The daily union., 1852-04-14

il as debt-because such claimants who ara willing
catch at part rather than risk the loss OF the whole as
they lear they would do II the whole thing was exposed
beforehand, come here and ask to reduce II 10 an
amount which the country might be induced 10 tolerate,
and CONGRESS may venture to giveshali we, ask from
considerations like these violate the very principle upon
which alone we dare recognise the claims at all ana IN
disregard and derogaon OF the claims OF these children
who, we owe them at ALL cannot release us from any
part Of them, unless pay them all ask, shall we do
this.
nave not risen 10 make speech; shall not aemp,,
MY 70 Tea
in my opinion, inevitably follows our duty if II be
recognised as principle at ALL We either owe the
money, or we do not II we owe any, we what can
be proved and that must pay in FULL or we repudiae
the just debts OF the government. We cannot properly
compound with our creditors without acknowledging
we are the former and cannot acknowledge we are the
latter II we do not owe il as a debt we have no au-
hority no riSh; a 70 give the public money away .
MIR. BRADBURY. The senator from Michigan Mt.
FELcH] believe. had design to make some remarks 10
the Senate in regard this BILL and hope that be may
be allowed TO proceed With his permission. however,
fallen from the senator from Arkansas. That senator
moves to strike OF the bill the words to amount
not exceeding five millions Of dollars" and argues that
anything should be paid, the whole amount should be
paid. At the time. the honorable senator informs
US that he is Individually opposed to the payment OF any
thing II would be sufficient answer to the argument
enray would be very glad TO obtain their dividends o
the five millions proposed to be appropriated They are
satisfied with this amount, and the motion TO increase OF
leave ii indefinite does not come from them
have heard another remark, that very probably this
bill would involve the expenditure OF an indefinite
amount-twenty thirty, perhaps, hundred millions
OF dollars Permit me to say that the claims were esi
mated the time by ENJOYS France at from fifteen
TO twenty millions Of dollars This embraced the entire
mass OF the clamsthe claims Of those who have re-
ceved satisfaction under the Louisiana treaty as well az
those who have been paid under the Florida treaty
There has been received under those treaties and sub
sequent treaty, in round numbers, $7,l57oo0 IT, then
yhnln ad tha n
SO, 100000, there would be now due l2 Sl2,95i IL
| however, that estimate was too large, and the amour
due was but $l5000,000 there would still remain L
this class OF claimants, who have received nothing
$7,si3,ooo
But, sir think the principle is correct which il
proposed TO be adopted in this bill The government o
4 the United States undertook the prosecution OF these
claims, and received in consideration Tor their release
discharge from the claims made by France against lh'
government of the United States The government die
| not receive compensation in dollars and cents, but
received release from claims against itself These calm
indefinite in amount and bad to be estimated There
is tribunal 10 estimate them except the Congress o.
the United States. They are, | repeat, indefinite ~
amount and they might have swelled TO $2o,O0Oooo OF
TO 800 900 900; they might in the Judgment OF some
have fallen to $5,Oooooo. BY this bill Congress under
takes estimate the amount of the claims OF France
which consideration received and fixes IT at S5 ooo
600 We thus determine that the claims against France
were worth s. 100000 to the claimants, and that that
the value OF the consideration received by our govern
ment for these releases II would not be correct TO as
sumo the amount OF claim 10 be IN all cases the true
measure OF damages, Wnen the
liable 10 the claimant but the value OF it TO the claimant
and that is be determined in this in part, by thc
vaae of the consideration received in exchange, which
we fix at SJ, ,o00, 900.
But this amendment is urged by those who opposed
TO paying anyhing II is not for them to make this ob
lection when the claimants say that, although Their de
mands be greater, they willing TO accept 5000,
| 600 in full compensation OF all their claims.
/ Mr BORLAND. ] ask the yeas and nays on th
amendment.
/ The yeas and nays ordered.
/ Mr. FELCH II the senator who proposed to lay thu
bill on the table desires to test the OF the Sen
ate on that question: will yield the floor in order that
may make the motion
/ MIR ADAMS. Withdraw the motion with grea
pleasure
Mr. FELCH II the question is not taken on that mo
tion DESIRE before the vote is taken the amendmen
proposed by the senator from Arkansas say something
on The subject
IThe speech Of Mr. FELcH not having been concluded
| it will be published hereafter