Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-14

debt OF several millions has been created within
the last few years. We are engaged in To-
reign war, uncertain as 10 lis duration, and in
volying heavy expenditures; 10 prosecute which
war, Congress has, al its present session, au.ho.
rized further loan. So that, in effect, the Co.
vernmenl, should this Bill become law, would
have 10 borrow money and increase The public
debt 10 pay these claims II is true. that by the
provisions the Bill, payment Is directed 10 be
made in land-scrip 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 il these claims be paid in
land scrip, il will from the date OF the issue 10
great extent, cui of f;am The Treasury the annu-
al income from The sale OF puhc lands; because
payments for The lands sold by The Government
may be expected 10 be made in scrip until IL is all
redeemed. Ifthose claims be Just, they ought TO
be paid in money, and nothing less valuable
The bill provides that they shall be paid in land
scrip, whereby they are in efiectlo be mortgage
upon the public lands in the rev States; mort
gage, loo held in srea, part, il not wholly, by
non-residen,s of The States in which The lands lie,
who may secure these lands 10 the amount Of Sc
vcra millions OF acres and then demand Tor them
exorbian prices from The citizens OF other States
who may desire TO purchase them fer settlement,
or they may keep them out of the market, and
in which they are situated. Why this unusual
mode OF satisfying claimants upon The Treasury
has been re>otted 10, docs rot appear. l. is uot
consistent, with scuGd public policy. II II lie
done in this case il may be done in all others. II
viii! form precedent Tor the satisfaction of all
other stale and questionable claims, and would
undoubtedly be lesorted 10 BY all claimants, who,
after successive trials, Shall fail 10 have their
claims recognised aad paid IN money by Con-
gress.
The bill proposes 10 pay five millions OF dol
lars, 10 be paid in land scrip, and provides that
no claim or memorial shall he received by the
commissioners" authorized by the act, sunless ac-
companed by release or discharge OF The U. 5.
from all other and further compensation than the
claimant may be entitled 10 receive under The
provision of The acl." These claims are esIima-
led TO amount 10 a much larger sum than five
millions of dollars and yet The claimant is requi-
rel 10 release 10 The Government all other COM
pensation, and to accept his share oil fund
known 10 be inadequate. II these claims be we'll
founded il would be unjus; TO The claimants 10
Icpudiale any portion OF them, and the remain
ing sum could hereafter be resisted The bill
proposes 10 pay these claims not in the currency
known 10 the Constitution, and not 10 their iull
amount.
Passed, as this bill has been, near The close OF
the session, and when many measures OF impor-
lance necessarily demand The attention oil Con-
eress, and possibly without that iul and delibe-
rae consideration which The large sum il appro.
PIRATES and the existing state Of the treasury and
Of The country demand, deem il 10 be my duty
10 withhold my approval, that it may hereafter
undergo the revision If Congress. have come
10 his conclusion with regret. In nerposins my
objections 10 lis becoming law, am truly SEN
sible that il should bc an extreme case which
would make il The duty Of the Executive 10 with
hold his approval OF anv bill passed by Congress
upon the ground Of its expectancy acnc. Snch a
case CONSIDER this 10 be. JAS. X. POLK.
Washington, Augusl s, 1916.