Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-14

4uesttOn, now Tar tle remuneration, IN the par
OF the Executive and Legislature Of the state
OF massachusetts,, uf tde uscoDstitu tlonal prin-
ciples on which the then Governor of that
s ate acted, in the early stage of the war. i.
necessary 10 the allowance Of any portion al
the claims of the state for the services in Ques-
ton. These claims, when first presented to'
4 adjustment. immediately after the late war,
were considered rather in the mass, than ia
references To the particular items of which
they are composed. In fact at that early
period, the principles on which the claims for
militia services ought to BIZ audited and nj
lowed, were but imperfectly fixed. The sub
sequent presentation and examination of the
claims ofthe several states, for such services,
have shed much light on this subject, and
have afforded many advantages at the present
moment in examining those of Massachusetts,
Distinctions, important To the calculation of
principles, and To the ascertainment of Justice,
have been taken, and sustained, which might
naturally have been overlooked at the cum
| mencement Of the discussion.
Your committeee, however, cannot abstain
from lndulg'ng in one remark, that, IL the
fact of the Government of Massachusetts
having declined, for some years subsequent Ia
| the late war, to renounce the unconstitutional
doctrines Of her then Executive, AS developed
in the opinions of the Judges of her Supreme
Judicial Court, can he supposed ever To have
borne upon that portion of the claim which the
committee have recommended Tor payment,
the recent disavowal of her present Exscu-
tive and Legislature furnishes at least belief
that all danger OF future cnllisi0n between
the General Govrrmrnt and the STATES, in
reference To the authority of the Former over
| the militia OF the latter, has been permanently
removed. In this light, the committee cannot
but regard the PRONUNCIATION IA honorable 10
the Chief Magistrate and Legislature nj
Massachusetts, and as highly useful in fixing
the true Interpretation of the constitution, IN
an interesting and important point. This
disavowa', in consonance, as il is affirmed, with
the sentiment Of the great mass of the people
Of Massachusetts,, is indeed "a reteraiion Of the
language which was expressed by the Senate
OF that State, as early as October, 1912, al
the moment when the unfortunate irritation
between the National and State functiunarirs
was most exasperaied, and when remunera
ton for these services fornled neither q subject
| Of calculation or desire.
| Your committee, in Conclusion, recommend
that IN alcases where the militia ufths state of
massachusetts were called out in conformity
with the desire of an officer of thu General Go
vernment, or to repel actual inva.iun, Oh under a
well founded apprehension of invasion. during
the late war, the claim Of the state COR such
Il
rules Of auditing and drawing similar claims
provided the number OF troops so called out
We're not in undu" proportion To the exigeney.
! Ynnr committee likewise recommend. that
| the claims Of Massachusetts, not compre-
\ hended in lbe above description of cases, be
| disalipwpd. And, ia conformity with The
rsoing principles, ask leave To report Till.
The report was referred 10 committee Of
the whole.
THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1894.
FLORIDA TREATY AWARDS.
| On nOtion Of Mr.. McI.anr, the House went
into conmitter Of the whole, Mr.. Laihrop IN
the Chair, on the bill 10 authurizr the crea.
!ion Of stock tn an amount not exceeding
fye millions of dollars, to provide fur the
awards of the commissioners under the treaty
| with Spain Ofthe 22d February, 1919"
Mr.. McLane explained the object and pro-
visions of this bill. Dc wen, irio AN examina-
ton Of the stipulaiions Of the Florida Treaty
and commended that the United States are
thereby bound tn pay the whole sum of f, e
millions, whatever might be the proceeds ol
the sales of the lands coded. To do this the
treaty suggests three different modes. aud The
selection Of one of these Is Il question of ex-
pediency Of which this government is Ia Judge
and he stated ths comparative advantages
of different modes, and conlended that that
( PtoNtutu w Tile DtII Is tut tDOSt
He objected to the creation Of per cent.
stock. payable ont of the public lands, and
maintained that IL would be saving of nearly
one million of dollar. at once 10 pay the mo-
ney at the Treasury, borrowing u like amount
at d rate not exceeding eve (possbly four) per
cent. per annum. He offered an amend
| meut, which would cause the clause amended
to read as follows:
That the Secretary Of the Treasury be,
and he is hereby authorized, with the appro
baton of the President of the United States.
To cause to be issued and sold 10 the Bank OF
the United States, Or 10 Others at sum not les
than the par value thereof, certificates ofStofk
&c." II
MIR. +. johnson opposed the bin rs p,ena
| ture--and thought il would be better topay
the claimants for spolialions by Spain. by offer
ing them either stock or lands in Florida. Ii
would b. better to wait for HE report of the
decisions ofibc b BARD ofCommissionerS before
provision was made 10 pay the sDount of
their awards.
MIR. NicI1ane replied, The decision re-
| ferred 10 must, by the treaty, be- rendered 10
June nt4i-so that pros isiou m,si now be-
made TO meet it, W.
| Mr.. r. p. Bar bour was of odnion that the
payment Of the capital offbe FIVE millions
| might be postponed I'LL the public lands were
sold but, that, in the Iterim, the interest
must be paid on the amobnt awarded.
Dir. Clay maintained Nat, by the treaty, we
are not bound To pay Interest on the capital
| Of FIVE millions, and fought it was premature
To- pay it at this timo The n,ede selected 10
discharge the debywas the most onerous Of
those pointed ont in the trsair, and th0Hsh |
| b.d t.an e.id e 0efiuo the tnu-l