Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-26
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS, AGAINST MEXICO.

PAYMENT OF, CLAIMS, AGAINST MEXICO.
Viewing the subjoined Letter, relative to the
payment Of the Awards lately made by the Com
missioners on Claims against Mexico, to be Of in
terest to all the parties concerned therein, we have
obtained a copy Of i. from the gentlemen to whom
il is addressed for publication: HI a,es III IA.
4 TRrAsuRr DrrARrxEsr, ArnII IS, 1851.
GExrIEmES acknowledge the receipt Of your letter Of
the l9h Instant making inquiries the subject Of the pay
ent 10 the Mexican claimants under tho awards Of the Board
OF Commissioners recently sitting in this city, and particular
y whether parties interested In awards made in the Of
others cam upon proof Of such interest," receive their respec-
tive proportions from the Department whehsr the whole
amount must be paid those in whose they were made
sad also nqurns the mode how and time when the pay
mens would be made to the claimants. And in reply I
have the honor to iha. the 9th section Of the act
Congress Of Sd March, is4s providing for the settlement Of
these claims, says: iitest si as8ga.a y
Tha In oil cases arising under this act where any per-
500 or persons other than those in whose favor an award
been OF may be made shall claim the awarded
any part thereof and shall within thirty days from the pas
sage Of this act from the date Of the said award notify
The Secretary Of the Treasury Of his her, their Intention
20 contest the payment Of the awsrded and shall
Gle with the District Attorney Of the United States bond
wih good and sufficient security TO be approved by him, for
the payment o the costs and damages arising hereom, the
awarded and the payment Of which s contested
a. aforesaid shall be- and remain in the Treasury of the Uni
Ted States subject The decision Of the courts Of the United
STATES lheeon and ihereupon the said Psy claiming the
swaTded any part thereof shall be at liberty 70
Gle his bill Coz resf and injunction in the Cncuis Court Of
the Dsct Of Colubs, upon the principles which govern
courts Of equity and any injunction hesupon granted by
the s6a be respected by the Treasury Department
and the ssd In equity shall heIeupon be conducted and
araed I'm al in all eases In
The language Of this - is 50 clo.. e.rieis that The
Department cannot hesitate in It's decision that the amount
the awards can only be paid TO the parties in whose
they respectively made, 70 their duly appointed aor
nsys uness adverse claimants think proper adopt the legal
pointed In the above section Of the law Of Con-
ges BY giving notice to the Department and issuing the
needfu injunction The point has been specially brought
the notice Of the Department by holders Of scrip in the Union
and Trinity Land Companie which the strongest
form Coz these certificates show the face Of them the
interest Of the parties under the signature Of the trustee in
whose the awards these companies made The
Department however, has decided that Is not authorized
to make any payments the holders Of such scrip, except
they think proper adopt the legal pointed out in the
above section Of the law 1I
The provision Of the law is also explicit that all amounts
thus gated must remain in the Treasury until there has
been final legal decison, and the Department would not
feel authorized to make any payment in such
trustee who nigh. be appointed BY oil the parties claiming
an interest.
All the payments the claimants will be made in cash.
the situation Of the Treasury does not at present render it
necessary or the Department to resort to issue Of five per
cent stock which the law Of Congress authorized create
or the purpose Of making these payments and that stock
win therefore BE- issued unless the future necessities Of
the Treasury should require il. Fs
~ ~r, - IL
until the expiration Of thirty days aer the Board Of Com
mssioness closed the awards which the 9th instant
and during that delay parties who may have an interest n
awards mado 10 the names Of others will have the opportu
nifty Of taking the iniatoy legal steps their rights
agreeaby the provisions In the section Of the law already
quoted s
The payments will bs made only those points where the
Treasury may have dpossbls funds the Department does
consider itself bound to incur the risk and expense oil
Transporting funds 10 other points for the accommodation cf
the claimants but otherwise, Il will endesvor to meet
their convenience 90 fur il 10 in its power There will
be no dculy IN paying any portion Of these awards by
Treasury drafts the Asttsn. Tresuess st Boston, Ney
York. Phiadephs, d the option Of the parties but such
payments only Be made limited other points
where the parties in whose favor awards have been
made indebted the United States the amount Of such
Indebtedness win Of be retained BY the Treasury
asreesby TO the express provon Of the 6h section Of the
sci Of 3d March, is49.
Powers Of sttorney to receive any money under these
awards must not only be legally and formally executed but
the signatures Of the notars other parties before whom
they may be sIecued should in all cases be verified in con-
ormty 70 the law or usages Of the State In which such
powers may respectively have been issued.
Ths preceding embraces replies 70 oil the points alluded to
in your letter.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WIN. L. HODGE,
Acting Secretary Of the Treasury.