Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-19
THIRTY-THIRD CONG Ess.
sEcoRD SESSION.


SATURDAY, February 18th, 1885.
The bill for an extension of credit on duties for
imported railroad iron discussed.
Mr.. COOPER regretted that such a measure
should be pressed at this late stage of the session
He depicted the endorsements snder which the
iron trade was suffering, and appealed to the Senate
TO reject this bill which he thought would further
depress that branch.
Messrs. BROADHEAD, HAMLIN, CLAY,
DAWSON, BAYARD, THOMPSON, of Kentucky,
and huSk, took part In the debate. The last
submitting an amendment to an amendment
whereby Railroad companies ayaiing them
selves or the three years credit, extended by
the ball, are required to give good security
to the collector of the place. Of importation for
the payment Of the duties 1t maturity whenever
the solvency Of such companies is doubted by such
collector; and further requiring such companies as
avail themselves of the benefit of the act to file
obligation to carry the United States mails at pri
ces stipulated by the government within the sum
Of three hundred dollars per mile.
This was agreed to. Yeas, % Nays IT.
Pending the further discussion of the bill the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The SPEAKER laid before the House message
from the President, containing his objections to
the French Spoliation bill, which occupied three
fourths Of an hour in reading.
ton bill with his objections refers to his duties
der the constitution. 1t is not incumbent on him
to sign bill as matter of course, and thus mere
ly TO authenticate the action Of Congress, for he
must exercise an intelligent judgment or be faith
less to the trust reposed iu him. In the execution
of his official duty to signing bills he is not to
perform mere mechanical part, but is to decide
and act according to the conscientious conviction
Of The rghtulness or wrongfulness of the proposed
Ia ID mt ha
people Of the United States as that Of Senator is
to the people Of particular State--that of Rep
resentatve to the people Of the State or district,
and it may be safely assumed he will not resort to
the clearly defined and unlimited power of arrest
ing legislation and calling for the reconsideration
of any measure except in obedience to the require
ments Of duty. When, however, he entertains q
decisive and fixed conclusion not merely Of the I'M
constitutonalty but of the improperly or injustice
in other respects Of any measure, if he declare he
approves it, he is false to his oath and he deb-
eratcly disregards his constitutional obligations.
The President feels called on at the Threshold to
notice assertion often repeated that the refusal
Of the United States to satisfy these claims in the
manner provided by the present bill, rests as stain
on the justice of our country. If it be so, the i'm
putation on the public honor is aggravated BY the
consideration that the claims are coevl with the
present century and 1t has been persistent
wrong during that whole period Of time. This the
President denies--if new facts, not known or not
accessible during the administration of Jefferson
Madison, or Monroe, had since been brought to
light, or new sources of information discovered,
this would greatly relieve the subject Of embarrass-
ment. But nothing Of this nature has occurred
They're recognised the alleged obligation on the
part of this government to pay the claims In
deed it stands not as matter of controlling au-
thority, but fact of history that these claims
have never, since our existence as nation, been
deemed by any President worthy of recommends
ton to Congress. After reviewing the entire his
tory of the case, he concludes his message as fol-
lows:
"This review Of successive treaties between
France and the United States has brought my mind
to the undoubting conviction that while the United
States have, in the most ample and completest
manner, discharged their whole duty towards such
of their citizens as may have been at any time ag
grieved by the acts of the French government 80
also France has honorably discharged herself of all
obligations in the premises towards the United
States. To concede what this bill assumes would
be to impute unobserved reproach both to France
and the United States. am Of course aware that
the bill proposes only to provide naturalization
for such valid claims of citizens of the United
States against France shall not have been stipu-
lated for and embraced in any of the treaties emu
merated. But including all such claims it excludes
all in fact for which during the negotiations France
could be persuaded to agree that she was in any
wise liable to the United States, or our citizens.
What remains, and for what is five millions appro-
priated? In view of what has been said, there
liability of the United States, unless it be the as
sumption that States are to be considered as the
insurers and the guarantors of all claims Of what
ever nature, which any individual citizen may have
against foreign nation
Mr. BAYLY, little impressed as he was with
the reasoning Of the message, but as a friend Of
the administration, and still greater friend ofthe
veto power, he moved that the consideration of
the subject be postponed till "Wednesday, in order,
in the mean time, to afford an opportunity for
studying the document in respect to the Presi-
didn't
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, said that but twelve
legislative days were remaining. He therefore
moved the previous question with the view Of act
ing on the message forthwith.
The motion was voted down--ayes e. nays 90
Several amendments were offered to Mr.. BAY
LY's motion.
Mr. CAMPBELL wished its postponement till
the Sd of March, The bill could not be passed by
constitutional majority, and it is foolish waste
of time to debate. He had respect for the station
of the President, but respect for the principle
which sought to strike down the viii of the people
by the veto.
Mr.. BARKSDALE referred to pressing public
business. The principles involved In the bill are
well understood. He urged action on 1t forthwith.
M. HUNT was for postponement The great
constitutional question of Liberty is involved
"were they to be slaves of Executive Powerf"
After further debate, the House adjourned with
out taking the question, and the subject will be
the first business before the House on Monday.
SENATE.
MONDAY, February 10, 1855.
A message was received from the War Depart
ment giving the official Army Register for 1855
Mr. CASS, in consequence Of a severe cold, de-
ferred his answer to Lord Clarendon and rave