Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-02-28

~ lars per III hili.
Sc. d. .lu1. be II fartber era7td,
rnat th- peaiions becoming rduc IN vlr-
tue OF this IL. ihail 81 paid IN the fame
| manner as i,4yalld penilpns are paid, who
have heretofore been placed en- The pen
..ion LIT Of the United States, under luch
restrictions and regulations, IN all ref
poets, as are preictlbed by the laws OF
she united STATES, III tuch cafes p'oyid-
ced.
Mr.. Elmer moved TO ifrike out the
9th rule in the hrit ltction.
Mr.. G7ifwold fa,d the efetf Of this
motion being adopted would be 20 open
the doqr 10 all claims whatever, though
| they hsd been fully examined and rec Led.
lie was therefore sgainit it.
Mr.. Elmer replied that a!rof all lhe
claims rejected, had been rejetted be-
cauie fafacicnt teainony had not been
produced before the expiration Of the
Iait law, and DOT from an inability IN the
applicants TO produce satisfactory tefi-.
mony in cafe they had been INDUCED with
time.
The amendment was loe, Ayes 20.
The fecond iettion being under conli-
deration
Mr.. Eua;s obferved that it was ex.
tremeiy difagreeable to object to 2 blll
whoie Object was 70 beneilcent, but he
was perluAded that 1t WAS impoillble tor
the Judges to execute the duties aiilgned
them. Againa The exereile of like da-
ties tbsy had already protected. The
number Of pestors having Jult claims on
the government was extremely imall ;
and this provliion will encourage a great
nafs of fruitlefs applications whereby
great expence woulo be incurred by the
applicants without any remuneration
lie hoped, therefore, the Secretary OF
War would be uttered TO receive the ap-
plicatiops-; and be authorized 10 infitn'e
prior tribunal for the decihon OF claims
or to make report 10 Consrefs. His OBJ.
lection 10 impohng the duties Gu the Judges
was infnrmounsabie. They could not
coolly invel}igate in open court the merits
of each particular cafe whenan applicant
appeared before, them, Whole very appear
ance indicated his wretchednefs. there
would be too powerful an addrefs to their
feniibili,ies as men to refil& his demand /;
and they would generouny and msgnani
mo.ny ALLOW him, without rigid enquiry,
what he claimed.
Mr.. S. Smith faid he liked the bill as
it food, better than he ihould if it were al
tered conformably TO the wilhes OF the
gentleman from MaGachufetts. He was
inclined 10 th,nk military men would be
more liberal than the judges. Ii II were
in fuch a ii,uarion, he knew he lhouid.
And what was the danger TO be appre-
hended from iuth fellow feelings
The g,eatea danger was thai lome un-
fortunate wretch, who had too much pride
to apply tor relet until his di9reiles fore
ed him, ihould obtain the relief which his
country had awarded him for rItking his
life and his all in defence of his country's
freedom. suppole that one, two, or three
or thar eyen one, two, OF three hundred
oftheie unfortunate men lhould get on the
penGon lift; and that in mott OF the cafes
in which relief was furniihed government
wsre deceived; he would give bis content
10 rhe provilion, if but twenty worthy
mes Of The number, that were now ex-
cl.d-d, were bEought on tie lit.
The committee rofe, ard reported the
bill with amendments.
Oh Ybe 4fb If February the Bill was
again taken up and ieyefal amendments
made.
Mir. Van RanT,laer moved an amend
lnent, making rrosifon for thoie who
had been d,fAblcd in, iervice, Gncc the re-
volusion, IN the Int:an War-he had
ohieryed in his examinations al the War.