The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-10
from Ire National Iareiigcncer. !,
CLAIMS BEFORE CONGRESS

><tShiAio DCTOnEs SO-NNJhIASS.
Again the tables OF Congress are croudcf
: with memorials from the war-woin Soldiers
q the Revolution. and others, having EQUAL
~ undcniabic claims for COMPENSATION. bu.
whose claims arc torecloscd by1a =, atute az
limitations, or from the want of vouchers to
entitle them to settlemepit in due course at
(. the Treasury. For thu four and twentieth
= time the agent OF Feaumarchais' heirs at
venus tns plcasuye of the committee of
.ssimSS and again, for the twentieth or
rhirticth. time will Amy Dardin's heirs be
told by their Representative, on his return
Home, that Congress have not yet done any
thing with their petition. To adduce argu-
iGent to prove the injustice of a general sta
Suite Of limitations would be neediess-it is a
case which comes home to every mars boz
som. Let him ask himself the question,
whether, if he had incurred debts in con-
test on which his existence depended. he
WOULD avail himself when perfectly solvent,
ut the provisions OF statute OF Limitations to
Shield him from the demands of his Just Gre
ditors ? Whether he would wrap himself
up in his irresponsibility, and bid his credit
or, now an humble petitioner, to begone
from his door--or, what is worse, prctcpd
TO examine his claim, to acknowledge its
fSrness and promise settlements and vet
spficr the accepted hour to pass away, and
/. send the claimant home without any other
satisfaction than that of having been anu
SGD with smooth words and cheered with
Fir promises.
There is something more cruel in refusing
70 decide Oh claim, and thus bringing a
, claimant year after year to the seat of gov
eminent to prosecute his right, Frequently
wasting the substance he has, in pursuing a
'shadow--there is something more cruel, we
say, in this torturing suspense, than in at
Shce closing the doors OF. the limitation act in
the suitor's face, and percmptorily refusing
his request. How much time would be sa-
yed to Congress, how much unhappiness to
individuals, how much honor to The nation,
BY removing the bar which prevents the Ii
quotation of just debts by the Treasury off,
Gers, and thus causes their obtrusion indivi-
dually on the valuable time of Congress |!
How much more time might be devoted by
congress to great national affairs, if claims
FIR Revolutionary services, and for supplies
furnished during the war, and i'll general all
claims founded in equity, We're either suffer-
ed to be settled at the Treasury, or, in ca
Ses not admitting of the usual course OF set
clement, referred to a Board of Commissi-
.ners to decide on their equity. BY such a
Course, besides the pleasure and honesty of
Paving ones debts, there would be an actual
saving to the United States for at least a
third of every session is occupied in present
ing, reporting on and discussing individual
claims, the expense of which to the nation
Annually on the whole amount of Just claims
which would appear against the u. States,
If tribunal were established for deciding
on their validity, and forthe liquidation only
II such as should appear to be founded in
'chuity. 1t were much to be wished, if this
general course cannot be adopted, that Com
gfcss' would decide, if possible, on every
4aim successfully presenting ITSELF be-
FIRE them, and that their decision should be
SSAemn and final, precluding the agitation of
the same subject AZ any future session. As
Q the, practice at present is, claimant may
petition each branch of the Legislature at
each succeeding session, although the pray
CT Of his petition is rejected as often as pre-
sentcd. If the course just mentioned were
adopted, and nothing would be easier, the
claimants or their agents who have SO long
been obliged to dance attendance on Con-
Sress would be relieved from tax on their
t1nle, patience and PURSES. which at present
cannot but be to all very burthensome, and
fpMany completely ruinous.
NEW York, Dec. 2. (
FRENCH PRIYAIEERS.
The, following letter we yesterday receiv-
ed from our HAVANA correspondent. The
utmost reliance can be placed in the facts
81 forth in the letter.
HAVANA, Nov. ID, 1911.
"Messrs. Lang and IHrner-The de-
precautions lately committed about this Is
sand, leads me to give you as correct an ac-
count thereof as ! am able to obtain. The
brig Diligent, lately fitted in Philadelphia,
and owned i'll part in n. York, Gas l am
teid) commanded by Louis Maillet, has
been cruizing for some time past off the
west end OF this island, and has captured
number OF vessels--t is said She has sailed
FIR some part Of America with a large booty
of specie, indigo and cochineal; her crew
consisted of many nations, and several of
my own countrymen, about 100 in number
have seen prisoners she liberated
Three small vessels, some with one gun,
some more, some less, were also looking out
FOR their prey in the Diligent's track. On
fhe south side there are fve--In, and about
The Queens Island they have retreat, and
IN conjunction with some renegade Spani-
ards, commit all the robbcries III their pow
er, and return to their hiding place, bury
their money and out again on another cruise
One OF those captains boosted few days
since OF having captured an American brig
from Jamaica, and taken out S22, 900, and
that he would capture every American YES
SCI Coming FROM an English port, and take
from them all the money he could find (; he
furthermore added, that he had three hun
4rcd thousand dollars buried, and after a
fc ~ cruises more he would share his prize