H. OF R.] Internal Improvements. [APRIL 6, 1832. to move to strike out this item: he should not do so, believed, the gentleman from North Carolina was one of cause he was opposed to the whole amendment. But if those who had voted in its favor. the gentleman wanted any evidence of his being in ear- Mr. CARSON admitted that he had voted for the ob nest in his opposition to the system of internal improve-ject. He had been seduced to do so by a member of the ments, he would refer him to another bill which would Pennsylvania delegation, who represented the city of Phishortly be before the House, proposing a communication ladelphia, [Mr. SUTHERLAND.] He owned with shame that between the Ohio river and the shores of the Atlantic, he had been seduced to give his vote from party prinwhich was to pass through his own estate, or his brother's ciples. That measure had been carried by Jackson votes. adjoining it, most probably within one hundred yards of his own door; yet, he should vote against that bill, as he did against these amendments, although the plan was a favorite one with his constituents. He adverted to the large sum asked for; referred to the state of discontent at the South, and the obligation of making some sacrifice for the peace and union of the country. These amendments were part and parcel of that system which was racking the Union in such a manner, that he feared it could not be brought together again. The gentleman from Philadelphia had appealed to him on that ground; had assured him that it would be the best thing for General Jackson in the world, if he could but get an appropriation for that object. As to his own constitutional scruples, he really could hardly tell by what process the gentleman had convinced him that they were erroneous. The gentleman had told him that it was immense ly important to him, as Mr. Sergeant was his competitor, and he did not wish that gentleman to carry off his plu mage. Mr. C. said he had never heard the system more admi- Mr. SUTHERLAND replied to the remarks of Mr. rably, more forcibly, or more eloquently described and CARSON. That gentleman, it seemed, had voted for the exposed, than in the speech of the gentleman from South breakwater for the sake of the interests of Jacksonism. Carolina [Mr. DAVIS] on the preceding day. Every South-That consideration had not actuated Mr. S., because Jack ern man who loved the Union, and who wished and look-sonism did not need that aid. But if the gentleman had ed forward with the hope that his children should enjoy voted for this object at that time, because the interests of the benefit of its free institutions; every Southern man, General Jackson stood in need of it, he could assure the who possessed a single spark of that chivalrous spirit which gentleman that General Jackson needed it quite as much was the acknowledged attribute of the sons of the South, now, and was likely to need it twice as much hereafter. must be opposed to every portion of a system which had He was happy that there could be now no doubt of his been the cause of such deplorable effects on that section | [Mr. S's] Jacksonism entertained at the white house, since of country. Whatever might be the representations of it had received the certificate of such a gentleman. Mr. the prejudiced and interested party-writers of the present S. said that, having wished to enlighten gentlemen with day, as to the operation of this system on the interests of reference to the breakwater, he had written a document the South, the future historian would tell, in his impartial on that subject, from which he would beg leave to read a pages, the story of her wrongs, and the true cause of her little to the House. He then read from a statement in remiseries. He would tell the gentleman from New York, ference to the value of the commerce in the Delaware, though he charged him not with the design, that these ap- the losses which had been sustained, &c., and concluded propriations were but a part of a system, which had al-by observing, that he was sure the gentleman from North ready led to the distraction, and threatened to lead to the Carolina had been convinced by the argument. dissolution, of the Union; nay, he felt himself almost compelled to say, that on the action of the present Congress, with regard to that system, depended, not merely the safety, but the existence of that Union. Mr. VERPLANCK thanked the gentleman from Pennsylvania for this pleasant interlude, which served in some degree to relieve a very dry subject. He stated, however, with pleasure, to the House, that he learned from the department that there was the best reason to conclude the breakwater might be completed for a sum very far short of the original estimate. Mr. VERPLANCK said, in reply, that the speech of the gentleman had been very eloquent, discursive, and playful; and lamented his inability, expecially under physical indisposition, to follow it out in reply. It contained The gentleman had adverted, apparently with marked some things which called for some remark, but he could emphasis, to some of the improvements proposed for New not think it contained any very solid arguments. The lan-York. The places there named were remote from Mr. guage which had unfortunately occasioned the gentleman V.'s residence and interests. The object in those appro so much uneasiness, and on which he had commented so priations was not the improvement of the small streams at very largely, had been introduced through inadvertence. whose mouths they were situated. It was the security of The estimates submitted to the department were some-immensely valuable