The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-27
SPEECH OF HON. GEORGE Il. DAVIS,
OF NIu,suc husetts,

MIR CHAIRMAN: Az il regards the general points !
which have been raised here IN reference 10 'ne
nsyuaent of this indemnity, have not the advan-
tage of the experience which many gentlemen
about me possess But for some peculiar circnm
stauccs, should have been content, ana indeed
should have preferred TO have heard tins debate
~ ron.sh and argued upon its general questions.
ty gentlemen much more competent than nyseli
10 argue them. and To have given my vote as
might have finally made up my mind upon the
1,nent Hut before proceeding to dwell upon
some particular considerations, will merely say
that he impression left upon my mind 49, that there
can be but two questions here. The resolve before
the House is for The appropriation OF three miiions
Of money in payment of the last lnstalnent due
from us To Mexico by the treaty OF Guadalupe Hi
dalgo and falling due May 3lst 1852. 1t Is well
that this appropriation, when MADE
unless Congress shall otherwise direct, VIII pass
through the State Department. On the question
whether such vehicle of payment is in conformity
with usage, whether there ID any objection TO 1t
IN principle have made no personal exaInin nation
OF authoriles And while II appears to me thattwo
minds of'equal fairness ana acuteness hllgnt, per
hans will, come TO opposite conclusions upon tins
question of FORM treating II as an original quos'
ton, still no reason Tor disturbing he con
clusion TO which General Taylor's cabinet Two
successive Democratic Committees Of ways and
Elains ma the last House OF Representatives, have
excessively arrived on that point. find that Ge
neral Taylors Cabinet, against which no 5ugg's-
lion OF favortism undue influence is at this time
made, acted upon the ground that tins was proper
matter for negotiation by the Secretary OF State
| find under these circumstances that Mr. Nebster,
in taking charge Of this matter, did no more than
follow the course indicated by his predecessors
Such was the opinion OF General Tayior's Cabinet
What, then, are the next facts in the case! Here
are two Committees, IN succession, oil ways ana
Means, of this House. that have been organized by
Democratic Houses. They have been committees
Containing men Of experience and Judgment, men
with no particular partiatitcs or productions Tor
the Administration, or for Mr.. Webster. do not
know the names OF all the members OF the Commit
UT Mao a.r,tI I'm o.
/ have reason to respect il from what have known
fits constituent members. Win regard 10 the pres
ept Existing committee, every gentleman must un-
derstand that II Is not ORGANIZED IN suoh manner
that il can be supposed TO have any personal bias
or recollection for the Administration. And 1t
may also be stated, regards that committee,
that il is composed Of body Of men OF as good
Judgment, of az large experience, and oil as reli-
able honesty be found III this House.
These two successive committees, upon this abb
question, free from personal bias have ohah
imously reported and taken course sustaining
the view of the Secretary OF State upon this polnl;
or rather to state the thing more accurately, they
have unanimously reported the appropriations with
out seeing ht TO recommend any interference win
the mode in which il was well understood that the
funds would be RENTED. his consideration goes
a great way to satisiy my mind, with the
limited opportunity ! have had OF making myself
personally acquainted with the subject Presum-
ing then, that It'll regular enough mat thi5 install
ment, falling due under a treaty Win lorelgh
power should pass through the Department through
which the Government habitually communicates
with foreign powers, what - tue next consldera-
tionr Is there any thing gong to show the prooa'
hty of favoritsnI or regularity on The part OF tue
Department which ID likely TO be interested In the
payment ] see that my colleague, IN ms speech
lust made, has introduced no new personal matter
of any importance, for have examined the Con
Rrfssionai Globe which contained the former debate
in reference 10 this matter. Every flct which
could be brought against the Secretary OF State
was urged fully and thoroughly in the last House;
but there are n number of facts, most conclusive III
their character, in favor OF Dir. Websers course,
" hich il seems TO me did not then appear With
the full benefit Of the examination which my col
league and others then gave the SUBJECT, what was
the result? All these questions came up, and, IN
an anti. Administration House, there was vote OF
somothng like one hundred and twenty-elght To
thirty six sustaining MIR Webster. The letting
out 10 open bidders the propnety oil when my
colleague now deems 80 clear that he thinks Mr..
