Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-24
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
TnuRspAv, June II.


Mr.. Hopkins presented the petition o. B. p.
Pomeroy, resident and ispkeeper At ButIaloe
IN the northern iroptIer, pray ms compensatis
on Tor damages sustained IN his properly DUR
ing riot among The sOldIery OF the United
States stationed in that neighborhood, which
petltion SIR. II. moved 10 refer to select COM
mittee.
Mr. Fisk Of y. I. opposed the reference Of
tins memorial 70 = select or any other commit
:eei when 1t was i,teut the report must be aG.
verse TO the Prayef OF Sic petition; and moved
that II lie on The table. Every citizen las =
right 10 petition, Z Il Is the dutyo OF the House
10 treat prisoners with respect. But there
was also another duty which the House owed
to the character and responsibility of its pro-
cecdugs, which forbid the reference Of n neti.
ZION CT this nature. The petition sought in.
demaity Tor damages sustained from the i-w
less violence OF mob o. soldiers.--AIr FISK
said lac could nos see The distinction between
L mob OF s. diets and . mob Of citizens; and
10 one, Ia believed, would pretend TO say that
the government was respyNslble for d-magss
committed ty common mob. ~ such case,
he would venture To say, had ever before pre-
scnted itself TO thc legislature ot this nation or
OF ~! other livery day the House turned
from Its dnor the wsr-worn soldiers OF the rev
olutiun, because their claims were barred by
statute oi limitation 4 "a would l'iey listen to
clam OF this sort, VIII CD had 10 foundation
in reason or iusticel
Air. Goldshorough, in number of remarks
very indistpctly heard by the reporter, ex-
pressed his hope that the petition would Be
committed rs moved tn select committee
THIS was not new case, Us The gentleman
supposed. air. G. quoted The petition present
ed only at this session, and referred, rom sun
dry citizens OF Indiana Territory, praying COM
pcns..tion iOr damages committed by The
moun,sG troops from Kentucky on their pre-
perry
A!r. Fisk said this was a different case and
asked t'e gentleman whether the damages sta
ted ~ ths petition had been committed by tue
soidiery in the discharge Of their tlut,
g, Mr.. Gulds5orOush replied in the negative.
For how ,ould 5oldiefy commit riot in q e
discharge OF their dutyl Nr g.. made sst :
further observations going t5sh1w thai rior
m the execution Of military duty WAS 6 sol
Cisn on teuhs.
Mr.. Hopkins made number Of remarks n
support 0tliis motion for re .reu-c Oft This
pctitior. What was This case, he asked Tn.
United states had embodied a military force
say Tor proper and Iaudahle object: but i.',
piysica. force was converted TO avery a lie.
eUt object. and by the aid o. ii,c numbers 4
arms % those thus cmlnlitI did Injury 90 .
citizen, who could ob,lj1 $40 rsf-es. Ira,n tn,
individuals who bad done tUs iliury-Th,
House could ON This uaiect srriyg st but one
or two conc.ustHnsi either that the military
force of che nation is 90 be considered as D. /.
youd Che coatrol OF lie officers, or that the ma
tIon is responsible ior the conduct OF the soI-
dicry This, howeyrr. was nos NOW th, ques-
ton; but whether thc House, by refusing 10
refer h, petition, would sc. upon tne p-.nci-
pie the uuarmei and def,n-clcss citizens Of
The nation should have 30 Oh nee against the
unproyoStd aud lwics5 violence OF armed sole
dicgy. This, however, was u9t now thc ciucsti..
ON but whether thc House, hy refusing to refer.
ucpctition, would act UPON th, principle thes
the unarmed and dclcrccIcss ci.izcns Of ~.
nation should have no defence against the u,..
provoked sna iawls.s Vioisnce oil aymel s0.l,.-