internal commerce on the lakes, and times very general, and at other times more minute. It often became necessary, either from the nature of the works proposed, or for financial reasons, to distribute the appropriation through different years. the appropriations were to be put upon the same ground, as to principle, with light-houses, light-vessels, and buoys They were harbors of refuge. A pier had been ce pleted at Oswego last year, and so beneficial had been the result already, that the tonnage at that port had increased tons. The present appropriation went to extend that benefit, by giving the harbor additional security. Should the appropriations for many of these works be now stopped, not only would the object intended fail, but the partial progress which had been made would destroy the harbor, and Congress must appropriate to remove the m terials which they had begun to deposite. The total estimate was for completing certain works; and in breaking down that total amount into several an-in a single season from two thousand to twenty thousa nual appropriations, the original phrase, "for completing" the work, had been erroneously retained. So much for the deception" practised on the House and the nation. In some instances, the estimate of the Engineers had not been exactly accurate; and, in others, the laws of nature had been found not to obey the laws of Congress; and works, partially finished, had, in some instances, been swept away. In other cases, the very delays in making As to the appropriation for Ocracock inlet, the works the appropriations produced the necessity for increasing there were of a singular character. It was a great expe them. As to the Delaware breakwater, the House would riment, which, if successful, must prove immensely bene perfectly remember that, when that object had been first ficial to the trade between New York and the ports appropriated for, they had been distinctly warned that North Carolina, by diminishing the risk to which it was the total cost of that great work would be two million exposed, and consequently reducing the rates of freight three hundred thousand dollars. With that knowledge and insurance. Whatever might be the opinion of the ge before them, they had begun to appropriate, and, he be-tleman's constituents as to other works of internal improve Mr. V. concluded by a recapitulation and a very complimentary notice of General Jesup. Mr. CARSON disclaimed any personal allusion in his remarks on New York. [H. OF R. ment, the Legislature of his State had declared this work that Sound; that more than twenty thousand vessels passnecessary both for defence and economy. Mr. V. quoted ed every year. It was a place of difficult navigation, and in a report from the War Department, going to show that the light-houses and improvements which had been made the experiment, as far as it had been prosecuted, had been there within a few years had already greatly facilitated the eminently successful. He then explained why the item navigation. A voyage from New York to Boston was now for Deer island was so much greater this year than last. performed in half the time it formerly was, and freight The works which had been begun there had been swept was reduced more than one hundred per cent. Who deaway by a violent tempest. The island was very import- rives the benefit of these important and useful improveant as a defence to the outer harbor of Boston, especially ments? The nation, the farmer, the producer of corn, t to the navy yard, to which it was directly opposite. Were and rye, and flour, and every other production of the it of no value as to commerce, it would still be highly im- country. It benefited buyer and seller, the whole nation. portant as a military post. As it facilitated the commerce of the different parts of the country, and reduced freights, it increases the commerce, and is mutually beneficial to all. It is a national benefit. The providing and making such harbors, I consider, said he, a fair and legitimate exercise of the powers granted to Mr. WHITTLESEY went into a very full exposition Congress "to provide for the general welfare" and "to of the importance and value of the works proposed on the regulate commerce.' The objects are national and usesouthern shore of Lake Erie. He showed how it happen- ful; the harbors ought to be made by those who use them: ed that the estimates for some of them had been augment- the nation use them. If such improvements do not proed in consequence of the necessity which experience had mote commerce and the national welfare, I should like to developed for increasing the length of the walls, piers, be informed in what way we may be able to effectuate &c. These, being erected on the sand, continued to sink that great purpose. from year to year, until they reached the solid clay be- Mr. INGERSOLL, of Connecticut, went into some exneath, during which they must be continually augmented planations in reference to the Delaware breakwater. He above. No engineer could calculate this with precision reminded the House, that when that improvement had beforehand. Mr. W. dwelt upon the importance of har- been proposed, it had been distinctly stated what amount bors of refuge to the shipping on the lake; the vast in-of money would probably be needed for its completion. crease of that shipping; its exposure from sudden flaws; It was not a work gone into to gratify Pennsylvania alone. and the loss of lives formerly experienced. In 1810, there The recommendations in its behalf came up from every had been ten vessels on Lake Erie; now there were a portion of the country, even