The daily union., 1846-08-26
THE DAILY UNION

had been renounced by the treaty.
IL was said TO be cruel al once, without hearing,
TO decide against the claims of our merchants and
that it was evident that whoever voted for taking
up at that time the bill for the repeal of the internal
taxes, would vote not only against Indemnlfylng,
but even against hearing; because, by voting for a
repeal OF the internal taxes he would vote away all
means Standardization. The repeal OF the inter-
nal taxes being the least pressing Of all the business
before the House. ought TO be postponed TO the last
period Of the session; nor ought II TO be then adopt
ed without the fullest assurance OF our ability to dis
pense with the product of these taxes How was il
possible, IN the existing state Of things, TO determine
this point when the appropriations required for the
year had not been made, and when the extent Of
these demands had not been aseertained.
With regard to the amount Of the claimed repara-
ton, it was alleged that that was a consideration
which ought TO be placed altogether out Of the qaes-
tion, as common honesty required that every Just
debt should be paid, wherever an ability TO pay ex-
isted whether il was one dollar hundred mil
lions Of dollars; and il was added that these claims
were the more just as the government Of the United
States had received AN ample remuneration for any
demands which II might satisfy In the abandonment
on the part Of the French government Of our pre-
yous guarantee Of the French West India posses
sions. Ii was finally declared that refusal to take
up the subject at this time would be considered as
an ultimate refusal TO attend to IT at all.
| Those who opposed the motion denied the as
serton made on the other side that that this subject
had been neglected The truth was that the
first petition presented had been Immediately re-
ferred TO COMMITTEES, to whom all the subsequent
petitions had likewise been referred. That commit
tee had made progress, but had considered il i'm
proper TO decide unt all similar petitions expected
should be received There was no doubt but that,
the subject merted, il would receive measure
OF attention commensurate with its importance. But
the present resolution offered, was so broad and
vague entirely 10 defeat its ayowed end; whereas
the reference which had been already made, was the
most correct, inasmuch as il instructed the commit
tee TO examine all the documents connected with the
| subject, and to report their opinion upon them; on
| receiving which opinion the House would be suff-
GENTLY informed TO make an enlightened decisioni
| while, on the other hand, the present proposition
went TO commit the House on the whole extent OF
the subject without the least examination into its de-
tails.
The claims made for spoliaied property were ex-
tremely various and disslmiar; and though it might
be just to grant indemnity for some there were 9TH
| er claims not founded on any just pretensons The
best way OF insurng the success Of just claims was
TO avoid all preepitate steps, for before any claims
could be sanctioned II was necessary to ansyze and
classify, mature consideration and full examna-
ton, the various descriptions of demands.
1t was observed that Il was not 80 clear some
gentlemen imagined, that our merchants had been
deprived Of valuable rights by the mode in which
the French convention had been ratified. Gentle
men called upon TO recolect the mass of depre-
dations committed by Great Britain, and her engage
ments under the treaty to make reparation Yet, 10
that day reparation had been evaded under variety
Of pretextS. Suppose the French convention had
| contained the same provisions with the British
would they have insured payment No. The OPP
eratons under one treaty might have gone on in the
same manner as under the other, and with like ef.
feet.
With regard TO the repeal of the internal taxes
that formed subject of entirely distinct considera
tion. But if, in compliance with the unequvocal
wishes Of the people, they should be repealed, no
prejudice would attach to the just claims Of our
chants, the examination Of which would be a work
Of years, and which would, without doubt, be in
demnIfed, even If it should be necessary for that
purpose to restore the repealed taxes.
General s. Smith closed the debate in a speech OF
much energy, the latter part Of which was couched
Ia the following terms:
discussion OF the claims Of merchants because think
this is not the proper But will tell gentlemen
that they disposed destroy those claims they
could not have pursued plan efectuaily calculated
to do it, Had such been my intention would have offer.
ed resolution broad and to alarm the whole
community as to the amount Of indemnity would have
endeavored throw the attached to their
the present administration would have opposed their
claims to the wish OF the nation TO repeal the internal
All these steps would have taken rustne any ndem
nifty; and they just the steps taken by gentlemen who
profess strong regHrd for the merchants Let tell
those gentlemen until they shall a plan
chants for their losses II the public business
perpetually ssnaed hope the whom
will be firm enough alter rejecting this notion to
pursue the other business even to late hour"
The question was then taken on Mr. Griswold' g
motion, and lost-yeas 80, nays 54