The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-02


have been beseglng the halls OF our legislation, ask ing
the hands OF Congress and the nation indemnity for losse
which they had sustained by the acts OF France ant
losses which France must, later ciyze,
nation, have made good. Sir, can doubt now,
the recent revolution in that government settles down,
trust II WILL upon hrm and wholesome basis, with In
situtons similar to our ownno man can doubt, say
that The spirit of the people of France, il exists
as exhibited IN the recent movement carrying Joy and
gladness to the hearts of all who love freedomno
can ioubt that If these claims had not been renqushed
by the treaty TO which | have referred, they would
now be lIqniiated by the French nation And, sir
he reads but cursorily and think not understand
ngly history OF the negotiations IN relation IL
these claims. who doubts that they would have been
paid long before this time if they had not been re-
linqushed The United States had got md of an en-
tangling alliance. We had escaped from respon-
solIlty OF great and nomenious character, inyol,
wing the aaton in debt and in peril, and we had
effected il by sacrificing the rights of these claimants
against France. We have had The history of these
claims, far Congress is concerned presented to Us
IN elaborate reports, and also in lucid and triumphant
speech from of the senators from Delaware, at the
period when the bill 10 which am about 10 advert be-
cane law If my recollection serves aright there
] Were more reports than on the subject, all OF
which were in favor OF the bill except one. Who Were
the men who made these reports? Men who would
adom any age country. How the reports made
Look at the reports hemse ves and they will give you
the answer They made after careful and labori-
examination of the whole question; they themselves
demonstrate that the subject had been examined every
aspect OF which it susceptible and the Judgment of
The several committees enlightened by the proudest IN
tellects that the nation has ever KNOWN brought them to
ants ha1 honest and clear demand upon the justice Of
the government Well SIR, at last the bill is passed
But am reminded by my friend who is before me- that
not only the reports to which have alluded such
and so many as | had supposed, but that bills In
favor OF the claimants had various times passed
the ether branch of the Legislature Finally, bill
passed both branches and to the President. Now,
this pOwerths power, altogether incapable OF
usurpaon, according to the theory OF the senator from
Oho this power which has tendency in that drec
uon this power, which IS wholesome IN Its operation :
this power, which speaks the popular sense this power
which is always governed by high OF dutydoes
what? Veloes the bill and, under the constitution
he obliged to do transmits to Congress the
for that veto. hat were they, sir | do not propose
trouble the Senate with taking them up, but feel that
am right in characeriZng them contradictory,
true, disrespectfu and UNJUST Contradictory, because
be tells one breath that he doubts whether there
dollar due Odd in the next, that II there any
thing due, there due than the bill provided for
Untrue, because he tells us that he is inclined to think
that the subject had not been fully considered | will
read a single sentence from the messages
Passed as this bill has BEEN near close of the ses
son when many important measures claimed the acn
lion Of Congress and possibly without that full aud dobe
consIdo ration which the subject demanded &c.
This was not So The subject had been considered al
most from the year 1900 down 10 the present time The
bill had received large majority OF the votes OF this
body after discussion on both sides of the chamber
and on both sides of the subject 1t had been presented
to the Senate after lligent research, and with all
the power which the able senator from Delaware
pabe OF bringing into the service. Yes, with pow
er of argument that rresstiby convincing. Dlsre-
spectiu because had given him the constitutional
period to consider 1.-THE full constitutional period. I'm
Just because he told that the claims hal been of long
standing that we had long refused to allow them that
they ought not now to be brought forwards that IS TO
say practically speaking. that injustice had been going
long period, that justice ought now to be
fused. There no preence OF payment; but relying
on defence which, under such circumstances would be
individual disgrace rely ing lapse OF time and linn
itaion in relation 10 claims admitted to be honest and
which it was not pretended had ever been liqudaed
But, sir, there another which did not
the characteristic OF injustice assigned by the Pres
ldent We he stated had become involved
and we had no surplus means in the treasury. We had
credit though, the President and the friends OF the
President assured upon which could borrow mil
lions; we had power OF taxation suilcen to raise any
amount we capable of marshang into the field
thousands and hundreds OF thousands OF men;
able TO meet the world in arms; yet we could not raise
sufficient to pay our honest debts We have not the
cash by us, and cannot, will not, borrow TO
pay although these claimants have been knocking a,
doors for justice from the year 1900, many of them
the descendants OF the original claimants, who had died
broken hearted sick with hope deferred They told
by the President OF the United States: Go back hope
must be still longer deferrcd it is not convenient for
TO do justice; have not the money to pay you,
we want our means to slaughter Mexlcans and seize
their territory high and honorable object, truly !!
Therein glory is to be acqured glory is about to
circle the brow of the Executives his presidential
term is to go down amidst blaze OF it, kinaled in
is business transaction between and
man, involving only money, carrying no honor along
with il, and will leave the presidential incumbent
to trace his way homeward with other satisfaction
than that OF having done right And, IN these days, what
honor is there that Sir, shall instance other veto
These enough. Were not these usurpatlOns! Do
not these establish tendency in this power to
serve It's purposes to crafty its wills to further
its ends to close It's eyes AMI ears against the de-
mands of Justice But, says the senator from Ohio the
other day, the legislature shows its tendency to usurpa
ton in the grant of charters these arsocrac insti
tulions full OF peril TO the well being OF community
hat charter has Congress granted that has become
law that the President has not signed? What charter
does the honorable senator allude to- presume he al
udes the charter vi the Bank of the United States
But surely he does not to charge upon the Senate
hat they alone create bank charters he does not
to say that charters may De granted by the legislative
parment alone and still less by the Senate alone
who signs the charter equally responsible. Who the
men that in these halls first proposed the charter Of
United States Bank Who proposed and who passed the
first charter OF the United States Bank They
fresh the halls of the oavention that gave
constitution. No spirit of party there no blindness
perversion of Judgments but, looking to the popular
wants and interests, TO the welfare and honor of the
country, they in their judgments and consciences be-
eved that charter OF this description within their
constitutional power, and they granted It, Who sane
toned 1t. Washington. Under what circumstances did
he sanction it Was it done hastily and without pre-
me,litation' No, sir; it done after taking the ad
vice of every member of his cabinet That charter
pred by limitation of time Parties had then come into
EXISTENCE and, when was proposed to renew it, the
proposition resisted, and successfully Time rolled
on we became involved in another war; a charter
of the same description granted, and with the
ton of james Madison, OF the early opponents of
the measure, who yielded his judgment like sane
and honest man to the lights of experience on the
subject, placing IT the ground that after such a
deliberate sanction on the part of the other depart
pe of the md ha ,pasn