The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-17

as believe that in proportion to the number of
OF assignment there very lew which have been made
with honest purpose, and in fair manner, am I'M
willing 10 grant any such favors. That provision OF the
law sir, which orblds the transfer OF The clam unt the
warrant was issued was very wise one True IL mas
been evaded IN large number of cases but the intention
of ii both wise and good 1t TO prevent specu-
laors from taking advantage OF the soldiers upon their
return from Mexico. They made the representation TO
them that would take long time to get their warrants
through the Offices at Washington; and them in conse-
quence of the difficulties presented TO them spectators
enabled TO obtain their warrants at very low price
The arrangement was very proper one, and IN very
many instances it worked we'll In this act now before
us, we propose to do away with all the benefits which
have been derived from that provision, and pay bounty
sentaton of the specuator lnasmuch as believe that
the bill before is for the benefit exclusively of
the assignee, and not for the benefit of the soldier or his
| Mr.. BENTON. From the time the government first
granted warrants to the soldiers, struggle has been go
ing on arising from this speculation That struggle is
Senate for the purpose OF granting bounty lands to the
soldiers struggled 10 secure the warrant for the soldier
if he lived and for his wife and his children If he died.
and to keep il out of the hands, rather out of the
maws OF those comorans who pursue to devour them
and that with every such falsehood, sir that they will
get ii rem the government struggled for three
weeks to save them in toto from those comorans called
assignees failed; and all that said, and said again,
upon this floor till the very startling could have repeated
my words if there had been any about, now IS known
to be true. Every person who has seen anything OF the
process knows il to be true and these soldiers have been
pursued These comorants, with the instinct of blood
hounds, have fallen upon their prey; overpowerng them
anywhere that they could with liquor with false represent
atoms of every kind to get the warrants cut OF their hands,
and when they could get the assignment with powers OF
attorney for nothing, then they would 80 to the offices
and get the lands in their right know, sir, pass
ing that law with restrictions, we are unsafe
Everybody knows that there two Legislative powers
of the country and the last more potent than the other
There is the legislative power proper which writes the
statute, and the legislative power improper which con-
s'rues the statute, which more potenta-whch makes
-. r,l,nrf lru,nn A
ter the Senate has passed the act the statute IN this case
has received construction never would have given H.
understand that powers OF attorney are executed by
which the whole statute is evadedperectly evaded, sir
The few restrictions which, at the end OF three weeks
struggle here able to engra upon it, totally
defeated by accepting powers OF attorney
| Now, Mr.. President will tell you what will do.
do not by act whatsoever to admit the exist
ence of assignee. Far from giving him undue advan-
tages nov; far from making thai warrant twice as vai
able in his hand. as when he got it, and probably got 1t
for half quarter price, far from dividing the land INTO
small parcels allowing him to 80 into the country, pick
ing out the eyes of the land taking the good spots pick
ing out the springs, taking nothing in the world but the
fat and leaving the bones and the lean behind far from
doing that | will vote against every bill that has the
will against it, because do not mean to admit the
existence OF an assignee
The question being then taken upon the motion to
commit the bill, IT was agreed to-
MEDICAL STAFF THE ARMY.
| Mr.: BORLAND, in pursuance of notice. asked and OBJ
tanned leave TO introduce bill to repeal portion OF sec
lion third of the act of July 10, lsis. in relation to the
medical staff OF the army of the United States, and for
other purposes; which read twice, and referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs.
LAND CLAIMS IN CALIFORNIA.
The Senate. as in committee of the whole; resumed
the consideration of the bll for ascertaning land claims
within the territory OF California and New Mexico. to
grant donation rights and to provide for the survey of
lands therein"
! The question pending being upon the motion made by
MIR BENTON, to recommit the bill to the committee, with
instructions 10 inquire into the expediency of reporting
afoI
in the Territory OF California, and for surveying and sell
ing the same, and for granting donations to actual set
tiers, and permits to work the gold mines
! MIR. BREESE The motion submitted by the senator
from Mssou Mr.. BENTON brings to the consideration
of the Senate not only the proposition reported by the
committee but the amendments submitted by myself and
his own, substitute for all He has presented, sir,
great many arguments against the BILL and in favor of his
own plan, which think is liable to some of the objec
tons he makes to me original bill and the amendment
1t will be perceived by the Senate that this BILL orig
nally proposed by the Committee on Public Lands, pro-
vded for board of commissioners and surveyor gen.
era, lay oft the private claims and survey the residue
following the plan adopted many years since Tor the ad-
justmen of private land claims in coded territory And,
far am informed, though there has been some de-
lay, believe Justice has been done generally and the
interests of the government protected by such system
The senator, sir, has made objections 10 this bsome
of them radical in their character, and therefore not
susceptible of amendment and which special
to the details of the bill, and which be amended
His first objection as far as understand it, is that the
committee have embraced in their bill California and New
with each other, and will subject the inhabitants of both
to great trouble and expense to go 10 place either in
California or New Mexico passing through wilderness
of thousand miles, in order that their titles may be
| amined before the board:
There IS one plain and simple answer to this objection
OF the senator, and the bill itself furnishes it, The first
section provides that they shall hold their sessions
commissioners such points in each Territory may be
selected by the President
Now, sir, instead of requiring the inhabitants of New
Mexico to go to California and those of California to 60
New Mexico, the probability that the President,
points OF the erritory-at Monterey, San Francisco San
Diego and other points convenient to the inhabitants of
both territories; and really, sir, it would be great
hardship, it would not be asking too much of them, to
present to the board evidences of their claims after they
meet at those places but it would admit be very great
| if they stationary. They not They are
Obliged to hold their sessions in such places as the Pres
dent may appoint So that this objection of the senator
suppose entirely answered by the provisions of the bill
Tins, sir, was the practice adopted many years ago
when the domain IN Louisiana was acquired. There
were but few towns in Louisiana, and board OF commits
sioners sal at New Orleans and at st. Louis and the
claims were presented and they confirmed or re ec
ed as the evidence warranted
The next objection that the senator takes is, that
lar as New Mexico is concerned, it is country of in
There is an important question pending. and it would be
inudcious IN us to interfere with the question OF bound
ares. Now, sir, this bill does not interfere with that
question at all tdoes not NEEDLE with any way what
ever No act is to be done by which expression of
OPINION OF the government may be had with relation to
Mexico about which there is dspute in regard to
which no adverse pretension has been set up speak
| OF the country west OF the Rio Grande embracing
about eight degrees OF latitude and of longi-
tudeA have never heard any adverse claim set up
to that couny-no other claim but that transferred to
of fraafx