The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-13

1 bIlcfIy dteIInE
honorable gentleman that until the 1927 this
kept whole evidence upon which the claims rest
ed in the old barrels and boxes ia the State Department
The concealed the evidence against itself and
never until an answer made by the State Department
To resolution passed by the Senate in 1926 the evil
dence contained in the volume in my hands which say Is
irresistible sustain the claims produced and laid before
the country. Then in the succeeding year, Mr. Holmes
with the benefit OF the knowledge contained In the volume
made hs triumphant report
Mr. WELLS There at that day men OF intellectual
strength who had power investigate and describe their
friends and their wrongs and they not In u
garnet or in barrel during that time They were IN the
country and why did they not before Congress- and
before the committees OF Congress and show that these
claimants entitled TO this money Why did they not
ask that the question should be examined and that these
records should be brought out before 1927 No there
were then al the head Of the government who fully
understood the question Ia would be folly ask
who knew that the claims had legitimate foundation to
give them his sanction and approval The inquiry weighs
upon why this delay for do not think the suggestion
of the honorable senator meets the point because the men
OF that day would have caused investigation they had
really aud sincerely believed that the claims just and
that the government should pay them.
The first elaborate and favorable report this subject
as have said was made on the 9th OF February, 1871
not years the honorable senator says bu
twenty years after the close OF the Is not the
contemporaneous action OF the government srong-may
not ask is i not conclusive argument against these
claims ? Jefferson and Madison here then. They
well understood the rights OF the citizens and the obga
tons Of the government They had the means to pay for
1907 Mr. Jefferson reported surplus in the treasury of
eight and half millions of dollars and in 1908 bal
Of about fourteen millions OF which only about i've
millions required to meet the public engagements
Surely will stand here to mpugn their integrity
Why them ask il that those men, who familiar
with this whole matter did not recommend this payment
Above ALL why did he who into political power upon
the topics in which these claims had their origin turn his
back upon the suffering people if their claims honest
and true? Again. repeat the conemporaneous action of
the is not only strong but to my Judgment it
Is conclusive evidence in relation to this subject
Sir much has been said in relation to favorable reports
OF committees these claims and persons in interest
have taken the trouble send to different members Of
Congress the evidence they say In relation to this mat
They tell the number of reports that have been made
and that they always arorabe and then they turn
round and say dit is shameful thing that this govern
men has stood out long against these claims have
before list of these reports suppose it to be here
other places that when proposition is preferred and
submitted to select committee parliamentary usage re-
qures that that committee should be constituted OF the
friends of the proposition because in the language
sometimes used we do not put child to a nurse who
would strangle it. Now let look to the record and
how stand these reports for this matter not to terminate
here with the votes of Congress- is to be reviewed by
the people of this country by the axpayng people of this
country and they are to after all whether these things
are right
The first report that was made upon this subject
made by Mr. Giles In the book which have seen styled
Brief Reasons, it was stated that this was favorable
port; but have copy of his report before Mr. Giles
states the facts historically auditor in court would
state them, judge in delivering opinion, would
up the facts in the He has stated the facts clear
" and distinctly without giving his judgment in relation
to the MATTER the judgment of the committee and them
in the conclusion ofhs report he says
"Upon the whole view Of the case, the committee submit
to the House to determine whether the OF the
United States be- in respect bound to indemnity the
moras and whether there be ground for discrmina
between the OF losses sustained before the acts of
May 49, 1885, and the 9th of July 179s and cases losses
sustained after those periods"
Instead of this being favorable report think it is
what the lawyers call prna ace adverse report yet in
the Bref Reasons submitted gentlemen in favor of this
bill it is stated that he made favorable report Reports
upon this subject have been made from select committees
NJ. NJ, un1x
ton Mr. Wilkins, and Mr. Webster All those that have
named reports from select committees and every
instance the report favorable the cnimsgoing
sustain the assertion which have made and which pre-
will not be controversial that the universal practice
of parliamentary poeness and cvility u.s. when
is submitted 10 special committee, TO compose that COM
mttee Of the friends of the have also list of
adverse reports made by other and reports made
by standing committees favorable the sup
pose it done here as it has been done at other times
and at other places: when gentleman had measure
which he desired TO get through and he knew standing
committee that class OF who stood against the
project he would its reference select committee
but if the standing committee OF the contrary opinion
he would waive the select committee and have the subject
referred to the standing committee SO that say the
suit Of these committees is of authority influence
whatever, in my judgment, on this question.
There la another circumstance to which wish to advert
In looking the Of those gentlemen who have
made favorable reports find that they from the large
the country do not mention this with the design of inn
putting to those gentlemen any improper intentions but
we All KNOW powerful lnHuence OF dSSocallOh
place do not say that this would influence their minds
improperly but it tends all know experimentally
TO induce to take least favorable of the SUBJ
ject say that those who made favorable reports
from large cities represented the commercial interests of
the country. Would that influence them2 for IT, ques
ton of in1uence-it is question Of authority simply
When come before YOU Mr.. President and ask you
decide questions of law Judge and ask you to ex
anime and read the opinions of others it question Of
opinion and you hear the opinions of other
every days experience with but surely you would not
take the opinion of lawyer at the bar superior law to
the reported decision of judge upon the topic This
them simply question Of authority but when you go
from these and examine this country through you
standing oil over this land like sennes around temple
men of eminence respectablty and standing holding up
their hands and exclaming aloud and with thunder tones
against the adoption of like this have the
names of some of those have the yeas and nays
taken in the Senate on this question.
There is Mr.. President and trust there ever will be
body Of men in this country who hold strict
ton Of the constitutions who hold to great principles such
say ought to govern the political action Of this
try and when these standing in the interior and in
different portions of the Union have been called upon to
examine this question without reference commercial in
terests commercial influences, they have man,
declared their opposition to this measure.
On the Sd u February, 1895, the yeas and avs were
recorded in this chamber npon this subject and find in
the affirmative the names of only three gentlemen who
acted in opposition politically to the great of the
affirmative vote; and find in the negative that vote
well known TO the country and we'll known to every
gentleman this floor. There Benton of Missouri
and Bbb Of Kentucky and Brown of North Carolina and
Calhoun. Was he man of intellectual power? Was he
capable of Judging in relation these great matters
Was he familiar with the history of the country and with
its obligaons2 Had be the heart respond 10 the hon
call ofan honest caim2 II have his character
arghtand. sir bis character is well understood where
nh IA hmm ,Vou haVa r1ad