Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-27
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

FRENCH sPoLIATIoS BILL
Mr. BAYLY Of Virginia, offered as a substitute
the Senate bill as amended
MIR. LETCHER moved to strike out the words
and interest thereon" from the following proviso:
In all cases of transfer or assignment except gifts
or donations, no assignee shall be entitled to re-
ceiye an amount beyond the consideration paid and
interest thereon" He said as the clause stood 1t
would result TO the benefit Of spectators who have
gone into the market 10 drive hard bargains-men
who get their living by grinding the faces of the
poor, while the original holders will not reap the
benefit of interest.
Mr.. BAYLY replied that this provision was put
into the bill by that class who fighting the as
signees. He would not agree that an assignee who
has paid his money shall be raced on the face Of
his bond and then deprived Of the advantage Of
interest.
Mr.. LETCHERS amendment was rejected
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, moved to strike out
the entire proyiso He said he would proceed
with his explanation, when the gentleman from
South Carolina should cease his conversation.
Mr.. ORR spiritedly replied in response that the
ing as anybody.
Mr.. SMITH. All ask is that you do not talk
under me. e
Mr.. ORR You ought to adopt the same course
for the government Of your own conduct
The CHAIRMAN demanded order.
Mr.. SMITH. don't understand why the gen
tleman should get into such pet. Ny reason for
moving to strike out the proviso is that il under
takes to interfere with the legal rights of purcha
sers, which they had no right to do. Is was gra-
tuitous in his colleague Mr.. LETcHER] to say that
the assignces ground the face of the poor. 1t may
be they saved the immediate creditors from abso-
lutte want by buying their claims.
Mr.. CRAIGE said he always thought the gentle
man legisated for the many, and not for the few.
Now, so far from this, he now would benefit
class who ought not to be legslated for in this or
any other government. He did not know the fact,
but learned that many Of those claims had been
hawked about, and ten, fifteen, or twenty thousand
dollars worth bought for three five, or ten dollars.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Virginia, asked Do you know of
a single case Of the kind? Is it right to refer to
that common bawd, rumor?
Mr.. WALSH. viii the gentleman give way?
Mr.. CRAIGE. Cheerfully, as I obtained the in
formation from the gentleman.
Mr. WALSH. r. know that Andrew Fisher sold
his claim to Wall street broker for per cent
Mr.. CRAIGE resumed, saying, these land sharks
have resorted to all sorts of means to have this bill
passed-not for the benefit of the descendants of
those who suffered by the French spectators, but
for themselves who live by speculation on the mis-
fortune of others-therefore the provso should not
be stricken out.
Mr.. LETCIIER. Ny colleague (Mr. SMIrH) re-
GREETED undertook to speak of this as matter of
speculation. The original claimants slumber in
their graves Where are the widows and orphans
Are there any here asking for this money! Nume-
rous responses "yes."] If SO why do you provide
interest to men who chiseled them out of the
amount
Mr.. BLISS thought it wrong to assume that
spectators are pressing this bill The House
had no right to discriminate as to the holders Of
claims
Mr.. SMITHS amendment was rejected. Several
others were also offered and voted down.
Mr.. WRIGHT, of Mississippi, having made an
onslaught on the claim agents, hoping they would
not receive one dime under this bill, Mr.. McMUL-
LEN, though opposed to the bill, defended the
claim agents. There might be few unworthy
ones, but, from personal knowledge, he knew some
as honorable as any gentleman on this floor.
Without concluding the subject, the committee
rose, and the House adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SATURDAY, January "a, 1855.
Mr.. KERR, of North Carolina, asked the con-
sent Of the House TO offer resolution the purport
of which was, that the President be requested to
inform the House whether the treaty of 1875 with
the Spanish government did not apply to her col
onies. He said that he offered this resolution at
the request of distinguished ex-minister, who was
confident that il deserved the attention of our gov
eminent, inasmuch as the Spanish authorities had
denied the use of the courts in Cuba to resident
Americans for the purpose Of collecting their debts
Mr.. BAYLY thought that the resolution should
be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
This would consign it to the tomb of the Capu-
let's" where it ought to be placed.
The resolution was then agreed to.
FRENCH sPoLATIoN BILL.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole, and this bill was discussed in FIVE minute