The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-30

Il 10 known thai he is going there They will allow him
TO see their documents not jast as hey choose Anu
by The way. will tell You that they wall be very JEALOUS
upon the point OF allowing him 10 ransaek lhe records
But, be that II may they viii manufacture grants, PEE
uuons ar Go order, and you VIII nave no SORT % guar
anea apoa earth thai syha, yoa oolan WIN os eGIss
By this means thousands and thousands OF acres OF aiu
aud perhaps the fights of individuals to the amount oil
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars, viii be eoparded
know there difficulties about these grants OF lands ~
California There will be some difficulty IN regard 10
them il they are uncontese claims and u there are adj
verse claims there will be great deal oil difficulty about
them.
The government may send this agent who knows
nothing about this matter, and be may perhaps colieet
what il manufactured Tor the occasion IN Mexico ana
vet that Is to he allowed 10 determine The rights Of nd
yduals in relation TO their claims. Now, when you get
theee documents, they evidencei Not al all The
law requires the best OF evidence that the nature Of The
case Will admit Of and you cannot make this evidence
uness you pass act oil Congress TO make u So ss-
gesi this 10 show that there may be great mischief result
ing from It, see no good 10 come IRON II, ana
therefore | am opposed TO il.
Mr. BADGER. I am really unaware OF the di2icuiy
which my friend from Texas MR. RusKl sees in this
matter aud think his reasoning is remarkably ncon.
secutye He says these persons will forge these papers
by the thousand Now the sooner we stop the door to
this process the better II we send out an agent tnere
he says they will puactue false claims. Weli sir,
till the agent goes there and returns they will continue to
manufacture them. Now, il we appoint no agent. does
the senator suppose there will not be some mo,y y 70
acure false claims from Ibis lime forward! What
good is done by not sending hml As the senator from
California (Mr WELLERl says, it is worth $4,000 10
claimants exsithai none could be found in the public
archivesfor that will furnish good presumptivc eyl-
dence that all the papers that might be produced are
| fraudulent. Nat
And them again, the senator from Texas. mr. RusK,
think, attributes entire want OF force in this Kind oil
evidence Ii you get these nemorals-if any exist in
the public archives therewhat they? They are but
memorials Bat viii have ascertained the fact that
there such memorials there though they can no more
affect the validity of these claims than they had been
necessary under the Mexican law 10 determine the nature
and validity the grant, then they constitute part Of the
grant which ought to be evidence though tee
procuring of these papers by the United States will give
them no different other effect than il they were pro-
duced by private individuals As the senator from Cali,
forna MIR. WELLrRl says it will al least have good
effect checking great extent, and thai too speedi-
y, the process Of manufacturing false claims, winch the
senator from Texas Mr. RUsKl SO much fears.
| Mr.. SOuLE am decidedly in favor Of striking out
this amendment now under debate II would confer upon
the Individual sent out here-whoever he may be--a
power which am not ready TO surrender TO any ndi-
ydual Il would actually constitute him. prtort, the
Judge OF what constitutes the law of Mexico. Nor would
he be limited TO such laws denomlnaled by that
name explicitly, but be would be the Judge OF the other
know OF hardly any individual in this country who being
at all conscious OF the importance OF the duties which
such law as this would impose upon him, would dare
10 assume them; and II he did, could hardly be brought
10 place the least confidence 10 the Judgment which he
might pass upon subject OF SO vast importance.
The laws OF Mexico are written laws to be found IN
books, where they have been preserved and where they
at all times accessible 10 the government and aces
sble to every individual Let these laws be printed and
let every tribunal, by OF translation OF these
laws. be enabled to say what they mean what their
bearing is but suffer individual 10 be constituted
Judge of what is the law in Mexico, place the utmost
confidence in the judgment and discretion OF the Attorney
General YET however far that confidence may CO. does
not go far enough TO incline me 10 allow him to be a
Judge OF this great, complex and intricate question The
tribunals OF the country must do in regard 10 these Mex
lean what they have TO do with respect to Louis
ianawhat they have had 10 do with respect 10 Florida
They had the books of the laws and the TRANSACTIONS Of
those books them but the authority OF private individuals
could not under any circumstances supersede the majesty
Of the law. shall. therefore, most decidedly vote for
striking out this amendment.
MIR GEYER Before the question is taken upon
striking this whole amendment, move to amend il
by striking out The following words. beginning after The
word Mexico" in the 18th line:
"And also such copies memorials of said claims
may be obtained from tho records OF the Mexican govern
ment viii, all such other documentary and official evidence
rs the said Attorney General may deem necessary and
proper, and may direct to be procured"
Mr.. WELLER I should like TO have the unanimous
consent OF the Senate TO pass this amendment over for
the present no, satisfied that il is right as il is,
and do not know that shall be prepared 10 vote for it
after shall have examined il. have not had an oppor
tunity 10 examine ii before to-day and therefore ask
that IL be passed over for the present. that may look
Mr. RUSK ( think it would be better 10 strike il out
OF this bill and have Il attached 10 other appropra
ton BILL ii II is necessary 90 with the senator in pro-
curing all the information that il necessary.
Mr.. WELLER think we will necessarily consume
time upon the other amendments, and by that time
think shall be prepared with amendment which
will answer the purpose
No objection being made, that portion OF the amendment
was passed over
Mr.. BADGER would call The attention Of the presi.
ding oihcer and The senator from Virginia Mr. iusrEsl
to the Tact that this amendment, part oil which has just
been under consideration, extends down 10 line al on
page 10. including the Appropriation for the Collins
steamers
Mr. HUNTER. know il is so printed, but That is oh.
vously mistake OF the printer There three amend
mens here, which adopted separately and their be-
ing put together is mistake OF the printer.
No objection being made that portion OF the amendment
The PRESIDING OFFICER tMr. MAsoun in the
cbaD stated the question TO be upon concuing 10 the fo
lowing portion OF The amendment OF the committee Of
The whole
Psge 10, after line al, inseu,
And also sum, exceeding S0,73i G5 Is hereby APP
propTiaed pay Adam Boyd Hamilton, according to
uac'. for printing 1000 aud binding 1860 copies 395
pages coch Of the Registers report Of the and
navigation Of the United States Tor IS5i."
Mr. HUNTER That is a distinct amendment and !
hope II viii he so treated.
The question being then taken, The amendment was
concurred in.
COLLINS LINE or STEAMERS.
The next amendment OF the committee OF the whole
was stated TO be The following, TO be added TO the bill
"For additional compensation for Increasing the
poration Of tho United States mail between New York
six trips annun, nj srch times shall be directed by
the Postmaster General and IN forniy 10 s last
npal report Congress, and bis letter Of The 18th oil Novom
Der the Secretary OF the Navy, commencing said
nceased service the I Of January 1861 the Of
S33O0 per trip, In lieu Of the present allowance tho
OF S2b sHi frordrd. Thai shall be m poger of