The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-14
{ Vol. S--------No. 70.

ais claim protection whenever they chuSe
) 70 90 SO, and when, from the lapse of time:
or loss OF e' idence, they would be injured.
were they not to take this advantage. But
In these statutes Of limitation, there are al.
ways exceptions in favor Of cases of t.isabili-
~. infancy, coyerture, insanity, absence be-
lyond sea, &C. But what is the course which
an individual would take who found himself
protected by Statute of limitation. He
would examine the Justice of the claim
brought against him, if the claim were lust,
II he had been deprived of no evidence bv
,he delay, Ii as able to pay it as if it had
oeen presented at an earlier day, he will
not hesitate to discharge the claim, and
scorn TO take advantage of the statute
And, said MIR. G.. shall the government be
less Wiling to discharge its just debts shan
an honest individual? Shall We turn a deaf
ear to the claim OF individuals upon govern.
ment; because OF this statute> He trusted
/ not. L he committee Of claims ought toey-
1 anime the merit of every claim which cones
before 1T, and If it be Just, decide in its fal
{ vor. But, what, said Mar. G. has been the
history OF claims, for four or five years pasts
/ " hen solitary claim was presented. the
house would say, we cannot legislate upon
individual cases They occupy too much of
our time. The claim is put aside The
same individual, some time after, appears in
company with others. We then say there
are TOO many OF these clams--ther amount
is toe large, and the treasury too poor-that
there are great many other claims EQUALLY
Wen founded--that justice cannot be done to
them all. Sometimes there is d division be-
tween the two Houses.--Ibis House passes
bill III favor OF some particular claim-Athe
other tells you, they will not legislate for
particular cases; that if they act, they wish
to take Up the subject generally. Mr.. C.
SAID, 1t was his %ish both in his public and
private character, as far as possible, to do
Justice; he therefore hoped the course pro-
posse by the Chairman of the committee Of
Claims would be agreed to.
Ahe resolution recommended by the re-
| port was negatived, 81 to 81 !; and a resolu
ton otteredby Mr.. God, Recommending n
provision by law for these claims. aftef;some
oojectlons from Mar. Aston, was agreed to,
4S to SO. 90
The committee then took up, on motion of
Nj. Gholson, Il resolution which had been
le4erred to them, directing AN enquiry into
the merits OF all claims referred to the COM
mittec- OF Claims, notwithsta ntling such
Claims may be barred by the statute of Ii
imitation.
After some observations in favor ofthis
resolution by MIR. GhuIson and Mr.. Minor,
and against it by MIR. Bacon, the committee
rose without taking question upon it, and
obtained leave to sit again. Adjourned,
"Wednesday, Jan. s.
Mr.. Lewis presented a certain resolution
OF the levy court of Washington county pro-
posing some notifications in the law so as
20 enable the court to levy tax upoa the
whole OF the county, and SO as to alter the
mode OF elechon of the levy court, SO as thar
the members may be drawn from every part
OF the county. Referred.
The Speaker laid before the House ne.
titlon of the Ursuline Nuns at New Orleans.
praying that the hospital which adjoins their
convent, and is in decayed state, NAV be.
'. NrAG hos IL,
to build house thereon for the education
OF females.--Referred
mr.. I4lfchiH presented the petition Of
certain inhabitants of Mississippi territory
| stating that boatmen who navigate the Ohio.
are frequently taken sick at the Natchez
| & that the inhabitants Of that place and the
western country have made considerable ex-
ertions amongst themselves to- establish an
hospital tor their reception. This petition
prays for some portion of lands to enable
them to effect their work, which he moved
| to be referred to the Committee on Public.
Lands.
Mr.. Poinderter hoped the gentleman
from New York W uld suffer this petition to
lie upon the table until Tomorrow. He pre-
sented L petition OF similar kind mt two
different sessions, which not only asked for
lands, but proposed tax on these boatmen
tor effectng this purpose, and which had
| been referred TO the Committee of Conn
merce and Manufactures, but upon which.
though he had frequently pressed the com
mittee on the subject, no report had ever
been made. II this petition lay till &c. NOR
row, he would procure the petition which
/ he had mentioned, and have it referred at
the same time.-Ordered to lie on the table
! The Speaker laid before the House. an
| address and resolutions of the legislature Of
the state OF Ohio, approbatory of the mea-
sures of the general government, witioh
! were ordered to lie ON the table.
| The Speaker also presented a stater,tr.
from the Secretary of the Navy, II comic
| NIFTY to the act requiring the same, respetd<
ing the compensation OF clerks.
And another Of the contracts made by The
Secretary OF the Navy during the past year
which were ordered to be printed.
Mr.. NIKE, from the committee TO wborr.
was referred the message Oh the President
OF the y. >. transmitting two letters from
governor Harrison respecting the affair on
the w abash, made report, recommending
sundry resolutions making provision for tbel
sufferers in that engagement. as well as for
the widows and orphans OF those who were
killed. The report was committed.
The following bills were read a third
time and passed, viz. an act 20 enable he
Secretary Of the Treasury TO decide uuon
the case of the Eliza Ann Belonging 70 Ezc<.
kiel Hubbe!l and an act authorisiDr the