from the Carolinas. All the hundred. The tonnage that entered Buffalo last year was ship owners along the coast were interested in providing seventy-five thousand, and there were more than seventy an asylum for their vessels. Our shipping was constantly thousand human beings constantly exposed to danger in passing to and fro, bringing naval stores, lumber, and the navigation of a lake which was without a natural har- corn from the South, especially from South Carolina. It bor for two hundred miles. He appealed to Mr. CAR- was the owners of vessels engaged in this coasting trade Sox's humanity. The gentleman had voted for the vacci- who had memorialized Congress in behalf of the work. nation bill; and when Alexandria was in flames, his pathe- Mr. I. would put it to the honorable feelings of the gentic appeal had moved and swayed the whole House. No tleman from North Carolina, whether, having received the constitutional scruples had restrained him then; and why consideration which, according to that gentleman, had should they now, when human life was at stake? The been sought in return for this harbor improvement, viz. money heretofore appropriated for these objects in Ohio the elevation of General Jackson to the Presidency, he had been judiciously applied, and most economically ex- ought now to resist the appropriations necessary to carry pended. He concluded by deprecating and disclaiming it on? The gentleman had got his side of the bargain; any political feeling in reference to those appropriations. General Jackson had been elected; and he now said to Mr. REED, of Massachusetts, observed, as frequent al- that gentleman, "stick to your agreement, I hold you to lusion had been made to the breakwater of Delaware, he your bond." As for gentlemen who were opposed to inwould remark, that he had the honor to belong to the ternal improvements on the ground of constitutional scrucommittee who had originally examined and reported the ples, they should wait till the report of the committee on bill. The subject was fully examined. The report of that subject came in; then the field would be open, and the engineers gave full assurance that it was practicable they could go on with the war, in opposition to any new to make a good harbor at the mouth of the Delaware. projects; but this bill was merely for works which had The expense would be great. He never supposed less been commenced, and which were in a state of progress. than three millions of dollars. The hundreds of lives and The gentleman complained of an increase in some of the millions of property lost by Philadelphia alone, demanded appropriations. This was chargeable chiefly on the dethat the harbor should be made for future security and pro- lay which occurred in this House. Every item was fought, tection. Was this harbor for Philadelphia alone? Ought inch by inch; members were sent away, and then their Pennsylvania to make it? Certainly not. It was for the absence urged as a reason why every thing must stop. As protection and benefit of the nation. There was no safe to the works on the lakes, if the gentleman had once been harbor after you left New York to the south until you in one of the storms which occurred there, his voice never reached Norfolk, a great distance of dangerous navigation; would again be raised against providing some harbor for more or less vessels were constantly lost, and which, he distressed vessels. The House would then again witness trusted, might have been saved had there been a harbor. the display of the gentleman's pathetic powers, such as it He had been forcibly reminded of the importance of the had witnessed after the conflagration of a neighboring harbor by the loss of two vessels near the very place city. The gentleman would then vote for the bill from where the breakwater is located, from his own neighbor- feelings of humanity, if not out of regard to the sound pohood the year past. But if the harbor were useful to Phi- licy of the nation. ladelphia alone, its importance to the nation would require Mr. BELL, of Tennessee, observed that the amendthe appropriation. ment contained a great number and variety of objects, Objections had been taken to the appropriation for the and he thought that the committee ought to be willing to breakwater at Hyannis. It would be remembered that go into some discrimination as to the subjects of approHyannis was situated on the Vineyard Sound; that all the priation. He should like to know whether, in any single Commerce between the North and South passed through instance, the result of the examination and the experi H. OF R.] Internal Improvements. [APRIL 6, 1832. ments which had been made had been to recommend that own opinion. He was not acquainted with the gentleman any one of these objects should be discontinued? He did who had been engaged in the work, and he did not doubt not recollect ever to have heard that such had been the he was a very respectable man; but as to all the benefit case; nor did it seem probable that it ever would be, as which had resulted from his employment, according to all long as every appropriation asked for was regularly made that Mr. B. could learn, so far as regarded the effect in from year to year. Mr. B. differed from the gentleman the Mississippi, it was not worth one cent., nor ever could from Massachusetts, [Mr. REED,] who had told the House be. Mr. B. concluded by moving, that the amendments that, when asked to appropriate, the only inquiry he should be considered, one by one. would make should be, whether the proposed object would promote the general benefit of the country? Mr. WHITTLESEY