The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY. MAY ~. 1859.


A, UNDERWOOD. | now ask The Senate to proceed
% he consideration Of the bill which has been lying on
g1shle lof sever al days. and which would like 10 have
soamilsd IL 10 bill 10 amend and extend The provis-
~, oI a. act approved July 20. lsis, entitled "An act
d Is.noa e !hs gsymepI r 40 o. claims" l:,, ..n =
AID rsadng, IL such is the pleasure OF the Senate.
al, UNDERWOOD. l feel very reluctant, Mr.. Presi-
,s % throw myself upon the indulgence OF the Senate
al,sh really deem OF considerable importance. This
Nh sFoposes To leg slaie upon the subject OF claims
rams ihs government II proposes 10 punish members
N Congress and otcss OF the governmen! Tor certain
90. bal il allows cizens, who not members OF Con-
sss nor officers Of the government, 10 escape punish
meal or doing the same things DO not feel exactly
wiling 10 be prescribing punishmenls Tor members OF
Coagrsss and officers oi the government, ana permit
rsboy ese 10 20 scott.free. While we are legisatng
saa The subject, desire to embrace the whole and TO
scbs pua,shments for those agents out oil dooIs who
fhink by their conduct, much amena6le 10 the
ssars 81 morals, and should be much under the con-
s@ason al The law as members OF Congress and ofh-
ssrs 81 the government When you come 10 examine
hsl bill you will hrd that there are no penaies % pc
aelsa on citzens aud agents such as are imposed on
msmbsrs Of Congress and officers OF government
What 10 The object OF this bill supposes thai there
are various improper practices existing IN reference 10
shs CLAIMS against the government that members OF
Coosres prosecute claims for themselves that by their
eooscts hey become Interested in claims. and then vote
ior bills to pay them, and thus put money IN their own
porkes Sir, that impniatoa, made against members Of
tongress by the bill itself, is that very much
asp0ssd 10 shuader under do not like II. scarcely
kuow how 10 express myself with regard 10 it. But is
40 impuiaoa against members Of Congress made oy ,ne
eeted But while we make that impulatlon, think
hat in making provision for the punishment OF The OF
fence. we should 60 TO the who.e extent ana reach
everything which public has alleged TO be i'm
Fsg.I !, - make ;mou,,oo, ara,Ds, the officers Of
bs government and say that they act improperly IN the
executive stations which they hold, Is likewise a matter
which should give none OF pleasure; and am sure
hs every right. minded senator would feel disposition
10 lament that such maprsctces exist among our execu-
tive officers as to require penal statutes LOT tne o.
rsschng and suppfessing the evils But evils, fear do
sss not confined 10 The officers OF the governmenno
confined TO members of Congress-bnt, believe exist.
ng many far more nlarous than those INTENDED
/, be suppressed by this bill One OF them consists IN
this There those who 60 through the country hun,
ing up claims against the which not well
founded and having sought and found them, they se
10 and support the claims by subornaton and perjury
Sir regret 10 say that. in my State, we have had
eares of that Sort and that lave prosecuted and sen
10 the peniteniiary those who have been guilty OF this
very crime Claims may be fabricated and sustained oI
perlury and the laws perhaps sufficient to pun
ish the peuared witness. But claims may be Just II
part and ii specializing agents are allowed TO purchase
hem, there 10 great temptation operating upon them te
enlarge the claim. II is almost quite impossible tC
sonyict an agent OF subornaiion. The only efectua
smedy is to prevent him from purchasing prosecuting
aims for interest in the caim and thus to remove
Ihsr, ii another class OF evils which this bill does
no, teach and II tells the truth, Is crying
evil. There is class OF agents who pecuaie on those
who own dsl claims against the government, inducing
claimants 10 believe that they have influence with men,
bers OF Congress- and then selling their pretended m
nuence claimants for large prce. They say 10 such
persons eli you do not pay so much, will exercise
all my influence with members OF Congress to pre-
vent them from passing your claim but II you lee me-
will secure It's passage In this way, am told, there
persons In this city who are rewarded bountiuiiy ior
the exercise OF their real pretended influence with The
members OF Congress II also said that these persons
tell applicants for ofce ave have much influence with
the departments and with members oil Congress and II
department should be reluctant 10 appoint you, we car
btnx in the aid OF members OF Congress 10 second your
application and for $500 or 81 900 obtain com
N sson Tor you" Now, IL these things do take place
and rumor says that they doand II there is class oi
sus Of thai description located al the seat OF govern
nsal they should be rendered liable TO prosecution al
that class OF agents who are prowng all over the coun
y to hs very extremes oi our empire hun'ing uE
and purchasing claims against the government. support
ing them BY er paris and fase testimony, and getting
hen passed here By transferring an Interest TO memoer
Of Congress.
