Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-19

could doubt the proprieiy oidoing some
thing on this subject, ii he would nroner-
ly reflect ON it. One part nf the act had
been suspended by the President who
suggested IN his message the prcnrie,y of
revising other parts of the act. which
proposition, as well as IN enquiry into the
acts ot the commissioner, WAS now before
committee ofthe House. From want of
understanding. or from want of INTEGRITY.
incorrect decisions had certainly been
made by the commissioner. Ii was IL lit
lie extraordinary, MIR. +. said, after what
had taken place, that the commissioners
should be permitted 10 execute the re
malnder OF the act-to pass judgments 10
iii indefinite amount, these INDICTMENTS to
De immediately paid at the Treasury.
without revision or control This reuui-
red some interference on the part of this
House. We can only judge what is TO
come from what Is past. We know that
erroneous decisions harebeen made by the
commissioner, and may presume that 9th
ers a'H be. Mr.. F. said, there appeared
to hun no reasonable objection to the shape
IN winch lac had brought his motion be-
fore the House, yeth was not welded TO
At. ifany other course should be thought
better toattaln the same object, he should
not object to 1T.
MIR. faacey ofN. c. said he had been op
posed To this resolution the other day. be
cause he believed, as the President had
advised the revision of other parts of the
act besides the 9th section, that the com
missioner would not have proceeded, but
wouid OF course have stayed his proceed
Ings TILL Congress had passed on the sub
.iect. The committee of claims. TO whom
the Presidents Message wasreferrcd. had
taken the subject into serious considera
ton. This morning, they had had the
commissioner before them, and clearly as
certained that he was going on under eve
fy section of the act except the 9th.
fake also upon myself (said Mr.. " the
responsibility of stating, that some deci-
slons have been maderespecting which the
commissioners has been interronated. as
much withoutauthoritya as the cases which
come under tlie9th sectioR. He therefore
believed # was necessary that the execu-
ton of the act should be suspended until
IT was revised. Under other sections of
the act, decisions had been made which
were as groundless as any which had been
made under the 9th section. As for the
authority of this House to make the re-
questof the President, and ofthe President
to suspend the law, Mr.. Y said, he had no
question. The commissioner was a mere
ministerial officer, subject 10 the controul
OF me executive; he was expressly made
SO by the act itself, ifhe had not been so
otherwise.
Mr.. p. p. Barbour DIVA. rose 70 make
the suggestion to the House. thar they
should act on the subject now, if at all
Inc House had been informed by the
President, that erroneous decisions had
Dcen made by the commissioner under
other sections Ofthe law than the 9th. and
Tue Commissioners going on, i'm the same
spirit OF construction, might commit error
III many other cases. lfthe law was sus
pended at all, therefore, it was important
1t should be done now, for thereason. tIat
when the commissioner has decided his
decision Is a sufficient warrant for the
money and some individuals would re-
ceive money for claims of a character.
winch Congress, in revising the law. migbf
not choose to allow TO others. MIR. r. was.
however, clearly of opinion, that the
House could not act upon the law but in
conjunction with the Senate-for a sus-
pension isaqualitied repeal of law, and
the same power only can repeal which e.
nacts H..
MIR. Robertson Of Lou was also opposed
TO the resolution. If the commissions
had acted correctly. twas as fbeIaw in
tended, and there was no motive for .us
pending the law; itincorrectlv. the proper
course would be to remove the officer
MI IL. doubted, he said, the power of the
Executive to suspend a law Of the land
ne could see that such power might be
exercised IN manner very dangerous TO
the liberties OF the country, without refer
ring TO any particular case Mr.. r.
doubted, also, the proprietv ofactinc on
t'iis subject from the motives suggested
by the gentleman from Georgia. The
suspension Temporary repeaD of law
should be as deliberate as the passage of
the act. Let us not, said he. pursue a
course, IN respect TO which our powers are
very doubtful | live in distant part of
the country, III regard TO which, though
many claims have been decided nearer fhe
seat government, the law is as vet dead
letter, as 1t is toall parts of the co untrv af
the same distance. In regard 10 the state
OF LOUISIANA, not single claim had vet
come before the commissioner and Mr.
X. was not, therefore, disposed to arrest
the proceedings of the commissioner. at
tile moment the distant claims might be
expected to present themselves. I'm re-
gard to the commissioner, Mr.. r. said
ms being retained i'll office bv the Presi-
dent, was presumptive evidence i'm his
favor lie concluded his remarks bv
expressing his doubt of the propriety OF
suspendlng the operation OF a law and
particularly the propriety of the Houses
actingon il.
MIR. JoAnson OF KY. said, the discussion
winch had already taken place on this
subject wOuld save him and tho Uo,,e,