The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-07
THiRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
THuaspAY, May 6, 1852.
SENATE.


SENATE,
MtNor's LEDGE LIGHTHOUSE.
Mr. SUMNER presented the resolutions Of the
Legislature OF Massachusetts,, praying an appro-
priation for the reconstruction OF a lighthouse on
Minot's Ledge. Referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
PLANK ROAD IN NORTH cARoLiNA.
Mr.. BADGER introduced a joint resolution
granting the right of way through certain public
grounds in North Carolina to the Fayetteville and
Central Plank Road.
And the same was considered, ordered to be
engrossed, and subsequently, read third time and
passed
PAYMEST OF FLORIDA VOLUNTEERS.
MIR. MORTON submitted the following resou.
ton; which was agreed to;
Rfsoiped, That the Committee on Military Az
fairs be instructed TO inquire into the expedency
OF providing by law for the payment of the volun4
teer companies raised and commanded by Captains
$: l.. Sparkman, J. Parker, h. d. Bradley, Z. E.
NIGEL, and Jernegan, upon the frontier settle
ments OF Florida, in the year ls49, for the protec
ton OF the citizens against the Seminole Indians.
TEXAN CLAIMS AGAINST MEXICO.
Mr. RUSK submitted the following resolution;
which was considered and .-,ced to.
Resolced, That Inc President OF tie United States
DC requested to lag before the Senate all papers and
proofs ON file in any OF the Executive Departments
touching the claims of Samuel A. Belden and
lean government for injuries inflicted upon said
Belden and Company, alleged by them, in vo-
lation of the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo.
PROSECUTIONS OF CLAIMS AGAISsr THE UNITED
STATES
On motion Of Mr. BRODHEAD, the Senate pro
ceeded to- the consideration of the bill to amend
and extend the provisions of an act approved July
%, 1916, entitled "An act in relation to the pay
ment of claims" The bill was considered, and
after debate and amendment, was ordered to be
spgrossed, as follows:
BE IL enacted, &C., That all transfers and Assign
mcnts hereafter to be made of any claim upon The
United States or any part or share thereof, or in
terest therein, whether absolute or conditional and
whatever nay be the consideration therefor; and
al contracts or agreements hereafter TO be made
Tor allowing compensation to any agent for
claims, or other person or persons, for :
count OF services performed or TO be performed
in.procurng testimony in support OF, or Other
aiding IN obtaining the allowance Of any such
claim and all powers Of attorney, orders or other
! authorities, for receiving payment Of any such
claim, or any part share Thereof, shall be ALSO
uely null and void unless the same shall be freely
made and executed in the presence of at least two
attesting witnesses, after the allowance Of such
claim, the ascertainInent of the amount due, and
the Issuing OF warrant for the payment thereof
SEC. lind be il further enacted, That any Off
Ger oi the United states, or person holding any
place OF trutt or profit, dischargng any Official
Junction under or in connection with any Ex, Gu
tive Department of the Government of the Uni
shall act as an agent for prosecuting any
claim or claims against the United States,
or shall In any manner or by any neane,
otherwise than in the discharge OF Lis pro
per official duties, aid assist In the prosecution
or support Of any such claim or claims, shall be
liable TO indictment as for misdcmcanor, and, on
conviction in any court having cognizancc thereof,
shall pay hnc not exceeding one thousand dol
lars, or suffer imprisonment not exceeding six cal
endar months, BOTH the court in its discretion
shall adjudge due regard being had to al the cir
cuinstanccs OF the case.
SEC. 3. -4nd be IL fiuHir enacted, That any mem
Der OF either House of Soneress who, alter the
passage of this act. shall for compensation paid or
TO be paid, certain or contingent, act as gent or
attorney Tor prosecuting any claim claims
against the United States, before either House of
Congress or any Of the Executive Departments, or
before any board Of commissioners constituted by
an act OF Congress, made necessary Ivy any
treaty between the United States and any foreign
power; or shall In any manner, or by any means,
for such compensation aid assist in The prosecu-
ton support OF any such claim or claims shall
be liable 70 indictment and prosec civn as in the
cases mentioned in the second section OF ths act.
SEC 4. Ind be 10 further tnactsd That the proyi
sions OF this act and Of the act oi July twenty
ninth, eighteen hundred and forty-six, emitted
An actin relation to the payment OF claims shall
apply aud extend 20 all claims agairsi the United
statcs, whether allowed by special acts 81 Con
grees, or arising under general laws or treaties,
or in any other manner whatever.
The bills granting land 10 tie State Of Michigan
10 aid in the construction Of certa n railroads in
that State, we're sepcraly read the third time and
passed.
AID TO THE COLLINS LINE.
The Senate then resumed the consideration Of
the Deficiency bill, the question pending which
was the amendment propoaing 10 increase the com
pcnsaion to the Collins line of mail steamers 20
thirty three thousand dollars per trip.
Mr.. JAMES supported the amendment. He
said he was aware that the Senate was tired of the
debate this su ject; bot regard for the interests
and feelings OF the people lac represented, alone,
induced him TO occupy tho time Of the Senate.
This amendment involved question Of great in
tercst TO the whole people to every American citi
gen. lie would enter into 40 minute examination
OF the subject for the purpose Of asccriainiBg tie
precise number Of collars and cents necessary 10
enable the Collins line 10 continue ia its service.
The Senator from Virginia said the other day,
that this was nothing more than protection; and
tha; there were other interests in the cOuntrythc
iron aud the woollcn manufacturing interests
which also required protection. He agreed with
the Senator that these required projections; and he
hoped be aEd the senator might yet be able TO
agree upon some MEASURE afloruing at least par.
tial remedy 90 those interests.
The Senator stated that this was protection in tie
wOrst form /; but, whether il be the worst or the
lest form, IL j. the only mode in which the Gov.
eminent can discriminate between the American
and the British lines OF STEAMERS.
II had been held that all protective duties we're a
tax upon the consumer, aud that the whole profit
81 this tax cpurod 10 the bencfit Of the manufac-
turcr. At this time il known 20 all that man
uiacturcd articles were now TO be purchased NJ a
very reduced cost the reduction VAS far greater
than the amount Of protective dUGes which had
been imposed upon them. This did not look like
imposing u tax upon the consumer. The Ameri.
can mechanical talent, if properly protected
against the competition Of foreign rivals, would
prove cminently superior ia the end, when Ivy
practice IL bad become matured and developed
and IL would then repay The Government and
country thoussnd-iold the amount Oi protection
which had been afforded il. But IL cannot gnaid-
ed, compete with the foreign enterprise, which has
had time aud experience TO mature IL, and which
10 sustained by tho immense British capital IL has
yet TO be developed fully in the construction Of
steamships and their machinery, and THE requires
time and practice. lie forcibly illustrated this 20
sition by describing the great difficulties which at
tended the construction OF shaft for Of these
steamers There were not then in the country tho
proper and suitable iprnaccs, or other necessary
implements, tor lie construction and when IL Was
made, IL wac only after long, repeated, and most
costly experiments
That state of offairs existed no longer. The
Enlistment Of this line Of steamers had cult, in
developing American mechanical skill ia the
struction u The mac hpcry Of these lnrgcst s'zed
steamers. Had this line, then, done nothing tho
United states aud for tho development 81 the energy
and perseverance and skill Of it, citizonsl The