The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-08-29

which, in preceediog Congresses, these
claims have been successfully resisted
The present is period particularly un.
favorable for the Satisfaction OF clalms|
Of 90 large 40 smouni, and, 10 cay tn
least Of them, Of so doub fu' a character.
Their is no surplus 10 the Treasury A
public debt of several millions has been
created within The last few years. We
are engOged ir foreign war, uncertain.
ss 10 its duration, aud involving heavy
Expenditures; 10 prosecute which war
Congress has, at lis present session, au
Iihorized further loan: So that in Ell
feet the government, should this bill be-
come law would have TO borrow mon-
ey and increase lhe public debt 10 pay
these claims, Ii is true, that by the
provisions Of the bill, payment is dlrec-
he'd 10 be made in lindscript instead Of
money, but The Ell ct upon theTressury
will be the same. The public lands con.
slitute one OF the sources Of public Of
revenue, and if the claims be paid in
landscript, ii will, from the date Of the
issue, 10 grea, extent, cut off from the
Treasury the annual income from the
ssIe Of public lands ;because the payments
for the lands sold by the government
may be expected to be made in scrip
until il is oil redeemed. II those claims
be just they ought 10 be paid in money
and nothing less valuable. The bill pIo
vides that they shall be paid in land
script, whereby they are in effect TO be
a mortgage upon ,he public lands in the
new States; mortgage, TOO, held iol
part, if not wholly by non residents o.
Inc States in which The lands lie, who
may secure these lands TO the amour, oi
several millions Of acres, and then de
mand for them exorbilant prices from the
lci,izens Of other States who may desire
TO. purchase the m for setlIemenI,o or they
may keep them oul OF The market. and
thus re'srd the prosperity and growth
'of the States in which they are situated
Why this unusual mode of satisfying |
claimants upon the Treasury has been
resorIed TO. does not appear. 1t is not
consist ent with a sound public policy'ltI
ii be done 10 this case it may be done
in all others. i, will form o precede
for the satisfaction Of al her stale end |
questionable claims,and would undoub,-
edly be resorted 10 by all clsimanls, who
after successive trials, shall fsl 10 have
'heiI claims recognised and paid IN mon.
ley by Coogress.
The bill proposeH 10 pay five million,
OF dollars, 10 be paid in land script. sndl
provides shat no claim or memorial
sh'll be received by the commjssoners'l
lulho'ized by the act. uoleSs accompao.
I'd by release or discharge of the u |
|S. from all other and further compen
'9tlon that the claimant may be entitled
70 receive nnder the provisions OF III,
act These claims are estimated TO
mount 10 much larger sum than five
millions of dollars, anu yet The clamsn |
a required 10 release 10 the Government
all oher compensation, and to nccep
his share OF fund known 10 be made.
quate.
If these claims be we'll founded. i'll
would be unjust TO The claimants 10 re
'pndaie any portion Of them, and the
remaining sum could hereafter lie resis |
ted. The bill proposes 20 pay these
claims not in the currency known to The |
Constitution, snd not TO their full
mount.
Passed, ss this bill has bee n near III, |
close Of the session, snd when many
measures OF impoItsnianee necessaril, |
demand III: attention OF Congress, unU
POSSIBLY without that full and dell 6eran
consideration which ths large sun il sp |
propristes and the existing state Of ,ht
treasury and Of The county demand II
deem il my duty 10 withhold NV spnro