explained. In speaking of the economy which had been observed in the harbor improveMr. B. would inquire further: and though the proposed ments on the lakes, he referred to those only which were object might be for the general benefit, he should ask in Ohio. It was of those alone that he had a personal whether there were not other objects which would pro- knowledge. mote that end in a higher degree? The only correct way Mr. BELL said, he had so understood him. of deciding with respect to these amendments would be Mr. MERCER strenuously objected to the items in this to take up the items seriatim; to examine each one by it- amendment being taken up and considered as if they were self; to inquire what had already been done; whether the now for the first time proposed. Were such a course to money already appropriated had been economically ex- be pursued in reference to all objects for which appropriapended; and whether the object was likely to be worth the tions were needed, the Government could not endure sum that it would probably cost? The gentleman from twelve months. If objects which had already been maConnecticut [Mr. INGERSOLL] had referred to the benefi- turely considered, which had received the sanction of Concial effects of improvements on the lakes, by way of justi-gress, and which were in a course of completion, must be fying works proposed on the seaboard. delayed till each particular item was re-examined, and its propriate for the fortifications, gradually, in successive sums, according as the money could be best applied' Some of these works were experimental; that is, as to the expense which would be necessary to effect them: this must depend on various circumstances, many of which experience alone could determine. Mr. INGERSOLL replied that he had confined himself utility again demonstrated; and this process must be reto those objects which had been attacked. peated as often as supplies were needed, the Government Mr. BELL resumed. If gentlemen seriously intended was at an end, it would be perfectly impracticable to carry to vote for these amendments, it was due to themselves it on. The Committee of Roads and Canals had presented and to the nation that they should go into some examina- a report, in which the grounds and reasons of all these tion of them. They all knew something about the works improvements had been fully stated; the report had been in their own several neighborhoods. The only proposed considered, debated, and had received the deliberate sancappropriation in which his constituents had any particular tion of Congress; and therefore the propriety of the obWere interest was, that for the improvement of the Ohio and jects was scarcely a legitimate topic of debate. Mississippi rivers; and even as to that item, he was under gentlemen, like so many engineers, to enter into a solemn the necessity of inquiring from the gentleman from Ken- investigation of the utility and practicability of every pub tucky, [Mr. WICKLIFFE,] or from some other gentleman, lic work in the country? Were they to discuss over again better informed than himself, how the two hundred thou- the policy of the Delaware breakwater when $620,000 had sand dollars last year appropriated for those objects had been appropriated for it? Were they to throw that money been expended? The House had a right to know how away? What was the argument brought in opposition to the money voted had been applied, as well in reference to it? That successive appropriations were asked for it from that object as to others. When he remembered that the year to year. Well, would gentlemen have had the whole Cumberland river, a natural channel, to excavate which sum it was ultimately to cost appropriated at once? Was would require ten millions of dollars, remained idle, and it not palpable that such a mode of proceeding would be comparatively useless, for more than half the year, for attended with a waste of money? Did not the House ap. want of an appropriation of forty or fifty thousand dollars, merely for the purpose of clearing out the rocks and other obstructions at the Harpeth Shoals, and yet that had never been done, how could he, in faithfulness to his constituents, vote for some of the objects in this amendment, while that improvement, so needful and important, remained neglected? A natural channel, possessing such great ad- The gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. BELL] had told vantages, lay in a condition useless to two, and he might the committee that the Cumberland river ought to be imsay, three States, for want of such a sum as he had named; proved, and thence drew an argument, (not very concluyet he had never urged that objcct, and never should ask sively,) that the improvements on the Atlantic ought not it, as he had been opposed to appropriations for objects to go on. He had also said that his constituents had never connected with this system. Thus it must appear that, un- applied for that improvement; but therein the gentleman less some gentleman should propose it who thought it his did great injustice to his predecessors. Applications for duty to go into the general system of internal improve- it had been repeatedly made, and the subject was now ment, it must remain in a state of neglect. As to the before the House. The Committee on Internal Improvemoney which had been appropriated for improving the ment had reported an appropriation for that object. Mr. navigation of the Ohio, if he had been rightly informed, M. thought he had some reason to complain; but, on the the only benefit which had hitherto resulted was, the