The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-25
In CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES.

were presested here and UPON the presentation believe,
Of the first of them, and its reference to the Com
mtee on Finance rose in my place, ana SAID mat Tue
question was not understood that Texas had been mis-
represented. that hoped and trusted that committee
would favor with report al an early day when we
should have time TO investigate the matter and mat
would throw back upon the government OF the United
States the iDputaon Of repudiaon there was any IN
this NATTER which had been SO Literally cast by news
paper writers and book makers upon the State OF Texas
have stood here from that day TO this all the time anx-
ious to redeem that pledge to the letter. and place the
government OF the United States IN much more awk-
ward predcament than Texas appears, according 10
the representations oil her btlefest enemies on this sub
ject.
osion coming in at this late hour ot the session; am
thrown of until nearly o'clock with about two days
OF the session let some gentlemen are anxious to ad-
journ, some desire not to hear me-, although have
thrown no distractions in the way OF an inyesiigaton
but, the contrary, have coured II from The nrs mo-
ment when the assault upon the State OF Texas began
proceed now, or can YIELD II gentlemen are anx
ious 10 adjourn certainly do not wish 10 impose upon
them the necessity of sitting here against their wishes
Mr.. COOPER, II me senator from Texas will give
oF s ssnao will a ave 0sS wav
me. will move that We adjourn to meet at ten o'clock
M HUNTER. hope not The Committee on Fl
nance ought surely to be allowed some time 10 examine
the appropriation bills. We have the navy appropriation
bill yet 10 examine.
| presume. withou. one days notice.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. | know that and therefore |
ask unanimous consent
Objection was made.
Mr. DOUGLAS. Il is very evident that unless the
amendment be withdraw, the result will be the defeat
OF the appropriation bills 1t is evident there is going to
great deal Of debate on the subject must result
Mr.. GWiN. appeal TO the senator from Virginia to
withdraw the amendment
Mr.. BRoDHEAD; cordially join in ,ha, appeal
Mr.. MASON That appeal has been made before. |
regret that cannot comply with il. wish TO get
on this question deem that the preseat attitude of
things is one OF crying injustice, and wish some
MIR BRADBURY. ask the senator 10 allow me to
make suggeson and that is, that the senator from
Maryland withdraw, believe he is ready to do. his
amendment, and then some one may move amend
ment TO the proposition o the senator from Virginia
something that shall negative ii as for instance to in
the word not" before authorized" This would
IT The e PRESIDING OFFICER. The senator from
Texas is entitled to the floor.
Mr. RUSK. Mr.. President, | shall be as brief in my
remarks possible. have waited with great deal OF
patience, and il is now late, but prefer 60 pres
eni rather than give way for an adjournment.
Mr.. President, on the 9th day OF September, 1850,
law called the boundary act was passed, by which SlO
600 900 n stock were TO be given the State OF Texas
Five millions OF that amount to be reserved until
the creditors Tor whose debts the Of the repub
hc OF Texas bad been specially pledged before her
nexaon should file their releases in the Treasury De-
parlment OF the United States The subject was sub.
mllled to the Secretary OF the Treasury, that he might de-
termne what claims were included in that proviso The
law viii bear me out IN stating that the Of
Texas TO be derived from impost duties were not spe-
ciaiy pledged or more than $4,000 900 bu, decision
was made by the Secretary OF the Treasury and after
wards approved by the President OF the United States
by which the words especial pledge" construed 10
mean general pledge and were applied TO all the evil
deDces OF debt which were made receivable for govern
men, CUES a. well as those for which general pledge
was given Of the revenues. By this means the pledge
was made 10 cover what is proposed by the amend.
ment OF the senator froU Maryland. shall not stop
now 10 investigate the grounds upon which this de-
c's'on was made, nor shall | stop to draw The dis
unchons between a general and special pledge, but
will only mention one or two OF them. When a spe
cal pledge made upon impost duties, carries with
an obligation the part OF the government making
ITO collect revenue from impost duties. When gen.
era pledge OF all the revenues OF government is made
carries such obligation upsn its face, and il means
just such revenues as the government may have. and
none Other u may repeal i,s revenue laws The next day
without bad faith But, the decision OF the Secretary
OF the Treasury approved by the President that
special pledge covered general pledge, and included all
me revenue receivable Tor government dues, amounting
IN all TO $s,333,0 That decision went further IL
wa declared that not dollar could be paid out to any
CREDITOR or to Texas under any arrangement until the
releases for all The debts thus situated were fled This
made u physical impossbiliy to comply with that
Interpretation oil the law, because the obligations are for
various sums, from five dollars upwards Some portions
81 The claims against the government OF Texas have
doubtless been los and II Is likely that will never
be presented but until release for every single sxpence
should be filed in the Treasury Department, there can be
no payment according TO the decision OF the Secress OF
The Treasury Now, SIR allow refer TO sorne re.
marks made by the honorable senator from MARYLAND
lMt. PrARcE] on this subject, at the time when the
boundary aetw under consideration. He then said
There is another subject which musk ask the auen
ton OF the Senate tbr and that the pro-
vso attached TO the last clau.e OF the bill has pro-
po.ed by some that the United States shond H.
sell The rlgh, Of distributing the money may
IsIas among her credtos but have put provis
loo as that into the bi and for several la the
place, do not wish the United States become commits
sloner IN bankruptcy Tor Texas and in the second do
not wish 10 place Jsrss in the condition Of appearing be
obliged TO be placed In the hands OF a commissioner OF
bsnkupcy II seems TO that while would ba We been
lnpnhtc in us To undertake. that which not tho
me.ns OF doing properly, Texas can, with safety to her
creditors and honor TO HERSELF make this distribution
would also be an ndgniy the State of Texas Sir
one OF the highest sfonrs that could be hon
81 man woud be TO say, when he has ample
uehafge bis debts, That you suspect his honor and will
70, unst MN wtth the money devoted this purpose
aol'e as offensive, undoubtedly to State. sup
pose inst she viii be isihess and fraudulent In a set
usfnent with her creditors I am not willing TO make
uon an lmpusuon on Tesss suspect in the least her
~ o o' ihe honor OF her legislature l am willing
~ n, lhe matter TO her decision, and TO let her
ue W,h her creditors with the means which have pro
but admit, at the time, that IL is right
treasury OF the United States from the conin
~n,oh may fow from this measure il Texas should
nov saoP lh course IL Texas were to ,e,tle W nh her
~ s.,, - w in but upon reduction Of their claims
~ sna , interest due ihem even with their assent
sfeT having consented 10 lake seven,v a. a' y he
oons sus can De supposed may come baok on the yov
I " " . -. oneo states, and demand the full amount
propose 20 guard against that and lof th.t r,a h.ys
introduced the last proviso In the hiH H. nsvs
the ten millions Of 1--WE per cent sock "a - a
a., s"sn nsve assented 10 these term. and .,y
nined her assent In proper form the -, y, ~,
United States shall retain Ave ,n,' on ,he
time ~ full release shall be filed in ,hs u sueh
nea ses py 'he creditors holding bonds or which
he duties on the customs pledged Tn. a,ran ~nou
rendered necessary by this povso ma e..i,. 10
by the" creditors and Terss On the ~
CLAIMS, tsnd believe they ell have been ,hsse
leo s,f1 u