The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-02

Propidsd, That nothing in this act shall be con-
srued 10 give any rights To the claimants that not
conferred by said convention and the Of June i2th
1910, and thar the substance of the provision be in
serted in the certificates that may be issued.
Mr.. WISE expressed his assent to the insertion of
| such proviso
The question being now about 10 be put
Mr.. ADAMS said he inclined at present in
formed 10 he opinion that the House should concur in
the report of the Committee Foreign Affairs, and
reject the bill by striking out the enactiog clause He
considered what had Just been stated by the gentle
man from Vermont Mr. Evereit) demonstrating the
effect of the second section of the BILL would be to
make the United States ultimately liable for the
amounts awarded; did he see that the genteman's
proviso would prevent such a result Let the bill
pass in any shape and the Government ould in the
end be responsible. This was not necessary il was
done by giving TO the words Of the convention con-
s'ruction not necessary 10 be given because there was
behind II all the question whether this Government
by negotiation al all with Mexico for the payment of
the claims, had not already made itself liable for them.
Mr.. A. had not examined the words Of the conven-
ton and of the law of lS4l but he inclined much
TO the opinion that these Of the Government
had already pledged the Government to the creditors
OF Mexico-that if Mexico did pay them the Uni-
ted States would. If the Government stood pledged
to that extent, very well be it so. But if not, the
construction gwen to the convention by the bill would
pledge us to those claimants. He hoped the House
would concur with the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
and strike out the enacting clause Of the bill.
Mr. HUNT spoke in favor of some provision for
the claimants and concluded by expressing his opln-
ion, that the moviso suggested by Mr.. Everett would
be sufficient safeguard against any liability from the
American Government from the passage ofthe second
section of this bill.
had just been informed that the late Secretary of State
(Mr. Forsyth concurred with him the construc-
ton of the words of the convention.
Mr.. TILLINGHAST also expressed himself in
faO nf thaN psalt - Al
The question was then taken concurrag in the
recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
to strike out the enacling clause of the bill
And the House refusing to concur With the commit .
tee In that recommendation, the enacting clause of the
bill was not stricken out.
Mr. WISE then moved to amend the bill
I. BY striking out all after the word "that," in the
third line Of the st section, TO the words the Secre-
tary, in the lst line Of the I'd section.
la the I'd section and the 81 line, after the word
awards, insert "as have been or shall be made, in
pursuance Of the convention with the Republic of
Mexico concluded at Washington the Ith day of
April, 1882 in favor of citizens Of the United
States"
And by adding to the end thereof the following
words:
Prorided That nothing in this act shall be con-
strued TO any rights to the claimants that are not
conferred by said convention and the of June 18th
ls40 and that the substance of this provision be in
serted IN the certificates that may be issued"
Note.-Ths proviso was offered by Mr.. EVERETT
and accepted by Mr.. WISE a modification of his
amendment.
Mr.. G. DAVIS moved to lay the bill on the table;
which motion was rejected.
Mr.. WISE moved the previous question.
And there was a second.
And the main question (beng first on the modified
amendment of Mr.. WIsE) was ordered and being
taken, was decided in the affirmative.
SO the amendment, modified, was agreed to-
M he hay haan arda Ia nd
now, was read third tme and passed in the follow
ing form:
BE IL enacted DC, That Il Secretary of the Trea-
sury be, and he is hereby authorized, upon the pre-
sentation of certified copies Of such awards have
been or shall be made in pursuance Of the Convention
with the Republic of Mexico concluded at Washing
ton the 18th of April 1889 favor of citizens Of the
United States, issue certificates to the pers au-
thorlzed to receive the awar led their legal
representatives and assigns, in the manner directed
by the 18th section Of the Of Congress entitled IAN
act to carry into effect Convention between the Uni
ted States and the Republic Of Mexico !" such certif-
Gates to be in such form and for such portions Of the
sums awarded may be convenient for the claimants,
and to be subject the deductions provided for by the
10th section Of said act: Prorided, That nothing in
this act shall be construed TO give any rights to the
claimants that not conferred by said Convention
and the net of June H. 1910, and that the substance
of this poviso be inserted in the certificates that may
be issued.
On motion of Mr. GUSHING, the title of the bill
was so amended as to read g in addition to- an
act &c
Mr.. UNDERWOOD rose and said that if there
was nothing else to do he would call up resolution
offered by himself in relation to the Lighting up Of the
Capitol
[Cries of Adjourn, adourn."l
Mr.. ADAMS. What has become of the Mcleod
resolution
The SPEAKER said it was on thu table
MIR. ADAMS Well, if the House has nothing
else 10 do why not take up that
Mr.. HOLMES said--as the reporter understood
that the resolution had been sometime in nubi6us,
where he hoped it would be permitted to remain.
Mr.. ADAMS. Nubibus hic tumdus, lucbus lille
minax.
Repeated cries of Adjourn, adjourn"
Mr.. lNGERSOLL submitted to the House. with
extreme Difference that it unconstitutional to ad
journ before the arrival of the mail.
Whereupon the House Immediately adjourned.