clear- whole, was disposed rather to congratulate himself that ing out some of the obstructions in what was called the the gentleman had not condemned the objects as merely Grand Chain. After all which had been said of the new local, and that he entertained no constitutional objection and valuable machinery invented for the removal of snags as to the power of Congress to appropriate in behalf of and sawyers from the Mississippi, nothing, he believed, them. Mr. M. then went into a series of observations on had resulted to the nation but the brilliant descriptions the national character of the items in the amendment. with which that House had been entertained. After every They had all been considered by the Department of War, new freshet the islands and sand bars were found to be re- and by the Board of Internal Improvement. Where else clothed as thickly as ever with sawyers. The channels would gentlemen go for information? He then moved which had been opened were filled up, and the same certain other objects, a list of which was to be found in work had to be gone over again. He saw gentlemen the 36th page of document No. 10, which contained a reshake their heads, and he did not doubt that those gentlemen port from the War Department. It was not the business believed great benefits to have resulted: such was not his of an appropriation bill to do more than to enumerate APRIL 7, 9, 1832.] Quarantine Regulations.--Ordnance Board.--Revolutionary Pensions. objects, and to specify sums. The requisite guards against misapplication of the funds must be provided elsewhere. [H. OF R. a sort of robbery of the property of claimants to apply the only days in which private claimants could have their petitions attended to in the prosecution of the public business. The motion did not prevail--ayes 59. MONDAY, APRIL 9. ORDNANCE BOARD fairs, reported a bill for the establishment of a military Mr. DRAYTON, from the Committee on Military Af board for the administration and government of the Ordnance Department. Mr. D., a explaining the nature and object of the bill, observed, that unless the bill should pass, the bill creating the Ordnance Department must remain wholly useless and board would be, to produce a uniformity in the structure abortive. One great object in creating the proposed and dimensions of cannon, muskets, and other weapons. The utility of such an arrangement must be at once ap Mr. BELL protested against the argument of the gentleman from Virginia, so far as it was intended to show that the reports from the officers of the Government formed in themselves conclusive evidence of the propriety of making appropriations by that House; none could be more fallacious than they often were. As an illustration, he referred to the report in reference to the removing obstructions in the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. It was the report of whom? Of the very man who was, himself, to have the control of the $200,000 which were to be appropriated. It was the report of the very individual who was more interested than any other man in the United States that the appropriation should pass. The same thing might be said in reference to other reports. They come, in some instances, from persons who hoped to be contrac tors or superintendents, or who were urged by pride of opinion, in consequence of once having recommended the work. It was not the habit of the House to receive, im-parent; the country had had an ordnance corps, under one form or other, ever since the existence of the Governplicitly, the recommendations of the department, in any ment. matter deemed to be very important. He certainly had But the ends to be obtained by it had hitherto not found it to be so, in reference to the recommendations been, in a great measure, defeated. The present plan, in respect to the Indian department. There every cent which had been devised by some members of the Military had been pried into. Nor did he complain of this; on the officer to whom it had been submitted, and also of the Committee, had received the sanction of every artillery contrary, he considered it the proper course, and as evincing a becoming spirit in the House. Secretary at War. It required no appropriation, and its utility must be so obvious, that he hoped there would be no He therefore moved necessity of committing the bill. that it be laid upon the table and printed, which was agreed to. WISCASSET COLLECTOR. Seeing Mr. WICKLIFFE now in his seat, Mr. B. repeated the observations he had made as to the result of the appropriations for improving the navigation on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He did not absolutely deny that the appropriation had done any good; but he did deny that the application of that money had at all answered the Mr. KAVANAGH presented several depositions and a expectations of the public. He urged this, not as reflect-memorial relating to the complaint made by John McClining on the superintendent, Mr. Shreeve, but merely as tock against the collector of Wiscasset, and observed, an argument to prove the propriety of carefully examining that as the debate on this subject had taken an extensive each item recommended to the House, and inquiring range, he begged the indulgence of the House to have whether the improvement was really worth the money them read by the Clerk. He further observed, that all the asked for it. friends of the collector had, from the outset of the discussion, whenever they had been able to obtain the floor, Mr. WICKLIFFE rose to reply; but A motion was made for the committee to rise, which expressed their earnest desire for