What does this bill propose to do, even supposina
kai members OF Congress and the officers OF the gov
eminent are guilty OF the practices which II ~ intended
10 punish Why. the punishment IL only some sn
months Imprisonment and hns not eseesalng sl0go oo,
would be IN a where the csim was some sioO,oO'
$4,000, and where the agent puts one bali the re-
esips IN bis own pocksii y would not be as "d'oi
n The bucket" What would he care tof u 900. " b.
could secure by the operation portion "a the public
pande Amounting to hundreds OF thousands OF dollars
Nothing Al all tie would only laugh at you Sif, u W.
do anything, am for making every person, IN cases
that sort, dsgoge every dollar, and think can do H.
can prescribe mode OF reaching him which VIII make
certain that there will be witness against him, snt
be shall know when he skesthe money that there Is
witness who can expose him; and can furnish amo
i've 10 that witness 10 expose and take from him ever,
dollar DO that, and you will remove temptations, and
lessen The disposition whichSow ssisis 10 procure dam
pry and mslnfeaanes contracts DO this, and The spec
ulsnng agent orhcsr o government or memner oi Con
gress viii see, he has received the money
ihs there 10 witness who knows he has received .
contrary law and that the witness make hin dis
gorge every dollar Men not likely 10 oHend IN th'
lace Of certain exposure when profit u impossible
hint that when you legislse upon THIS subject. yos
should stop at tne of ~ 900, but 40 10 the esen
back every dollar ol a.
Su, IN the wisdom Of our Eaglsh ancestors hav'
some authority iof any opinions can state 10 you wis
Fsfe the old laws Of Englaed against ehsmprriy an
maintenance, and you wIli that these Laws have o.
ftd Application 10 The objects OF this hsl wish Y
ADOPT substance. their provisions. a. you will -ce shei
fead the substtns which PROPOSE 10 leo oi ihis bail
by the statute OF 2oh Edward ehzmpefiors were pun
saed BY Imprisonment, Tor tern o. ihFee Years ~ ist
bill We only propose Imprisonment OF ss mon,hs
These contracts regard 10 claims, - uae are ho en-
scy what is called chsmpeftyf u ~ not adyison OF M
ned butt Is in principle the same thing a.ssion
net held Our Eng-h ancestors not only punished a. ar
peros by nhcng imlfsonmeai fof Three years, bat
70 addition thereto. nned then al The pleasure a. "a
Gown. will refer you 10 subss9aeni statute You
1R only proposes Imprisonment fef SIX months, an
limits the ne 81 900, although the party thus pfohisis'
IRON the prosecution OF claims may pot hnaaisd Thousand
dollars 10 his pocke, by violating your law. Therefore a.,
ha IN the legislation Of our Eaxlsh ancestors ,hee . a.
authority eondemnpg your pfeseni Legislation, ana show
atyou do no, 90 far enough ny NE S1d Henry VII
noIderto punish msnainsFs, The las rrlansa hsa 70 fe
lundihe whole OF the amount fecevefone hs 'otbs ss
oihe Crown and the other bali 10 the o the oiofn
er The MIR President, principle which wish 60 40