The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-18

THURSDAY. MARCH 10. 1854.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Mr. GWIN Mr. President, this communication i,
upon the subjee of very complicated set OF claims IN
the State OF California, known the Fremont battalion
claims Ii has been examined by board OF officers with
great care but still wants very iull and thorough
animation by some committee OF this body; and while am
entirely opposed to the appointment OF select committees
whenever il can be avoided yet am OF the opinion that
from ibe peculiar nature of this document il should be
referred 10 select committee am sure that the papers
of SO vouminous character that standing con-
miiee OF this body could examine them properly and
therefore that the communication be referred
select committee and printed.
The PRESIDENT. The communication will be read
for The information OF the Senate
The communication was accordingly read. Il states thai
by the sixth section OF the army appropriation bill ap
proved August 81, 1852, appropriation made for
the pay and equipment of the volunteers serving under
the command OF Capt John Fremont, in California, du-
ring the year 1916, SC and the Secretary Of War was
authorized 10 appoint three competent and disnterested
officers OF the army 10 examine and report TO Congress
upon all such claims might be presented for funds ad
vanced and subsistence and supplies of all kinds fur
nshed taken Tor The OF said command while thus
engaged in The public service In pursuance OF this
authority these osceTs appointed no made par
tia report Congress The goth Of December, 1852,
respecting claims which had been presented Subsequent
~ other claims were presented, and new evidence was
offered in regard to claims previously considered, and
those officers have made report which is transmit
ted embracing ali claims heretofore presented, as well
those noticed in their partial report above reerredt as
Mr. GWlN AS said, Mr.. President, this is a very
complicated subject. and il is that ought to be exam
iRed with good deal OF attention and care II has been
now pending for eight years before Congress bill
passed the Senate, appropTating seven huhdred
thousand dollars Tor the payment OF these claims bat
owing 10 the manner in which the board OF commission
ers was appointed il was lost in the lower House; and
II has been the source OF great deal OF irritation IN the
State of California because The matter has been suffered
TO remain unadusied so long. moved lis reference to
select committee, upon The ground that would be
great deal OF trouble have the subject fully examined
and properly brought before Congress- and the regular
standing committees could devote the necessary time
tn Ixhn hint unntIn nnda nth
circumstances. move that IL be referred to select
committee Of five. TO be appointed by the Chair
Mr.. PEARCE. These are claims, as ! understand
growing out of the in CALIFORNIA; and must be al
lowed to say that think there be no necessity Tor
the appointment OF select committee TO consider the sub
iect think hs standing committees OF this body ought
exercise the Jurisdiction with which they gener.
ally Invested When subject is of such peculiar char
acter that il does not appropriately belong TO any stand
ing committee, It may very properly be referred to
OF the standing committees The Committee Military
Affairs, il 20 me- is the most properly charge
able with subec! like this and know OF no reason
by thatfommitee is not well able 10 consider this
subject any select committee that could be appointed
II is known, also, that select committees generally
appointed with view of being favorable TO particular
object Now. desire have these claims investigated
impartiay, and not by committee predisposed IN favor
OF them have no hesitation in saying that think IT
is quite likely that something ough, TO be done with
gard 10 the settlement of these claims but believe the
Committee Military Affairs is quite competent TO ar
rive proper decision in relation TO the whole mat
Mr. GwIN So far as am concerned, do not wan,
a committee to be appointed which would act with any
Partially the subject of these claims; but want
The claims settled, for they have already been before
standing committees OF Congress for eight years know
that the Committee Military Affairs would do iis duty
fully and faithfully with regard to the matter, should II
be referred 70 that committee; but i IS very compiled.
in and was requested and appealed TO, as representa-
tive OF the State OF California, TO that they should
be referred TO select committee, who could give their
hol ffpp m a N n
all the facts 10 the Senate VI the chairman oil the Com
mitiee on Military Affairs Mr. SHrKLDsl thinks tina, that
committee can take charge Of The case OF course shall
be willing 10 let the matter to that committee; but
did not know whether they would want to take IT.
know that IL pretty heavy burden TO impose upon any
committee; and | can assure the Senate that did not
move the appointment OF special committee because |
wished to be upon IT, by any means.
Mr.. SHIELDS The Committee on Military Affairs,
the honorable senator from California has ntImaied,
had this subee, under consideration before, and
commission appointed, under the recommendation
OF that commit ee TO investigate and adodcae this mat
ter; and II understand it, the report which IL now sent
in to this body i The report of that commission IL ia
report OF the commission which appointed, ss SAID
be ore under The recommendation OF The Committee on
Military Affairs, TO investigate all these claims 10 adu
dictate ihose that they believed to be hoaesi and to report
those that they believed to be doubtful for further con-
sheraton presume that this repor, is made IN con-
iormi'y with that object and u so, cannot esacuy see
consider subject which has been already partly consid
cred by the Military Committee. do not know pre-
clseiy wbat lne nature OF report out presume
is that portion OF the claims adudcaed aid settled,
while another portion still left unsettled and unde-
termined agree with The honorable senator from Calf
forna that this very complicated subject and should
certainly desire, DO II with proprey 10 get rid Of
any further consideration OF H. am willing TO leave the
matter 10 the decision OF the Senate and II the subject
should be cent 10 the Committee on Military Affairs !
would examine /, az faithfully az | know how,
Mr.. GWiN ! merely made The motion because u
was susgesed 10 and not from any disposition 70 de
pnye the Military Committee OF The opportunity 10 con-
slider subject inat properly belongs 10 them. But re.
peat thai this Is subject which has created great deal
Of irritation in my State because has been eight years
il might probably be better to taye the subject referred TO
a selec, committee, in order mat they might examine
thoroughly the whole action Of this commission, and
make a report, on which ou- future action could be
based in regard the recommendations OF the commits
sion Their report on some oil these claims has been
suspended for want Of further testimony which should
be ofdered from the State Of California The suggestion
was made 10 me, and 40 made the motion. know
that The Committee Military Affairs would DO Their
duly in regard TO the subject II II were referred TO Them
but, inssmuch my constituents are particularly inter.
esed have been appealed to TO have this matter thor
ouahy examined in short time possible, IN order
that the commission should be ordered to California II
should be thought advisable send them there al all by
an amendment 10 the deficiency BILL which expect will
be here in few days. merely make the suggestion
hn II the Committee on Military Affairs desire TO take
charge Of The suhiect will withdraw the motion and al
low Il 10 20 to that committee have no doubt but that
they win do Their duty faithfully ~'th regard 10 w.
Mr. SHIELDS wish 10 have the matter disposed Oh
proply az we'll an the honorable senator from Califo-
MA and will suggest that il be referred TO the Commit
tee on Military Affairs for the present. as desire 20 .oox
at the documents little myself and we md that we
cannot rive IL such an examination a. the importance OF
the subject demands 80 as bring forward proposition