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

committees Of this body quite capable Of passing upon
all the points that may arise IN this case one that
appropriate 10 the Committee Foreign Relations and
think It's Importance does not demand special committee
In all the numerous commissions which have originated
70 this country during my time IN the Congress OF the
United States. have never known one IN which gen.
emen disappointed in their claims or expectations have
not complained of the injustice, the unalrness, or the
llioeraiiy OF the commission And when we have ap.
pointed commission seems 10 me tnat nothing but
most sganl OF abuse should induce Congress TO in
t,erpose It's action upon the subject move, SIR that the
memorials be referred TO the Committee on Foreign Rea
lions. ~
The PRESIDENT The question will first be taken
upon the motion TO refer 10 standing committee.
Mr.. DOWNS | should perhaps have had no very
serious objections 10 Their going to the Committee on
Foreign Relations; but prominent member OF the
committee has expressed, il seems TO me. very
decided opinion in reference to them: The gentle
man seems TO have adopted very similar idea about
these claims 10 that which the commissioners did
that all the injustice was done 10 Mexico, and none
to the claimants. and that it was their duty to op
pose them, and cut them down much possi-
Bile. ! think that il the gentleman would look into
these claims he would lind them OF very different char
acer-many OF them Many OF the claims that have been
rejected here and one OF which myself presented
time ago, had been admitted by former board OF com.
missoners, Of at least high authority and dignity
the last They had been admitted and referred as to
| some points to the umpire, but not decided by him.
Those claims take it, were clearly recognised liqui-
dated by the subsequent treaty In the TO which
specially allude when the claim presented order
was made by the board that the should be allowed
subject to the future order of the board and when that
future order OF the board came, they rejected il altogether
think matter of this kind requires investigation
II may be all right but ii il is will suffer by inves-
tgaon. And the gentleman TO think that those
complaints ought not TO be listened to-tha there will
always be complaints OF this kind; Perhaps be is not
aware that it expected by our negotiaor in
Mexico, by the government here or by the people gen.
orally, that the amount OF three and quarter millions of
dollars. stipulated in that treaty, should be the only
pensation the United States should make. That
urged objection by the Mexican negotiations; and
Mr. Trst replied that although that amount was liked
yet it would not be the limit beyond which the United
States would not 60. They renqushed these claims
and agreed 10 pay this amount but that is no reasoD
having relinquished the claims upon Mexico. that we
should refuse 10 pay larger amount !, is due and if
the fact that when these claims presented against
Mexico did not fix them at three and quarter mil
seems very strange thing, indeed, that after this
planation OF Mr.. Trist we should now contne The
amount 10 that sum.
But understand that the board so far from going be-
yond the three and quarter millions, which was evil
denty contemplated by the act, have discharged their du
ties. and returned the papers. while a balance o some
$4,000 OF the three and quarter millions remains mol
ct absorbed, and that Mexico has already made claim
for that surplus belonging TO her and surely, it the
claims discharged, and That amount remains she is
entitled 10 IT, Ii the claimants have been dealt with
fairly if the claims have been fully discharged and the
business justly done, she is ened to it but she is not
entitled TO it, II these claimants have not been dealt with
fairly, and ii claims which should have been allowed
have been thrown aside and rejected. ALI desire is
that thorough investigation may lake place am very
anxious that The memorials should go 10 select commit
because understand the gentleman to indicate very
clearly that they will meet with very little quarter from
the Committee Foreign Relations if they 90 TO them
the probability being assumed that all such claims are
wrong.
Mr.. MANGUM. Twas no, present when this ques.
ton came up on former day. understand that the
gentleman who is chairman OF the Committee on For
egn Relations then present. and that he gave some
indications OF sort. know not what they were.
But there member Of this body acquainted with the
ability the remarkable fairness OF the honorable chair
ma oft tha itfeeo on Re wi n
not be willing TO trust anything TO his decision, what
ever might have been the predictions with which be
entered upon the invesig aon The honorable genlle-
further remarked that this question requires some in
vesgaon. am not prepared to say how far the Com
mee on Foreign Relations capable of investigating
any subject but at the head Of it stands OF the most
able and accomplished lawyers OF this body, and the
second upon i lsa prominent candidate for the presl-
dency OF the United States There other gentlemen
mee n ght be trusted as capable Of investigating any
and all questions connected with the foreign affairs oil
the government
body has gone for some time. II has only been upon
rare occasions, when the Union is shaking its founda-
tions that the Senate have usually departed from lis es
tabished and settled principle and have appointed select
committees The Union will suffer denment il these
claims are allowed. The Union will do justice 10
all claimants, hope and the senator entirely mlscon
ceives me when he understands me as having .ad that
think claims once rejected should under circumstances
have fair rehearng So very lar from IT., when The
proper shall arise, and the inerposon OF this body
shall become necessary for Tue purpose OF selhg mat
ter right trust shall be found ready 10 act as any
senator The aggregate ability upon the Committee on
Foreign Relations well understood by this body The
first two members OF IL at least ought to enliue II TO be
considered equal 10 any select committee which can be
raised IN this body trust that shall not, upon mere
question of private claims depart from the usual and dig
nifed course OF the Senate, and appoint committee 10
examine claims, to whether parties may or may not
be entitled TO indemnity
Mr. DOWNS hope that the gentleman from North
Carolina will think that have any particular obIec.
ton 10 that committee himself Certainly II he had
any such idea, disclaim il altogether have as much
respect for that committee and the members oil II as any
one here, and as much confidence in IT. stated when
commenced, that my objection not to the commit.
tee itself. but because think It's abos are 80 great in
other matters that they could not devote their attention 10
this to such extent its importance would require
But think the honorable senator. in his last speech,
is entirely mistaken in one thing He says has not been
the OF the Senate TO raise select committees, er-
cent such great occasions as when the Union Is IN
danger But can refer him 10 select committee raised
al the last session, and again AT this session. upon sub
ject which did not touch the Union at ALL refer TO the
subject OF the French spoations-exacty such case as
this-cailns against another government, but which,
having been elnquished, our own government pay
foreign relations, because we have taken i altogether
upon ourselves.
Mr. MANGUM. lin his seat) measure involving
about nine or ten millions OF dollars.
Mr.. DOWNS How does the gentleman know. that
this may not involve the payment oil i've millions of dol
lars II would not be astonishing thing as the gen.
,eman may suppose because the claims which have been
allowed amounted to less than three and quarter mil-
lions, whereas government exacted eight millions
from Mexico Whether 1t will turn out that there are
nearly five millions yet due, do not know but there
ha ho