The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-18

the honorable from Virginia. have already said
that Tor one want 10 redeem every warrant issued by
Virginia; that will aid in framing bill for that pur-
pose; that viii consult with the department. SO as TO
make that bill electives but do say that that matter 70
100 important 70 be pressed In here as little amendment
the end OF the bill, and near the close OF inc SEES
sion Sir is distinct measure; and as Tor me lnor
nation have, was n that department. and understood
there that the great difficulty IN ns case was y aeel
thoss that were genuine do not say that Virginia ever
issued spurious warrants do want 10 prejudice this
claim On the contrary. want Il 10 pass; but take il
for granted that this amendment, il il is forced upon US,
will defeat the object the gentleman has in view and
also the bill before the Senate That is all have to
Mr.. HUNTER would like to say word or two in
relation 10 this amendment offered by my colleague of
which the senator from Illinois complains much. He
objects 10 IT, sir, for two First, he says il will
defeat the bill if il is attached TO it. Well think there
is very little reason for that supposition. because we
know tins identical amendment or one very similar to j.
came very near-withn one vote. l thlnk-of being at
tached TO the bill in the House But there is another OBJ
lection OF more serious character He says vast pro-
Mr. SHIELDS. lin his seat1 Are said to be spu-
TiOus.
Mr.. HUNTER The senator from Illinois should not
dispaage these claims unless he knows something about
them. or has had some information from some one who
does know something about them venture 10 say, il
he will look into the reports made in relation TO this mat
ter, he will find the general validity OF these claims has
been very fully and sufficiently indicated Various
ports have been made and the question SO large one
tnvolves so many details, that gentlemen, who are not
+
trouble to examine them fully Now tits very easy to
dsparsge claims which rest upon willnot
4 Involved n NE consdsraon Of these virginia claims
It's very easy say they "said to be SPURIOUS,
and thus cast shadow upon them, especially when it is
known that there is no time for entering into the matter
FUZZY. Why, sir, the defence OF these claims has been
imDoded in very able report, amounting almost to
ordinary sized book indeed may say it is book, and
one which will be found valuable addition TO any mans
library refer to the report made by former colleague
OF mine, lMr. HUBBARD, OF the House OF Representa-
uves.) Whoever will look into that Or some other re-
ports upon that subject in the House, will think, find
estabhshed that in general these decisions have been
will be found TO be the in regard to
most DECISIONS where they have been as numerous as
not take up that report case BY case to show that
those facts which went to make up the decision OF
are unfounded and yet am willing to rest the
case before any impartial jury who will take them up
and examine them. have no doubt there have been
bad cases passed there would be and have been before
any tribunal OF course, there may have been some.
About three or four years ago examined that question
and although most Of the details and most Of the
ing have passed away from my memory, yet recoect
that came to the conclusion that this clamor which
raised against the general validity OF these claims was
nniounded and unjust and believe the senator from
anime them. think gentleman OF his candor and Of
his habits Of investigation would find, il he would look
into those reports that the suspicious which have been at
tached to the Virginia claims are in fact unfounded
But he says he believes that they founded upon
just principle. and he is willing to pay for them in sepa
always have experienced in bringing any OF claim
before Congress in separate measure Now, sir, il he
wants to amend it in any respect he thinks there are
sufficient guards thrown around IT, lei him suggest an
amendment, and for one am ready to adopt am
willing. il he insists upon it, that they may be adjudcaed
here. All ask is that the government may endeayor to
fulfill is obligations to pay these claims. And think
that that would be the true for do admit
do think he has shown for believing, that the
effect OF attaching this amendment would be 10 sndanger
his BILL On the contrary, belieye-for have made
some inquiry upon the subecttha far from endanger
ing il, il would strengthen the bill think il would
llst some who not now friendly to the objects Of this
principles OF JUSTICE as the senator himself admitswhy
n nuoar;e such an amendment as ne proposes Tor The
purpose OF having them readjudicated, and permit the
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. I have the information, Mr.
President, which some senators wanted adduced the
otherday II to be found in the report OF February s.
1850 The second section of the of Congress- passed
March 3, 1885, made appropriation 10 satisfy all the
outsanding Virginia military warrants al that day. That
by the OF 5000 The per censge that
amount OF warrants left unsaisfed by that appro
praton. according TO the report OF the Secretary Of the
Treasury Now since that date, Virginia has issued
55l ,0s7 acres This amendment OF the gentleman from
Virginia proposes TO satisfy, Tor these 900 acres the
per cenase left unsatsed BY the appropriation Of 1895,
and likewise satisfy the ssh .0s7 acres which have
been issued since that time The objecion 10 satisfying
the o3 os7 acres grows out OF the consideration that
Now. put TO the Senate, is il worth while. when
are thus giving away the public lands, 10 20 into
vision OF the action OF the governor and council OF
Virginia TO ascertain how many Of those $4,000
have been fraudulently obtained.
Here then, Mr. President, are the facts upon which
the Senate act Now, my friend from Illinois says
Il IL too late in the session add this amendment this
bil that II has not been sufficiently examined, and that
II ought to be looked into further Why, sir. this sub
yet has been before Congress for the last years
We have bad before Congress session after session
and when will there be better opportunity 10 consider
and act upon II than the present seems nae, sir,
that the proper time. The gentleman before me,
who 10 member OF the Committee Finance, and who,
with me, has examined this subject will, believe, ad
the amendment which offered the other day. and
which myself, after offering II, stated that did IL for
the purpose OF bringing the question fully before the
Senate because the committee divided upon the sub
discrimination which my friend presents the Senate
II my friend shall address the Senate, he has init
mated. and he shall convince the Senate that great
many OF these claims were fraudulent or suspicious,
then prefer that the amendment should be adopted and
that we should give satisfaction for all those warrants
Issued PRIOR TO 1792 against which solitary objec-
ton can be made. received from Carlisle, pennsyva.
mia, the other day. OF these very warrants which
sent TO me BY gentleman, with the inquiry whether II
would be satisfied, and il il worth anything
returned il to him, informing him in regard 10 the discus
justice being done TO this class Of claims by making
appropriation TO satisfy them hope something may
De done These warrants issued prior TO 1884, and,
remarked the other day, there great many OF
that character outstanding; and certainly they ought to
Be satsfed, whatever gentlemen may be disposed TO do
with the class issued within few years past The
amendment discnminates between them; but really
think we ought TO vote down the amendment, and then
10 pass the amendment Of the senator from Virginia,