Webster could only have omitted II from iraudu-
lent design, was then urged upon the House, and
rejected by vast majority. How idle lie II now
10 say that there are certain things IN tbe &c uoh
of the Secretary Of State that no man can justify,
when in point Of fact, Democratic House,
after full debate, justified and sustained him
at every point Take IL, as the gentleman
claims that II was a contract which might or
,.igbt NOD be- made void at the pleasure Of
the House The Hou-e went on with a fsll
knowledge Of the faCt-, and confirmed and
sanctioned IT, Uuder taese circumstances, and
after such sanction aud authority gwen ~ this
House II looks like trlhing TO recede; and certain.
ly not ~ord can be said against the Secretary az
60 the itnprOs idence OF the contract which docs not
apply with fuller force 10 The House, which on
f.Il debate aud know ledge ratified every step he
rad taken Thoroughly fortified, then, AZ the Sec
retary 10 no less by the facts Of the case than by
the opinion. OF tile numerous wclghty tribunals
which have examined the case and sustained hun,
1 Tnust say that suopd hardly have ieit inclined
60 trouble the House this time, had not other
suggestions been made. From whom do they pro.
ceed, What party "a before Va from the outside
making any lament Outcry, Thee Is much
said abont the suffering Of the Mexican republic,
and there u a strong sympathy Tor At. who by,
Where ID the republIcf 1 see no republic, nor
any one claiming TO represcnt II. The party thst
il alleged to have suffered does not say word
not here. and makes no complaints The Messrs.
Grs.u are here, and II ~ their cutlery only ust
stung the ear. Now, "a 20 the complaint Of Tie
Messrs Green, have only "a say, that u would be
the rnost singular thing ithey were not dgnant
AT Mr. Webstsr who rejected their proposition. IL
would indeed be angular II they DID not hate bun
with a bitter, irfecoa. ilabic Indian hatred. why
mott But for bin they tinnk ihey would nave re
Ctived a princely fortune, wrunR from thc hctrrri
lies Of Mexico. They have one hundred aud seventy
five thousand good reasons for hating him. These
men expected, without capital by the use 81 tiSlr
its In going bac kwards aud rHards bet"cen these
Governments, TO put into their pockets what they
cali ~ one Of their papers "the pnltry commits
sions' az SITh.OOO There %, rir, touching gen
.rosity Of soul exhibited In the hrsi ground which
these gentlemen alege as their reason ior inicrpos
read from their memorial nddressed 10 The Prcsi.
dent.
"Mr Msrks was also warm ptr.Jnal Ircnd
snd admifer Of the present distinguished n.ad Ol
the Mexican government, and of the members OF
the then existing cabinet, and he and our attsn,
ton drawn 10 ths subject Of the indemnify lssi
bv any d,sps 10 make profit O,a Of II for ouseirf'
than by sympathy for ne Nsriesn gorunmri, and
indignation At the combinations formed by icre zn
bankers TO plumber the treasury Oi our own Gov
ernment, as well % Mexico"
But THE disinicrested sympathy yiclds prcseuuy
20 the Austerc suggestions Of prudence, enforced ~
Scripture They go on 20 ssy:
Bot, Dir, we have IL from high authority That
the laborer 10 deserving of his reward; and the
Mexican government, ~ svailing itseli Of our Ia.
bore and sUggestions, could not, In honesty and
good fifth do less than admit that We were eHti
lied, as compensation, to some email part Oi the
large sums thus 10 De saved % both Governments.
This email part" they aiterwHris d"scGbe a.
follows
"Dur compt nsatiOu vas thus 81 be only on uie
@5UO1. 900, and was the difference brtWcen Tho
premium 10 be paid 81 the United sates, Gay iour
and half per cent and the eight per cent. 10 -
allowed by the Mexican government, VIZ. SlI5,-
900 "
Now sir when you find that the then gres