The daily union., 1852-08-11

theirs Il will. in fact, be motive for The commissions
ers 10 contract debts and for persons TO tender their
properly IN order 10 get paid for a..
shall not vote for dollar OF these claims that do
not come before US in the proper manner They should
not come here by the act OF the government The gov
eminent should take part in IT, but il claim is fe
sened through The Committee OF Claims and comes here
Tor The action OF Congress in that way shall take IL up
and consider H. and judge Tor myself what ought TO be
donei but lrepeal will lake military Steps thai shall
by any possibility lead 10 the presumption that this gov
ernmenl considers that II Is responsible Tor these debts
| Mr., BADGER want TO make one single word OF
! explanation did not in,end-and il my friend from
Maryland Mr.. PRATTl supposed did, he greatly mis-
understood me-to Intimate that there were not men
oil integrity who could be secured for the discharge OF the
duties OF this Office should be very sorry sir, to think
so poorly OF my kind 10 suppose that competent men
could not be procured by hundreds But say that in
order that this office shall be eectuay and pohlably
DISCHARGED, the man who fills il must not only be man
OF nfiexihe Integrity but he must be recognised and
admitted TO be such The inlnence Of his decision will
depend upon its moral force His decision does bind
us. What meant 10 convey was that as with regard 10
these commissioners hey had fallen either under the IN
nuence OF temptation, or under The unjust mpuaiion OF
having yielded 10 lt so with regard TO any agent you
will send out there Sir, the spirit OF defamation is so
rife in the country that undertake 10 say il is nnposs
BILE that any man. be he who he may, can be appointed
discharge The duties OF office OF this kind, Whatever
may be the purylhe white purity OF his charac.
terwho will not be charged decide as be may and will
no by large portion oil The community, be believed to
have heen guilty OF some base and corrupt violation OF
his duly And in order 10 the exercise, etectualy and
vaualy 10 the country, OF such a commission is here
proposed, the aust not only be upright but his up
rishlness mus, be unqueslioned he must not only be
/ pure, hut un-uspeced
| nv d ficuIiy is in knowing where and how you can
get such a man. do not see how Four gentlemen
vent into California as commissioners. They went with
peced Characters iffeproachab,e menmen OF the
highest standing The very moment they got there they
were found making contracts in violation OF their duy,
and are generally charged in The newspapers with the
grosstst corruption Now. where can you get an agent
that bring any better guarantees that he will either do
right will be looked upon by The public as doing right
Therefore think that, upon whole desirable as II
would belor do not yield 10 any OF the other objec-
lionso enter into this investigation, we had better, un
der the circumstances trust 10 ourselves 10 investigate
| the claims, when they come here, as best may.
Mr. PEARCE The allegation was made by these In
dian commissioners that there was imminent danger OF
an Indian outbreak along the whole frontier OF Califor-
MIA. That the sole preence OF excuse for their
conduct And certainly, if that allegation had not been
made, Tor one, should never have been willing 10 s-
4 len Tor moment 10 any proposed investigation Tor,
without that Justification that paatlon OF their con-
duct, il would be matter OF no importance TO the Sen
ate whether these contracts were iary or fraudulenty
made; whether all the provisions were supplied they
charged not, whether they charged at double
prices, or at proper prices In Short there would be no
question Tor us 10 consider except with how mucD con-
tempt and apprehension we should treat the whole de-
mand But that allegation does make difference IN the
state OF affairs understand the senator from Michigan
to say that if il trne that an Indian war could have
BEEN and was, averted by these means, then he might
| Mr. CASSi | said, and repeat thatf there was an
extreme state of danger in that counry--and that could
be made manlfesty 10 appear to Congtess would JUS
uly us in meeting the expenditures. do not think II
would Justify us in meeting the whole amount OF ex
pendures, but il would justify in portion perhaps.
But should require the ceares and the most decisive
proof OF that fact, and not idle rumors.
1 Mr. PEARCE. Well, sir, that is the allegation-hat
is the very thing which desire 10 have Investigated
der this amendment Other investigations will necessa-
rly follow as 10 the quantity furnshed-wheher II was
necessary as TO the full amount furnished and whether
Il was furnished al proper prices But II has been said
By the senator from California Mr.. GwINl himself
4 that the i'm 81
men siaiehat there were great many Indian massa.
by the Indians al that time. These commissioners
attempt TO Justify themselves upon that ground and mat
investigate and without which would not investigate
/ the other questions al all
4 Mr. BAYARD. | would ask the honorable senator
from Maryland, if any such reason assigned 10 The
President of the United States, the Department OF
the INTERIOR by these agents, at the time they transcribed
their auhority3 Was II said, at the time that il was
with view 10 prevent Indian war, because they
feared that if they did not that responsibility,
such war would ensuei Or is this merely fore
shadowng OF reason for coming here afterwards ?
Was II assigned by these agents at The tme reason
for the exercise OF authority not conhded 10 them that
that there was danger OF Indian hosiiliies, which ns
he'd them 10 going beyond the appropriations which had
/ been made by Congressl
MIR. PEARCE / believe that allegation was made in
the letters OF the agents accompanying the treaties orig
naly sent 10 The government have not the ltteTs be-
fore however, and cannot refer TO them at present
They were printed in The document which was LAID upon
our tables several months ago believe one OF the let
ters bears date in the fall OF 1851,
| Mr.. BORLAND Mr. President, think the question as
10 whether these contracts necessary
relates little further back than the OF the
ties here, and the assigned for making them.
have thought that the government took the initiative We
appropriated money in the hts place. II these Indian
hostes threatened then, the appropriation should
have been made the ground that necessary, 10
avert them by treaty and the question should have been
presented TO Congress the time the Appropriation Of
600 made. But have never heard Il urged as
for making that appropriation. Some senator
would certainly have recotected, If il had been given
reason Tor the appropriation, that there were Indian
Fhosllltes impending over the people OF California and
that absolutely necessary make the approprla
ton, and TO make large Concessions 10 the Indians to
avert We should Certainly have heard something
OF IT al the time dil not hear anything OF It, and for
that cannot suppose that II be alleged
valid Tor recognising the OF the Indian
| commissioners Ii could hardly have been that we ap
poprlaed money and appointed agent TO 90 on, and
treat with the Indians, and when the Indians To
treat they became hostile and made such formidable
demon, tratons While offering them peace, and
negotia ng for peace that IL necessary involve
the government the amount OF 81 900 900 to
80 that, apprebend, this idea OF ayefng Indian
hostes hardly be justification for The acts OF the
c mmi. sloners
Bat be rhat as may think il is the first time in the
history of legislation here that il has been seriously
proposed 10 appropriate money for the payment OF
agent 10 scour The country and ascertain who has got
saim against the government, and what the ground
OF for it TO that this proposition amounts To
/ that IL there claims arising without any very
gross or fragrant fraud, alleged, ii will be time
enough TO consider them when they come before in
the ordinary way, ordinary claims But, il these
claims have originated IN such fraudulent practices
have been alleged me- that instead of send