American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-08-18
Amrritan Republican,
AND
BALTIMORE CLIPPER.
TTESDAY MORNING, AUG. 10, Is4S.


OussIoys. Among the bills reported, but
omitled to be passed by congress, was one which
,re consider that justice requires should be en-
,cfed We mean The bill "to establish board
,r.onmissioners to examine and decide claims
AGAINST the United States" The claims Of
individuals against the government, are seldom
attended to by congress for although one day
in the week is usually SGT apart for their con-
sideration, it has almost invariably happened,
that quorum of the house could not be had
on that day, or that it was devoted to other bu-
siness. Numbers of claimants have attended
the sessions of congress year after year at a
heavy expense, and have had to return to their
homes without obtaining satisfaction; not be-
cause their claims unjust, but because,
like the old lady in Shakespeare, they 4" never
could come pat between too soon and too late"
they never could find congress in the vein"
TO do them Justice. To prevent this constant
and paIpable neglect Of right, it was proposed
to organize Board of Commissioners to ex-
anime and decide upon such claims. But even
this proposition has failed, as it is said for the
want of time-so that claimants have once
more to rest upon hope deferred" We hope
that this bill will be taken up at an early day
of the next session and passed into law, as it
is measure demanded by honesty.
Treasury DRAFTS. 1t appears that trea-
sury drafts circulate as currency, notwithstand-
ing the vote of the Senate of the United States
against such circulation. But in this fact we
do not see any Just cause to censure the ad-
mnistration, because it may be done without
the knowledge or consent of the treasury de-
partment. Indeed it can hardly be prevented.
When creditor of government receives draft
Spon a deposit bank, what is to prevent his
paying it away as so much cash? and who will
refuse to receive it, The New York Courier
and Enquirer says:-"not only are these drafts
thrown upon the public without authority, but
in the face of an express denial of authority on
the part of congress" We apprehend that this
is a mistake The Secretary of the Treasury
has the legal right to draw upon the several de-
positories, and to give those drafts in payment
OF debts due by the government. After they
have passed from his hands he has no further
control over them; and if the people choose to
receive and to circulate them as cash, it is
matter with which he can have no concern
Nor do we see that the Courier and Enquirer
is more correct, when it says:-"the question
arises-and it may become one of serious I'M
port Observation-Disclosures these drafts will be
paid. Certainly not without an appropriation
by congress-" AS to the payment of these
drafts we think that there can be no difficulty
provided the banks upon which they are drawn
continues TO be solvent, AS soon as the Secre
tary gives draft, we presume that he apPrize'
the institution upon which it is given Of the
fact, and passes the amount to its credit This
is all right and unobjectonable; but the receiv-
er of the draft, instead fpresenting it for pay
ment, passes it to another person, and thus it
passes from hand to hand. This is the natural
course which will be pursued so long as these
drafts continue to remain at par. Suppose a
citizen of Baltimore to receive, in payment of a
claim against government, draft upon some
bank in New York, Boston or New Orleans,
and can pass the said draft at any of our banks,
or to an individual; will he take the trouble to
forward it to either of the cities named for pay
ment2 No: he will take the readiest mode OF
dsposing of it, and cares not how long it may
continue in circulation after il has answered his
PURPOSES As the draft is drawn upon funds &C.
tually on deposit, no farther appropriation by
congress can be required. Nor do we conceive
that the holders of such unpresented drafts
could justly have recourse to government, in
case ofthe failure of the depository. The draft
is made payable at sight, or on demand, and
the receiver is bound to use due diligence in OBJ
tanning the money. If lost by his neglect, he
should be the loser-the extension of time to
the bank having been given by him and not by
the government.
DEATH OF THE LATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
OF MARYLAND. We learn with deep regret
that the venerable Josiah Bailey, Esq, for many
years. and until recently, Attorney General o.
Maryland, died at Cambridge on Friday even
ing last. His advanced age had incapacltated
him for several years from participating in the
active duties Of his profession, and he was final.
ly compelled to resign the Office of Attorney
General, and retire to the shades of private
life. He was several times member of the
Legislature, and at the time Of his death the
Oldest and most respected member oil the Bar
in the State. He was highly and justly es
fear,ed nv those among whom he lived.