The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-13


Mr.. UNDERWOOD expressed his recollection
Of the understanding Of the treaty when before the
Senate as the same az that of the Senator from
New Hampshire.
MIR. MANGUM said that this whole disc usaion
was useless for any public parpoee. and pernicious
to many interests before Congress by cons umin e
the time. II bad opened in an attack on the Sec
rotary of State and the late Wing administration.
That assault had been repelIed al every point; and
now, with the fecundity of the Democratic party,
it was changed into an appeal TO war with Eng.
land. He hoped the war resolutions would be i'm
troduced. This attack on Mr. Clayton had done
more for him than he could do FIR him elf He
had been informed that Mr.. Clayton had been this
day elected to the Senate. There never was a
party assault which had proved more signal
failure.
As member of the Committee on Foreign Re
iations, he declared that it had never been im
agned BY that committee that this treaty had evor
included the British claims in Honduras
lie moved an adjournment, which was agreed to.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. GORMAN said that there was on the
Speakers table a Senate bill providing a retired
list for the army. 1t was important thar the bill
should 60 before the Committee on Military Ar
fairs, as it is expected that it will be acted upon
during the present session. 1t has passed the Sen
ale several times before, and failed to pass the
House for want of time. He asked the unanimou
consent of the House to take up the bill for the pur
pose of reference.
Objection was made.
Abstract OF THE CENSUS.
MIR. STANTON, of Kentucky, from the Com
mittee on Printing, reported resolution provid-
copies of the report of the Superintendent of the
Census, heretofore ordered to be printed 8
He said the report makes one hundred and TWEEN
ty- tve pages, and should be bound with view
to the better preservation Of that valuable docu-
ment III
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia, concurred in what
the gentleman said, and moved that the forme r
abstract OF the Superintendent be bound with this
volume.
Mr. STANTON, of Kentucky. Tin reply to
question by Mr.. HUNTER,) said that the printing
of the one hundred thousand copies will cost
S. ,604, and the binding about $1,000
a brief debate ensued, when the subject as re-
ferred back to the Committee on Printing
pHEvEsrIoN OF FRAUDS on THE TREASURY.
The House resumed the consideration of the bill
to prevent frauds on the treasury Of the United
States, and to prohibit members or Congress and
all persons holding Offices of public honor and
emoinment under the United States from prose,
cutting claims against the Government, under
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, thought it would
be conceded that the evil ought to terminate. II
seemed to him that the character of a member of
Congress is different from that of agent prose-
cutting claims against the United States The
people send their representatives hither for the pur
pose OF guarding their interests, and at the same
time to do justice to those who have claims against
the Government. The people send their represen
tatlves to Washington the holders of the purse.
strings, and to make just and withhold unjust ap-
preparations Now, when representative, stand
ing as sentinel on the watch tower and protect.
ing the treasury, changes his character and be.
comes an agentor prosecutor of claims against the
Government, he does wrong, because the claim ca ~
not be paid unless he assiss in appropriatina the
money for that purposes acting in the character of
q representative. He should not be swerved from
his legitimate duty, nor BIO involved in the prose
cuion of claims. Gentlemen NAV be interested
in claims connected. with Indian tribes, or with
foreign governments. A treaty lie made and com
missoners appointed, when they step before the
board, and prosecute claims for which they them
selves have made provision. This is morally
wrong, politically wrong, and ought 10 be made
legally wrong; and offenders should be punished
as the bill provides.
He then examined into the history of the Gardi.
ner transaction, stating that the claim had been
BY perjury and forgery. Then, if Waddy Tnomp-
son and Thomas Corwin he the recipients of the
money extracted from the treasury BY means of
fraud and perjury-if they the hi h- minded
and honorable men they are represented to be-on
every principle of sound morality and Justice
The doctrine of resttution-nn the doctrine that the
recipient of stolen goods should restore them to
the ownsr-they should restore the money to the
treasury. Some OF the money which DR.. Gardiner
hched has been attached, and everyb ,dy saws this
$ right. Ia certain portion is in the hands of
Corcoran and Riggs, as money belonging to the
government, was 1t not equally right to enjoin it,
Is the Identical money which passe, into the hands
Of Messrs. Thompson and Corwin. He vas aware
hat the money could not be Obtained legally, but
I should be morally; and in the conclusion Of his
'emarks he said that it is time ths indiscriminatc
ystem of plundering going on about the Capitol
and the Executive departments should be stopped,
Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. obtained the fioor,
WI -E
The House resolved itself into Committee of
he Whole on the state of the Union-Mr BRowN
# Mississippi, in the chair-and resumed the con
ldefauon oI the Dill to suppress the circulation of
SMALL NOTES
q currency in the District of Columbia ST.
MIR. FREEMAN modified the ameDdrnent which
re proposed yesterday as substitute for the bill
o read follows: tt.l
That from and after the passage of this act it
he District of Columbia, any species If currency
r money whatever except the constitutional coins
# the United States; and that, for al. offenc,s I
gainst this act, the parties committing the same
nall be liable to Indictment by the grand jury of
he District of Columbia for high CRIME, and on !
onviction shall be fined in sum not less than |
I've hundred dollars, and be imprisoned in he |
enitentiary for term of not less than six m ,nths
Tor more than five years: Provided, That this act !
hall not be construed az to prohibit the ordinary
REGULATION within this District of bank notes above
he denomination of ten dollars, Issued by the
egaiiy authorized banking institutions within the
he ordinary course of trade
SEC q 1t shall be the duty of all pu bic officers in
he District of Columbia to give intorma ton the
Justices of the peace aud judges of the District of
Columbia Of every breach OF this law that nav |
;ome to their knowledge; and said Judges AMI
Justices shall have power, as at common law, to
arrest and bind all such Offenders as in other
;ases OF crime or misdemeanor. Ii shall also be |
he duty o! the judges of said District to give
his act in charge to the grand jurles of the Dis.
riot.
Mr.. FREEMAN supported his proposition by a
peech, in the course of which he said he objected
o the bill, because it was not calculated to cure |
he evil of fraudulent currency
Mr. VENABLE thought the measure proposed
put down the shinplasters would be to subiec. the
ssuers of notes to pay twice the amount OF their |
denominations; the amount to be recove able be-
ore justice OF the peace. They VIII, violate the |
aw should be punished in their purse. II is no, I
he severity, but the certainty of punishment |
which arrests vice. It the duty Of Congress to
put down this sma-note swindle. sx Es5
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee. said that however
much gentlemen may disagree about the provi- |
lions OF this bill, he presumed there was one sub.
ect on which there was great unanimity; and that
vas, there Is an existing evil in this District The
oo]ect seemed to be to correct this evil and rre
vent the abuse He had read this bill carefaly: |
and though he did not profess to be able wholly TO
analyze 1t, and point out all it's defects he thought
hat, with very few alterations it would effect
the object whi;h all desired. He wished to pro
nibit the circulation of es Of all denominations
- currency, in this District