The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1816-12-13


{htr he ~ouio legi'late Gu tins princi-
pie { Mr.. j. said he had himself su.
periutepdtd three Hundred cases of
claims, 10 cone before this Con mis-
sioRer, tie aggregate amount cl hich
was not fifteen Thousand CCllars-uot a
peppeIc corn 10 the Claims from other
parts Of the United States " hy should
Inc dcCisicn u such claims be aiiesieds
Ii YVES itrLl principle OF le VI atiop
10 suspend the execution Of ], be-
cause 1t is possible mischief may arise,
OF because enc was originally opposed
to it II the gentleman would put his
finger OH case in which injury was
likely 10 be done 10 the United States.
Mr.. ]. said he would take The gentle.
mans VOID Tor il, and bow with sur
mission TO his proposition TO suspend
the law. Until such a case was pointed
cut, he would not vote 20 vet onlncud
10 the President his duty. Had he been
wanting In II ? As he had recommend.
ed the suspension of Judgments under
one part OF The law, was il rot PIC sume-
bic that he would have Included others
if necessary The ceses O. horses Iosi.
&c. came literally ard uDesuiyocaliv
under tie law but he ireeiy avowcJ
his opinion that, in all cases it would
cover. the law ought 10 have lGe,es
conslIuctlCr-Is such had been give,
TO IT, lie did not disappiove it thoueL
here might possibly have beer cases
decioed, in regard to which the ey,-
deEce ought TO have been sil;ed more
niooly.
Nj. YGnecy moved that the resolu.
tioi. shcuiG lie on the liable. He saia
hc Gould not see the necessity Of DING.
cut OF the usual course oil legislation to
accept It. Ii the gentlemen knew OF IN;
rcrGing decisions oi on improper cha
ra,teI, ara requiring the suspension OF
he act, he question you'd present IL
self Herertly: but for one Mr. Y.
ssid lie cculu lot vole IoI this melton
til nc heard scme evidence 10 thatli-
iect.
NJ. TGr{yih Expressed his hope ,ha.
he house would rot conclude, with the
,nhcmsn from Kentucky, that because
be (Mr. : ; had been opposed 10 the
Possage Ct lhC law, at he last session.
re now ~ishca TO suspend it. 1t was
he law of the land; and when il
became so hrs opposition TO il cees-
ed My only object said MIR. +. is
10 add to 1t such provisions as shall
prevent the commissioner, il he be de-.
slrous TO do so, from mistsk king the
provisions Of The act. My object is to
limit and define it, that il canuot be
misinterpretcd. With respect 10 the
fact which have Come to my knowledge
have no inlolms ton Of such cha
racter as will authotise me 10 bring /,
before the house; ii I knew Tie facts
| should have stated them in my place.
ard not called upon the President for
hem he President had already stat.
Cd TO the house, Mr. F. observed. THAI
he had reason 10 believe there had been
OF would be an erroneous construction
OF tbs law The great difficulty was,
inatthe cert eliot a!singleIC ommissionor
was complete and fiLal over The admis-
sion and amount Of the claims / wish,
said Mir +. that The Treasury of the
United States should not be open to the
decision of the Commissioner; wish
10 secure the Treasury from the result
Of error or corruption in the adiucation
OF Charms. So far as ! am informed,
the commissioner has not made any cor.
rupt decisions. ! wish, in shor, that
we may give 10 some department the
power OF revising ell the acts Of the
Commissioncy--that he shall not have
full power 10 dispose of the public mo.
ney.
Mr. Webster said, he was bound 10
infer that the course of conduct which
he President ursued was such as he
had authority 10 puTsue--and he had TO
right to order the officer in question, OF
any other judicial officer TO suspend the
execution of law The president had
no doubt advised he officer to suspend
his decisions en- certain cascs--but the
proposition in the resolution is TO DO
something more than advise. il it ia tO
do aLy thing at all. Mr.. w. suSesFted
to the house, whether it ought tc pass
such resolution lie did not sly ghee
lher it would have any binding force on
he Ofhcer--he did not think, however,
he would disregard it--but, suppose
the Senate should think differently from
! The house, and request the President to
give direction TO the Commissioner 10
80 on. twas mistake 70 suppose tba5
| Tie Presiden. could suspend laY on.