Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-04

we have acquired and il 10 not his intention nor is my
nienon that there shall be any petsxt for mpsschng his
disinieredness or NINE My bill therefore provides for an
appeal to the Supreme Court Of the United States in every
where the decision is against the claimant osl
my amendment, and ask that it may be printed.
The motion to print was agreed to.
Mr. GWIN. Mr. President, when called up this bill
few days ago, the Senator from Missouri (Mr. BssroS
reported to have made the following statement:
Upon looking into the amendment believe that when
the time that there full Senaefor the bill requires
full Senate attend to it'll shall be able that the
effect of the bill win be to violate treaty with Mexico
violate the law of naons to violate the proclamation of Com
Stockton violate the capulaon Monterey and the
effect of will be despo the old inhabitants Of California
of their lands"
The Senator in bis speech to-day has proceeded subsan
tate these charges against the BILL with what success will
leave the Senate and the country decide after the discus
sion closes
Before proceeding reply to the Senator's remarks wish
to call the attention Of the Senate the personal bearing Of
the charges brought against the bill by the Senator in the
tract have read The amendment to my colleagues Mr..
FRENoSTs bill, adopted by the Senate Committee of the
Whole and before for action, presented by
after full consultation with my colleagues in the other
house, (Messs. GILBERT and WRIeHr.) It therefore
presents the views of the delegation from California except
my colleague (Mr. FREMONT, and for the principles en-
bodies responsible to constituents and tothe coun-
try. II may be proper to remark that prior election
my colleagues Messs. WnIGHr and GILBERT) and myself
declared opinions in favor Of this mode of settling private
sion granting both the claimant and the United States the
right of appeal for final adjudication to the Supreme Court of
the United States These opinions My and bold
y avowed before were elected. What the opinion
of my colleague (M FREMosT) before his election, may be
inferred by the following from addressed by
him to his personal and political friend Major Jacob SDy
de which freely circulated among the members of the
Legislature and through the country, before the Senatorial
election took place
regard the claim to the Marposa in the same light as
Iph n fa ry mad and
have always supposed that future time the validity
the claim would be settled by the proper courts and
satisfied to await that decision, whether it be favorable
otherwise and ia the mean time leave the god is now
free to all who have the industry to collect it."
There number of candidates for the Senate and House
Of Representatives. every Of whom, far know,
favor Of the principle leaving the final adjudication of p
vae land claims in that country the Supreme Court of the
United States. There may have been difference of
opinion to the preliminary proceedings, whether they
should take place before board of commissioners the dis
ct courts but none, far as know believe to the
tribunal where they were to be finally acted on.
have made this statement Mr.. President to show that
The indictment filed by the Senator from Missouri (Mr BEN
ROXY against this bill broad ground in California and
aragns nearly ALL if not every in the State who asped
to seat in Congress on the organization of the State
Government And sir, 60 further, and say, far as
knowledge extends the andhoders Of that country desire
this mode of giving them final and speedy adjustment Of
their claims There may be exceptions, but have met
with them, and freely canvassed the State ascertain
Of the largest andholders in California and probably
deeply interested pecuniary point of view in these land
claims any in the State has had frequent interviews
with since brought this bill beo tho Senate and has
declared his unequvoca preference for that of my col
league. made some immaeral amendments to the bill
his suggestion, and anIousy deses its pas
than he does He says what every who knows any
thing Of public sentiment in California must say, that no
board of commissioners whose decisions in favor of land
claimants in that country would be final could command pub
nu mat how she'd
may be for learning, talents and integrity II would be
possible for the decisions Of such tribunal if favorable to
the large contested claims to be carried into effect without
boodshed There is power enough in this Government
to enforce such decisions in that country Sir, the SEN
says this bill despols the old inhabitants of California
of their lands" By whom is this charge made By
Senator representing State far removed from CALIFORNIA; who
is in way responsible &c the people of that State for his
acts And against whom is brought this heavy charge Of
despong portion Of the people of that Stat. Of their lands
The entire delegation from California in the other House and
Of her representatives here. Sir do profess to be
very familiar with the history Of parliamentary proceedings
in this body, but venture say that before the his
tory of the Government has the delegation from State been
thus charged by member of either House Of Congress with
breach of treaty obligations and the law Of nations the result
of which the despong Of portion Of their constituents
OF their property This will be the commencement of
in Congressional history, and hereafter will be the
practice if this precedent adopted Congressional deega
ons to be aagned by those representing other portions
the Conedeacy and charged with the gavest offences against
their constituents Members Of Congress have been
accused of asking for their constituents than Congress
thought them entitled to, but this is the first instance within
knowledge that they have been charged with depoing
their constituents to enrich the General Government.
The position Of the delegation from State is at all
times delicate, and their duties aduous. They il mem
bers of Congress- entitled have extended TO them the
confidence OF their associates Forced by the
stiles OF their State TO bring forward many and important mea-
sues the passage of which essential the prosperity Of
their constituents and subjected to be asaled at home by
Jealous rivals and persons whose private interests may clash
with the legislation for the benefit of the State large charged
with doing t,o little by some, and too much by others and
matter how pure their moves falsely assaed by base and
caumnato with egisatng for their bene
it, member of Congress from State just admitted into the
peciate until he tries it. do not wish to be understood
complaining of the charges made against my colleagues and
myself by the Senator from Missouri prepared meet
and efute them. not here the representative of any
separate portion Of the people Of Calfornahe land owners
or those who have no land representthe State whole
and intend to the best of my ability, do justice every
portion Of my constituents The land claimants shall have
full and ample justice my hands, They shall have
it is in my power give to them, the full benefit Of the
treaty OF Guadalupe Hago and the usages and customs Of
the Governments by whom these claims granted Like
other citizens OF our country they must abide by the decisions
Of our Judicial tribunals and if their claims founded in
justice they have nothing to fear.
shall now proceed to examine the arguments of the Sem
aor from Missouri and ask Of the Senate impartial dec
sion between u.s. To most Of who have turned at
tenlion to the subject Of land titles in California the agu
mens the Senator has used to-day quite familiar This
not the first time he has used them here Near three
ago similar train of argument used by him in oppos
1on to bill introduced by the chairman of the Committee
Public Lands AT the last session he stopped in the
midst NJ, the beginning Of similar argument by the hour Of
adjournment which postponed the passage of the bill to settle
hese claims TO this session. although California suffering