Mr. WASHBURNE, ofIllinois. I move proforma to strike out. the last half of the amendment. One would suppose, Mr. Chairman, that the Gentfrom Minnesota [Mr. Wmnou] and myself had changed places, and that I was here as the champion of a claim which is not valid, and he was here defending the Treasury against an invalid claim. If that be so I certainly have changed places with him, for I have never known anything in the shit eof a claim of any kind, excepting this, that as not received his vote. Now, I happen to know all about this claim, and I can simply state what it is, and then n tlemen may howl it down if they please. The facts are known to the Gentfrom Pennsylvania [Mr. Srsvrzxs] and the other old members of this House. This claim is not particularly for Brigham Young, but it is for money which was advanced by others as well as himself, upon the application of Brigham Youn, for the purpose of feeding and cTothing the Indians and Quelling hostilities among them and it received the sanction of the properDept of the government more tU once, and it comes here recommended for payment by the reer officer, and nothing but the clamor which has been raised here has prevented it. from being paid before now. Whenever this claim has been investigated in either House it has been passed; and every guard has been thrown around its examination that it is possible to throw around the investigation of any claim. It passed at the last session, as I recollect, in the deficiency bill which was lost. It passed the Senate in another bill some years ago. It was fully examined Over and over again. The Dept of the In terior examined it and declared it to be a valid and just obligation against the Government. That was not sufficient, and an Indian agent in Utah examined it in detail. That agent reported his evidence, and furnished the vouch ers, item by item, and it is published in Executive Document, No. 29, siowing that eve dollar of this money was faithfully expende and then by a resolution of the Senate, at the last session of Congress, the SecyInterior was directed again to examine it. He has examined it, and has again reported to Congress that it is a just claim and ought to be paid. such are the facts as Iunderstand them and now the Gentfrom Minnesota [Mr. WINDOM1 seems to have discovered a mares nest in the speech of Mr. Cradlebaugh, which is reported to have been made in this House, and which the gentleman says he heard. Well, I never knew of anybody else hearing it. Now I know something about this man and his speech. This Mr. Cradlcbaugh who is brought in here in order to strike downthis claim, was a Delegate from Nevada. He was one of the judges sent by old Buchanan to Utah. He was the man who induced Floyd to send an expe dition to Utah, which cost this Government ten million dollars. He got himself involved in all sorts of quarrels with the Mormons, and then went over into Nevada and got himself elected a Delegate to Congress from that Territory. He athered up a great mess of stuff against the Mormons, and wove it into a long speech, accusing them of almost everything that could be conceived of. But the idea that the Mormons were concerned in this bloody massacre which the Gentfrom Minnesota [Mr. Wixpml] talks about, is too monstrous and fiendish for belief. I do not believe there was even the shadow of a shade of proof to support such an allegation. As bad as the Mormons are charged With being. it is not possible for them to have been engaged in that shocking massacre and even if it had been true that some Mormons were engaged in it, what has that to do with the just claims that are due, not to Brigham Young, but to persons all over this country who gave credit to this Government? That is the question. I have examined this claim, and know something about it and if any claim can be just, I take it this is: but the committee can do what they please. The Gentfrom Minnesota says that I am generally opposed to claims. I am opposed to all claims where I know they are not just. But when I know a claim to be just, then I am ready to sustain it, independent of any clamor which is raised against me, like that which is frequentl raised against me for opposing claims. I endeavor to actjustly, both to the Government and individuals, regardless of all clamor. I regret that the Delegate from Utah [Mr. Hoorna] is not here to speak for himself. He is thoroughly familiar With this whole matter, and is a reliable man, well known to me. But he has been called away suddenly by the death of his dau hter and cannot be heard. He could explain fu ly, and to the entire satisfaction of this committee, that there is not one article of truth orjustice in the assertion of the gentfrom Minnesota.