an early and effectual prevailed, and The House adjourned. SATURDAY, APRIL 7. QUARANTINE REGULATIONS. Mr. HOWARD, from the Committee of Commerce, reported a bill to enforce quarantine regulations. investigation of the charges made against him, not doubting that the severest scrutiny would result in his honorable acquittal. Mr. E. EVERETT suggested that these depositions, &c. should be read when the subject to which they referred came up in its regular course for discussion. This was agreed to; and when the subject came up, they were read accordingly. They were of an exculpatory character, as to McCrate, the collector, and the reverse as to the inspector, McClintock; after which, REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONS. Mr. H. then briefly explained the object of the bill. It had been drawn up with some care, in conformity with suggestions received in the course of a correspondence Mr. HUBBARD said, as the hour for morning business with some of our principal seaports. There were only had nearly expired, he would suggest that further discustwo modes by which the municipal regulations on the sub- sion on this subject should be postponed until to-morrow, ject of quarantine could be enforced; one was by the and that the House proceed at once to the orders of the day. garrisons, where such were stationed; the other by the Mr. STORRS, who was in possession of the floor, asofficers of the customs. The former mode had been pro-sented to the postponement, and the House thereupon provided for by orders from the War Department. But it ceeded to the orders of the day. was desirable that similar regulations should prevail beyond the limits of the city jurisdictions, (which never could go further than the limits of the States in which such cities The House then went into Committee of the Whole, were situated,) as for example in Delaware bay: the mu- Mr. L. CONDICT in the chair, on the pension bill; the quesnicipal regulations of the Philadelphia board of health tion being on the amendment proposed by Mr. H. ÈVEwould not be in force in the central parts of that bay; and RETT to the amendment of Mr. CRAIG, which went to it was therefore necessary that the authority of the Gene-repeal that feature of the existing pension law which reral Government should supervene to supply the deficiency, and thus guard the health of the country. The bill, without opposition, was ordered to be engrossed for its third reading. Mr. VERPLANCK moved to suspend the rule which appropriates Fridays and Saturdays to private bills, in order to take up and proceed with the appropriation bills. Mr. BATES, of Massachusetts, remonstrated. It was quires the applicant to prove that he is in indigent cir cumstances. Mr. CHOATE, of Massachusetts, rose and said, he understood the precise question for consideration to be upon the amendment offered by the gentleman from Vermont [Mr. EVERETT] to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. CRAIG.] To that question he wished, if he might, to call back, in the first place, for a H. OF R.] Revolutionary Pensions. [APRIL 9, 1832. few minutes, the attention of the committee. It involved, one. Such a state of things, we all agree, ought not to be he was aware, a comparatively subordinate point of mere continued twenty-four hours longer. In the language of detail, as the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. DAVIS] the civil law, duodecim tabulæ vetant--it is against first had remarked; but yet it was one of some practical im- principles. We ought forthwith to abandon special legis portance. When that question should be disposed of, he lation, by adopting a general system which shall render it would say a few words also upon the general merits of the useless. bill itself. But how will you change the law? Two propositions I am in favor of the proposition of the gentleman from are before you; one, that of the gentleman from Vermont, Vermont. Its effect will be to supersede altogether that which is to strike out altogether the requirement of proof provision of the existing general pension system which of indigence, and to make service alone the condition of makes the indigence of the petitioner for a pension the condition on which he obtains it. That provision, I think, upon the whole, an objectionable one, and am willing that it should be stricken out of the law. the pension; the other, that of the gentleman from Virgi nia, which is to retain the requirement of proof of indigence, but to enlarge the amount of property which shall be deemed to place its owner above indigence. Sir, it is a What is now the law, practically, in this particular? choice of difficulties. I have felt myself embarrassed a Why, as the acts of 1818 and 1820, which constitute the little, but I incline, on the whole, to the opinion that it is pension system are administered, nobody, whatever his better to dispense entirely with all proof respecting the merit, services, or actual necessities may be, can under pecuniary circumstances of the applicant for a pension. those acts obtain a pension, unless he shall satisfactorily Several considerations have had more or less weight prove to the Department of War that he does not possess with me. There is something in the suggestion that you estate of the value of three hundred dollars. He is holden set a strong temptation to fraud and perjury before these to file a schedule of his property in court, under oath; ob- aged and war-broken men, when you say to them, if your tain the opinion of the court upon its value, and then sub- property can be brought below a given limit, you shall mit