Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-23
IN SENATE.
Friday, January ~, 1888.

L.
Eriday .janu0ry ~, 1888.
Mr. Smith OF Indiana presented petition OF Mckee,
Harding and Co. and 100 citizens of Wheeling, Virginia.
pra wing Congress authorize subsc pllun on the part
Of the General Government TO the stock OF The JeHer
sou Vile and New Albany Canal Company
Mr. Smith said he had received The petition yesterday
Of too alc period 10 present it, The petitioners include
almost the entire business portion OF The citizens .!
Wheeling Us he understands. They represent the OBJ
ject of the petition be- 10 enlist Congress IN aid OF The
construction OF canal around the falls of Ohu, on The
Indiana side Of sufficient capacity TO pass steamboats, oil
the largest size al oil seasons OF the year Charter
had been granted 10 the Company by the Legislature OF
Indiana The work. he said was one OF great national
Importance aud he hoped and believed would receive
FROM the Committee Roads and Canals, TO which he
proposed TO refer it, all the consideration its Importance
entitled it TO. 1t only Of number oil petitions
eunaling from different places on the Ohio, that would
be- presented Congress on this subject aud as was
subiec, of more than ordinary Importance, lie asked
that the petition might be printed which was ordered &C.
cordinsy and referred 10 the Committee On Roads aud
Canals
Mr. Buchanan presented memoria! from sundry CT.
tizens Of Phiiade phia praying that lie lrgale HARLAN,
now on the stocks might he completed; which was
ferred 10 the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Norve presented petition from number OF
Mechanics and other inhabitants OF the city ol fhadei-
Mia pra wing that Congress should make appropriation
ior The completion of The construction Of The lgale Ra.
r,an now The stocks in that city, as sopn as practical
BILE referred To the Committee on Naval Affairs
Mr. Ruggles presented the petition IF Seward Porter;
which referred To the Co.iInitlee on Cotnerce
On motion of Mr. DAVIS,
Rcsooed Tina, the Secretary Of the Treasury furnish
10 the Senate list of all articles OF merchandise oil i'm.
port subject duties aud the rate Of said duties; aiso,
q list of all articles Of import adIned Tree OF duly
On nioiinn OF MIR. Webster
Rtsored, That The Secretary of War DC directed to
transmit The Senate list Ut all persons and corpora
tons appointed pension agents. under The act u The 2Olh
April ISjG, or under any other authority aud comnu-
fall prIp nd
such agents
The bill for the relief of the executrx of the late Rich
ard " Meade then up as the unfinished business
Of yesterday.
Mr. Walker addressed the Scnac for some time, with
much zeal in favor OF the claim, and chiefly IN answer
to The remarks Of Mr. Wright OF yesterday lie main
tanned that the claim founded IN JUSTICE anu mol 10
meet il would be violation Of every principle of justice;
violation of the solemn treaty with Spain, which re-
leased that Government from all debts due 10 our cIti-
zens.
Mr. Niles said he had supported the bill on another
occasion, and felt still disposed to do so, it 1t were modi-
fed 10 suit his views lie thought it would be better TO
SO amrnd it, that board ghl report all the facts in The
case and its opinion in relation to the whole supJect
when the Senate would be better prepared to act dei!'
nllely. Mr. II. therefore moved oil amendment, 10 Inc
erc, that the board created by the first section oil the
bill shall report the facts Of the case and The principles
applicable such facts and whether, III Their opinion,
any thing due and what sum o. The original Claim
of said Meade against Spain; and whether, IN law or
". >.
heirs of 4. w. Meade.
Mr. Clay of Kentucky wished that the Senator wonld
withdraw lis amendment. lie thought IL caIcuiaeo 70
produce delay, aud 10 embarass the final passage OF Tie
bill There was no danger, as had been remarked pe,
FORE about other claims growing out OF The passage OF
this act. The claims OF the Meades stood isolated and
alone. Here Mr.. &. into long detail OF all the
circumstances connected with The case, conendns tor
the Justice Of the Claim, and the injury The family Of the
Meadrs had sustained by The long delay OF tile Govern
ment to do them Justice
Mr. Hubbard moved 10 recommt the bill, win IN
structions TO amend it, by striking out The second sec
tion and substituting that offered by the Senator from
Connecticut, lMr Niles.)
Mr.. Buchanan was Of opinion that the best course
would be 10 pass the bill in its present shape Congress
had already spent time in the discussion OF this
subject than would pay the claim (arge as 1t was) twice
He would undertake to say that the claim might
be examined, item by item, by every Senator and at
would be known when they were done than
when they began, und that the opinions of no two Sela-
tors would be alike its merits He thought no Dettel
mode could be adopted than that Of reference TO board
Of three commissioners; and those named here were as
competent any under the Government and, in fact,
there no other way of getting rid of it.
Mr.. Hubbard opposed to the claim in all lis tta-
he did not believe in lis justice; but if were
correct by adopting The amendment he should then have
distinct opinion expressed, which would in truth expe.
die It's liquidation rather than relard it. And besides,
we should not delegate the powers Of Congress 10 ind
vduas he was opposed in principle 10 any such pro-
ceeding.
Mr. Walker hoped the motion would not prevail; it
the in substance, though not in language with
the one offered by the Senator from New Hampshire on
another occasion, and lost II not possible for any
board 10 examine the case ind report it, in time for
The action OF Congress this session. There over
three thousand documents 10 be examined, and the
whole transactions in the exceeded four millions OF
dollars, being from lS7 to 1914. Can any Senator be-
lieve it possible 10 do su' The thing impossible -
He would undertake to say, thatif that Pur'
sued the youngest child Of the hleadeS would not be
living 10 see it perfected Why did the Senator object
10 the reference; If he satisfied to the
opinion OF board expressed in favor Of the claim, why
no, on their final decision on The claim itself
Mr. Hubbard replied. that though he had entire conf
dence in the individuals named, yet would be nvol7-
ing principles which he not disposed 10 sanction.
Air. Smith Of Connecticut, made some few observa.
lions in favor Of recommitting the BILL He had not had
sufficient light 10 enable him 10 vote on the bill under
standingly
The question then put on Mr.. Hubbard's motion
TO recommt.
Mr. Walker asked for the yeas and nays, when there
appeared for the motion II, against il "a as follows:
Yeas hlessrs Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Clayton,
Davis, Hubbard Morris, Niles Pierce, Robbins Robin.
son. Smith of Connecticut, Strange, Tpton, Williams,
Wright and Young-F.