The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-25
Payment OF Claims.

The outcry raised by the Union against
the present Administration on account Of
the payment Of certain claims, which, it
would have its readers to believe, were
invalid and fraudulent, will be readily un-
derstood by all to be merely for political
effect. 1t is one of the commonest, and,
we may add, least effective weapons Of
party warfare--least effective, because,
after awhile, the truth is sure to prevail,
and the clamor to pass away and be for
gotten. Besides, there are gentlemen now
in Congress Of its own party, who, from
their familiarity with some Of the claims,
the payment of which has been so loudly
denounced by the Union, ka,ow that its
denunciation, so far as it regards those
cases, is wholly reckless and without any
just foundation whatever. Equally reck-
less and unmerited, we firmly believe,
will be found, in the sequel, the denun-
citation Of the Union with regard to the
other portion of the claims commented
upon by it on Thursday. Some of these
being now the subjects Of investigation by
| a committee of the House Of Representa-
tives, we shall, for the present, pass by
without further remark. In relation 10
the De Ia Francia claim, we propose to
| occupy for short time the attention of
our readers to-day. "This claim" says
the Union, ''was rejected by several for
mer administrations, and was finally al
lowed and paid by the Hon. JOHN M.
CLAYTON, Secretary of State, under the
Administration of General TAYLOR" Now,
we are authorized to say that the claim,
as presented to the present Secretary OF
State, was never rejected by several for
mer administrations nor by any former ad-
ministration.
A true and satisfactory history Of the
claim, and full vindication of its pay
ment, may be found in the reports of
committees of Congress and the opinion of
the Attorney General, which are given
below In addition to these, we subjoin
the following opinion of R. J. WALKER,
late Secretary of the Treasury, bearing
date June 25th, 1874, which, we presume,
will of itself be sufficient to satisfy the
Union:
'The claim of De la Francia was referred this
year to the Judiciary Committee of the Senate,
and, after a full examination, a bill providing for
the payment Of the claim reported by the
committee and passed the Senate. 1t would have
passed the House also, have no doubt, if it had
reached it in time. The claim il, beyond all ques-
lion, in my opinion, just and valid. think the
amount, including interest, is about $4,000"
The amount paid by Mr.. CLAYTON was
some nine thousand dollars less than the
amount estimated to be due him by Mr.
WALKER. 1t will be seen that the claim
was four times reported upon favorably by
committees of the Senate, and twice by
the Judiciary committees of the House.
The bill finally passed the House of Rep
resentatives on the 18th of August, 1S4S.
Mr.. BUCHANAN, according to a written
statement, published some time since in
the Union, Of the Hon. WILLIAM CosT
JOHNSON, the administrator Of the claim
ant, commenced the examination of the
claim a short time before he went out of
office; never decided against if, nor re-
jected it in any way, nor gave any opin-
ion against it; but, on the contrary, de-
clared his readiness to allow it as soon as
the proof on single point, upon which he
wished more evidence, and which was af-
forwards amply supplied, should be fur
nished. This statement of gentleman,
whose veracity the Union will not under
take to impugn, having already appeared
in the columns Of that journal, we do not
deem it necessary to republish. The allie
CATION that Mr.. CLAY, whilst Secretary of
State, had decided adversely to the claim,
is refuted by that gentleman's report, and
by the reports Of Mr.. SAUNDERS, late
Minister to Spain, and Mr.. WEsTcoTT,
late Senator from Florida. With these re-
marks we submit the accompanying Off
cial papers TO he judgment Of the public.
No. 64e.l HocsE or REPREsEsrATrvEs, March
3, 1916, Mr.. Saunders, from the Committee ON Ds
Judiciary, made the follotoing report
'Tbe Committee the Judiciary, 10 whom was
referred the PETITION Of Joseph De Ia Francis,
fI port:
THAT a report made by the Hon. II. Clay, whilst
acting Secretary Of State, fully explains the
4 ture Of the chimj and the committee concur
with the views expressed by the Secretary OF
State as TO the justice Of providing for the settle
ment Of the claim, they report bill accordingly;
and refer to his report for exposition Of the facts
"Is SENATE OF TINE UsITsD STATES, January s.
1s47, Mr. Johnson, Of Maryland, made the foIioto-
ing report, 10 accompany bill s, No. 81.
"Tbe Committee Of Claims, 10 whom was referred
d the petition Of Joseph De la Francia, report;
/ s'That they have examined the papers in the
case and are VI opinion that such bill az accom-
" panies this report should pass. The committed
. deem IL unnecessary 10 state the facts connected
with the claim, or the which, in their udg.
/ mcnt show that IL should be allowed. These they
/. think are sufficiently stated in report upon the
. claim by the Hon, H. Clay then Secretary OF State
the 10Th diy Of April, s7s, and which is hereto
annexed"