The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-24

this question The objection raised against this bill is
puts these States different footing from the OF
Flo rda refused TO be paid for The commissioners
dec Jared that the operation OF that law did extend
these States at the time these depredatons commit
ted II never has been extended Texas This one
objection Then sir having been out Of operation, does
give any advantage 10 these Sates under the operation
that law! Clearly not
The next objection is that il requires payment 10 be
made BY the United States. il they guarantee it, WE'LL
If the United States guarantee payment they liable
to pay 1t they ought TO pay IT, And is it matter of
very considerable consequence that the payment should
be delayed forever So Tar these depredaons For
da are concerned these claims have been lying over for
fourteen or fifteen years But do intend to detain
Mr. BRADBURY. ] understood the senator from Tex
Mr. MAsoS MAS w the senator give way to motion
Mr BRADBURY gave way.
MIR. MASON. II is with very great reluctance that
| now renew the motion to postpone.
| Mr.. RUSK hope we may be able 10 get vote now.
The question being taken on The motion to postpone
Mr. BRADBURY. understood the senator from Tex.
the other day say that this law ought be adopted
because It would prevent retaliation upon the Indians
BY persons whose property was stolen or destroyed thus
nerrupng the friendly relations between the Indians
and the border settlements.
Mr.. BRADBURY. That is the ground upon which the
law rests There may be proprie,y in the passage OF
law OF that kind; and il the amendment of the senator
from Kentucky prevails. that policy will be carried out
1t will be perceived that the law provides for the pay
by the United States for property that has been de-
stroyed stolen by the Indians The section which the
senator from Kentucky proposes strike provides
for something more. II provides that the provisions OF
this act shall apply the citizens OF Alabama and Flor
da for injuries done property by Indians subsequently,
to the first Of January 1885, and to the people of Texas
ted States. This section is retrospective II is not
cessary to carry out the policy Of the law and stricken
out it will leave the law fairly carrying out the policy
| upon which il is advocated
1t is coniended, however that depredaons have been
committed which should be paid for Suppose that is the
case does this proposition provide suitable mode OF in
vestgatng this case | think not II is loose in its
terms, it provides suitable mode OF taking the tes
mony; it provides tribunal for the investigation Of
these which might be objected to and think it
would be infinitely better that the outstanding claims Of
Florida that fifteen old, and those OF Texas Tor
tive years past should be presented to Congress for al
lowances II Congress should provide board for the
investigation of claims, they should be presented to that
board Congress does not they should be presented to
Congress itself object to this mode OF dsposng OF
large class oi claims without investigation, and without
examination therefore hope The amendment will pre-
vail and, in that case, viii no, object to the bill.
i MIR. YULEE. What the senator IRON Maine requires
is precisely what has been done The parties haze
to Congress with their special CLAIMS after having
Trained from seeking personally recovery OF their losses
and in compliance with the policy of Congress-, under
the impression that the law applied TO them they applied
10 the department Tor the benefit OF the law The depart
ment decided that the letter o the law did not apply to
them They came to Congress, and the have been
referred TO the committee; who, instead of reporting
the several claims specially, thought proper TO recon-
the cases which within the spirit Of that Now,
sir, think the Senate ought to place some confidence
in the OF their committees After examination Of
these cases the committee became satisfied that they
came within the spirit OF the OF 1884 and the depart
men having decided that the act did not come within the
letter OF the law they recommended the proper remedy
But the senator from Kentucky, not satisfied with the IN
vesgaons OF the committee, says he wants to the
fact that the department have made so remarkable and
Outrageous decision. There is such fact; and if the
had taken the trouble examine the papers be-
fore he proposed TO amend the BILL he would have seen
it, Here two decisions, by which the commissioner
expressly declares that he does apply the
OF this act TO these cases. because il does extend
Florida Here are those decisions which the senator
might have seen.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Will the senator send one oil
. them herel
Mr. YULEE. will read ii in single sentence:
The department deeply regrets that the act oiasy known
Congress the only power that redress and give
you proper remuneration
Here is the decision and the decision
made in other cases and is upon this that the
committee have recommended TO pass an act to NEE
them. ,
fail, will ii them would inquire. be in order to amend
The PRESIDENT 1t will
The question being taken the motion TO strike out
il was agreed to, on a divsion-ayes is, noes IS
Mr. YULEE shouid like TO have had the yeas ant
nays on this amendment.
/. fhe PRESIDENT. II is too late. The Chair has
Mr.. YULEE Then | move to lay the bill thu
table.
The PRESIDENT The question will again come nj
when the bill is reported the Senate and the senate
can then call the yeas and nays on this amendment,
! Mr.. ATCHlSON | desire TO rensa,e so mach o
that section relates 10 Texas do not thnk tn
that have been applied to the citizens of FLORIDA
Alabama, and Georgia, can apply to Texas IL Is admit
ted all hands that this intercourse law did not extent
= to Texas; and wish that she should have the bench
! of il.
! The PRESIDENT After the bill is reported TO th
!, Senate, the senator can obtain hs object.
Tue bill was then reported to the Senate and the hrs
: and second (being yerba) amendments were concur
red in.
The question recurring on the amendment 10 strike ou
the third section,
Z Mr. CLEMENS said: Mr President, mus, call for tn
yeas and nays upon urrng this endment seem
to me that II Just claim ~ 10 be defeated IN this way,
wholly unnecessary for any one to come TO CoDgres
for Justice What the iacts IN relation to this case
In 1896 President brouh this matter to the consider
alton of Congress, and Congress appointed board 7
. take the testimony That testimony was taken. NoS
, the senator from Maine objects to this bill that IT pro
i vides no mode for taking testimony The testimony
n already taken and file II was taken by the boar
appointed by Congress, and II reported on and ace
Il in the House Of Representatives afterwards An a6l
report made by the Committee OF Claims IN that bod
4, IN Iavor OF allowing the claims; and now we are TO
IN told that get justice because one part OF I'M
Senate choose 10 consrue the of 1884 differently for
TO the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs They ask us wbs
do we want under that act OF 1884 want no better b
Of han to pass SIMPLE resolution saying that we shall nav
the benehi of that law. Give simple resolution dc
,e ciaflnR that, and ask nothing more.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. II the gentleman will allow m
to interrupt hm, will make proposition TO allow
amendment IN the place Of this ID section that shall EN-