Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-05-11
From the National Mtsuigencer.
THE LATE SESSION OF CONGRESS,


The Session which has Just terminated has
been undoubtedly as important, as to the fi,ture
destnles and character of the nation as any since
the first held under the government, no excepi
ing that in which the late war was declared
Whatever difference of opinion may exit as TO
the wisdom of the measures which have resulted
no one can deny to the Members composing the
present Congress the merit of AN incessant an
plication to business of devot on to the pub
lie interest aud ofan industry, never surpassed by
any OF their predecessors We have as little
doubt that, in the aggregate, the mea ures they
nave adopted are suspicious to the present INT err.
est, and will prove highly conducive to the fu
tue prosperity and security of the nation If
some measures be omitted which ought to have
been acted on, we have reason rather to rejoice
tina SO much was done, than 10 repine that some
thing was overlooked. What is not finished 10.
day will afford employment for to.morrow
Enough has been done to constitute the First Ses-
sion OF the Fourteenth Congress an Era in le-
glslation-we hope as glorious,a AS we are sure il
will be memorable.
The Legislature met under circumstances All
splclous TO delIberation the subjects inviting
their attention were momentous and urgent, be-
yond the ordinary objects of legislation. The
prominent questions present ed to their view ma
turally divided themselves under three heads
the provision for unlquldated CLAIMS for ser.
wees, losses, and sutierings during the late war;
the equalization and regulation of the revenue
internal and external, and its establishment ON
more permanent basis the provision of military
and naval means OF an unperishable character
proven by the late war to be necessary for the
defe ,ce OF the country. These were the leading
objects demanding the attention of Congress. 4
brieireview, or rather enumeration of the acts
passed during he Session, will shew how impor-
tant and comprehensive were their measures on
these three great general subjec s, as well as on
other matter pressed on their attention.
In regard to the questions arising out of the
late war, the measures Of Congress are d,stln
guished by just lberality, and sufficiently gene
rous to be opposed as a cogent argument aganst
the existence am ing us of the vice proverLlailv
imputed to Republics by their enemies. Besides
multitude of acts for relieving private or evan.
ces growing out of the war, and tor cOmpenSa,ino
individual services, there were passed addn,or.
al appropriations, to the amount of several mil
lions, for defraying unsettled expenses of the ar
my and militia during the late war authorizing
payment for property lost, captured and destroy
ed whilst n the service Of tie United States diI
ring the late war making further provision, of
a liberal character, Tor military services during
the late war for the payment Of militia called
into service in certain cases unprOyided for bv
lsw providing for the cases Of lost vouchers
mil airy land warrants, discharges, &c for the
relief OF lnyads of the militia, and providing
for the widows and orphans Of militia killed or
who died whilst IN the service, or on their Jour.
ney to or return from camp, granting boun.
ties in land and extra pay to certain Cana.
dian volunteers aulhOrIsing payment Tor prison.
ers captured by private armed vessels without
commissions tor improving the Navy Pension
Fund, and authOrisng the increase of pensions I'm |
certain cases tor gving pensions TO ali the unfor
tunate sufferers ~ the ID rtmoor massacre for |
rewarding the officers and crew Of the sloop O. |
war Hornet for the capture of the sloop of war /
Penguin, of the Constitution, for the capture off
the Leyant OF the lass sl0oP Of war Wasp for