Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-01-22

fruitiesS prayers TOT parHii ~
cono,.lIed to retire with zine petitioner
has leave to withdraw his petition II have
then seen the tears of as brave an otilcer a.
The vtar17.6 produced, stream dcwn H''
w.ipkled check ; while sorrow ana ino'"-
nation long brrembed his tongue, ano sup,
pressed what nj CHI almost be deno'l'ina'eu
a holy curse. Think nor these are ma
cined cases they occur every sess'o"
Perhaps the intention CT the first &C; 0,
limitation vas 10 induce those WHO mao
claims agains, go, ernmentto produce !he"
for settlement bat, now many were 'Gno-
rart of such law how many, then III OCT
ter circumstance, hoped never I" need what
was due how many we're absent no"
many knew not tue means OF application,
or were too poor TO travel To the seat OF go
vernmens for their dues. justice, however
protests against its continuance. some
would varnish their avarce and injustice
with the plea, that if the s,a'ute sheuld be
removed, it would open ths flood gates 10
an iEmrasuraA!e torrent OF dams WI"
which Congress i,all would be irtnds'ed.
What is thus but an ackno w!edsment OF ma
tonal fraud, of magnitude th= extent OF
which they dread TO ascertain 1t ootn
not open door to imposition. NO lear
can he entertained OF satisfying unjust
claims. Perhaps the most eligible mode Of
quoting III" Sc claims would be By the APP
Doin,ment Of commissioners, who's bust
ness i, should be TO examine them, and,
OF unequivoca proof OF thsIr justice, to
order them paid. Fora nation to BE- guilty
of such black nSratitude, such tlagrant dis
honesty, and su.h flint hearted patsimony,
is foul blot or the visage oil It's r putaton.
lis like the blood of Dunran on the lily
hand of Lady Macbeth "out, out, vile
SPOT" ought TO be the language Of Con.
press, xii this statute is repeated How
canst huu account a!or il, Fri,ad Lewis
Therr arc mrmbrs who would Il cad ale
like this In The day when thy enem,s
were failing Upon thee wlto thr sword, and
thy patrimouy was Zed wien thy
strength was falling when thou nadst no.
whe re vital to clotho thee, nor iood TO
Oh, ck ,he c,l@s o! huaper. ny basket was
open TO thee, and pa1ted my garments
with thee stretched !o'tI ny arm, :nI
for years barred my bosom TO the Toe,
welding my sword tor thy q fence.
drove lar away those who would q, stroy
thee placed ,hee in ,fety on hJ pa,iImo.
nv, to witch | added millions OF acres /:
and now, while ,h"u art throned in autho
rIty and pawer; while abundance is swoi-
len to superiority, and all the Blessings and
all the charms Of existence are at thy beck
oniug I, paired with wounds received in
thy service, and linping heavily with sor,
row and with sickness 10 the grave, dc
naud not like creditor nv rights, but,
suppliaut as the nae iai or beesar, l!I,i-,
lirle succor, to help me hence 70 where
shall be no more +; and wha, is the response
TO my prayers 1t is tne vilIaiacus reply Of
" old man, | know titee not. Reure, or my
servant will shu the door upon thee.
cannot BE- troubled with these old stories,
and long ago resolved TO hear the petition
Ct neRe who called not in season." Ye,,
though as an Individual such tale promul-
gated to the world would rei.>:er the guilty.
wretch deies;ablc IN every eye ; as a mem.
Der of the legislative body, the pressure of
indignation and shame sprea!csh over SO
many shoulders, lha, nc heeoeth it not.
Where are the three hundred millions Of
acres, yet unapproprated and unsold, prize
of war, and for which, in addition to The
thirteen states, the veterans fought, and
which shry gained Is it held in reserve
for swelling the Golfers of present and !u-
ture specuiato,s! Il these millions are
not the soldiers property, spare, o spare a
very, very few acres, (and propor,ionably q
few will suffice, to give to every Surviving
claimant every cheering so!ace that sorrow
and wounds, age aod disease, shall not tor
bid. There are hundreds yet alive, 10
whom the United States are Justly indebted !;
but our inseasib'e legislators sem ava,i.
ciously calculating tbs MONEY saving mo-
rnent when the public purse win suffer no
injury from the repeal of the statute of lni-
tation when those Whop, it SHOULD eGc ct
shall be silently laid whvre they cao return
no thanks Tor such long delayed acts of
prudent generosity.