The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


Senate bill granting to the States Of Illinois, Mis-
sissippi, and Alabama, the right Of way through
the public lands for the Chicago and Mobile rail-
road, together with alternate sections of land within
six miles of the line of said road in aid Of its con-
struction, was passed.
MIR. CLEVELAND, of Connecticut, demanded
the ayes and nays, and the House, by ayes 80,
nays rs, laid the motion to reconsider on the table.
the UTAH, on SALT LAKE DELEGATE.
Mr.. HARRIS, of Illinois, called up the motion
presented by him some days since, to swear in and
assign seat to ALMoS w. BABBITT, as delegate
from the territory of Utah.
MIR. ASHMUN, of Massac husetts, raised
question Of order, on the ground that II not
question Of privilege.
The SPEAKER decided that it was question
of privilege, nasmuch as the territorial act recently
passed provided for delegate to Congress. He
would not decide that the Individual named was
entitled to be recognized SUCH That was for
the House to decide when his credentials came be-
fore it,
Mr.. ASHMUN appealed from the decision.
The only credentials relating to MIR. Rabbit, were
those presented by him long time since, and
finally acted on by the House They did not en-
anate from the territorial government, for ii had
not yet gone into operation.
After some further debate between Messrs. SrE-
rHESs, HAMS, of Illinois, and others Mr.. ASH
whole subject on the table. Agreed to-
On motion, the House resolved itself into
Committee OF the Whole on the State of the
Union;
Mr.. McLANE, of Missouri in the chair, and
took up the first bill named in the special order
for to-day, viz:
The bill providing for the payment of the in
stalment of SO, 900, Gnterest incuded) of the
Mexican indemnity due in May next.
Mr. DISNEY, of Ohio, moved to amend the
bill so to vest the power to dsburse or pay
over this instaIment in the Secretary Of the Trea
sury.
Mr. d. said that the Secretary of the Treasury
had endeavored to shift the responsibility of pay
ing this money from himself to the Secretary Of
State, and the latter had thrown upon some for
egn capitalists. He wished to have that respon-
sbility fixed by law where it ought to be, in the
Secretary Of the Treasury-the proper custodier
of the public funds, and he was opposed to using
foreign bankers our agents in this business as
rumor stated that the Secretary of State had con-
tracted To do.
Mr.. BAYLY, Of Virginia, contended that the
responsibility of paying this money should rest
with the President where it properly belonged,
and where the bill placed it. 1t was for him, as
the Executive officer, bound to see that the law
was faithfully executed, to designate the Depart
ment which should attend to it. If Congress
should attempt to devolve it on any particular
Department, and any mishap SHOULD occur, the
friends of the President might say that the respon
slbIlity was with Congress and not with him. He
admitted that the Secretary of State had made
conditional contract with some English house for
arranging this payment and he was opposed TO
disturbing it. By the contract this Government
would make three and half per cent. on the
payment, which was given by these bankers for
the privilege of paying il in Mexico. 1t was
the cheapest arrangement this Government could
make.
Mr.. KING, of New Jersey, said that if the
Government undertook to pay this money at the
city Of Mexico, except through the agency Of
business men connected with that country, it
would have to export the money direct subject
to the cost of transportation, risk interest, &C.,
and would sustain loss of some three or four per
cent. instead of making it, and BESIDES do very
foolish act The agents, understood 10 be selected
were responsible men, and he had no doubt they
would execute "a contract with fidelity. If it was
necessary to pay any portion Of this money before
receipts from Mexico were ready to be rendered,
they could amply secure the Government against
loss.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, explained that the
appropriation was made at this time, anticipating
the date when the payment would fall due some
nine months, to give chance for business opera
tons by which the premium rumored to be Of
fered could be afforded. AS to the amendment
moved by the gentleman from Ohio, he should
move to amend it by substituting the President of
the United States for the Secretary of the Trea-
sury. That would directly place the responsible
ty were the bill now left it.
Mr.. BOYD, of Kentucky, said he had under
stood that the Mexican government had requested
that the payment should be made here to the Mex
lean minister. He would inquire of the chairman
ofthe Committee Of Ways and Means if such was
the fact
Mr. BAYLY replied that he knew of no official
communication to that effect having been made.
| He had been informed by Mr.. Secretary Web
ster that an intimation of such desire the part
| of the Mexican government, had been made TO
him by Gen. Duff Green, but that he had not
| thought it proper to consider it.
! Mr.. CARTIER, of Ohio, denounced the prac-
| tce of employing bankers as the fiscal agents OF
this Government. Now, il was rumored that the
| Mexican government had signifed its wish that
| the payment should be made here. And the truth
of that rumor had been confessed by the Secretary
ofState. But that would rot answer the purpose
Of these financiering gentry. This money, to suit
there purposes, must be made to reach its destina-
| ton under shave, through foreign bankers. He
had supposed that the time had gone by when
| this Government was to be nurse to bankers.
! He thought that General Jackson closed up our
| accounts with those shaving shops. But were
told that Government was to get three and halt
| per cent. premium out of these bankers. Shave a
| banker' Why, who ever heard of such thing
He knew that this Government had been fatten-
| ing Corcoran IL Riggs, and other agents, with
their fiscal jobs for some time. If that sort OF
business could be called shaving, why commend
| him to it.
4 MT. EVlINI, oi itUuebSet, Sdlu lie was OPP
posed to making the appropriation at this session
1t was not due until next May, and he thought il
| would be time enough to make 1t next winter
! MIR. VINTON, of Ohio, said that the bill was
precisely the same those which had authorized
the payment of the previous instalments. He
had, when chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means, approved Of contract made in ad
vance by Secretary Walker, similar to that now
said to be made by Mr. Webster, and he thought
the proceeding wise one.
| Mr.. DISNEY of Ohio, remarked that his OBJ
ject in offering his amendment was to break the
so called contract, said to have been made in re
ference to the payment Ii we must employ
| these bankers, he wished to give chance to al
in the money market, to bid for the job in legal
| way.
Mr.. BAYLY, of Virginia, closed the debate,
maintaining the propriety ofthe conduct ofthe Sec
rotary in making this arrangement. The bankers,
he said--Messrs. Barring q Brothers, Rowland &
! Aspnwall, and Corcoran 81 Riggs-were large
dealers in Government stocks, and could pledge
then, to secure the Government in any trust that
might be confded to them, and 5000 would be
realized from the premium offered.