Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-25
FRENCH SPOLIATIONS.
IN SENATE, JANUARY 20, 1851.

being the bill 70 provide for the asceainment and saac-
ton of claims Of American citizens for spostons committed
by the French prior to the 3lst Of July, 1901.
Mr.. BRADBURY. Being member Of the committee by
which this bill reported and being satisfied that it ought
pass my intention TO have addressed the Senate
the subject this morning But the discussion has already
proceeded great length. will orbear to speak, provided
the debate close believing with the favorable reports
Of twelysx committees, the opinions Of Madison and Mar
shall in favor OF the justice OF the claim, and the declaration
OF Napoleon of Taeyrand that these claims were released
for adequate consideration, will submit the matter here
Mr.. SMITH. ] move to amend the bill by striking out
the lth section, which is in the following words:
Sec H. And be further enacted, That for carrying this
into execution the OF be and the same hereby
is appropriated to be taken from any money IN the treasury
not otherwise appropriated y.
wish merely 10 intimate the Senate that my object in
moving this amendment facilitate the passage OF the bill
through Houses Of Congress, and that The amend
ment should b. agreed to- and the bill should pas. the two
Houses shall when he civil and diplomatic bill comes u
move an amendment to making provision for this amount
Mr. TURNEY wish TO submit single remark IN re-
gard to what, if the object, will De the eff Ct Of the
proposed amendment If you strike out the appropriation,
the moment the bill the other House the previous
ton will be put upon it. and will be through without
any debate whatever 1t is for this body TO decide whether
they will enable the majority TO put gag on the minority,
and prevent them discussing the merits OF the bill This
mode OF Legislation which think is highly censuabe and
should be encouraged by this body There rule in
the other House which provides that all bills making appro
praons shall he referred the Committee Of the Whole
and there undergo discussion Now to avoid that and put
end any discussion whatever and to any amend
ment being proposed the bill the House, this body to
lend itself party the other House to enable them to
enforce gag upon the minority Sir, think It Is wrong
We should do such thing We should let the bill pass IN
the ordinary mode Of legislation, and not shape here en-
able majority the other House to enforce gag upon the
minority.
Mr. SMITH. TO to be decidedly out OF order
for the honorable Senator refer proceeding that may
be taken on this bill in the House Of Representatives, and
still out of order to attribute to me or to any other
member of this body any purpose such that which the
honorable Senator has indicated.
Mr.. TURNEY. / attributed nothing to the Senator
said if that was the motive, it would be the effect
Mr. SMITH desire to say to the Senator that such
object occurred to me- am perfectly willing that the
subject shoud be discussed here and am willing and de-
sirous that it should be discussed elsewhere bu after fifty
years Of discussion and debate, willing to say to the
Senate willing to proclaim to the whole country, that
desire this subject by the two houses OF Congress
at the present session think have bad debate enough,
we have hsd deberaiion enough and intend i'll can with
the and cooperation Of minority OF the members OF
this body frame and shape this bill that may be GER
tain proper consideration in both houses OF Con-
gress. But will nothing upon the present occa
on except recall the recollection Of the Senate that at
the last Of Congress- when bill under consIdera
ton for establishing territorial government in New Mexico,
there contained in the bill it was reported to the
Senae section making appropriation but the gentleman
who had charge of made motion to strike out that sectlon
and stated the object facilitate the passage OF the
bill through the Houses of Congress The proposition,
therefore, which submit to the Senate not new one, but
corresponds exactly with the entertained at the last ses-
son shall add no more on this subject. %..
Mr. TURNEY. i did not, in the few remarks which
made, speak of the motive which prompted, but spoke Of
the effect Of the amendment understand the honorable
SENATOR however, to admit that the amendment was in
tended have the effect which REFERRED and be seeks 10
justify this mode Of legislation upon the ground Of precedent
which another occasion. He views the very
thing his object and intention, which said would be the
effect Of the amendment But think the Senator will find
himself mistaken in his endeavor to accomplish his object
think have adopted rule which will prevent that Senator
from offering an amendment the civil and diplomatic ap
preparation BILL appropratng fifty thousand dollars for carry
ing the present bill into execution understand that we
have adopted rule which will perhaps interfere with his
plans and arrangements think that, according to rule
which have recently adopted, do not allow amend
ment be presented the civil and diplomatic Bill for an
appropriation, unless that appropriation has been estimated
for by the head of Department understand the object OF
this amendment to be to enable the majority Of the House Of
Representatives apply the gag the minority and cut off
debate Certainly be adopted the rules OF the House OF
Representatives will not require that it shall be considered
in Committee of the Whole .a-* a.' @..."'...*.
Mr.. BERRIEN. I would ask that the rule recently
adopted by the Senate which has been referred 10 by the
Senator from Tennessee, be read. 4 ." ...>. ...
The SECRETARY accordingly read the rule as follows:
No amendment proposing an additional appropriation
be made carry the provisions of existing law
resolution previously passed by the during
that sesvion pursuance of estimate from the head OF
OF the Departments and no amendment shall be recev-
ed whose provide for private clam although the
may have been previously sanctioned by the Senate
The question then being taken by yeas and nays on the
amendment, resulted as follows
YEAS-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Berrien. Bradbury,
Clarke, Clay, Davis, of Massachusetts,, Dayton Downs,
Ewing, Greene, Gwn, Hale, Hamln, Mangum, Miller,
Pearce, Phelps Pratt, Seward Shields Smith, Spruance,
Underwood, upham, Wales, Wn,hrop-H
NAYS-Messrs Atchison, Benton, Borand, Butler, Cass,
Chase Davis, ot Mississippi, Dawson Dickinson, Dodge,
of Wisconsin, Dodge oIowa, Douglas Felch Fooe, Hunter
Jones' King, Morton Norris Rhett Rusk, Soule Iurney,
Whitcomb, Yulee-25.
So the amendment agreed to.
Mr.. SMITH move to amend the bill by striking out OF
the ninth section the words which shall be paid out OF the
appropriation hereinafter provided so that the clause will
read "Tha the compensation Of the respective officers for
whose appointment provision is made by this act shall not
exceed the following sums" This is verbal amend
en which rendered necessary by the which has just
been adopted by the Senate ~. :...
The amendment was agreed to. ss"
Mr.. RCsK moved to amend the bill by striking out of
the first sec,ion the wnds "that in all OF transfer or
assignment no claimant shall be entitled receive
beyond the consideration paid and interest thereon
And inserting in lieu thereof the words that no allowance
payment shall he made under the provisions OF this act
any assignee or insurer The first section is in these
words
Benenac.ed That satisfaction shall be made hereinafter
provided, exceeding FIVE millions OF dollars
to such citizens the United States their legal repre-
sentaVcs, had valid claims indemnity upon the rrench
Government arising OF illegal captures, deenons orci-
bic seizures Illegal condemna:ions, and cohscaons com
mitted prior the ratification of the convention between the
United States and the French republic, concluded on the
hirteh day Of September thousa eight hundred the
ratications OF which exchanged the day
OF July following Provided That the provisions OF this act
shall not extend to such claims stipulated tor and