The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-04

word more to say about il, But alege thai the govern
ment OF the United States has appropriated cent
nor have they received any remuneration except the
amount paid Tor the wood stated in this memorial
All they claim that Congress shall pay them an eQuiva-
lent for losses sustained and which claim has been pre-.
senled from year year and before they appealed
10 Congress. they went TO the Navy Department for years.
praying an adjustment OF their claims All that they
now ASK Is that the government OF the United States shall
investigate them and pay TO them what Justly due, and
what can be proven TO be due from the state OF facts
Now u IS true that the government have become pos
sessed OF real estate upon since its occupation in ls23
"a and rs They have purchased several los they
come In private purchases The island subsequent
that date--subsequen TO It's occupation by the United
States-wa possessed by severs proprieors-Mr Fem-
aS Of Boston, B., G. Greene o Rhode Island. John
Whitehead OF New York, and other gentlemen and the
United States in and purchased from these sub
appropriations lots oil land for different purposes
for instance, used for the Of mill
ary statonone which they occupied before but
to build tort upon; and another lot selected for the
location Of hospital The United States hed possession
been mi made % Ssn dollar for % il Now s wh.
- y but case OF private properly held and retained for
public use And what was that use : Why, sir. the
occupation OF this Island resulted the complete suppress
sion of piracy in the Gulf of Mexico. Such, then, sir,
the facts This private property appropriated
for public use and held Tor three years. and the persons
from occupying single foot OF it, but by the permission
OF the officer who then under the direct orders of
the Secretary OF the Navy, which orders met the entire
cognzance and approval OF the President Of the United
States ask you, and ask the Senate, what objection
there can be to paying for il II the Senate deter
nine as to the precise sum- what objection can possibly
GERS OF the treasury and permitting them to dispose Of the
matter accordngly' Why, sir, doubt Of the proprety
OF this only be suggested upon doubt OF the ability
and efficiency, fidelity of the accounting officer OF the
treasury particularly, the honorable senator Justly OBJ
serves, as the country has refused 10 appoint board of
claims.
Now, sir, word to the new point which has been
raised by the honorable senator from Delaware, Mr..
BAYARDl that stain will rest upon the memory Of Com.
4 n naga "a npa
for moment appehend that such can be the result Com
Porter did not doa single injurious act he did not do
single act which the orders OF the Navy Department did
not Justify him in doing; and he did not do single act
which was not known to the department the time.
During the three years that he held possession OF the
island in the name of the United States he coesponded
with the Secretary OF the Navy, his proper department
he cognizant of everything that be did upon and
have tbs papers directly showing that every single act
OF Com Porter met The approval and Cognizance OF the
President OF the United States and the head OF the Navy
Department; and this at least is sufficient authority
alone for his justification II he appealing against
the charge OF having violated private rights without
authority all that he would have appeal would be
TO the fact that the government OF the Uned States stood
by and encouraged hun, and cognzant of those
acts he in fact their agent. and what the govern
ment does by It's agents II does by itself
Now, sir lrepeat i seems to me that the claim is legal
and eq qaitable and entitled 10 consideration and
has been delayed, upon the part OF Congo for twenty
Years, think no more Than just and right to allow
the claimants 10 20 before the accounting officer, and
permi, HIM to give them equivalent for the damages
that they can legally prove they have sustained
Mr.. ADAMS. beg leave TO ask the senator ques-
lion or TWO. simply Tor Information. wish to know if
this island held possession of by the permission
and consent OF the owners of the island And, again.
wish to know how long they allowed this matter to pass
before presenting Their claim TO Congress; also what
amount they have received OF the government for wood
and The value OF the island the time was taken pos.
session OF by the government
| Mr.. MALLORY. Some OF these questions have il
not IN my power to answer The honorable senator will
at glance that the wishes of the proprieors were
not consulted because their very proprietary was
| disputed. Ii not admitted bV The af
they were the propreors and consequently their wishes
could not be entertained or regarded The orders issued
the Secretary oil the Navy Washington presupposed
that the island was public and private property II
POSSESSES a large harbor with thirty feet OF water
which, together with the fact that il must eventually be-
come naval depot induced the proprietors possess
themselves OF IT, and OF the proprietors himself
brought the condition OF the island to the notice of the
Naval Department The government did not admit the
validity OF the Spanish grant under which these proprie
tors claimed, and II held and occupied il public land
as part OF the territory received by treaty with Spain
IL took possession of il with the knowledge of the
propreors OF because they were on the island
when Commodore Porter assumed the control OF il and
planted his Standard and announced surrounding per-
sons that II was the property OF the United States, and
that he took possession OF IL in the and in behalf of
the United States OF America That very act excluded
the proprieors from setting up any title to the soil
have no doubt but they were glad 10 have the United
States establish naval force there; bu, certainly did not
desire that should extend the whole island there
excluding them from the manufacture of SALT and from
building warehouses and wharves for the furtherance
| OF their mercantile operations.
Now, as to the value Of this island when taken pos
session OF Why sir in the consideration OF some SEN
ators, II may have had value al all. | understand
however that the island has cost these gentlemen from
first TO last about $4,000 have proof Of that
ter and desire none IL is mere understanding from
the propreors themselves that il has them that sum
But the value OF il depended entirely upon the objects
which II might be applied 1t now is very great II is
the largest Town, believe, point Of population, in the
State OF Florida Ii island favorably situated
for large naval depot than any other point OF the south
efn country and will prove itself 80 in the event OF
maritime contest Commodore Rogers very justly observes
IN one OF his communications respecting the island, THAT
the hrst naval contest which this country shall ever be
engaged must necessarily be in its vicinity"
And let say here though perhaps this does not
strictly appertaa the subectthat the Gulf OF Mexico
may be compared dem:jobn upon it's side, with New
Orleans at the base OF and Cuba and Key West al the op
posi,e sides OF neck. and all that which in
1853 will about $500 900, embracing sixteen
through narrow strait which six steamships may
bridge and speak each other every fifteen minutes
Key West commands this strait, through which
all the OF the great West must necessarily
pass. This was no doubt of the Considerations
which induced these propretors TO possess them
selves OF IT, In this point OF view immense
value. But to its value when the government took
possession of by right OF eminent domain, that. OF
course, will be judged OF by Congress- il it is decided
shall be paid for But long itemained unnhabited
i may be said to have had no value.
Now, what rule the department will adopt in ascertain
ing the value of this island of am unable TO say
shall entertain extravagant desire ABOUT IT, III
shall be shown that it improper 10 pay Tor these hogs
and sheep and all this other property would strike all
ou--consder that nothing and the wood has been
- Tho nj o<x.l