Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-24

Schoonmaktf Scudder, David H.
BENZ. Stanton Abraham Stevens Alexander III Stepbea
Sutherland, Sweeser, Taylor Benjamin Thomson Dec W.
Thompson, Thnrston Townshend Tuck, Wabridge, wash
| burn, WEIGH Wells, and Wliams-s5.
So the motion not agreed to.
/ The House then adjourned.
TUESDAY, JANARY 20, 1852
| The SPEAKER laid before the House message from
the President of the United States transmitting report
from the Secretary of State accompanied by letter
from the contractors for paying the nsament of Next
can indemnity due the 3lst of May next and respect
fully inviting the attention of Congress to the subject
Referred to the Committee Of the Whole the state of
| the Union.
MEXICAN INDEMNITY BILL.
On motion of Mr.. HOUSTON, the House then went into
Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union Mr.
JONES of Tennessee in the chair and resumed the cons
Iteration of the bill to provide for carrying execution
in further part the twelfth article of the treaty with
Mexico, concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mr.. McMULLEN, who was entitled to the hoor called
the attention OF the House to the fact that in the payment
OF the last Mexican indemnity this Government experienced
loss ofsome sixty eighty thousand dollars
the manner in which that payment made In other
words If the payment had been made diferently--by
agents who proposed to make the payment other than
Corcoran Riggs and British bankershere would have
been saved to this Government sixty eighty thou
sand dollars In his opinion it worthy the consider
alton of the Committee of Ways and Means ascertain
whether not saving might be made to the Govern
men in the payment of this indemnity, and also whether
Mexico could be accommodated she desired for his
understanding at the last Congress that Mexico de-
sired the payment be made through different chan
mel than 1t made and that the Mexican Minister pro-
tested against the manner of the payment.
1t contended last Congress that Congress had
right to negotiate different of payment from that
which made without another treaty He did pro-
fes to be versed in constitutional law in laws growing
out of treaty obligations, but he did profess know
something about commonplace transaction and inhis
opinion if the Mexican Government, through her regu-
ary constituted agents in this city, should indicate her
willingness receive the payment Of the due her
from legally constituted agents of the United States Gov
eminent 1t would be legal transaction He would ask
~
receive this indemnity by of any other agent
agents than Corcoran Riggs and British bankers by
which it would two hundred thousand dollars,
and the American Government some sixty eighty thou
sand dollars whether it would be competent pro
vide for the of the money without the necessity
OF making another treaty?
Mr.. HOUSTON desired to reply to the gentlemans in
auiry He had question the power of Congress,
if should proper direct the mode and of
making this payment fgentemen would say-and an in
definite charge had been madehat the President and
Secretary of State had committed fraud then would not
only be in the power of Congress- but it would become its
duty to control the action of these persons to this
ment He would further say that if the President in the
execution of this law should fail protect the Govern
ment Of the United States and all of its interests in max
ing the payment which the bill proposed if he should
place it in the power of bankers impose upon Mexico
in such he would not properly in the discharge
of his duty.
! Mr. McMULLEN said that such had been the charge
preferred against the Presiden-not the floor OF the
House, but In the newspapers of the country.
Mr.. DISNEY thought that the truth falsty Of these
charges could be ascertalned, II the chairman
the Committee of Ways and Means would the Secre-
tay of State and inquire into the actual facts connected
with this matter After having possessed himself of all
the information which he might be able to obtain he
would be prepared to these and the
try would require it. 1t might be said it at the
last Congress- that the Secretary of State had already
these statements He (sIr D. did not 50 understand it.
For it had been ntmated that in the reply Of the Secre
tay in connexion with these allegations would be found
an attempt at evasion
Mr.. HOUSTON said that the course suggested by the
thp of tha
House, and it could not be expected that his
motion he could privately obtain the information which
the House desired to Possess-informaton which would
either substantate dsproye charges nsinuatons
against public functonary of the Government. The
universal by which they obtained any desired nfor
nation to make a call for it. IL il was true, as the
gentleman had said that the Secretary State did not
fairly and frankly respond the call OF the House the
last session. the gentleman from Ohio, or any other ulem
Der who believed that any mproprety existed the part
of the President the United States the Secretary
State could easily frame resolution to obtain his nfor
nation.
Mr. DISNEY said that IL the gentleman cou,d not get
along without the resolution, he should have it
Mr. HOUSTON replied and contended that By tie treaty
the money was due, and should be paid.
Mr. McMULLEN, resuming remarked that If the state
contained in the newspapers true Mexico bad
been shamefuly imposed upon by the President of
the United States and the bankers perm ft ed to refer
to this subject he thought he would be able 10 satisfy the
House that there something of favortsD CONNECTED
with the payment,of the indemnity.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, moved to end the bill
by providing th0t the nsta1ent should be aid
the proper authorities of Mexico by the Seer e of the
Treasury unde the supervision of the Pref dznt Of the
United States
Mr. MARSHALL, of Kentucky, did rot rise to- defend
the Secretary Of State but view to suggest the
prety Of taking immediate vote upon the bin 1t seem
cd him THAI this the proper time occasion
for the enemies of the Secretary of State to nnto an
saut upon him. ths proper occasion for crit
csm upon his conduct IN this particular tranto ton II
known whether Mexico stood bafor the Gov
eminent in the attitude Of who desired thu payment
Of the rerAsring instanent the city of Nnw York
A memorial rested before the Commit tee on the
Judiciary in which the conduct Of the Score Try of State
in regard to this transaction would be hves gated and
when the committee should make report tie House would
have on the proper information before it upon which to
pronounce its in the abstract upon his corduct
II appeared him that Ia the duty Of the House
to make this appropriation that the money could 30
| paid according to the stipuations Of the treaty
IN relation 10 the amendment Of the gentleman from
Tennessee he voted for at the last session but oe aid
not how they could take this matter from tho Sec
rotary of State who had negotiated this transact and
transfer IL to the Secretary Of the Treasury with int stain
ing the reputation Of the Secretary Of State.
II Mr.. DUNAM concurred in the views expire sed nv Tho
gentleman from Kentucky He apprehende that there
was undoubted necessity that the terms n the treaty
should be complied with, and therefore the r. true course
would be to pass the BILL gentlemen sh ond think pro.
per- the conduct of the Secretary of State could be
tgated but this should not nterf ere with the pas
Of this BILL the design Of which was to carry into
effect treaty.
As amendment If oa,,tl c.o,r Tonnossoo