Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-24
THE TEXAS DEBT.

At the request Of gentlemen Of this city we give
place TO the annexed letter from Gen. HAMILTON Of Soax
Carolina on the subject Of the Texas debt in which mxsT
of our readers interested:
10 he Editors Of The C1ayieston Courier.
GENTLEMEN; My attention has been called to the fos-
lowing aruce In your paper OF the 9th instant
IL Is said that Gen. James Hamilton of this State hxs
ned 10 the Treasury Department opinion Of Francis -
sutung adverse TO the decision Of the late
aye TO the distribution OF the five millions Of dollars
ed IN the Treasury for the Texas bondhoder Mr. Cuttings
opinion favSr the scaling system which down By
the Senate at the last session. The subject il now
sideraton by the Attorney General"
II certainly would not have claimed my notice but f
the assertion that the opinion Of my COUNSEL Mr. CUr
TING, favored the sealing system Of Tras" which ysSs
will permit me to remark, is essentially untrue Ygu
doubtless copied the article from Northern paper
and in degree responsible for its accuracy this
does not render the article less injurious that dis
guished gentleman and accomplished lawyer.
Mr.. CUTTING was not called upon TO give an opinion
the scaling system Of Texas (which man nose
unreservedy condemns than hinself) but simply to e-
pound what, in his Judgment, would be the just and eg
mate construction Of the proriso in the boundary act and
whether point of fact it does endeavor enforce
only impraccable absurdity, but perpetrate nm
enormous act of injustice unmgaed by single plea ID
either policy expedience Yet the construction which
the late Administration placed this proyso hath this
extent and nothing less"
was assured by Mr.. CRIrTEYDEN, the late Attorney
General that he called upon, either personally
officially, for legal opinion the point involved IN
the proyso which the interests of the Government Of
and those of individuals to thousands and tens of thou
sands. Certainly very remarkable emission.
The assertion is equally untrue that the Senate at its
last session. passed Judgment the scaling system n
Texas That body refused modify the propso BECAUSE
have every to believe, it appended nm
amendment to the civil and diplomatic appropriation bR
the passage Of which, it feared might be endangered
by this rider by the discussion it would provoke in the
House of Representatives. q
was assured by Mr.. HUNTER, the chairman of tise
Committee on Finance the Senate who though in IA
I'm
vote against it, that if the had been brought
forward as separate measure and substantive propose
tion it would in his opinion, have passed by decided
majority The only distinct issue which contemps-
raneousy submitted the bill offered by Mr. Pearrs
Of Maryland, which provided, in the form of
ton Of stock assumption of the debt of Texas by
the Government of the United States in support Of which
but seven votes could be mustered in the Senate
4 hope, gentlemen, am nduging undue levity to-
wards the late President of the United States for whom
entertain profound respect for his late Secretary
of the Treasury, personal esteem, when ssy
that the construction they placed the prorso THAI
one Of the creditors of Texas should be permitted to Ne
cept the settlement she rendered them until az should
agree to accept and sign off, really unlike the
conduct Of horse drover who should impound sixteen
hundred mules, (Which about constitute our number,)
with efectua mnzzes on their noses, with declaration
that not Of them should be permitted to drink unl
they should agree to drink all together.
Ideem it unnecessary to make any further comments
the to which the article in question REFERS
the point at issue is before the President and his
Cabinet When his decision is rendered it may become
necessary that my memorial to the Executive with Mr.
Cuttings opinion should be made public 1t viii them
be whether this gentleman obnoxious the charge
of being repudiator, whether, with the aeumen
which belongs to his genius accomplished jurs,s In
has ntrepdy pursued what he bepes be the TRUTH
CARELESS whether his spear ansfxes the blubber Of
oyergrown and pampered pecuator who may happen to
be rich enough laugh at the d.resses Of those whom
he may have essentially contributed to ruin, and uho
contempates with eager avidity the when stu
more intense misfostunes will render them the easy
tins Of his unbounded avarice.
have the honor to remain, gentlemen very respect
fully, your obedient servant, J. HAMILTON
ST.. LuKE's PARISH, BEAUFORT DIS, s. c., SEPT II.