The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-24
THE DAILY UNION

other provision confirming claim TO a tract OF land
OF GAO acres, derived from the United States, which
held within the limits of that portion Of the Hou-
ma claim for which a patent had not been issued;
that the said tract of land was of but little value,
and that had never attached any importance TO it.,
and do not NOM believe that 1t could be sold for
two dollars per acre To the value of that tract OF
land, however, | was interested in supporting and
not IN opposing that bill, which In effect confirmed
the HSuma claim; that on that occasion | voted
IN direct opposition 10 my interest, and so inform
ed my colleague and other members Of the Senate at
the time. This claim Of GAO acres is not embraced
wnhIn' the limits Of the lands covered by the two
patents issued by Mr.. Blob The late Secretary OF
the Treasury, TO which the joint resolution relates,
and would not, in the slightest degree, be affected
by the decisiOn OF the Senate upon the said resOlu
ton. II Is embraced in that portion of the Houma
claim for which patent has not issued, and never
will be issued, unless the claim shall be confirmed
by decision of the Supreme Court Of the United
States, whether the Joint resolution be adopted by
both houses Of Congress or not for the present
Secretary Of the Treasury has resclnded the or
der made by Mr.. Bib on the Sd Of March last
again directing a patent to be issued for the
said tract Of land, Notwithstanding the House Of
Representatives had at their last session passed d
joint resolution (Which was read three times, pass.
ed and sent TO the Senate the same day. forbid
ding patent to be issued for the said lands; and
notwithstanding the Senate had passed unanimously
al the same session, joint resolution directing the
Attorney General Of the United States to examine
the title Of the Houmas grant, and to give his opin.
ION as to the legality Of the two patents previously is
sued by MIR. Bib for portions Of the claim. IL is
not now to be presumed therefore, after all the pro-
ceedngs referred 70, that patent at any future pc
riod will DO issued for the said lands, unless the
claim shall be coafrmed by the judiciary. Thus it
is clearly shown that have not the slightest inter.
est in the claims covered by the two patents referred
hal | flu in inc
and not IN opposing the bill confirming the Houmas
claim, which | voted against, before stated.
Some Of the claimants of the Houmas grant are my
personal and political friends and have been so for
the last thirty years. IL would, indeed, afford me
great pleasure to support their claim, il | could do
so consistently with what | consider to be faith
full performance Of my duty here. If the grant
be valid to the extent claimed il may he confirm
ed by the courts Of the United States, under the
recent act Of Congress, passed expressly for the
purpose of enabling the claimants under this as
well as under the other large grants in Louisiana to
commence suits In the courts fthe United States TO
try the validity Of their titles and il the Houmas
claim be valid to that extent, hope it may be 30
confirmed by the Supreme Court Ii is not my
wish that the claimants should be deprived Of any
right fairly acquired under the said grant.
In directing the patents alluded TO TO be issued
Mr.. Blob states, in his written opinion, addressed
to the Commissioner Of the General Land Office,
that the Houmas claim is confirmed by an act Of
Congress OF the 18th April, 1914, prescribing the
manner in which certain certificates shall be issued
and certain surveys be made. Hthis be so, the
Bastrop Malson Rouge, and other large claims in
Louisiana are confirmed also by the same act But
such construction is contrary to the decision Of
the Supreme Court of the United States pronounc-
ing the Maison Rouge claim fraudulent and void
beyond league square; and il is contrary TO the
decision Of the same court in the case of Minor rs
in Nyht nd
of the defendant, and against the validity Of the
Houmas grant to the extent claimed.
The members of the Senate must have witnessed
the extraordinary exertions made in both houses
in Congress, within the last two years. in favor Of
the Houmas claim. Believing il to be unfounded
myself and that, at all events, it should be dis
posed Of, the other large claims in Louisiana are
to be disposed Of under the act Of Congress passed
for the purpose have resisted the attempts made to
confirm the claim and to the issuing of patents with
out confirmation and have been uniformly sustained
IN my opposition by large majority Of the Senate.
Hence II Is, that my motives throughout this whole
have been misconceived or Intentionally
Conscious of the rectitude Of my course in regard
to this matter have hitherto disregarded, as still
disregard, all attempts whether wilfully or heed
lessy made) TO injure my character, or to impair
my standing here, elsewhere, and should not
have noticed the reports alluded to had not the
inquiry baen made by senator on tins foor.
CHIPPEWA INDIANS.
A message was received from the President of the
United States, transmitting report from the Secre-
tary Of War, in compliance with a resolution of the
Senate, in relation to the removal of the Chippewa
Indians from the mineral lands Of Lake Superior;
which, on motion of
Mr. WOODBRIDGE, was laid on the table, and
ordered to be printed.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
MIR WEBSTER moved postponement of the
prior orders Of the day. in order take up the House
act declaratory of the powers and egazing certain
acts Of the chief clerk of the Patent Office which was
agreed to.
The bill was considered as in committee of the
whole, reported without amendment, and ordered
to be third reading.
Mr.. w, asking the unanimous consent of the
Senate 10 The immediate passage OF the bi
Mr. CALHOUN submitted a few remarks, con.
GLIDING by motion that it be laid upon the table;
which motion was not agreed to-
BY unanimous consent, the further consideration
Of the subject was then postponed until 10 morrow.
On motion of Mr.. HAYWOOD, the Senate pro-
ceeded TO the consideration Of executive business
and after some time spent therein the doors were
again opened, and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE