The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-08


Congress shall come to the determination to con-
tinue il. The Board il TO have no power whatever
10 bind the Governments to recognise any claims
submitted to the Board. II made its duty to col
lect testimony and hear the cases, as in court OF
udcature. The various sections OF the bill detail
the manner in which the facts shall be brought out,
and guard the interests Of the United States In the
most forcible and Jealous manner. congress was
finally to act upon all bills, favorable reports upon
which have been made by the Board. As this was
an experiment, to establish a new policy, 1t was
thought best to divest the tribunal of any extra
ordinary powers. Inc board Woulu aot on,y -
into the claims 10 ascertain all the facts connected
with them. -
substitute of Mr.. DANIEL was read, and the
pending question stated, Wis on agreeing TO an
amendment TO the first section, proposed by the
Committee OF Claims.
Mr. NELSON addressed the committee, and in
the course Of bis remarks he expressed the opinion
that il was unfortunate bill OF this character had
never been passed by Congress. There should be
some mode Of settling claims different from that
which now exists II was reasonable and natural
TO suspect that many claims were just and equita-
Bile, while some fraudulent and uniounded in
equity; and he referred to the largo number of
claims presented TO Congress, and the few acted
upon, and the little business which is done pri-
vate bill day, as an additional argument why
Board should be established, with view of doing
Justice to those interested and to facilitate business
connected with claims.
MIR. THOMAS said that during the last session
they told that the country was suffering from
F" Ave bleeding wounds These, he trusted, were
healed, and he willing to let that subject rest
Now, there " bleeding wounds" in the trea-
sury, to the extent of fifty millions OF dollars
year, and this bill proposed to open more wounds;
He apprehendcd that the friends of the country did
not anticipate plethora. We can get clear OF the
money without resorting 10 this mode. He called
attention to the merits of the bill and the various
propositions pending, and asked the gentleman
who preceded him--who had stated that, for ten
years. out of nine thousand claims, but two thousand
had been acted upon-whether be did not know
that unless these claims were paid, they never die
The claims whether Just or not, are immortal and
flourish and improve every day they live. He ear
nestly opposed the bill, and said that, where
the claim OF party before Congress is clear, the
money is generally obtained as soon as debt can
be collected in the courts of New York. The bill.
and neither Of the propositions pending can afford
remedy for the complaints
Mr. VENABLE remarked, 1t appeared to him
that all which the gentleman who preceded him
had said so strongly and clearly about corruption,
fraud, and perjury, if Board Of Claims should be
established, would apply to any court which
Congress could create; it would apply to this
House. He hao seen many gentleman here rise
and object to the consideration of a bill. Why
The member too lazy to read the re-
port. He had often seen gentleman withdraw
his objection, and then vote for a bill. Because
he had not time to look into the claim, therefore
the claimant was turned to the Dead sea- which
is never ruffled by breeze. The denial Of justice
was almost great crime as could be perpe-
trated. If any thing more than another was calcu-
lated to bring premature old age and break the
heart, ii Was delay. He had cause to blush for the
indifference in this respect manifested here for the
last four years There was just enough attention
to claims 10 produce hope, and enough. by defer
ring il to make the heart sick. he wanted to
give hearing the claims brought before Congress-
and then gentlemen would understand them. He
would rather take three commissionersappoi BY
the President, than any three or a dozen mem
beers of Congress which can be scared up, because
4 no otto hav NH N aa
ing to business for their constituents and to that of
the committees, and cannot devote time to the cx-
animation of claims with the same care and ASST
duty men learned in the law, and whose sole
business it shall be.
Mr. BURT had no idea that any speech, how
able it might be, would change the views of any
gentleman to the general proposition under con-
sideration. He knew that gentlemen had made up
their minds either for or against some ouch mode
Of adjusting demands against the Government. He
submitted TO the committee whether the only ques-
ton which really interested them would not be in
the details of the measure. and those which would
be presented by the amendments. On his motion
the committee rose, when he submitted resolution
that the debate on the bill cease to- morrow at two
o'clock.
debate in five minutes after again going into COM
mittec.
Mr. DANIEL moved that the resolution be laid
upon the table; but the motion did not prevail.
The amendment OF Mr.. JONES was lost, and the
| resolution agreed to-
Mr.. BURT said that he did not intend to speak
| on the bill, and moved that the House adjourn.
The motion was disagreed to.
The House again went into committee, and re-
sumed the consideration of the bill.
MIR. MCLEAN, Of Kentucky, was to some extent
| astonished to hear the gentleman from Tennessee
(Mr THoMAs) say that this body was more COM
petent TO adjust claims than any other which could
be organized and that the interests Of the Govern
ment could be better protected by Congress than
by Board Of Claims. This was the very point on
~
of the Government is to do justice to all its citi
zens, and is, or ought to be, to take care OF the
general treasury, and never permit frauds or pecu
lations upon it. The experience in the legislation
of the country for the last twenty years proved
one fact, namely: the honest claim of an honest
claimant has less chance here than claim not
founded in justice, but in fraud. An honest man
does not lean on extraneous influences, thinking
] that Congress ID an upright and honorable body;
but wine and softer influences are sometimes en-
ployed by others to effect their purposes He was
proceeding to show that it was the duty of Con-
gress to establish some kind of board OF claims,
and that it desirable a matter Of economy,
when he yielded the floor to
| Mr.. MEACHAM, on whose motion the COM
| mittee rose, and
| The House adjourned.
| PETITIONS PRESENTED UNDER THE RULE.
| BY Mr.. HOWE The petition of James Thomp-
son and forty other citizens of Clarion county,
Pennsylvania, praying Congress to modify the
present existing tariff. Referred TO the committee
| of Ways and Means.
| By Mr.. ROCKWELL The petition of John p.
Hediey and forty other citizens of Chester, Mas
| sachusetts, that the public lands shall be laid out
in farms and lots for the free of such citizens
Ono. possessed Of other and) will occupy them.
----
Nh. FILLMORE AND HIS ApMINIsTRATIoN.-We
have recently seen short article going the rounds
OF the Wing press, .complimenting Mr.. Fillmore
| and his Administration, which, if we had not mis-
placed it, We should have transferred to our own
columns as well earned tribute to deserving
administration. The loss of it, however, shall not
prevent as from expressing our lively appreciation
OF the manly, just, and patriotic tone of the Ad-
ministration and the honest, straightforward and
conservative policy which characterizes its acts.
| Riding into power on the storm and the tempest
which convulsed the whole body polite and threat
ened to plunge its dsintegrated parts into cha
otto mass Of Earring and bellgcrent elements, Mr..
Fillmore planted himself upon the CONSTITUTION and
laws, and trusting implicitly in the patriotism
of the masses for support, he sought, by moderation