Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-01-18
THIRTY-sEC0ND CoNGREss--eD SESSION.
THURSDAY, JASuARv Is, 1883.
SENATE

THIRTY-sECOND CoNGREss--2D SESSION.
TUESDAY, JASuAav 10, 1853
SENATE
The Chair laid before the Senate communication from
the Secretary OF War; transmitting statement OF inc eA-
pendi,ure OF that department for the year 1857 ~
Mr. Shields presented the memorial OF citizens OF wash
ingo representing the county Jail us nuisance ane
ing lis removal -
Mr. Mallory presented memorials of the officers OF the
revenue service. praying an increase OF salary.
MIR. Seward submitted resolution ai'ecuhe "h inqu!
whether any legislation by Congress necessary 10! the
protection of New Mexico from Indian ostiltcs Adopted
On motion of Mr. Shields, the Senate took up the bill 10
amend the charter OF the District OF Columbia by extend
Ing the right Of suffrage allowing The corporation 10
any all of officers elective by the people, and confer
ring upon il greatly enlarged police powers The OIL was
considered and passed. .
The subject OF Commodore Morsan's conduct in the Me-
derranean again coming up, it was again postponed
The Senate then took up The construction oil rairoaa
and branches for establishing postal communication be-
the shores of The Pacific and Atlantic within the
United States for protection and facilities Of travel and
commerce. and for th- necessary deences OF the country
bill.
consideration Of the bill in all its important provisions and
Details. Messrs. Miller, Seward Davis Cass Rusk and
others followed approving the general object OF the bill but
desiring time consider the details The bill was then post
2oned till Monday, and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The remarks in yesterdays report attributed to Mr. John
sou of Tenn were mad. by Mr. jones of That State; and
Mr. Ashe.
we'd yesterday afternoon adopted limiting debate the
small notes bill 10 five minutes ate! The House shall again
20 Into committee.
Sir Stephens Georgia. agreed with the gentleman ~ho
had spoken that the Gardiner claim fraud upon the
Treasury of the u Satc but the question before the House
was, TO whether Mr.. Corwin Tad cpy improper cohn"A
ion with IT, from which The report OF the committee cx"
Grated him. and Of which there evidences even Il lie
were, he conendsd there necessity for bill 10 au
1horz his punishment the laws present in force are ad
eQuate to effect :hat object.
He insisted nothing wrong diseputable
In Mr COrwin advocating the claim in question: IL having
long been the practice of public men TO pursue similar
course and there law preventing any other officer
than the Secretary Of the Treasury from advocating claims
and Mr. Cotwin parted with his interest unreserredy before
he assumed that Office
Alusion having been made the Galphin claim, which
had been termed 'swnde he said he stood there insist
that il fair and honest claim The Indians Of Geor
ga surrendered millions FIVE hundred thousand acres OF
land condition that debts which they owed Mr. Gaphin
20 the amount of go ISL should be discharged with interest
These lands subsequently into OF the State
of Georgia, which Appropriated hem and the only question
was whether the should be paid by the State or
neral government. A bill passed unanimously by the
House, and approved BY Mr. Polk, who considered the
claim jus, one.
Dir Stanton of Tenn In reply to question Of Mr.. John
saled that the which Mr. Corwiu had received
ought be reurne and he had understood that The gentle
had expressed himself ready 10 refund H. whenever the
claim should be proved 10 be fraudulent He did not
however think Mr. Corwin knew the claim 10 be audu-
len. one; he thought there nothing improper in Sena-
Tor member Of Congress advocating claims unless in ca
SOS where they should he called upon TO egislatc.
Mr. Orr OF South Carolina replied to the deductions Of Mr.
johnson yesterday relative General Thompson who went
20 Mexico Minister aud about afterwards al
hs request gave letters of introduction Gardiner who
stated he going Pacific; and did him al
forwards, until he him in Washington, when he stated
that he had been turned OF Mexico and wished 10
him on the subject of claiming repaaton under Tie treaty OF
Guadalupe Hdalgo.
His proofs however conformable 10 the tquisl-
Of the commissioners and General Thompson
him instructions how proceed IT, said he should print
these instructions Tor The purposc u, showing that there
connivance the part Of that gentleman in any
fraud the Treasury He thought Gardiner had claim
which, however hsd been e aud that ninety nine
out of hundred would vindicae Mr. Cowin from the
charge of improper conduct he not prepared 10 say
whether General Thompson would return the b2UuO ne mad
obtained for his services but his opinion he should do
Mr. Howard Of Texas-hc previous question having been
Beconded-went b:!ef Investigation Of the Gardiner
claim, and expressed his conviction that neither General
Thompson Mr.. Coiwn, knew that il founded on
fraud.
Mr.. Preston King chairman of the select committee
closed the debate ecapuated the evidence which had
been adduced before it; from which II appeared that Mr.
scorwn purchased fourth Of the Gardiner claim before
ICING into the treasury which he subsequently, Sold recey
ing $780, 900 account.
There no evidence that he knew false papers 10
produced in support of the claim, and the committee
found law against senator's em crs OF Congress ad-
vocating claims They had adopted the bill, which ne be
eved had passed The Senate with amendments, extending
rhe prohibition do 10 members or officers OF both
houses and made its violation punishable BY mprisonmen
In the penitenliary.
The bill was then read by sections, md ameninen
agreed prohibiting the receiving claim except by
beques, Inheritance marriage; and with or two "he
minor amendments agreed TO- when motion was mace
lay bill upon the table and the yeas and having
been ordered the motion rcected-yens l. nays las
The bill then ordered be en2rossed and read hirt
times pending which, motion made that the House ad
iourn, which negatycd-yeas g. nays IS
Mr. King moved commit the BILL and called for the
previous question: pendn. which, the House adjourned