Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-15
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

wEpsEsDAr, February l4th, 1855.
Observation-Disclosures BILL.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BILL.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the bill from the House Of Representatives making
appropriations for the current and contingent ex-
penses of the Indian Department, and for fulfill
ing treaty stpulations with various Indian tribes,
for the year ending June 80, 1865.
The question pending was ON an amendment
submitted by Mr. BRowS, providing for the pay
ment to Richard w. Thompson of his claim for
services rendered to the Menominee Indians.
Mr.. STUART opposed the amendment at great
length.
The discussion was continued by Messrs. BAY
ARD, BROWN, COOPER, CLAYTON, DAW-
SON, HOUSTON, WELLER, and others; whom
the amendment was rejected-yeas 10, nays "a
On motion by Mr. FESSENDEN, the bill was
laid on the table, when Mr.. r. submitted motion
to reconsider the vote this morning adopting the
resolution to change the daily hour of meeting TO
IL o'clock. The motion was agreed to, and the
resolution was laid on the table.
The Indian appropriation bill was then resumed,
| and other amendments were debated by Messrs.
JONES, of Tennessee, SEBASTIAN, and others,
until nearly five o'clock when the further consider
alton of the bill was postponed until tomorrow;
and, after an executive session,
abe Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WEDNESDAY, February IA, 1855.
TREATY WITH SPAIN.
The SPEAKER said that the next business in
order was the consideration of the joint resolution
providing for the fdlflment Of the stpulations Of
the ninth article Of the treaty of 1919 be-
tween the United States and Spain, and the first
question would be on the motion of Mr.. ORR to
lay the bill on the table. .
Mr.. ORR said, as there was probability of re-
considering the vote by which the previous ques-
ton was seconded, that he could have an oppor-
x...,s SHf xIxxs - Al
would withdraw his motion to lay 1t on the table,
motion was then made to reconsider the vote
by which the previous question was ordered, and
and it was agreed to.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, asked the gentleman
to allow this measure to 60 over to Monday next,
so that the House could proceed to the considera-
ton Of the General Appropriation bills.
Mr.. STANTON, Of Tennessee, said that he was
anxious to have the appropriation bills considered
but as he probably should not be able to get this
measure before the House again during the present
session, he hoped that they would dispose of 1t
now.
Mr.. HOUSTON also hoped that the gentleman
would allow the measure to 20 over, as the Senate
had disposed of all Of the appropriation bills
sent up to them by the House, and unless they
should very soon pass others for the consideration
of the Senate there would be great danger rea-
tive to the passage of some of the appropriation
bills during the present session
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, replied that the
bill could be disposed of in couple of hours and
he did not want to have it showed off by the con-
sideration Of other measures.
Mr.. ORR said that it was very ungracious task
for Representative upon the House floor to OPP
pose the claim of any claimant who is believed to
have demands upon the Treasury of the United
States. When he saw that the provisions Of the
bill proposed to supersede, overrule and override.
the consistent and uniform action of the govern
ment, and the decisions of the Treasury Depart
ment from 1884 up to the present time, he felt I'M
willing to cast a vote upon the question until he
| could hear some good reasons given for the pas
| sage Of such measure. He had taken some pains
to examine this class of claims and he was fully
satisfied that the claimants had already received
three times more than the original treaty contem
plated and that they have received damages to
three times the amount of the property destroyed
According to the reports heretofore made in favor
OF this class Of claims, the amount to which the
claimants were entitled was a little more than
$4,000, and there had already been paid to them
one million and ffty-two thousand dollars, and the
bill now pending proposes to pay upwards of mil
lion of dollars more. There was evidently some
mistake or fraud existing somewhere.
MIR. STANTON, of Tennessee in reply to the
remarks of Mr.. 0RR, said that he had not been de-
| ceived in his report as it was founded upon the
information and opinions communicated by all Of
the Secretaries Of the Treasury and Attorneys Gen.
eral who have heretofore examined into the merits
OF this class Of claims. He considered that the
enormties pictured by the gentleman from South
Carolina were founded more upon imagination than
upon facts. As TO the loose assertion of Mr.. White
| referred TO by the gentleman, he could not explain
but whatever might have been the case, that as
scrtion could not control the decision to be given
by the House on the pending bill He presumed,
as Mr.. White was very urgent in advocating the
claims Of citizens Of West Florida, that he alluded
TO those claims, and not 10 those Of East Florida
Mr.. s. then made lengthy argument in favor Of
the bin
Mr.. CLINGMAN very briefly stated the reasons
why he should vote against the bill.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE said that IL was impossi-
Bile for all Of the members of the House to exam
inc into the fActs connected with this case, and
they must be guided TO some extent by the report
of the committee. As be had understood that the
Committee on the Judiciary had reported unani-
mously in favor Of the bill, having read portion
Of the documentary evidence In It's support, he
had come TO the conclusion that the bin was
founded In justice. But there has been some con-
fiicting statements made to-day and he hoped that
the gentleman from Florida Mr.. MAXWELL would
show to the House whether these claimants have
been fully Unidentified or not for the Losses which
they have sustained.
Mr.. MAXWELL argued at length in favor Of the
bill In justification Of the amount claimed, he re-
ferred TO the length Of time which our army re-
NAMED in the State Of Florida and 10 the many
planters who were prevented from sowing their
seeds by the movement Of the United States army,
which was improperly there, as has been scknowl-
edged by the government, he considering that
there was as much justice in paying for one class
of damages as for another.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tenn, believed that the House
had spent sufficient time in considering this mea-
sure and 10 make the matter as short a. possible
he would move TO lay the bill on the table,
Mr.. STANTON, Of Tenn, asked for the yeas and
nays which were ordered; and the question be-
ing then taken, 1t was agreed to-yeas l04, nays 90
SENATE.
THURSDAY, February Is.
The emgrsnt passenger bin was brought up by
| Mr.. SEWARD. This limits the No. Of passengers