The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-29
NEWS BY GttE N AlL0.
Our Washington Correspondence.

WAsHI>sroS, July u, 1901
Cams against the United Sfatss-Ds4ays end IN
mails Of Jasttcs-Puttic Honor--FrasAis, r..
! Very few persons are fully oognizant Of the io
mense amount Of the claims against the govern
ment Of the United States. yet outstanding and
unsettled. The aggregate of these claims - me-
ferred to the different offices, and bureaus and de-
partments, and before Congress, or remaining not
concluFvely determined on the files of both houses
it is estimated exceeds the amount of the present
funded debt Of the United States and is, probably
more than SIXTY miaions of dollars II would Well
nigh exhaust two years revenue Of the federal
goyernme Mt 20 pay them.
These claims are as different in form and fea.
lures and disinlar in character, and as various
in size, tie beasts of field, the hshes of the
sea. Some are alleged to be for arrears Of moneys
due for salary balances of accounts, or for scr
vices, or on contracts. Some for damage
against the United States, for its violation Of cen
tracts. Some for the impressment of slaves, or
wagons mules, horses, boats & C, or seizures oS
merchandise or other property, by officers, for pab-
lie use Some are for supplies, as beef pork, -four
corn, rice, or for clothing, sc, furnished to the
army, navy, or militia, in the service Of tbs
United States; or FOX arms, munitions Of war,
or Tor steamboats, or other freight, transporta-
ton. Some are for unpaid tolls, or ferriages
for troops, or military trains some are 70
The charter or hire of ships or steamboats, by
the Gntea States' or Tor the loss Of veg
sells whilst IN tEe public service Some are To-.
damages TO house,, farms, crops, fences gardens
race-courses, &c done by troops in servoe oocupy
ing private property, wiz OF without permission
the owners Some are foe pay AID ratiOns for mill
tia cal Ell into the public service sudden oxi
gences. some for horses lost whist in mill
tary service Some are TO get released from sespon
sibiiity fer public property, moneys lost Big
thieves, or by IRE. flood, or tempest, or other
casualty. Some aIe To get released from security
ships for irsolyent puble debtors Some are for
payment, for the use by the United States, Of
patented Inventions Some for the destruction
Of private property, by military naval officers or
forces Of me United states, to prevent its falling
into the hands OF an Indian, other enemy, ia
time of war. Some for Indian epred..tions in
time OF peace; others for the destruction of private
property by them IL time If war, owing to the IN
sufficient protection rendered by the government.
Some are Tor epolatons, III times of peace, by
foreign civilized nations, at sea or On the land
Seine founded treaty stipuatiors BY the
United states, yet unfuIGlled, one (and very
extraordinary amount) are fer the return u duties
on imports, SAID 20 be illegally collected; for
the repayment OF other muneys illegally ezaoted-
Some are Tor pay for timber taken from private
lands, by government officers, for public Some
are for ands Illegally and wrsngiuIly vthhoid; and
some Tor damages for such lille gal detainer
Some are for ordinary peusions and some for spe-
cai pensions for special aud extraordinary services,
or suheriDgs or losses. some from the war OF
the Revolution, or the Indian prior to 1872,
the French troubles in 1877, or the CTpoiisan war
or the with the Indians and British of 1872, OF
the Algerine war of 1915, that of the same
since, in an Eastern States or the indian wars sub
seQuent to l5i2-the " Black Hawk war" tho
Greek" and Cherokee wars and the repeated
and net yet ended wars with the Florida "Semi-
noles; OF the Northeastern boundary excite
mspt, OF the Canada patriot sc Scise nent, or the
Cuba "excitement," or some Of he dozen other ex-
elements that have existed Some, and Of lArs,
amounts, are founded Indian treaties and
Indian contracts; some on navy contracts; sonS
on army contracts; some Post offico con-
tracts; some, and of quite curious character,
are on contracts tor public printing; some Oh
contracts for erecting public buildings in differ
ept parts OF the nrted States some for the
rent vi buildings Tor various public purposes; and
some fer tearing down buildings tor the government.
Some respecting the const uction of torts others
about revenue cutters Ut steamships, orsteamboas,
or docks, or piers, or wharves or buoys, or light
houses Some are for salvage of publ ships and
property wrecked. Some Tor extra compensa-
ton for alleged extra services extra labor In
behalf of the country, either in the diplomatic line
or some other line; and some are for extra expcndi
lures by conmoJores and captains OF the navy, In
entertaining foreign princes or magnates. male and
female, abroad, whilst visiting our public shipa-
several OF which claims have been allowed whilst
money advanced for the necessities OF a public yes-
sci OF war; IL distant sea, has been wit hbold till
the patriot citizen who lent it, ruined by tho
| detention!
| Bu. II would he an endless task Z, enrmerate all
the different kinds Of claims pending against the
United States. The foreg Ding statement IL given
as specimen of portion Of them. II does not IL
clude, OF course, the thou, and and one schemes
really personal and private, though urged rs being
OF public character, continually thrust before Con
gress and the whereby the public
money, or pablo credit, Is sought in furthorancc Of
an undertaking, which, the petitioner insists, IL,
eminently Iutle--or, - the common pbrase Is,
national in its character and belefts.
The claims against 1.-THE government are con stantly
tnnW. uZars an,
lands, the mines, the Nc sican grants, and claims In
Caliiona--the collection and disbursement OF pab-
lac moneys there, before Congress passed act
extending the rev enue laws over that counsry-tho
expenses of the local government IN that country
before the organization of the State-tho inds
troubles there, are all claims Of comparatively re-
cent origin. Though measures tor the partial sd
jusmsnt of some OF these have oecn aiopscd from
pact experience, IL may he predicted that the Cali
iornia matters will be prolific Of all kinds OF
claims for the years at least Tho olslms
Company. and of the Pugets' sound Agricultural
Company. IN Oregon, under the treaty OF ISIS, and
the Indian difficulties IN that region aad in Utah
the laI claims In New Mexico. and especially thc
claims Tor Indian spontpns there. since tho pe aco
with Mexies and the similar dcms nds FROM Ioxas
since her admission into the Union. are Of nc
trihing amount The {" Indian depreciation GLAZING
from New Mexico anG Texas aloac, IL is reported
amount TO upwards Of Eve millions Of dollars and
the came kind Of claims held In tho other states 81
the West Southwest and south, Of ancient, - we'll
as Of recent date, yet uhsatished, cannot be le.
than ten millions of dollcrs more Resides all
these. are the claims Of the Mexican citizens Of
| Coabus, Chihuahua, aud Spnoro. for dopre-
dations by the ssvSges OF NeT Mexico, since th,
treaty Of lS4s by which treaty the United state
expressly engaged to protect Mexico from those
Indians which Obligation has been shanefully
neglected and the cons,q ucnt just demands mus
be rsid, or The nlighisd faith sal honor Of the
country fortified.
II cannot bo denied that many OF the claims ot
nearly every class referred 70, just; and he de
lay VI settlement and satisfaction to the suffering
creditors Of the government, Is q burning shame.
and dsgrace TO the country. An individual who
would thus act In his private affairs, would b
branded with gnominy and b. refw I'd the privilsg
Of association With honorable men.
10 u not doubted that some Of the claims prefer
red against tho United states, and, indeed, not