RECORD

OF THE

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE.

Reported at length by their direction.

IN COMMITTEE, March 3, 1845.

Present-Messrs. Sherburne, Smiley, and Frye, of the Senate; Messrs. Allen, Perkins, Chapman, Paine, Chadwick, and Cannell, of the House.

On motion of Mr. Frye,

Ordered, That the Secretary of State be requested to furnish to this committee a copy of any communication which he may have recently received from Samuel L. Harris, Esq., our agent at Washington, in relation to the manner in which the claims of this State against the United States are being prosecuted.

On motion of Mr. Allen of Alfred,

Ordered, That any gentleman having any knowledge in relation to the improper manner of the prosecution of our claims as a State against the General Government by our agent in Washington, or any other information touching the subject under consideration before the committee, be requested to furnish the same to the committee. On motion of Mr. Paine of Bangor,

Voted, That a record of the proceedings of the committee be kept by the chairman.

Mr. Perkins of Augusta, presented an

Order, That the Secretary of State be directed to lay before the committee all records of the Executive Council for the years 1843-4 and '5.

On motion of Mr. Allen of Alfred, the order was amended by adding "which relates to the claims of this State against the government of the United States."

And the order was passed as amended.

The Deputy Secretary of State came in and laid before the committee

A communication from Samuel L. Harris to the Secretary of State, under date of February 26, 1845.

Also, a certificate of the Governor, vouching for the correctness of certain claims of this State on the General Government therein referred to, under date July 15, 1814 Also, the journals of the Governor and Council for the years 1843-4 and 5.

Also, an order in Council of June 29th, 1844, relating to the claims of this State on the General Government.

An order was offered by Mr. Frye, that the committee, (the committee unanimously consenting,) will confine their examination to the claims audited by the Governor and Council under the resolve of March 21, 1843, and as such presented for allowance to the accounting officers of the General Government, and to claims which have been presented for allowance to the General Government, which have not been thus audited, although pressed for allowance under the provisions of said resolve.

On motion of Mr. Chapman, this order was laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. Allen, the rules of the House and parliamentary usages were adopted by the committee for the government of their proceedings,

On motion of Mr. Chapman, the following order was read and passed :

Whereas, It is evident that several gentlemen of this board have grounds of suspicion, in the matter under consideration, which they do not make known to the committee; and whereas, we are led to believe that gentlemen suspect that claims are presented by our agent at Washington, that have never been audited by the Governor and Council or in any way recognized by any authority of this State; therefore,

Ordered, That any gentlemen of this board having any information in his possession which induces him to believe that any claims have been presented to the accounting officers at Washington, contrary to law, and which have not been so examined, be requested to communicate the same to this board.

Mr. Perkins presented an order, that the Governor be requested to procure and lay before this committee certified copies of all claims in the name of the State of Maine which have been presented by Mr. Harris upon the General Government-and also certified copies of all vouchers to sustain said claims, which have been put on file at the Treasury Department at Washington.

Laid on the table.

Yeas-Messrs. Shurburne, Frye, Allen, Chapman, Can

nell.

Nays-Messrs. Smiley, Perkins, Paine, Chadwick.

The reason given by the members of the committee voting in favor of postponing the consideration of this order, was that the Governor had instructed Mr. Harris to return without delay to Augusta, and to bring with him all papers in his possession relating to the subject.

Adjourned.

MARCH 5, 1845.

Committee met.

Mr. Perkins of Augusta, by leave withdrew his order laid the table March 3d, calling for papers.

upon

Mr. Perkins of Augusta introduced an order, that for the purpose of ascertaining and reporting to the Legislature what claims have been presented in the name of the State of Maine to the authorities of the United States for injuries and losses to individuals growing out of the operations of the State, rendered necessary for the protection of the northeastern frontier, and the manner in which said claims have been or are now prosecuted by the authorities of this State, the chairman of this committee is hereby authorized and directed to communicate to the Secretary of the Treasury Department at Washington an attested copy of the order of the Legislature appointing said committee, and to request from the Treasury Department of the United States, an attested copy of all proofs and vouchers which have been presented to substantiate the "last entry in the general account No. 3, of claims of the State of Maine against the United States under the Treaty of Washington, which entry is as follows, viz:

"To amount of claims of individuals for injuries and losses growing out of the operations of the State rendered necessary for the protection of the disputed territory in 1859, audited and allowed by the Governor and Council, as per abstract marked M, $19,805.32.”

On motion of Mr. Perkins, the yeas and nays were or dered on the passage of the order; and the order refused a passage.

Yeas-Messrs. Smiley, Paine, Perkins and Chadwick. Nays-Messrs. Frye, Allen, Chapman and Cannell.

Those opposed to the passage of the order giving as a reason that Mr. Harris, the agent, was daily expected at Augusta with the papers required.

Mr. Frye presented an order, that this committee will proceed no farther in their investigation in the matter under consideration, until some substantial charge, or just grounds of suspicion, shall be preferred or shown of malpractices against some person or persons, either in an official or private capacity, in the settlement or allowance in any stage of their liquidation of any claims against the General Government by this State, in pursuance of the resolve of March 24, 1843.

On motion of Mr. Frye, laid upon the table.

Mr. Perkins presented an order, that the Secretary of State be requested to furnish this committee with a certified copy of the report of the committee of Council, made by Mr. Levensaler in 1843, upon the claims of Shepard Cary et als.-also copy of a report of Council upon said claims made June 29, 1844.

On motion of Perkins, the yeas and nays were ordered on the question of laying the order on the table, and it was decided in the affirmative.

Yeas-Messrs. Sherburne, Frye, Allen, Chapman, Can

nell.

Nays-Messrs. Smiley, Paine, Perkins, Chadwick. The objection given to the passage of this order, was that the originals were open to the inspection of the committee at all reasonable hours, and could at any moment be brought before the committee. To copy them would be a mere waste of time.

Mr. Allen presented an order, that the gentleman from Augusta, R. F. Perkins, Esq., who in the House of Representatives alleged that there was attempted to be prac