The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-07
CITY OF WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 1856

asoerainment and satisfaction Of claims Of American CHI
zens for spoatons committed by the French prior ssi
July, 1901
Mr WELLS addressed the Senate At some length. II,
considered this subject OF immense importance not only
TO individuals but the whole country II involved no,
only pecunary interests but the integrity and honor u
eountry for II this Of money due II has been With
held for NIFTY years and those who have long and
successfully resisted ts payment have been guilty Of nus
tice He bad given the subject such examination his
portunities permitted and the result OF that
was conviction that this bill ought pass II pro-
posed TO appropriate five millions OF dollars, but "a
most universally conceded that the claims would aount
TO much more than that sum- and they had bcn estimated
as high as thirty OF forty millions Now II these claims
are just why shrink nom their fall payment " their
justice is recognised why hesitate 10 appropriate the f
amount due He hoped the thing would he met fairly
If the claims We're honest pay the whole and II
est resist the whole He then prooecied inquire into
the circumstance under which these claims en-
denyored to show that between France and the United
States did exist al that time He asked why u raa
report in favor of paying these claims made bec
the year 1927 when more than quarter OF century had
elapsed since the occurrences had taken place.
evidence isa IS d sr., snr. 'ss T. ~ ~. M
of the State Department; and II brought q
light until that time when Il was called for BY rrsoa-
ton adopted by the Senate
Mr. WELLS said that the men who pressed thcse claims
kept concealed in the garet Of The State Depart
ment and if they thought they had any just claims
against the government why did they bring them for
ward and camor for their payne years before and no
them sumber until generation of had passed away
II they had demanded investigation the evidenoe
would have been forthcoming He proceeded eyaaine
the argument that the reports of committees Of Congress
had always been in favor Of the payment Of these claims
This he accounted for by the fact that parliament
airy custom to refer measure to those who known
be in favor of it. If the standing committees were Ia a.
of the measure IL referred 10 them If not "
referred to select committee who known DC
voraby disposed towards IL and hence the reports far
nished evidence whatever in favor Of the justice of the
claims.
Mr. HUNTER thought there ought to be some clause in
nFt
the board of commissioners and submitted amendment
intended to accomplish that object.
CLAYTON, BAYARD, and SEWARD, on the ground thai
unless the bill should pass the Senate just il from
the House Of Representatives, it must be defeated.
The question being taken the amendment not agreed
to--yeas %, nays 24-as follows:
YEAsMessrs Bright, Brodhead, Brown, Butler, cass,
Chase, Clay Dodge of Wisconsin Dodge of Iowa, Evans
Fitzpatrick Houston Hunter Jones Of Iowa. Mason Reid
Sebastian Slidell, Stuart, Toucey Weller, and Well22
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Badger, Bayard, Bell BENJAMIN,
Brainerd Clayton Dawson, Foot Geyer, Gillette, Hamn,
Seward, Sumner, Thompson Of Kentucky Thomson New
Jersey, Wade, and Wright-24.
Mr.. DOUGLAS, when his name was called, stated that
he would have voted in favor of the amendment but that
he had paired off with Mr. FEssESDES who would have
ted against it.
Mr. MASON moved strike that provision Of the
bill which proposes to give interest to ranserces which
was not agreed to--yeas Fl, nays 26--as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Adams, Bright Brodhead Brown, Butler,
Cass, Chase, Clay, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa
Sebastian, Slidel Stuart, Toucey, and wells-2l
NAYS-Messrs Allen, Badger, Bayard, Bell, BENJAMIN,
Houston James, Jones Of Tennessee, Norton Pearce Pet
Pratt, Seward Shields Sumner, Thompson Of Kentucky,
Thomson of New Jersey, Wade, and Wright-26.
Mr. ADAMS submitted further amendment TO the bill
which was also rejected.
The bill read third time and passedyeas rs nays
lT--as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Allen, Badger, Bayard. Bell, BENJAMIN,
Clayton, Dawson, Evans Foot, Geyer, Gillette, Hamn
Houston James Jones of Tennessee, Mallory, Morton,
Pearce, Pettt Pratt Seward, Shields sumner Thompson
Of Kentucky, Thomson of New Jersey Wade, Weller and
NAYs--Msssrs.. Adams, Branerd,. Bright. Brodhead
Brown Butler, Cass, Chase, Clay Dodge Of Wisconsin,
Dodge of Iowa, Fitzpatrick, Hunter, Jones of Iowa. Mason
Reid, Sidell, and Welis-l7.
Mr. RUSK when his called stated that he had
paired off with Mr.. FISH.
ORDER BUSINESS.
Mr. GWIN moved that the Senate proceed TO the cons-
Grafton Of the Pacl6c-railroad bill.
Mr.. SLlDELL Mr. CHASE, and others, desired to call
up the bills providing appropriations for certain works o
After debate the question being taken the motion
wns not agreed to--yeas IL, nays 2s.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT
On motion by Mr. SLIDELL the Senate then proceeded
to the consideration of the bill to obstrncons
navigation in the mouths of the Mississippi river a the
Southwest Pass and the Pass rOutre which amend
ed and, after discussion, it passed-yeas -
nays 5--as follows;
YEAs--Messrs Adams, Allen, Badger Bayard Bell, ben
Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Fcsseaden
Foot, Geyer, Gillette Gwn, Hamlin, Houston Jones os
Iowa. Jones of Tennessee, Mallory Norton Petit, Pratt
Reid, Seward Shields Sdell Stuart, Sumner, Thompson
of Kentucky, Wade, Weller Wells, and Wrght-3s
NAYS-Messrs. Clay, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Hunter and
Mason-5.
Mr. GEYER asked and obtained leave 10 introduce q
bill provide for continuing the improvements of the Mis-
souri, river and for the improvement OF the Mississippi
river.
Mr. GWIN asked and obtained leave TO introduce hiii
complete the works the mouth of the river san Diego
in the State Of California.
Mr.. BAYARD asked and obtained leave 10 ntrodnce =
bill making appropriation for the improvement a the
Delaware breakwater.
The above bills severay read twice and made sfe
cal orders for tomorrow.
Mr.. BELL then gave notice that he should, to-moFr0w,
ask leave introduce bill TO continue the improvement
of the navigation of the Tennessee river.
Mr. SEWARD gave notice of his intention 10 iniFodue
bill for the continuation Of the improvement of the bar
Dor of Bridgeport Connecticut and another for removing
the rocks at He'll Gate New York.
The Senate then proceeded 10 the consideration of ts
bill for the improvement of the navigation of the fasgefe
river and to render the port Of Baltimore accessible y shs
war steamers Of the United States. After some debate
without disposing of the bill,
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE Els.
The House met at IL o'clock
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