The republic., 1851-01-27


objection to Mr.. Heath is on account 9f his age
Mr.. HAYMosD | would like to know Of the gen.
tIeInan from Indiana (Mr. RoBiNsosl how old a
man must be before he is unfit for office!
Mr. ROBINSON think tia. Mr.. Heath has OBJ
tanned the age Of about sixty.
Mr.. HAyMoSp That is about my age Laugh
teri
The gentleman from Indiana Mr.. RoBISsos)
seems to suppose that the Secretary oi the Interior
desired prevent the carrying into effect this Boun-
ty Land law, because he had not, without the au-
thority of law or precedent, thrown wide open the
doors, that all might come III fer share OF this
bounty without regard to the character OF the eri-
dence adduced in support Of their applications.
This gentleman, and othefs upon this floor, com
plain because the Secretary has made thosc rules
and regulations, which have been adopted hereto
fore upon the same subiect, and which have been
acted upon by the officers Of this Government Sir,
the Secretary acted right II the rules OF evidence
that have been observed in all imo past by the De-
partmcnts to be changed, let II be done by the
Legislative power, and not by the dctum OF an ex-
ccutive officer.
think this officer acted right in refusing to as
sume the power to change these laws and reSula-
tions, by which the Department has becn hereto
fore guided. II seems to me that when he refers
that matter to Congress--the law making power
Of the country-he acts wisely, much more so than
if he were TO assume the power himself. Let me
here cay the Secretary OF the Interior VIII not op
pose The execution OF the lay. am authorized to
say that he will, the contrary, carry out cheer
fully the intentions ofts BILL II Congress passes It,
You will find, on comparing the PROVISIONS OF tue
third section with the rules and regulations oi the
Secretary of the Interior, that they differ but very
little, exceptinthe provision concerning marriage
do not know why gentlemen seek to impress the
idea upon the country that the Secretary sopposed
to the execution of this law. know, sir, that the
Secretary has fsed great deal of vigilance, and
been extremely desirohs OF 6arFyng ont i,s .provi;
sions doing all in his power to effect speedy ard
Just execution of the law. venture TO say that
you will find that officer wiling at all times TO
carry into effect the laws OF Congress 30 lar as II
devolyes upon him TO do go.
1t seems that any officer at the head OF a bureau,
in any of the Departments, II he happens TO be
from Virginia, cannot transact his business With
out censure in this body. have been sorry to see
the prejudice manifestcd here against the State
which have the honor in part to represent. do
not know what the Virginia delegation has been
doing that gentlemen should attempt to create such
prejudice here against the State of Virginia, and
her sons who are in the employment of t.Ie Gov
ernlnent. am satisfied that those gentlemen who
are in the Departments from Virginia will compare
favorably with the gentlemen in the Departments
from the other States. Why is this clalnor about
Virginia and Yirginians i'll office? II may be be-
cause gentlemen have desired the places occu-
pied by them for their own fayorites and pets
from other States. l will, however, not be 30 un-
charitable as to so charge them. The gentle
man from kentucky, (Alr. MARsHALL,) in his
remarks the other day, seemed To take plea
sure in censuring the Third Auditor in regard to
the claims for horses said to be lost in the Mexican
constituents for horses lost in that war being de-
cided. The same officer assailed by the gen
tleman from Georgia, (Alr. HARALsoN,) who had
the mana cement OF thirty nine claims OF the same
character He made the statement, as did the gen.
tlcman from kentucky, (Mr. MARsHALL,) that he
had never heard Of these claims being decided.
recoect of hearing like declaration from the
same gentleman during the last session of Con
gress; and knowing Mr.. Caliaher well, and being
we'll acquainted with his business habits, J went up
to his office to make inquiry about the matter, and
informed, if recoect rightly, that my friend
from kentucky had been attending to two claims
for horses said to be lost Ia the Mexican war. One
OF these .cI Iaims had been allowed, and the money
paid over TO the gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr.
MARsHALL,) Action had been delayed on the other
al the request of the gentleman from Kentucky, 10
give time to procure additional testimony, if the
Information given me al that time was correct.
The gentleman from Kentucky had, then, not
much cause ofcoinplaint.
MIR. HALL. do not wish to interrupt the gen
tieman from Virginia in his remarks, but wish to
say, that have had great many claims in my
charge, from my constituents, which have q
sented at the Third Auditors office, and yet not
one of those claims has been acted upon al
lowed. They have been put off from time 10 time
by those se-conneo,ed with that office upon the slight
eat pretensions They have been put off for the
most con ntemptble whims. Some OF those claims
were for soldiers in the Mcxican believe
man, however meritorous his service may have
been, can get any claim allowed unless he happens
TO bring proof which suits the whims Of that oiii
cer-proof more stringent than would be required
by any court in any State.
MIR. RAYMOND am very glad the gentleman
from Missouri has had OF these horse claims
under his charge He is the first gentleman on this
floor have been able to find who seems TO know
any thing about them.
Mr.. MooRE. think understood the gentleman
from Missouri (Mr HALL) to say that not one OF
those claims had been acted upon.
Mr.. HALL. did not intend to say that not one
Of the claims had been acted upon But do say (,
not one Of them filed.
Mr.. Moons. wish to say that some of these
claims have been acted upon and allowed. have
some eight or ten OF them in my drawer, presented
by a member OF this House, which have been al
lowed.
Mr.. HALL. | only spoke of the claims which /
presented.
Mr.. HAYMoYp. / referred to the Georgia claims
in the remarks was making.
Mr.. JONES, (nterrupting) Mr.. Chairman,
have had some experience ia relation to the trans
action of business with the Third Auditor, and am
somewhat acquainted with the manner in which
business ia transacted in his office As far as
have been able TO judge in relation to that officer,
i regard him a very clever gentleman. who Is
well disposed to do every thing In his power TO pro-
mote the public interest and settle the claims OF in
dividuals principles of justice and equity, as far
as his action those claims Ia concerned. But,
ike all other officers, he is inexperienced; and
more than this, think it is moot unfortunate for
him. and most unfortunate for The claimants that he
places too implicit confidence in one OF his clerks,
industry the capacity 10 discharge the duties
imposed on him. II comes up which re-
quiresany investigation, goes over, and II not, he
will find pretcxt for laying it aside Ii is of
very little use to present claim nj this oiiice for
nost of those which are investigated are not al
lowed, and even if il were allowed, il would take
years before the claim get through
Mr HAYmoND, lin continuation MIR. Chair
man, have no objection to be interrupted, but do
not like to have interruptions which last hour at
a time. [Laughter.1
was speaking of those Georgia claims. un-
derstood the gentleman from Georgia Mr. HAIR
ALsoH) to say these horse claims bad never been
decided. remark similar to this was oso made
by the gentleman from Kentucky MIR. MARsHALL)
the other day. Now, Mr. Chairman, have taken
the pains 20 examine into this matter went 20
the Third Auditors office for that purpose, and
learned that these claims had been examined, and
had been decided aud rejected, though perhaps
they were not decided precisely tho gentleman
from Georgia would have wished The facts were,
as understood, that the principal claimant sold
the horses 10 tho soldiers during the Mexican war.
and charged them : lo0 piece for them. He paid
S75 10 each soldier who, for the said cum OF $75,