Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-25

fotbear think could have said in few mnu es every
ihing connected with the claim, and completely vndcaed il
in opposition il. will NOT however, take up the time Of
the Senate but will restrict myself the amendment proposed
by my honorable friend from Texas. +.
The amendment embraces has been properly sad two
classes of cases that say, the assgnees Claims and
the underwriters insurers My friend suppose
that from the nature Of the claim, it assgnable.
Now know Of nothing Of property whatever that is moi
transferable assgnabe by law There may be legal
assignment, to authorize the assignee to maintain suit
10 his own name, but know very well the difference be-
tween what is regarded legal and what equitable
II was therefore, perfectly in the power Of the
of any Of these claims against France
Government WREN they virtually assumed by us to
transfer his right equity to any and for any purpose
he pleased ..##n .g1.
Now the argument has been urged and repeated to-day
with regard to the magnitude Of the claim. 1t is said that if
the debt ought to pay much than is pro-
posed to be paid by the bill do think So We
nounced to France the claim indemnity for spoations
What did is the question. What did re-
the value, in other words the prospect of the
recovery from France Of the total amounhe aggregate Of
all the spoliation- committed. Nobody say after
experience with France and other foreign Governments that
actually renounced The full value the full amount Of all
claims upon France i'll that responsible for 10 the
claimants against France, in consequence of the mutual
nuncaon made by France and this country under the treaty
Of lS0s is pay the value Of the claims which the claim
had upon France other words the prospect which
they had of the recovery of these claims upon France What
that amount Of indemnity should be, admit Is question Of
difficulty. II is difficulty which have always experienced
since first considered the subject and which perhaps exists
now to some extent; but has been settled down Eve
millions of dolars-one-hal perhaps onethird Of The
nominal amount Of the claims against France So much in
the observations Of the Senator from Arkansas
To resume the question of the amendment This proper
y having been assigned considerable extent, ask
have not sufficiently guarded against speculation by limiting
the amount to be received by the assignee to the actual
amount which he paid, with interest. But word with
-. u.
number of instances these insurance Offices utterly de
sroyed Of whom were they composed Of individuals
widows, orphans, and persons in every condition of life
They have been nured their fortunes impaired and they
brought to ruin in consequence Of the spoaons committed
by the French and in consequence OF not getting the ndem
nifty to which they entitled, either from France from
this Government An insurance Office in itself may be
object of particular regard Gentlemen may dislike
poraons any form but these insurance offices consist of
individuals who ruined prostrated individuals whose
families have been and suffering for want Of that in
demnity which they entitled cannot therefore,
proprety whatever in Withholding from the hands of in
dviduas composing these companies that benefit which is
intended to be secured by the passage OF this bill am
minded of what know to be fact that great many
derwrters, who not incorporated single ndvidu
ais performing the operation Of insurance they would any
other commercial operation in life am extremely happy to
be situated this subject not hope to subject TO
the slightest mpuaon Of any interest in this NATTER
the part Of my constituents 1t is possible there may be
lingering descendant of Of these claimants living
in the State which in part represent but such be the
do not know them. II is merely from Of jus
tice from full conviction that the parties entitled to
think the amount fixed upon Give millions
of doars is not too largehs have been led to support
this bill and say what have said the present occasion
Mr. BUTLER. Mr. President have many constituents
who interested in this BILL There many persons v
ing in Charleston who have sent memorials to and
may that of those who have sent memorials to me
this subject expect that should for the bill eau
not do 50 according to my Judgment but shall make as
unexceptonabe can, and therefore shall vote for con-
6nng this appropriation five millions of dollars to the
original claimants will be the effect of the amendment Of
the Senator from Texas and for this reason, if the appopa
ton be to the original claimants their representatives. 1t
will force the assgnees and those who have bought
culaon go into with the original claimants
from whom they derive their Interest," and if should turn
out in Of chancey that the bargain had been effected
by usurious interest false statements the original claimant
would be compelled the assignee the amount ad
vanced but would receive back his interest That think
would be nothing but justice. By con6nng this to the orr
gnal claimants will compel the assgnees to go 10 them for
fair account and that nothing than right By
nng this appropriation to the original claimants you do not
necessarily do any injustice the assgnees. How many
them show the amount of money which they advanced
and the circumstances under which it advanced think
hazard nothing in saying that this claim has been increased
by time, and because has been under the influence Of
ganzed claimants And say that there claims
which have been acquired change and which
have acquired from widows and orphans for nothing would
give the widow and orphan the advantage of the settlement to
which have referred shall therefore vote for the amend
ment of the Senator from Texas.
Mr.. WALKER. Mr.. President, I really look upon this
testing the question whether this be another item
of "job" legislation This is the light in which
look at the question pending before the Senate-the
amendment Of the Senator from Texas Could this bill ever
have been brought under the circumstances under which
has been could have been carried to its present sae
being about be submitted final vote, if there had
been interested in except the original claimants and
their widows and orphans No, sir Wall street has had
its finger this pie Wall street has had its finger in this
matter and has its hand raed more readily to thrust
it most deeply into the treasury of this Government
Mr.. HALE. wish to ask whether these remarks would
be in order if were making them, [Laughter.l
Mr.. WALKER. Sir, this is one Of the reasons why there
be- not in the Senate chamber not in the House OF Re
presenatves not inside Of the walls Of this Capitol but
around them and outside Of hem such power brought to
and sincerely believe, that the encouragement which
give to assignees of claims upon the Government
building up power that will become stronger thai.
Congress, and that will make deeper drafts upon the trea-
sury than any Of the Departments of the Government not
of all combined We have had great deal OF experience
this subject. had the other day to make
fling at this JOB legislation and every day more and
more of it. IT,.
There will be Senator on this floor who will feel
qualification in rewarng the original claimants to indemnity
by this bill than myse but when you fostering this
system o trading in Government claims-hs system OF en-
lagng Government claimshs system of organization, io
the purpose of bringing to bear Congress power which
cannot be produced any other way- am against it. The
poor beings who have been long kept Of their money
would have been the subjects Of but ardy legislation II
body else Concerned but is another power that in
eresed which has pushed this matter its present position
hope that we shall give which will be memor-
IL a.. -