The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-05

ported in favor Of printing the same which was agreed
Mr. FETCH. from the Committee on Public Lands, to
whom referred the bill to revive an act entitled san
act providing for the adjustment o. all suspended pre- emp
sl claims in the several States and Territories report
ed back the same without amendment and, with the
sent OF the ntroducer, would move that lie on the table
another bill the subject having been before re-
ported, which was agreed to-
1850 Eff RESOLUTION.
Mr.. BENTON submitted the following resolution;
Rtsoiped, That the Committee Finance be instructed
inquire into The expedency OF reiundny California
authority Of tic United States officers the conquest Of
the country ia lsi047, ihe time of the arrival Of the
Uned Stats co ctor at San Francisco In the month Of
November, 1917.
RETURN or DUTIES.
Mr.. DICKINSON moved that the Senate proceed 10 the
consideration OF the joint resolution reported by him this
morning from the Committee Finance, for the relief OF
Samuel Colt and B. f. Morse He stated that the joint
resolution simply provided for the return OF duties exact
ed upon presents sent TO them by the Sutan OF Turkey
as tokens OF his appreciation OF their genius inventors
II anything TO be done in the NATTER il ought 10 be
done al once.
The question being taken upon the motion to take up
the joint resolution il agreed TO; and the Senate,
ncomnittee OF the whole, proceeded to the consideration
Mr.. KING. should like to know from my honorable
friend who reported this resolution upon what ground
he advocates this joint resolution the duties
upon these articles brought into the country, which, for
tunately for these men, they got without paying for
them cannot, myself, perceive upon what ground II
rests. These articles, it is true, given to these
men, because they had made inventions useful to this
country and other nations of the earth; but do not
know why the duties should be RENTED Many presents
first time SO far as know, that we have been called
upon to remit the duties. ! should like to hear the
reasons Of the committee. | do not wish to decide
against it without hearing their reasons but | no
reason for renting the duties these very valuable
presents, any more than we should relieve persons
scarcely able buy the articles which brought into
the country, either 10 please themselves their wives, or
NM Nj. DICKINSON. This is matter about which
had no solcitude, and the committee had very little We
shall be satisfied with any disposition that the Senate
may make OF it, But thought we ought TO be at least
liberal in rewading the genius OF our own country
the Sultan, who sent these articles as compliment TO
the genius of these individuals. They are valuable
presents and to lay tax upon them, is to levy tax
upon The generosity and beality OF foreign govern
ment Upon that principle the committee recommended
the resolution to the consideration Of the Senate.
Mr.. HALE want to inquire whether il has not been
% s Ss he
to allow them to come in free OF duty, as part OF their
Mr. DICKINSON. 1t u.s.
Mr. HALE. AS 1 understand, Mr.. Colt was himself
in Turkey, when the snuf-box being prepared for
him, but obliged to return home before It was CON-
peled The accident Of leaving before the present
ready for him. subjected him the necessity Of having it
sent after him. and therefore duty has been levied upon
it by the government OF the United States no not see
any propety in evyng upon articles OF that sort
| Mr.. DOUGLAS Mt. President, will state the reason
which Influenced the members OF the committee These
ARTICLES made present 10 two Americans who had
distinguished themselves by their valuable inventions
improvements. They presented as tokens OF appro
balioD and OF value 10 them, excepting SIMPLY as
such tokens. Now, TO require duty OF $500 on that
account to be laid upon snui-box, given as comp.
ment TO a man OF genius, seems unreasonable If
they articles sent Tor the purpose oil being used
from which wealth was TO be made by the individual, II
would be entirely different But II IS merely a
compliment to OF genius and OF talent, who had
contributed TO science and the mechanic arts In that
point of view, the committee thought II proper TO relieve
| them from the duties
| Mr. RUSK II these articles have been presented TO
those gentlemen in foreign county, presume there
would have been duties at all charged IL IS very
small affair. But il is present justly deseryed-a mark
of distinction for the genius OF these citizens OF the
United States. do not know any class OF men 10 whom
much indebted Tor our prosperity at the present
moment as mechanics So far my limited knowledge
OF history goes, think can safely say know OF no
country scarcely where mechanics have been as little
rewarded, where little attention has been paid
| 10 them by the government, as here. remember
| sir some years ago investigating q case, when some
papers fell into my hands in relation to contract
made by the British government with Mr. Fulton,
in which two three-or perhaps more--hundred
thousands OF dollars at least together with navy
and everything that thought necessary was put al
his disposal Tor the purpose Of proving his invention Tor
the OF steam. Now, sur, II seems 10 me that this IS
very small amount the given TO mechanics
who ingenious, who nave done great deal IN their
way. and given 10 them as mere PRESENTS and available
only such They not brought into this country
matters Of speculation, but as marks OF respect iron
foreign governments towards them.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi | agree with the honora.
bic senator from Alabama. see no claim here at all.
cannot conceive why person who receives valuable
property present, instead OF purchasing IT. should be
| relieved from paying duty upon II; nor do perceive
upon what line marx The senator from Texas puts Mr.
Morse in the attitude OF mechanic. II strange TO
me, in every view OF the case There is no compulsion
upon these gentlemen to keep this property They might
do il not Suppose jeweller should die abroad,
and leave all his property TO the honorable senator IRON
Texas would he expect 10 receive II Tree oil duty, merely
because il was PRESENT. can make distinction be-
tween a present from an individual, however humble,
and any other be he poteniae or not, think the re-
marks OF the honorable senator iron Alabama are en-
lirely appropriate.
Mr.. BRADBURY Mr. President, think il would be
hardly becoming government 10 attempt tospecu
late OF the presents which made by foreign gov
ernmens citizens marks OF respect Tor inven-
lions which they have made, and which regarded as
valuable the world. IL would be hardly becoming,
think, 10 tax the muni6cence OF a government, who
makes these presents testimonial OF distinction 10
them. think IT must certainly be viewed as very SIN
gular procedure by those abroad, when they lind that
our government has tried to make money in this way
Mr. DAVIS, OF Missssippi. The line OF argument OF
He talks about taxing munihcence We tax muni.
The poeniate has TO pay nothing but the cost OF
the article and he does that whether charge duty upon
the article or not The tax Is upon IT, properly OF
private individual II there should be exception,
Ter il to the good OF every member here, II should
not rather be upon articles OF than oil luxury
MIR. RUSK. MIR. President, Il seems TO me that this
argument amounts about 10 this The Sultan OF Tur-
key has very generously given TO mechanic OF cur
county
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi, Tin his seat) Why say