The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-17

The government Che continued) was unqueston-
ably bound 70 protect its citizens, as was claimed
by the gentleman front Pennsyvania, tNr. j. T.
lSoERsoLL.l II had done so; il had Obtained the
money NJ a vest expense, and had safely brought ~
into the treasury. Here number Of claim
ants. What portion belonged to them individually
was question between themselves. II they had a
mind 70 set down and agree TO division, very we'll
ifthey are at loggerheads, let the Attorney General
decide The question for them, and let them pay the
| expense. twas said by the chairman Of the Com"
mlttee ON Foreign Affairs that there were Prece-
dents to justify the touise proposed by that COM
miltee IN this bil but bad customs were bad laws;
and bad precedents, If they had occurred, 1t was
| time TO stop. He wished 10 establish here a new
and correct precedent, '.r.
| The gentleman asked him whether liugsrt parties
paid the judges la the courts Of the United States
MOI but they have 10 pay the lawyers the arbtra-
4 tors. Precisely here. But the gentleman said
| these claims belong 10 merchants In the city Of
| New York l. made no difference with him from
4 what part Of the Union they camel he would vote
against unjust claims from his constituents quick
as from any other portion Of the Union. He hoped
the amendment OF the gentleman from Alabama
would be adopted, -...
| Mr.. EWING, OF Te., was opposed to the amend
ment Of the gentleman from Alabama, we'll as TO
the amendment Of his colleague. He did not say that
was true in regard 10 either Of the gentlemen in this
case but Il was in general true in regard to propo-
siuons OF this description that before debera-
| "a.
He considered this question of Importance as re-
garded this case and those cases which might arise
hereafter under the treaties and conventions of our
government. He knew nothing Of the preeedents
which had been alluded to; but there seemed 10 him
to be some principle Of common lustiee, and some
principle OF the els,ions between the citizen of this
gpvernnent that should determine this question.
| lie agreed with the gentleman from Pennsy lvania
Mr.. J, X. IseERsoLL,l that the government was
bound to yield plensry protection. What was this
protection IN case Of spoliaonsf Ii was TO recover
the money, and 10 place the citizen, as nearly as
the loss wns sustained. Hence, their ships having
been taken by the enemy, he argued that the rec
ompense for Them should be plpced in the hands Of
the claimants, without expense TO them. But more
especially should this be done, as the indemntes
received were never fully equal TO the losses sus
tanned. IL WINS not the duty Of the Attorney Gene
raj TO make this adjudication and distribution; and
II this additional duty was imposed upon him, com
mon justice required that he should be paid for it.
While on this point, he would mention 4hat he
had just been informed by the chairman Of the Com
mIttee on Foreign Affairs, that there was a larg,
amount OF interest aecruing upon this money which
would be an amount fully equal TO the expenses Of
distribution In reference TO the case presented M
analogous Of the payment or non-payment Of cost.
by parties lugant in courts Of Justice he said thai
IN his State, upon the unsuccessful party in the case
was deyolyed the payment of the costs and he
urged the improperly Of these claimants whose
claims were ascertained and found good to their full
extent, IN oontroeersion of this principle, being
obliged to pay the costs. He further urged the
propriety, the economy, and the Justice of the adu.
dication and distribution being made by the Attor.
ner General, and OF his being compensated from the
treasury, proposed by the bill.
MIR. @. w. JONES, referring 10 the statement OF
his colleague, Mr.. EWING, that such motions as the
present were generally made for "Buncombe," al
though he acquitted him Mr. ] we'll rs the gen.
ueman from Alabama Mr.. HousroEl Of any such
motives, said for himself he could say, during his
whole public course he had never made motion
nor attempted TO make speech, for what was gen.
orally understood by the term "Buneumbe;" and
such thing as this never had BEEN and he thought
1t never would be used by him in political canvasses
He had made the mstion because he believed il
was right-right on principle, right on economical
grounds. But il would be fortunate for that "Bun.
combe,n if all their public servants were as much
devoted to the interests of "Buncombe" after thew
had received the confidence of "Bunconbe, ~ as
they professed to be before that confidence had been
bestowed upon them,
Mr.. j. further briefly sustained the amendmen,
he had made in reply to Nj. G. J. INGERsoLL, Mr..
kHLTr, and other gentlemen, dissenting from the
position that the government not entitled 10 the
4 time of the Attorney General arguing that these
services should be performed by him, in case his
other duties permitted, without specific compensa-
tion that, If his compensation not sufficient his
regular salary should be increased; and rdiculing
current with the general government to charge for
every individual act performed which was not spe-
cihcally included in the purview of his duties when
the Office was created al ~..
4 Mr.. HOUSTON was also called up by the re-
| mark of Mr. EwrNe. The gentleman The sad) con.
sidered this small business; but it was known to
the chairman, and to those who had been the long
est In this House. that this DID, stnlc cuckoo-cry of
"ltte business" was that which always resort
ed to to drive propositions out of this hall relative to
| he .1t,z. 81 Al.
business" "trfling considerations ;" was always re-
sorted to, to oppose these measures and had been
given to this House, seemingly with all the eeisla.
tive experience of the gentleman from Tennessee, in
order to brighten them from opposition to this pro-
vision of the bill. He did not know what might
have been the legislative experience of the gentle
man. he did not pretend to question it; but with all
Difference to the gentleman, he would say if he came
here intending to drive gentlemen from opposition
to what they believed improper expenditures he
would be met at all points by gentlemen determined
to go on and do their duty in opposing measures inn
proper in principle, equally, whether they involved
a farthings expenditure, or the expenditure of thous
ands. AS to the gentcman's alusion to the "domes-
tic consumption for which such movements were
generally intended, and which had been replied to by
his colleague Mr. JONES he had nothing further to
say than that he did not think it altogether proper
place to make this nsinuation, and although the
gentleman had thought proper to discaim any per-
sona application, he would, with great difference to
the gentleman, ask him why, II no personal appi
cation was meant, he had brought it forward
He alluded to the remark made by the gentleman,
at the suggestion of the chairman of the COMMITTEES
on Foreign Affairs, that the interest which had ac-
crued on this fund sufficient to meet the expen-
SEES proposed. He did not believe that the gentle
man would have given uterance to il had il not been
for the prompting Of the chairman of the committee
Talk about interest being paid by this government!
Did not that gentleman know, with oil his legislative
experience and general knowledge, that the govern
mcnt did not pay interest on sums received at the
treasury in this manneri
Mr.. c.. J. INGERSoLL The gentleman mis-
-- y l. i
| the government had had the enjoyment of the money
long that $200 900 was the amount of the interest
that would have accrued upon it. n.
Mr.. HOUSTON, continuing, said the explana-
ton made but little difference. He asked the gen.
tcman if the interest the French spoliatons was
| to be paid' Would the gentleman advocate that
doctrnei ."0". 81, .... .a.a' s vi.
With reference to the costs Of suits at law of
1 IL