The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-08

, Mr. BUTLER explained the report OF tn
Judiciary Committee on this subject.
Mr.. JOHN DAVIS, with some remarks, offer
ed a resolution declaring that in like this
the sitting member is entitled to his seat, till tn
Senate is officially advised that the person electe
to take his place in filling the vacancy, has &C
, cepted his election.
Mr.. RHETT read the Constitution, and con
tented that the governors appointment expired OF
the meeting of the legislature
/ heightened discussion followed between
Messrs HALE, Downs and others, when,
On motion Of Mr.. BADGER, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 1851.
MIR. THOMAS moved that the House 20 into
Committee Of the Whole on the private calendar.
He hoped the motion would prevail, as today
was about the last one on which objections could
be made.
Mr.. BURT movedto go into Committee of the
| Whole on the state of the Union, with a view to
take up the special order Carried, ayes 70, noes
So
BOARD OF ACCOUNTS.
| Mr.. McLANE of Maryland, chairman ofCom-
mttee of the Whole, stated, that the question was
upon the adoption of the amendments proposed
by the Committee on Claims to the Senate bill, es-
tabllshing board Of accounts.
| AHc ulH pTOVlutS tndt Tic DOdfQ snail consist oil
three commissioners, at salary each Of four
thousand dollars, to be appointed by the Pres-
dent OF the United States, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate. Their decisions are to
be final and conclusive. An attorney TO represent
the United States at an annual salary Of $4,000 is
to be appointed, together with clerks. The bust
ness to be submitted to the board is specified and
the mode of procedure designated.
Mr.. MEADE from the Committee on the Ju-
| dietary, proposed substitute for the bill under
consideration. He said that it contemplated ma
| teral alterations and revisons Of the Senate bill
| That provided for permanent board of claims,
while the bill of the Judiciary Committee limited
the existence the law creating the board to four
years, unless Congress at the end of that period
should think fit to continue it. The commission
ers to be appointed for the Of four years
and were to be subject to removal by the Presi-
dent or by impeachment. This board would have
no power to bind the government to pay any
claims reported fayorably by them. IL would be
their duty simply to hear causes, collect tesmO
ny, and ascertain facts connected with the merits
Of claims. Various sections of the bill detail the
mode IN which facts are to be brought out These
guards are of the most cautious and i-xAe1s char
acer. District attorneys are required to take tes-
timony in their respective districts and the estI
mony when prepared, shall be decided on by the
board, who are to make report OF the facts, to
gether with decision upon the case IL the re-
port be favorable, they are to report bill as the
| committee OF the House would report nnder smi-
lar circumstances. The case would then come be.
fore Congress, and would be presented with the
merits as expressed by the board. II had been
deemed prudent by the majority Of the judiciary
Committee, to avoid the most Objectionable fea-
lures charged against the Senate bills As this
was an experiment IN regard to the establishment
OF new policy, 1t was thought best not to invest
| the tribunal with any extraordinary powers
Hence 1t would act as permanent committee Of
l . ,aI 81. L
particularly into the claims and to that all the
facts connected with them, are fairly laid before
the House The chief recommendation Of this
substitute is that it can do no possible harm, nor
anything prejudcial to the country, but would en-
| able Congress to act upon private claims under
standngly.
Mr.. DANIEL presented a substitute for the
bill, which he proposed by way of amendment to
| the substitute of Mr.. MEADE.
Mr.. NELSON addressed the committee at
length, supporting the measure. His remarks
were not distinctly heard at the reporter 5 desk
lie was understood to say, that out Of ten thou
sand claims presented within the last ten years
only eighteen hundred and fifty had been acted
on. Mr.. NELSON went on to say that this should
not be so--that Congress Of all tribunals acting in
| judicial capacity, was most unsafe. He con-
| cuded by analysing the mode of acting upon pri-
waite claims, and inferred that all must be con-
WINGED OF the necessity OF adopting some other
and more efficient system.
| Mr.. THOMAS said that at The last session.
public men were called on to heal the i've bleed
| ing wounds Of the country. He hoped they were
healed, and that the country would continue to
prosper. We have now thousands of bleeding
wounds upon the treasury, swelling expenditures
to fifty millions yearly. The bill under consdera-
ton, proposes to open more. He supposed that
gentlemen were npprehensive Of plethora in f.
nances, since this measure may be said to have
never before been resorted to. Referring to the
great numbers of claims alleged not to have been
acted upon, Mr. T. stated that those which IRE
disaliowed, are again brought up before Congress
and grow better and stronger with age. He
went on to state the manner in which claims ore
mated with their legislative history. Not one in
ten presented at "A session Of Congress was new
A good claim, supported by sufficient proof
would be allowed here within three or four years,
and that was as soon MS justice could be obtained
in the courts Of the country. The bureaus of the
Government were boards Of claims. They dsal-
low such as the law does not provide for and
Congress liz then asked TO make a law meeting
the equity Of the case. Mr.. L. was opposed to
empowering board to make laws for us respect
ing private claims. As well might that authority
be devolved upon bureau officers He appre-
hended but few were for giving final action to
commissioners, because it was taking away the
privilege OF legislation upon private claims from
Congress, where ii belonged. Mr.. T. then went
on to argue against the proposition authorizing
the board to examine claims, and report sccord-
ing to their merits. If the board refused to act
upon claim, il would be brought before Con-
gress. II the board reported unfavorably, then
i would be the duty Of Congress to examine into
the grounds of that report, MS would be the case,
even II a favorable report was made. Mr.. t, |
caused report of Lewis Williams Of North Ca
rolina, made when Mr. CALHOUN Secretary
OF War, 10 be read, whereby il was ahown th,t
great fraud, perjury, and corruption bad arisen
under this system, in irs operation of two years
subsequent to the war Of 1912 After some fur
ther remarks asserting the duty of Congress to
act upon these matters solely, he closed by ex-
pressing his preference for ibe bill Of Mr. DANIEL,
(if any was to pass,) which bill provided FOR as
certaining the facts in Of private claims.
the United States courts,
Mr.. vENABLE said thu, wha, had been urged