The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-25


Answer None Of the Secretaries before mentioned at
any time, expressed doubt to the caution
OF integrity Of the judge in protecting the Interests Of The
United States The Secretaries refer Secretaries
Woodbury., Ewing, Forward Spencer Bibb Walker, and
Meredith against either Of whom but the most be-
sotled political partisan word affecting their
honor or integrity in the discharge Of their duties Sece
taries OF the Treasury
llth interrogatory DO the records show that most
of these claims from the and useless
destruction Of property
Answer. The testimony in the acted on by the
Judge does certainly show most and useless deruc
ton OF property feel sorry in saying SO, but truth com
pels me TO answer the interrogatory.
18th nterrogaory Were not large part Of these claims
acted on while yon were in the department. ?
Answer great number, if not large majority, Of
these claims Mere acted and decided by the department
during the period whilst was the chief clerk
18th nterrogatory. In deciding these claims any
reference had the treaty, laws of nations by the de-
parunent; they governed exclusively by the
usages in regard TO domestic accounts
. Answer. In deciding these claims, FAR reeol-
leet, the department governed exclusively by the
usages in relation to domestic claims have recoiec
ton that looked beyond the of Congress be-
fore referred to- and the usages of the department Indeed
feel certain that the laws of nations and the treaty spu-
laoos founded thereon, not thought of simply be-
cause considered acting under acts Of Com
gress and were bound to decide, in all other cases
where interest was not specially allowed.
l4th nterrogatory. Were the original records certi-
fed copies of the petitions evidence and DEGREES sent to
the department?
Answer Certified copies were only ssnt the depart
ment by the judge.
18th nterrogatory. Did not all the Secretaries consider
that the judges acted under their commissions Judges
And their decisions rejecting claims made final
Answer. cannot respond to this interrogatory other
wise than by saying that the Secretaries did often revise
the awards of the Judge and reconsider decisions such
awards arguments additional testimony submitted,
in all cases through him, (the judge)
have no recollection that in any any
allowed by the department greater than that awarded by
the judge the value of the property destroyed When
the judge rejected claim, such rejection re-
ported to the department it hnalthere being no
power to appeal. McCLINTOCK YOUNG.
FEBRUARY 81, 1855.
Mr. STANTON of Tennessee Mr. Speaker / viii give
way to my friend from Florida when have finished my
argument for that shall not be under the ne
cessy of speaking than half hour in reply to the
exavagant assertions and arguments of the gentleman
from South Carolina, Mr.. ORR And here beg leave TO
inform my friend from South Carolina that have not
been deceived into making this report had before me
the representations of the present Secretary of the Treas
ury, made in his elaborate report together with state
ment of all these cases. have also considered the opu
ions of all the Attorneys General and all the Secretaries
who have examined the claims. think shall be
able in very few words and in very short time to
show gentlemen that all the enormites which that gentle
has pictured the creation Of his imagination,
and not facts connected with this case
Now sir in the first place to the losses the assertion
of Mr. White made in 1894 to the effect that these claims
would not amount than $4,000, am at loss
explain. do not know what motives could have induced
him to make such representation varying mnch from
the facts they subsequently, established before the
Judicial tribunals But whatever may have been the
of that assertion the part of Mr. White they have
control and ought not to have any effect upon the decis
ion of this believe from having looked into the
representations of Mr.. White who extremely anxious
and ardent in his advocacy OF the claims which orgina-
ted West Florida that his allusion those claims
and not to those which originated in East Florida.
wish to call the attention of the gentleman from
South Carolina to the important fact that in ls49, after
million and quarter Of these claims had been paid the
Congress of the United States passed bill to authorize
other parties who had presented their claims in time
under the previous act to present them and have them ad
Indicated Congress not then ignorant OF the amount
which had been established by proof satisfactory the
| Judges and the Secretary of the Treasury.
| Mr. ORR. ] concede that fact The Congress of the
United States appealed to by parties who had pre-
sened their claims before the judges under the previous
act and it said that If those parties had good claims
they ought be paid although the time had expired
Congress simply said to those parties Come in and prove
your claims, and will do you the justice that
have done those who presented their claims in time
/ Mr. STANTON Exactly. That is true But Congress
did that after million OF these claims had been paid and
with the distinct knowledge that such had been
| awarded under the previous law.
Now Mr. Speaker let few words in reference to
these enormous which the gentleman from South Car
ona has cited here These occurrences took place in 1872
What the condition OF this at
Does every body know that certain port in Florida
almost the only neutral port in the world Does not
every body know that the staple productions of the
try and especially cotton bore immense price at that
time And my friend from South Carolina say that
the estimate put upon the cotton that was destroyed by
the American army-even although it might be fifteen
cents per pound seed and fifty cents per pound
for ginned cottonwas not the price current of that
/ time2
Again sir the gentleman from South Carolina ridicules
the idea of of these parties having been reimbursed
bv these Judges resulting from their having
been prevented by the operations of the American army
from making their crops. Well submit II to every law
yer in this House-l submit it to every man OF common
sensewhether that is not just as legitimate an object for
Naturalization the destruction of growing crop2 Sup
pose in the spring of the year. when have just poughed
my land and got my seed ready TO plant when have my
negroes hired abocrs ready perform the work and
all my contracts depending on II, an army marches
through the country breaks down my fences burns my
house and drives away my whole force Of aboers from
the plantation, will the gentleman from South Carolina
say that that is not just legitimate ground for ndem-
nihcaiion as if the crop had been growing
Sir IL is unnecessary for 20 further in reference to
that points but tell the honorable gentleman that il he
viii examine all the proceedings in reference TO those cases
which he has quoted he will find that Mr. Secretary Mood
bury, before hs paid the awards sent the papers and the
testimony back the judges Florida and ordered them
TO take new testimony. "H
The gentleman that the government OF the United
States had counsel Now sir although the judges were
bound obey the instructions OF the Secretary OF the
Treasury yet they did from comfy and Difference TO the
Secretary reopen and take testimony in every case IN
which Secretary Woodbury. any other Secretary OF the
Treasury thought that unreasonable allowance had
been made On these grounds If ON no other think the
gentleman from South Carolina Is utterly precluded from
he NH had AL