Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-01-29

The Whole, 2Sd January, 1852, on the Mericdn In
denlaay Bill.
Mr.. Allen said: Mr.. Chairman, should have NJ,
disposition tosningle in the renewed debate upon
the Mexican indemnity bill, had not msrepresenta
! ton gone forth from portion of the public press,
respecting certain discussed by when the
subject was before the House the close at
the last Congress. l should have been content with
my duty to my country on that occasion; and with
the record Of the past before them have left to the
present House the disposition OF the whole subject,
contenting myself with silent vote.
But, sir, the necessity of correcting msapprehen-
siOns brings before the committee to ask its in
dulgence while | review some part of the proceed.
ings of last year. during the tendency OF similar
bill, and restae the position which took in regard
TO its
In February 1851, bill to appropriate $3, $780,
900 for the payment of the last nstament Of the
money due by the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidago 10
the Republic OF Mexico under discussion in
Committee Of the Whole House on the state of the
Union BY the terms of that treaty, the money was
to be paid to Mexico the 3lst OF May 1852 Fiji
teen Months therefore, Ielnaned before the pay
ment would become due ;and in the course of the de-
bate the inquiry arose, in what manner and by what
instrumentaty the transfer OF necessary funds was
TO be made. The TACT was then dlsclosed that tho
Secretary of State had, in the OF 1850, ne
gotated bargain with j. w Ward, Of Boston, as
the agent Of the Earrings, Rowland & Aspinwall, az
the city of New York, and Corcoran & Riggs, of
the city OF Washington, in pursuance OF which con-
tract, funds Of the United States to the amount due
10 Mexico to be placed the disposal Of these
gentlemen, and they were 10 make payment TO Mex"
lco according TO the terms Of said treaty. For this
benefits to be derived by those bankers from the
agency they had assumed, they were to allow this
Government discount OF three and half per cent.
upon the funds delivered 10 them In the course al
debate il appeared that dissatisfaction felt by
other parties than the successful applicants for this
agency. the tanser OF funds, and that least ona
house Of undoubted credit Che Rothschhds) hat
stood ready to offer to this Government larger
sum, by many thousand dollars, than was stipulated
to be paid by the brokers with whom the contract
was in fact made II also appeared that the Sec.
rotary oil State, almost immediately his assump.
ton u ofhce, had made the contract definitely with
the Baiings aud their associates, without aiording
any opportunity for other houses to present their
proposals. That the agency source Of emoIu.
uent, directly OF indirectly commensurate with tho
magnitude Of the funds, s., to be transferred
to the parties contracting with the Government, No
one will deny; and 1t is equally ndsputabe that it,
hastily closing bargain upon the FIRST offer of nego
tiatOn,a opportunity had been given for which there
MAS more than ample time, for competition among
might have beeu obtained by The Government wIIf
equal security upon their fulhllnent. And in addie
ton 10 the direct pecunIary advantage TO have been
derived by the United States by a fair competition
for the avas OF the agency in question, there would
have been a satisfactory assurance lne HllHu5 OF
the public, and all concerned, that the interests oil
the nation mad been protected, and suspicion OF
tavoritism would have rested upon the transaction.
Another mode of meeting the demands of Mexico
remained, more honorable still to this couulry, as it
would have dispensed with all negotiation With bro
kers, foreign OF native, and be kind, coneiatory,
and beneficial to feeble Republic, 10 whom the
fortunes OF war had awarded few millions OF dol
lars in exchange Tor the sources Of inexhaustable
wealth. and the dominion Of an empire. No mem
Der OF this committee have adverted TO portions
OF this correspondence OF the Mexican Minister,
which have been land upon our desk, without being
impressed with the belief that the Mexican Govern
ment would gladly have received this inslament OF
the indemnify in acceptance by our Government at
Washington, and that fear OF giving offence to the
Seer taly OF Stale, by interfering with his chosen
mode of payment, alone prevented an early PROPOSE
ton to that effect II was SO obviously for the in
terest of Mexico To allow. to this Government for
difference IN exchange, a larger sum than three and
a hall per cent, to be paid by The Earrings and their
associates, and receive her indemnity at " ashng-
tom that had to the OF the treaty for
an objection against this mode OF procedure. Ard it
further alleged that the Senate refused to allow a
provision TO be inserted in the treaty, by which
drafts on this Government for the several install
meDts were to be delivered to MeXluo the ral-
fication Of the treaty, before army had been
Withdrawn from the invaded country, and the poll
cy which dictated the Withdrawing at that time OF
Government 1t is objection which never sug-
gesled itself the minds oi General Taylors Cabi-
net. Ii was the desire OF that Administration, in
consideration Of the necessities OF Mexico, to adopt
this mode Of payment; and nothing but the failure
OF the Mexican Minister seasonably to receive in
structions that effect, prevented such arrange
nent from taking effect prior to the payment of the
second instament.
But, sir, | waive the further consideration of the
expedency Of paving the indemnity directly, and
without the veRtlon of brokers, the agents of
Mexico, at Washington. Let gentlemen dismiss
that argument, il they please, from their minds and
have still very grave objections against the course
pursued in this business by the Secretary of State
La the first place, | assert that no officer of the
Government had any right to negotiate definiuvely
for the payment OF the money, two years, or one
year, in advance Of an appropriation Of Congress
therefor, - es4s.i. 800
In the second place, il the right OF any executive
officer to make such negotiation, at such time were
admitted, would be the duty OF that officer for the
protection Of the rights Of the country, as we'll as to
avoid lavorsn in the disposition OF an immensely
profitable contract, throw it open 10 fair competi.
ton among those who are equally competent 10 the
business, and responsible for any failure in its per-
Torrance.
And, IN the third place, deny entirely, the right
OF the Secretary Of State to negotiate with the ro.
kers at all, Tor the payment of the Mexican Indemn
ty. Il an assumption Of duties which belong TO
another officer Of the Government
Now, sir, in briefly presenting my views, as
shall do, ask this committee 10 look at the facts
which before them, aud which will be before
them, to separate this matter from considerations
which do not belong il, and to dispose Of il, as
doubt not they will desire do, in the exercise OF
/ Judgment unbiased by prejudice Ii is not an un-
usual thing here, for skilui and dexterous men, by
| influences in the House, and especially out Of
the House, to connect the subject matter under con-
solicitation here, with topics entirely foreign to that
which properly invites the attention Of this body.