Mississippi Democrat., 1846-09-02

'uIy uuTluB al WnlcN period thlS queS.
tlonable measure has never until the pre-
sent time received the favorable conside-
ration OF Congress. II is scarcely pro-
bnbIe, II the claim has been regarded as
obligatory upon the government, or con.
stlluilng an equitable demand upon the
Treasury, that those who are contempora.
neous with the events which gave rise to
lt,shoud not long since have done Justice TO
the claimants.FHhe treasury has often been
IN condition to enable the Government To
do so without inconvenience, If the claims
had been considered Just. Mr.. Jefferson
who was fully cognizant of the early dis.
senllons between the Government of the
United States and France, out of which
the claims arose, in his annual message in
lSOS adverted to the large surplus then IN
the Treasury, and its "probable accumuIa.
ton" and enqured whether il should lie
"unproductiye in the public vaults" and
yet these claims, though then before Con.
gress, were not recognised or paid. Since
that the public debt of the revolution and of
the war of 1919 has been extinguished,
"nd at several periods since, the Treasury
has been IN possession of large surpluscs
over the demands upon it. In 1896 the
surplus amounted to many millions of dol.
lars, and for want Of proper objects to
which to apply it, it was directed by Con-
gress to be deposited with the States.
During this extended course of time,
embracing periods eminently favorable for
satisfying all just demands upon tho Go,
vernment, the claims embraced in this bill
met with no favor in Congress, beyond the
reports of committees in one or the other
branch. These circumstances are calcu-
lated to raise strong doubts in respect to
these claims, and especially, as all infor-
nation necessary 10 a correct judgment
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 transaction in
which they have originated.
The bill assumes that the United States
have become liable in those ancient trans
actions TO make reparation 10 the claimants
for injuries committed by France. Moth.
ing was obtained for claimants by nego-
talion, and tho bill assumes that the Go.
yernment has become many ways respon-
sible for these claims The limited time
allowed me before your adjournment,
makes il impossible to reiterate the facts
and arguments by which, in preceding
Congresses, these claims have been sue
cesslully resisted. The present is Pc
riod particularly uniavorable for the salts
faction of claims of so large an amount,
and, to say the least of them, of so doubt
fuI character. There is no surplus in
the treasury. A public debt of several
millions has been created with the last few
years. We are engaged in foreign war
uncertain as to its duration, and involving
heavy expenditures; to prosecute which
war, Congress has, at its present session,
authorized a further loan. So that in ef-
feet the Government, should this bill be-
come a law, would have to borrow money
and increase the public debt TO pay these
claims. 1t is true, that by the provisions
of the bill, payment is directed to be made
in land-scrlpt instead of money, but the
effect upon the Treasury will be the same
The public lands constitute one Of the
sources Of public revenue, and if thes
claims be paid in land scrip, it will, from
tho date OF the issue, 10 a great extent, cut
off from the treasury tho annual income
from the sale of public lands; because pay
ments for the lands sold by the Govern
ment may be expected to be made in script
Until i, is redeemed. IL those claims be
Just, they ought to be paid in money, ant
nothing less valuable. The bill provides
that they shall be paid in landscrip
whereby they are in effect to be a mort
gage upon the public lands in the new
States; mortgage, too, held in great part
il not wholly, by non.residenls Of the
States in which the lands lie, who may Sc
cure these lands TO the amount Of several
millions of acres, and then demand fol
them exorbitant prices from the citizens o.
other States who desire TO purchase then
for settlement, or they may keep them ou
Of the market, and thus relard The pros
perly and growth Of the States in whicl
they are situated. Why this unusual mode
of satisfying claimants upon the Treasury
has been resorted to, does not appear.
is not consistent with sound public poll
cy. lr it be done in this case, it may b.
done in all others. II will form prece
dent for the satisfaction Of all other STALE
and questionable claims, and would un
doubtedly be resorted to by all claimants
who, alter successive trials, shall fail lt
have their claims recognised and paid il
r money by Congress.
!. The bill proposes to pay S5,000,000, I,
a be paid in land scrip and provides "lha
no claim or memorial shall be received b.
the commissioner" authorized by tho act
r 'unless accompanied by release or di:
charge from the United States from a
. other and further compensation then tn