Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-10
LEVI LINCoLN.]
6om21sS.
Friday, February 3, 1909.
THOMAS PAINE'S PETITION.
HoUsE or REPRESENTATIVES,

THOMAS PAINE'S PETITION.
Mr.. Lyon rose and observed that he had
seen IN a morning paper that the commit
tee of claims had reported that Thomas
Paine should have leave to withdraw his
petition ard on examination he had found
that that report was ordered to lie on the
Clerks table, without the usual order for
printing the memorial and the accompany
ing documents. confess (said Mr.. LII
was astonished at the repcrt. Shall it he
said of this nation, that Thomas Paine, the
man 10 whom this nation is indebted for It's
independence more than TO any living be-
ihg-that its legislature has been memo
rialized by this same Thomas Paine, intir
mating that he is in want, and that he is
willing to accept of pecuniary aid on
account of those inestimable services rem
dored the American people, when they
we're growing into nation! Shall it be
said of this nation that they are as ungrate-
full to their great bcnefactor as the Ro-
mans were TO their Bclisarius! did not
rise, sir, to express my feelings on this sub
ject. / must reserve myself for more
proper opportunity, when shall move, if
no other gentleman doesit, that the report
of the committee of claims be recommit-
ted, with instructions 10 that committee to
TCpOTt NbGb OphlOu VI WhtI JubttNC uilu
the honor of the nation requires To be done
for Thomas Paine. In order to prepare the
minds of the house for this question, l move
that the report of that committee, together
with the accompanying documents, be prin-
ted. Motion Carried, Ayes 58-Nays ~
ENQUIRY INTO DISBURSEMENTS
OF PUBLIC MONIES.
Mr.. Randolph said he rose for the pur-
p3es of making a motion which he had ex
pected and wished should have come from
nome other quarter; but he said he could
not reconcile it to himself to be wanting I'M
what he conceived to be his duty AS me IN
Der of the house, in the hope that that du-,
ty would be more zcalously performed byl
others, especially when he perceived mol
prospect of its being, in relation to this
particular object, performed at all. | be-
lieve, sir, said Mr.. Randolph, it viii not
be new thing to you to be told that ru-
NOR, and something more than rumor too,
has gone abroad respecting the application
of public monies. Among the duties, and
among the rights TOO, Of this house, there
is perhaps none so important as the con-
troll which it constitutonaliy possesses over
the public purse. To what purpose is that
control The mere form of appropriatIng
public money, unless this house vigorously
examine into the application of the money
thus appropriated, unless the house exam
inc if the amount of appropriation is ex-
ceeded by the expenditure, or IL il be mis-
applied that is if money appropriated for
one object be expended for another--un-
less we do this, sir, our control over the !
public purse is a mere name, an empty !
shadow. I now rise not only for the pur
pose Of asserting this right on the part Of
the house, and exercising what conceive |
20 be my duty 20 il, and tothe people whom |
Irepresent, but also for the purpose of vim
dicatiug, in the only way in which IL can |
be indicated, the reputation of the govern
ment under which we live--I mean tho |
administration. Whenever charges are
brought against any administration, the on
w way in which they can be repealed, is |
BY frank, full, and impartial enquiry in |
TO the matter constituting those charges. |
This is the only mode in which the honor
Of any administration IN government like |
ours can be vind ated. You must well
recoIlect, sir, that in the first session ofthe !
9th congress ofthe United States, period, !
sir. to which | delight to recur It gives
me pleasure To look back upon it as the e.
ra Of glorious reformation--an act was |
passed fixing the military peace establish |
ment of the Uaited St1tes. The fourth |
section Of this act establishes the pay of
the officers, Don-conmissioned officers and |
privates. will readit: "That the month";
" pay of the officers, non-commissioned
officers, musicians and privates be as fol-
lows, to wit: to the brigadier general, twol
hundred and twenty-five dollars, which
shall be his full and entire compensation,
without right to demand or receive any
rations, forage, travelling expenses, or o.
Their perquisite or emo.ument Whatever,
except snch stationary as may be requisite