The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-08
HOUSE OF REpREsENrArIvE
After the reading OF the journal
PRIVATE RJ2lkEss


After the reading OF the journal
PRIVATE BUSINESS
Mr. THOMAS moved the suspension OF the rules to
90 into Committee Of the Whole the private caen
Mr. BURT moved the suspension Of the rules TO go
into Committee Of the Whole on the stale OF The Union,
on the special orler.
This last motion having precedence, (there being a
special order pendng.) the question upon IT was put
when II was agreed 10.
THE PROPOSED CLAIM BOARD.
The SPEAKER having called Mr. McLAsE to the
chair the committee took up the bill for The creation OF
board for the examination and adjudication OF accounts
against the government
The sad bill having been read a, ength-an amend
on the Judiciary having also been read at length
Mr. MEADE addressed the committee for a few min
utes, in explanation Of the points Of difference between
the original (Senate bill and that OF the substitute
ported BY himself from the Judiciary Committee
MT DANIEL chairman Of the Committee OF Claims,
called for the reading OF the substitute for the bull
amendment to the bill; which having been read at
length.
MIR NELSON (who had reported back the original
Senate bill from the Committee OF Claims, proposed
by majority OF that committee TO be ameaded) addressed
the House in speech advocating the enactment OF the
bill as reported by himself.
Mr. THOMAS said This Congress at its late sss-
sion much excited with the questions then before IT,,
which have been settled The excitement which pre-
vailed here extended with more or less violence TO all
parts of the country The five bleeding wounds"
which were then said to be destroying the body polite
said be healed, and he hoped ii was so for no one
desired the peace and prosperity OF the country than
he did. And now sir, what do we see! Public alten
ton diverted TO the depletion OF The treasury
What, sir the situation of this department. Sir, il is
bleeding from hundred wounds TO the amour, OF fifty
millions more annual ythe blood supplied by the toll
ing millions the Union-and this bill proposes to open
another wound by which this department may be the
more thoroughly depleted Sir, from the present, state
oil this department. its friends need be under no very
rios apprehenslons OF plethora The question should
be how shall stop the wounds already, rather than in
iic others,
The bills before the committee all propose the es
Enlistment OF board OF claims TO sdludicale upon
cases against the United States. We have now quite a
number OF such commissons-eveIy bureau IN the
government is such commission; and whenever clt-
has any legal claim against the government he has
but to apply TO the proper officer and ia paid But sir
in the evervarying events OF life, there occasional
occurring which do not fall within the provisions
OF any general law, but which, from their individual and
special merits, commend themselves 10 the consideration
OF the law making power and demand relief by special
legislation Such cases always have and always will
occur The law by means OF tsgenerai,y," does not
provide for them
Hitherto this class of cases has been presented TO
Congress by petitions, &c, and many had passed, and
more have not passed Some Just claims have probably
been unjnsuhably delayed and this has induced many
to seek change and almost any change. But, sir let
us be advised whether the change for the worse or the
contrary The gentleman from New York has said that
ten years nine thousand have been presented and only
about two thousand relieved II this is So 1t readily
be accounted for An individual in necesstous circum
stances looks TO all possible Tor relief He hears
much said of the millions annually paid out by the gov
eminent, and how much is said about collecting debts
against the and he searches for ground
upon which he may found claim Tor some ancestor or
collateral relative and TO him, in hls necesstes agh
grounds OF claim become strong, and he applies Con-
gresai his clam il relec,ed but his clam dies not but
again produced at the next Congress greatly improved
but IL stll rejected and 10 again reproduced Congress
after Congress These renewed receive accessons
TO their numbers at every Congress- until their name 10
'egion" But SIR, they are TO great extent old claims
many old the revolution, and some even more an
cien And, sir. they have, in very nearly all. not been
allowed, for the simple reason that they should not be
But, sir, Il u said Just claims are sometimes delayed
Ii is stereotyped clause in every constitution of the
States, and old Magma CAarfa, that "jusce shall
be administered without sale, denial, or delay" Yet how
are hung up in the various courtA The gentle
man from New York could have told you that such
the situation of the courts in New York. that
was contested final decision could not be Obtained
short OF four or five years Yet the State OF New YORK
mon for casss to be delayed and continued in the courts
for years-sven longer than the lifetime Of every party