The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-20

A brief debate ensued, when the bject was
referred back TO the Committee on Printing
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill to prevent frauds on the Treasury of the
United States, and to prohibit members Of
Congress and all persons holding Offices of pub
lie honor and emolument under the United
States from prosecuting claims against the
Government, under penalty
Mr. Johnson, OF Tennessee, thought it would
be conceded that the evil ought 20 terminate.
IL seemed TO him that the character Of mem
Der OF Congress is different from that Of an
agent prosecuting claims against the United
States. The people send their representatives
hither for the purpose of guarding their inter-
ests, and at the same time 10 do justice to those
who have claims against the Government The
people send their representatives to Washing
ton as the holders of the purse strings and TO
make just and withhold unjust appropriations.
Now, when representative, standing as a
sentinel on the watch.tower and protecting the
treasury changes his character, and becomes
an agent or prosecutor of claims against the
Government, he does wrong, because the claim
cannot be paid unless he assists in appropria-
ting the money for that purpose, acting in the
character Of a representative.
Mr.. Stephens of Georgia, obtained the floor,
when
The House resolved itself into a Committee
of the Whole on the state Of the Union-Mr.
Brown, of Mississippi, in the chair-and re-
sumed the consideration of the bill TO suppress
the circulation Of small notes as a currency in
the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Freeman modified the amendment which
he proposed yesterday as a substitute for the
bill to read as follows:
That from and after the passage of this act
it shall not be lawful TO make, emit, or utter,
within the District of Columbia, any species of
currency or money whatever, except the consti.
rational coins of the United States :; and that
for all offences against this act, the par.
ties committing the same shall be liable to in.
dctment by the grand jury of the District of
Columbia for high crime and on conviction
shall be fined in q sum not loss than five hun.
dred dollars, and be imprisoned in the peniten-
tlary Tor term of not less than six months nor
more than five years Provided, That this act
SHAH not be so construed as TO prohibit the or
binary circulation within this District of bank
notes above the denomination of ten dollars. issu-
ed by the legally authorized banking institutions
within the several States of this Union, and
brought here in the ordinary course Of trade
SEC 2 1t shall be the duty of all public Of
fcers in the District of Columbia to give in
formation to the justices of the peace and
! judges of the District Of Columbia of every
breach of this law that may come to their
knowledge and said judges and justices shall
have power as at common law, to arrest and
bind over all such offenders. as in other cases
OF crime or misdemeanor. Il shall also be the
duty OF the judges of said District to give this
act in charge to the grand juriss of the Dis
| trlct.
&c Al
much gentlemen may disagree about the pro-
VISIONS OF this bill, he presumed there was one
subject on which there WAS great unanimity !;
and that was there is an existing evil in this
District. The object seemed to be to correct
this evil and prevent the abuse. He had read
this bill carefully and though he did not pro-
fesS to be able wholly to analyze it, and point
out oil its defects he thought that with avery
few alterations, it would effect the object which
all desired. He wished to prohibit the circula-
ton of notes of all denominations, as a curren-
cy in this District
The Committee rose without coming to a
conclusion upon the subject before it, and the
House adjourned,
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill heretofore reported from the select COM
mittee appointed to inquire into the connection
of Thomas Corwin with the Gardner claim)
to prevent frauds on the Treasury of the United
States.
Mr. Preston King explained the provisions
of the bill and spoke of the duties which were
conferred upon the select committee; when
The Hsuse voted upon and agreed to the
pending amendments; and the bill was then
made tn provide
/ |. That all transfers and assignments here
after made of any claim upon the United
, States, or any part or share thereof, or inter
, est therein, whether absolute or conditional
, and whatever may be the consideration there
for; and all powers of attorney, orders, o
other authorities for receiving payment of an,
such claim, or any part or share thereof shall
be absolutely null and void, unless the SAM
shall he freely made and executed in the pres
cnce of ut least two atteSting witnesses, after
the allowance of such claim the ascertaamen
of the amount due, and tho issuing of war.
rant for the payment thereof.
2. That any officer of the United States, or
person holding any place of trust or profit,
or discharging any official function, under, or
in connection with, any Executive DEPARTMENT
of the Government of the Untod States, or
under the Senate or House of Representatives
Of the United States, who, after the passage of
this act shall receive any gratuty from any
claimant against the United States--or agree
to receive, or receive, except by inheritance, be-
quest, OF marriage, any share or pecuniary in
terest, in any claim against the United States
or shall act rs an agent or attorney for prose-
cutting any claim against the United States, or
shall in any manner, or by any means, other
wise than in the discharge Of his proper official
duties, aid or assist in the prosecution or sup
port of any such claim or claims, shall be liable
to indictment as for q msdemeanor, in any
court Of the United States having jurisdiction
for the trial of crimes end misdemeanors and
on conviction shall pay a fine not exceeding
twice the amount OF gratuty, fee, or compen-
sation, received by the person so convicted or
suffer Imprisonment in the penitentary not ex-
ceeding one year, or both, as the court, i'm its
discretion, shall adjudge.
3. That any Senator or Representative in
Congress who after the passage of this act
shall receive any gratuity from any claimant
against the United States, or agree 10 receive,
or receive except by inheritance, bequest, or
marriage, any share or pecuniary interest in
any clam against the United States or shall
for compensation paid or to be paid, certain or
| contingent, act as agent or attorney for prose-
cutting any claim or claims against the United
States or shall in any manner or by any
means, for such compensation, aid, or assist in
the prosecution or support Of any such claim
or claims shall DO liable TO Indictment as for
a misdemeanor, in any court Of the United
States having jurisdiction for the trial of crimes
and misdemeanors; and, on conviction, shall
pay fine not exceeding twice the amount Of
the gratuty or compensation received by the
person convicted, or suffer Imprisonment in the
penitentiary not exceeding one year, or both,
as the court in its discretion, shall adjudge
4. That if any person or persons shall, d.
rectly or indirectly, promise offer, or give, or
cause or procure to be promised, offered, or
given, any money, goods, right in action, bride,