
purchased were in the possession OF the
law of Georgia ratifyiag the sale of grants
duly executed, with al! the SOLEMN for
malities and OF receipts for the purchase
money; many of the claimants are among
the most dis .inguished characters in the
northern states, they then had held, i'm.
portant Offices under the state authority,
and had taken an oath to support the cons
ssltution Of the United States which de-
clares that full faith and credit, shall be-
given to the acts and judicial proceedings
ofthe respee i've states their incalnatien
as we'll as their oaths Induced them
to give full credit to them it eouid rot be
presumed by them that the representatives.
of sister s:atr, rad been corrupted !; and,
although, the act of sale might have bees
indscreets and q bad bargain TO the vr'
ders Trey knew also, that the constitution
prohibited tho states from passing 10y ex
post fac:o law, BY wh;ch any tide resfed III !
others wrl be impaired up-es these |
circumstances shey ask that ~ saah gre I
them pas, Of the ptoPertvset apart Tor |
satisfying their claims, OF permit .heif