Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-07-03
49,

SNATE-The Chair laid before the Senate, q
communication from the Secretary of State,
transmitting the original journal OF the proceed
ingS of the Board of american Commissioners
at Paris, to Hquidatc and audit the claims of
American citizens against the French govern
ment, being for debts due them, and for the sat
~isfaction of which, provision was made by the
Convention between the United States and
France, April goth, 1903.
Mr.. CLAYTON said this report was made in an
Swer to a resolution submitted by him some
time ago. He desired to call attention to the
document. because it completely Tefuted the
ground upon which the President based hisveto
Of the French Spoliation Bill. That veto rested
on the assumed basis that the CLAIMS for spola-
ton were all examined and allowed under the
treaty of 1868, but this document discioses the
fact, that so far from this, they were excluded
for the reason that the Commissioners had moth
ing to. do with them. He alluded to the fact
that many years since he examined the subject
when it was before the Senate, being n member
of the Select Committee of which Daniel Web
ster was Chairman. Mr.. Webster took no part
in the matter, Mr.. Clayton being second on the
Committee, investigatedt the subject and reported
the bill, which, contrary to the expectation of
many friends, passed both Houses by decided
majorities, but unfortunately encountered the
veto of President Polk, afterwards another bill
Lsimilar to that passed Congress, but was vetoed
by President Pierce, but the last veto was not
based upon the same reason as the former, and
any Senator who would take the pains to exam
inc the document now before the Senate, would
see that the whole foundation of President
Pierces veto was an error, in fact, he added that
his synpathies were strongly in favor of these
claimants, and he hoped some measure of justice
would be done them. -
The House bill granting the right of way to
the st. Louis and Iron Mountain r. R. through
the arsenal magazines and Jefferson barracks
tracks was passed.
The Kansas bill was then taken up.
Mr.. Wade said he stood up to advocate no
doctrine but the great principle of equal rights,
to all men, black or white. This was the doc
trine of the fathers of the Republic. In abiding
to the passage of the compromise measures of
1850, he remarked that the Democratic party
had put the present Administration into power
upon a platform by which they would resist
slavery agitation, and he did not know how they
intended to resist-whether with bludgeons or
otherwise. However, they had no right to re-
siSt the agitation of any subject pertaining to
this government. He was opposed to the bill
under consideration, and criticised the political
course of his colleague.
HousE.-Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, asked leave
to offer a resolution changing the daily hour of
meeting from II to IL o'clock.
Mr.. Jones of Tenn. objected, unless the time
for the adjournment of Congress should be first
fixed.
Mr.. ~Giddings-No bargains!
Mr.. Houston moved to take up the Senate nd
ijournment resolution.
Mr.. Matteson and others objected.
The reading of the report of the Kansas in
vestigating committee was then resumed and
completed,
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, moved that the fur.
therreading of the documents be dispensed
with.
Messrs: Houston, Craige, A. X. Marshall,
Quitman, and Bowie, sevcrally insisted on the
reading of the dOcumen
The Speaker decided the right of any member
to have the documents read, but they were to be
Mr.. Cobb, of Ga. appealed to his friends not
to insist upon that, as several days would thus
be consumed and 20 good done. His appealwas
successful.
On motion of Mr.. Washburn, of Ne, the re-
port was referred to the com. on Elections and
ordered to be printed. 9
Leave was given to hand in the minority re-
port any time within ten days, and to take addi-
tional testimony, which when submitted shall
be referred to the com. on Elections and printed.
The understanding is that an the papers, inclu-
ding the minority report, shall be printed as one
document Add.