the whole to the Secretary of War; and if, after all, receive a pension; and if it rises a dollar above it, you shall that officer shall rate him above this prescribed and arbi- have none. But, for obvious reasons, I do not much press trary limit of value, he denies him a pension. this. The discrimination, also, which the gentleman from Now, it is admitted, on all hands, that some alteration Virginia proposes to make, and which the law now makes, of the law, in this behalf, is indispensable. The gentle- between persons equally meritorious in point of service, man from Virginia, by the terms of his amendment, admits operates unpleasantly, and constitutes some objection-I this; for he proposes one thousand dollars instead of three do not say it is very weighty--to his amendment. He gives hundred, as the sum which shall exclude from the pension a pension to one who is indigent, because, perhaps, he has fund. The legislative daily practice of this House, and of been vicious and idle; and denies it to his next door neigh our predecessors in Congress, almost as far back as 1820, bor, who served you as long, and as well, but who is not distinctly declares the opinion of the National Legislature so indigent, because, perhaps, he has been moral and inalso to be, that the pension system, in this particular, is dustrious. This will seem to be capricious and unrea too narrow and too severe. We grant pensions every sonable, although it is not a very decisive consideration. day to persons to whom the general law denies them. But one practical difficulty will attend the gentleman's We grant them on proof of the requisite amount of revo- amendment, which constitutes a weightier objection to it. lutionary military service, and without a particle of proof I take it, sir, that a leading inducement with us all to a of that degree of indigence which the rule of the depart- change of the law is, to relieve Congress from the neces ment imperatively prescribes. We satisfy ourselves, per- sity of so much and such unsatisfactory special legislation. haps, that the petitioner for a pension is not rolling in The amendment of the gentleman from Virginia will not wealth, as the gentleman from Virginia expresses himself; effect this object. According to his proposition, whosoever but we do not turn him away because his ascertained pro- possesses a property of one thousand dollars, under what perty exceeds, and a great way exceeds, the sum of three ever circumstances, is to be denied a pension at the dehundred dollars. That excess, on the contrary, is the partment. The difficulty is, that this amount of property precise ground of his application to Congress for relief may afford something like a competence to one, and noagainst the department. This session we have granted thing like a competence to another. One may be hale, pensions. Since 1820, scores of them have been granted comparatively, with nobody good or bad to provide for, to persons whose pecuniary circumstances exclude them and with his money fortunately invested and productive. wholly from the provisions of the general law, as that is Another will be infirm, with a paralytic wife, and insane children, and with his money unfortunately and unpro I repeat, then, it is admitted by every body that, in this, ductively invested. This man, equally with the former, your pension system is wrong. It is also admitted that, is above the zero or freezing point of the gentleman's instead of any longer attempting to get round it; instead thermometer, and yet he manifestly stands in need of of any longer attempting to relieve against it by inade- the aid of his country for support." Rejected at the dequate, unsatisfactory, partial, and special legislation, we partment, he will present his claim to you, and you will ought in some way to change the system itself. It is un- entertain and pronounce upon it. The effect will be, that sound in principle, and it works great actual injustice, you perpetuate the present system and the present prac that there should be, as there now is, one law for the mass tice. The Department of War will sit, as it now does, a of the community interested in this subject, and another kind of court of law, rigidly enforcing the letter of the for a few individuals who are so fortunate as to have a rule which you prescribe; and Congress will sit, as it now friend in Congress; for such exactly is the operation of the does, or rather follow, haud passibus æquis, but, as near existing system. Here are a half dozen old soldiers--a pla- as it can, a kind of court of chancery, relieving, as well toon of them, if you please. They apply at the depart- as it can, against its own legislation. I think this system ment for a pension, and are refused it, because they pos- and practice objectionable and anomalous, and am against sess a nominal property of three hundred and fifty dollars a proposition having a tendency to continue it. each. They served together, and have grown old, and There is another objection to the requirement of proof grown poor together. One of them has an active and of indigence from the claimant of a pension. It must have persevering friend on this floor, and obtains a pension seemed to you, sir, and to such as you, who yet look back ex gratia speciali, and the other five, who rendered the with a sentiment of love and honor to the times and the same service, are just as indigent, and live under the same men of the revolution, a harsh and intolerable thing, that, system of general pension law, go to their graves without even when a survivor of the army of independence is administered. |