Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1851.
MEXICAN INDEMNITY.-Mr. WEBSTER.

MEXICAN INDEMNlTY.-Mr. WEBSTER.
On motion Of Mr. BAYLY. the House again went into
Committee. (Mr. Born, Of Kentucky, in the chair) and
proceeded to consider the bill to provide for carrying inc
ecuon, in further part the twelfth article Of the treaty With
Mexico, concluded at Gusdaupe Hidalgo.
Mr. BAYLY said that he had little say about this BILL
its counterpart fully discussed in both branches Of
Congress at the last session. bill sppopraung
money carry treaty with Mexico and this the
last ns,ament TO be made under that treaty II seemed to
him that all that Congress had do in the matter was
less there suspicion Of official corruption or incapaciy,
appropriate the money. The duty Of Congress to do this
exceedingly plain. He referred to the pamphlet and
newspaper statements in reference to this matter and stated
that Government had made contract with Barring
Brothers, Rowland 81 Apinwall and Corcoran Riggs,
{he FIRST being an English house and the two last American
houses) to make this payment They had agreed TO make
discount of three and half per cent to make the
payment, and il advances should be made to them by the
Government on of II, to discount interest This
the contrsc He then referred to the memorial of Mr. Marks
and his associates and declared that the Government had
right concede their terms, unless treaty should
be first negotiated In reference to the charge that Barring
Brother Howland& Aspnwsl Riggs had been
shaving the Mexican Government he said that this Govern
had nothing do with 1t, those gentlemen were
using their funds the Government not having advanced
them one dollar
Mr.. BROOKS said that this insament not the install
due 1851, for that provided for the last
sion but for the Mexican indemnify of three mil
lions Of dollars due May ls 1852 year and half ahead
they going TO appropriate this money they should
negotiate in the conducive the public in
II the appropriation to be made now, would
leave in The hands Of the contractors who made this negota
ton three and quarter millions of dollars and with this
large their hands. these could to the
city OF Mexico and exercising the OF the money could
loan it a needy Government, which must pay whatever
interest those who have the money chose demand The
gentlemen from Virgins bad said that the duty Of the
Executive this responsibility He contended that
il less the duty Of this Congress assume, with him.
the responsibility Of doing; and there be surises such
the gentleman from Virginia had alluded to; if there be
lands
the duty OF this Congress TO exercise and share that response
biliy with the Executive officers Of the country Whatever
might be the decision ofConges, its decision, not that
of the President; whatever this Congress passed. 1t
sponbe for and the Executive the Secretary Of the
Treasury. He intended propose amendment, to come
the end Of the BILL that the President be directed
case Of loans made for the Of the United States TO ad
and receive proposals. and contract for the payment Of
the said nstaen through the highest responsible bidder
His object was put the negotiation in the form Of losn
and to enable bankers OF the highest standing to negotiate
transaction OF this Then there could be surmses
whperngs, outcries against any Helooked only
the FUTURE snd asked Congress share in the response
biliy Of making the appropriations
Mr. CARTER looked upon this scramble Of the bankers
for this money precisely he would upon Of black
legs the last stakes They should have sympathie
They had left their work of fleeing individuals and taken
to fleeing nations The ta1payng people Of this country
had been compelled to pay the money with which these
bankers proposed shave Mexico This nation ndebt
ed Mexico by treaty Mexico through her agents had
peaed this Government throw her into the hands Of
banking house. but pay them ia the cheapest
convenient this Government He thought that
since had just out Of in which had taken
large portion Of their territory something should be given
them But to their application Executive had turned his
back He hoped the money would be paid in apan manner
to the Government of Mexico.
Messrs. ToOMBS and VINTON urged the necessity for
the passage of this bill now, stating that passed
al this session. all probability would be passed in
time at The next - fulfil the treaty spula,ous with Mexico
Mr. GREEN referred the remarks Of the gentlemen
who had preceded him. and expressed himself in favor Of the
proposition Of Mr. Brooks, which he thought would be ad
vanageous TO the Government and not liable to the objection
I OF favoIitism.
Mr. ALLEN proceeded state the objections which he
had taking this the hands the Secretary of
the Treasury and giving to any other officer to whom it
did not belong He said that the Secretary Of State
pied his office not for the compensation which allowed
him by the Government fair remuneration for his
vices but for much larger pecunary nduceHent furnished
him by bankers of Wall street, New York. and State street,
Boston. The Secretary of State not only received the
pensson which the Government deemed sufficient for the
frugal support Of republican officer but before he assumed
the duties Of the office which he called he entered into
negotiation the result Of which this that the Of
S25 geo be raised the security Of Wall street, New
York. and equal the security of Stale street, Bos
ton He bad this information such rreagbe testimony
such satisfactory evidence, that he believed the contract
Carried concerned the bankers Of Wal street,
New York, and almost, though not quite 10 the letter. by
gentlemen Boston. He believed that there
in that House who bad particular information
this subject He did know how il struck this House
the highest ocer United
sden should be paid services large sums Of money by
and descriptions Of men doing business in Bos
and New York He believed in the puler days Of the
Government party could be found who would rise up
and condemn arrangement of this kind He hoped the
Wing party had departed from the purity of Its for
days. stand up here and vindicae, attempt
hide conceal such transaction However il might be
with that party he trusted that the other side Of the House
yet retained enough its ancient purity and honor to inquire
Of this kind and put vote Of stern indgna
ton upon il. Let them not trust alone the statement which
be now made but let them probe this matter TO the bottom,
and then Judge by whom this pecuniay transaction of the
Government should be carried onwhether by the officer Of
the Government, whose appropriate business wsswho
far be knew stood aoo from all such transactions, merely
receiving the salary the Government bestowed upon him.
being conented with that the reward of his or-or CIV
ing to him who must necessarily look for reward for his
services not Government but to the purses of bankers
and brokers'
Mr.. ASHMUN remarked that great object was at length
accomplished The great and sublime purposes for which the
democracy eesom of Worcester district in Massachu
uni ed accomplished From the great influence
which bad been expected from the reputation Of the gentle
man, headed abroad, the country well the House
had hung with anxiety had almost held their BREATH to see
for what purposes for what gea, purposes that result
ordained They it. His reputation had been clear
ly illustrated to might, They had waited through months
Of the last session. and the s,nds Of the present had
y out when for the FIRST time that reputation had been
vindcaed-a reputation welknown the people of Msssa
chuset's 1t had been trumphany vindicaedllusraed in
manner justified by the whole of the honorable
Der Three four elections had passed, If he msook
not the honorable member took his here and great
inquiry had been made among bis constituents amongst all
bite Northern friends Of human liberty, what had their friend