The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-22

al least prma Jaeis evidence Of claim, lar the
present consideration is concerned take different
70 regard 10 Them DO not see why We should make
this disincuon and hope therefore, that this VIII be
referred to a select committee.
/ Mr. HALE ] have not heard the petition read, and
should like 10 hear Before can understandngly vote
upon IL should like 10 know what The allegations
| Mr.. DOWNS. Ii will take an hour
Mr. HALE Then should like TO hear an abstract OF
il Does allege corruption Because if itdoes believe
and believe II there be three millions OF dollars ds-
bursed under commission. and il there is not conup-
ton, II would form the exception. Who heard OF
parties going before tribunal, and both the paia and
the defendant satisfied with the result! We have insti
ined this commission and put this money into their
hands, and upon their paying II out some parties dis.
satshed and complain TO Congress Of injustice have no
doubt OF tnot the least in the world And if you insti
lutte another commission. TO dlsbuse three millions
there will be twice many dissatisfied then The
number OF claimants. as suggested by my friend upon
my right will be increased. Instead OF essening the
lumber, you will increase IT, and you will increase
the dissatisfaction. II il is supposed that by multiplying
commissions, and increasing the amount oil payment you
would decrease the amount OF dissatisfaction. you will
be exceedingly mistaken But, sir il there be charge
Of corruption Hope that il may be made detniie and
hope the Senate will take TO vindicate the
government against abuses OF this sort. But tell
those claimants. ii they suffering under the fruits OF
corrupon they are not suffering alone; Why, the late
President OF the United States, Gen. Taylo it is said,
when he put himself the head of the admins
traton-the poor old gentleman with the idea that
he going TO bring this government back to its orgi-
pI He and s dsd snde T.
cannot be done Corruption is the order OF the day and
what has been the result in this case has taken place in a
be made definite and if there is definite charge OF COR
rupon perjury forgery. or anything OF that Sort then,
sir, will be ready 10 investigate it. and TO go as far as
any body in the world But II il is simply the dssasiac-
ton of claimants presenting claims which rejected
it is perfectly useless matter 10 attempt to satisfy them
II therefore that wished to have the petition read,
in order whether there plain and defni te
charge OF corruption. or whether these gentlemen are
simply dissatisfied because they presented claims which
Mr. DOWNS. Perhaps can satisfy the gentleman
more briefly than 10 have the report read
MI. HALE. am perfectly willing to take the state.
Mr.. DOWNS The gentleman is entirely mistaken in
supposing that the memorials charge corruption There
such thing in them But they do say that injustice
has been done them that there has been mystery about
them; that they have never been made public as they
should have been; that the claimants were never IN
formed of The judgment against them, although they
promised that they should be notified, until the
board had closed and the papers had been rearned had
been sent 10 the Secretary of State and had been sealed
up, as am told they are yet These memorasts do not
ask that certain OF money should be paid 10 them
but they state the circumstances under which these
awards were made that their own claim had been al
lowed by another board OF commissioners of the high
est respeciabllty, and that they have now been re-
ected by this board of commissioners; that no reasons
Tor these rejecions have been made public placed III
any form which they reach. They ask, then, that
the evil OF secrecy, which has been inconsistent with
OF proceedings generally in courts and every.
where ese shall be removed, and that committee VIII
look into mt this matter may turn out maj nese claims ha
10 be done will be fer the committee to report this fact
These claimants justly dissatisfied. as conceive with
the which has been pursued They wish TO in
quire whether their complaints well founded and if
they certainly Il is the duty OF the government to IN
ierpose The gentleman says that IN the decisions be
fore courts, OF the parties will always be dssa
isfed. ask if they have not right to be dissatisfied
when the investigation has not taken the usual course
Where the necessity that these proceedings should
be kept secrets Why were not the parties informed Of
the resu Why have not the records been made public
for these persons see In all courts, according to
their established usages there is an opportunity Tor re
considers ation OF opinions given by the court What
should think OF OF courts OF JUSTICE whether
subordinate or supreme court, rendering decision,
but keeping il secret What should we think II The
records minutes, and documents were all sealed book
And what should think IL n such case the parties
not TO know The result until the decsion should be
made, and then should be told that il final and rrev
ocabIe, and should never be looked into afterwards
What sort OF justice is this l know nothing OF tins
transaction, except from the representations OF the me-
moriaiss who persons oil high respecabity, many
OF them at least; and say they do make out strong
case for examination. That is all ask do not say
that these claims right but that certainly the claim
should understand upon what their rejection was
based If the committee report that these claims
without foundation, have not word TO say. But |
wish the examination 10 be thorough and complete.
| The PRESIDENT. The Chair will observe that this
discussion not into the merits OF the case but sim
ply to the question whether the memorial shall be re-
ferrei to the Committee Foreign Relations
king the self. same remark. No one person have yet
heard has indicated the slightest degree OF opposition TO
the OF this matter The whole question Is
whether il shall 20 10 regular committee, shall go 10
select committee; and think II ought TO go 10 the
former.
The question being taken upon the motion TO refer the
memorials 10 the Committee Foreign Relations, Il was
agreed to--ayes 25, noes 10.
Mr. DOWNS moved that the memorials heretofore
presented on the subject OF revision OF the decisions o
the board OF commissioners for settling the claims oil
American citizens against Mexico, which had been or
dered lie upon the table, be referred TO the Committee
on Foreign Relations; which agreed to-
rArERs WITHDRAWN AND REFERRED.
Mr. WADE asked leave to withdraw the papers OF
BRYAN Caaghan from the files of the Senate for the pur
pose OF having them presented in the House, favor
able report had been made at the last session which was
| agreed 10.
Mr. BELL asked leave to withdraw the petition Of
Arabella ]. Strong widow and execurx OF Lorenzo w.
Cake deceased and that be referred to the Committee
on Indian Affairs; which was agreed to.
| Mr. DODGE, of Iowa, asked that the papers IN the
case of the Iowa militia be Withdrawn from the files OF
the Senate, and referred TO the Committee on Military
Affairs; which agreed TO.
Mr. d. also asked that the letters of the Secretary OF
War and Adiuant General, accompanying them, be
printed which agreed to.
Mr. DOWNS asked that the papers IN the case OF the
heirs OF Andrew d. Crosby be Withdrawn from the hes
OF the Senate there having heretofore been favorable
report; which agreed TO-
Mr.. GWIN asked that the petition and papers OF
Mexican Buchanan, purser in the navy, be Withdrawn
from the files OF the Senate, and referred TO the Committee
on Naval Affairs; which agreed to.
Mr. WHITCOMB asked leave to withdraw from the
files OF the Senate the papers relating to the claim o the
administrator OF Major Wade, quartermaster OF ms.
rines and that they be referred to the Committee OF