The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-11


transactions in which they originated and the pro-
traeted negotiations to which they led between
France and the United States. The short time in
teryenng between the passage of the bill by Con-
gross and the approaching close Of their session. as
well as the pressure Of other official duties, have not
permitted me TO extend my examination Of the sub
ect into It's minute details. But In the consideration
which have been able to give to it, fnd objections
OF grave character TO its provisions.
For the satisfaction Of the claims provided for by
the bill, Il is proposed 10 appropriate five millions
OF dollars. can perceive no legal or equitable
ground upon which this large appropriation can
rest, portion of the claims has been more
than half century before the government, in
Its executive or legislative departments, and all
OF them had their origin in events which Oe-
CURED prior TO the year 1900. Since 1902 they have
been from time TO time before Congress. No greater
necessity pToprety exists for providing for these
claims at this time than has existed for near half
century; during all which period this questionable
has never until now received the favorable
consideration of Congress. Ii is scarcely probable
il the claim had been regarded as obligatory upon the
government, or constituting equitable demand upon
the treasury, that those who were contemp
with the events which gave rise 10 IL, should not
long since have done justice TO the claimants. The
treasury has often been in condition to enable the
government to do without incsn venience IL these
claims had been considered Just. Mr.. Jefferson,
who fully cognizant Of the early dissensions be-
tween tho governments Of the United States and
France, out Of which the claims arose, in his an
nusl message In 1905 adyered TO the large surplus
then in the the treasury and It's "probable accumu-
lation," and inquired whether IL should lie "unpro-
duetiye in the public yaults,n and yet these claims
though then before Congress, not TeeognS ed
or pad Since that, the public debt Of the revolu-
ton and Of the war of 1912 has been extingushed
and at several periods since, the treasury has been
in possession Of large surpIusses the demands
upon It. In 1886 the surplus amounted 10 many
millions Of dollars and for want Of proper objects
which to apply IT, it directed by Congress TO be
deposited with the States.
During this extended course Of time, embracing
periods eminently favorable for satisfying all Just
demands upon the government, the claims embraced
in this bill met with favor in Congress, beyond
reports of committees, IN one or the other branch.
These circumstances alone are calculated TO raise
strong doubts In respect TO these claims; especially
all the information necessary TO a correct udg-
ment concerning them, has been long before the
public. These doubts are strengthened in my mind
by the examination | have been enabled TO give to
the transactions in which they originated.
The bill assumes that the United States have be-
come liable in these ancient transactonst TO make rep
aration the claimants for injuries committed by
France. Nothing was obtained for the claimants by
negotiation; and the bill assumes that the govern
ment has become responsible To them for the aggres-
sions of France. The limited time allotted me, be-
fore your adjournment, precludes the possibility Of
reiterating the facts and arguments by which,
in preceding Congresses, these claims have
been successfully resisted, The present is a peri
cd peculiarly unfavorabe for the satisfaction Of
claims ofso large amount, and, 10 say the least Of
them, of so doubtful u character There is no sur
plus in the treasury. public debt Of several mil
lions of dollars has been created within the last few
years. We are engaged in a foreign war; uncertain
in lis duration, and involving heavy expenditures;
to prosecute which Congress has, at its present
sion, authorized further loan. So that in effect
the government, should this bill become law, bor-
rows money and increases the public debt to pay
these claims. Ii is true, that by the provisions of
the BILL payment is directed to be made in land
script instead of money, but the effect upon the
treasury will be the same. The public lands consti-
tute one of the sources of public revenue, and If
these claims be paid in land script, 1t WILL from the
date of its issue, TO great extent, cut oil from the
treasury the annual income from the sales Of the
public lands; because payments for the lands sold
by the government may be expected to be made
in script until it is all redeemed IL these
claims be just they ought to be paid in
money and not in anything made less val
liable The bill provides that they shall be paid in
aud script, whereby they in effect to be mortgage
upon the public lands in the States-a mortgage,
too held in or at part if not wholly, by non-res
dents of the States in which the lands lie who may
secure these lands TO the amount Of several millions
of acres, and then demand for them exorbitant
prices from the citizens Of the States who may de-
sire purchase them for settlement, or they may
keep them out Of the market, and thus retard the
prosperity and growth of the States in which they
| are situated. Why this unusual mode Of satisfy
ing demands the treasury has been resorted to,
does not appear. 1t is not consistent with sound
public policy. IL it be done in this case 1t may be
| done in all others. 1t would form precedent for
the satisfaction of all other stale and questionable
claims in the same manner and would undoubtedly
be resorted by all claimants who, after successive
trials shall fail to have their claims recognised and
paid in money by Congress.
This bill proposes to appropriate FIVE millions OF
dollars, TO be paid in land script and provides "that
no claim or memorial shall be received by the COM
| missioners" authorized by the act, "unless accom-
panied by a release or discharge of the United States
from all other and further compensation than the
claimant may be entitled to under the pro-
visions of this act" These claims are estimated
| 10 amount to a much larger sum than FIVE mil
lions of dollars and yet the claimant ID required to
release to the government all other compensation,
and to accept his share of fund which is known
| to be inadequate.
If these claims be well founded it would be un Just
to the claimants to repudlate any portion OF them,
hereafter resisted. This bill proposes to pay these
claims, not in the currency known to the constitu-
ton, and not to their full amount.
Passed this bill has been, the close OF the
| session, and when many measures of Importance
necessarily claim the attention of Congress, and
possibly without that full and deliberate consdera-
ton which the large it approprates, and the
existing condition Of the treasury and Of the coun-
try demand, deem it to be my duty to withhold
my approval, that it may hereafter undergo the re-
| vision of Congress. have to this conclusion
with regret In interposing my objections to its be-
| coming law, am truly sensible that it should be
| an extreme which would make it the duty of
the Executiveto withhold his approval of any bill
passed by Congress upon the ground Of its mex
pediency alone. Such case consider this to be.
JAMES X. POLK.
WASHINGTON, August Sth, l648.
The naval pension bill was yesterday passed by
both houses.