The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-16


but would be orderedtol lie on the table.
No other gentleman rising to speak, tie
motion tor printing was negatived IS to so
and the message and documents ordered Il
lie on the table.
BARRED CLAIMS.
MIR. johnson from the committee ofclaims
made several reports on petitions amongst
which were two or three on petitions of old
soldiers, &c. On these the committee re-
ported. without entering into the merits of
the several cases, that they were barred by
the statute of Limitation, & therefore recon-
mended that the prayer of the petition
ers ought not to be granted. A report SIM
liar to this having been made OH the petition
OF Hannah Foster of Philadelphia, widow of
a revolutionary officer, it was negatived by
the House.
A motion was made to re. consider this re-
port. on the suggestion of Mr. Stanly that
the question had not been understood by the
House.
Mr.. Gofds6orongh opposed the notion
He hoped the House would not sanction by
its vote the broad principle that every claim,
however just, should be barred by the sta
tute OF limitation; but that they would de-
eide thatit should be no bar to the payment
by Congress of all just claims.
Mr.. johnson (the chairman of the COM
~~s~'s'o/
that this question had been brought mp for
the consideration of the House, that by it's
decision the committee of claims might be
guided I'm its future conduct. The commit
tee were every day presented with cases of
nardshlp which created painful sensations
IN the breasts OF the committee, but which
they were compelled. from the uniform con-
duct OF the committee of claims heretofore.
to reject because they were barred by the
| statute OF limitation. Thus i'm the present
case the committee had reported, not that
the claim was not just, but that they had
not examined 1t because barred by the sta
tute. he should feel happy at a decision
which should open the statute to particular
claimants, and should not, as a member of
the committee ever shrink from. tile invest-
Satlcn OF them. He found himself bound to
vote tor re consideration of the vote on this
| report, because if the statute was to be o.
pened to particular cases. it should be done
by some general rule, and not by a decision
on single case.
Mcssrs. Holland and Nelson said they ne
yer had believed that Congress were barred
by the statute of limitations they beliey-
ed 1t was only intended to bar a settlement
az me Treasury of document claims, of
Claims against which the length of time that
they had been suffered to sleep was stronp
tai
by the committee of claims was to he adj
llered to, to what purpose was any claim re
fcrred to committee! The reason WHY
tbese petitions were presented 20 the House:
was that the claims were barred by the sta
tue Tor, II not barred, they would long "a
go have been settled at the Treasury De.
partnent. These reports of the committee
Of claims had long been considered as re-
bccting dishonor Oh the House; and il was
believed that the committee of claims OUGHT
TO examine into the equity of cases prescn-
TED 10 them, without reference to the Statute
! OF Limitations. if that was to bar all claim
ants, there was much more ready way of
obtaining their answer than by report of
committee of the House on application to
the Treasury, their claims would be reject
ed without delay.
The House refused to re- consider the re :
port, so to- 40 and
On motion of Mr.. EhheS. the report was
re-committed to the committee OF claims,
with instructions to report on The merits of
the case, 68 to So.
This decision is understood 10 oherafc rs
an instruction 10 the committee Of claims in
future, 10 rehort OH Tire merits of ali co
ses, 7nthoM considering fhe statute of. Ii
mutations as bar TO their liquidation 6y
Congress.
Mr.. Lore reported bill respecting the
courts of the District of Columbia
read and committed.
Mr.. Rhea reported bill to alter and es-
tab'ioh Certain Post Roads. Twice read and
committed.
/ MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.
! MIR. Nelson, from the committee IN whom
was referred so much of the message the
President of the United States, as relates r.
the military establishment and Mr.. Ran
! dolph S resolution for disbanding the troops
lately raised, reforted, g that under exist
ing circumstances would be impolitic and
,hw'se to- disband any part of the military es-
tabl''hment OF the U.States." Report refer
red to committee of the whole.
NOTIFICATIONS.
: The bill from the Senate for aporopria-
ting money for completing fortificatinns com
menced. and erecting new works on the
Northern and Western frontiers, was read
a third time; and on the question "Shall
the bill pass" YEAS 77-NAYs Is.
! The bill therefore, only requires the sig.
nature Of the President to become a law
| .A1choias Vdn Duke, a member from Della
ware, appeared and took his seat.
BALTIMORE, June @.
| SENATOR.-The House of DELEGATES
have determined to elect Senator. in the
place of Gen. Smith by a separate vote OF
each branch of the Legislature, as laws are
enacted; and they elected Col Howard, we
are informed, by a majority of six: yeas Al
noes 35 This vote was sent to Senate to,