Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-15

taxes. SC. together with III. amount OF com
pensaton allowed 10 the officers employed IN
the collection thereof; and also the common
sation received by the principal and assistant
assessors; which was ordered TO lie on the ia
bic.
INDEMNITY FOR WAR LOSSES.
The House then again resolved it>cif into y
committee Of TIE whole, Dir. Condict in the
Chair, ON the bin appropriating $4,000 dollars,
for the relief OF certain sufferers ON the Ni.o,,
ia frontier, in the late war--Nir. Arcier's mo-
ton To amend the bill so as To include the los.
sc. on the Chesapeake Bay, being under con-
sideratien:
MIR. Hungerford moved TO Embellishments
ment, hy inserting after Chesapeake Bay, the
words " and It's waters, so aS tO include losses
in the Northern Neck, sc. of Virginia Mr.
Archer received the amendment rs Il part of his
motion.
Mr. Clark of y. V. required the reading of
various documents, depcSi,,cns, certificates,
&c. illustrating AMI certisyin.s the nature and
character OF the losses sustained by individuals
ON the Niagara frontier, ana then entered into
relief.
Mr.. 4. NJ. Nelson replied at length TO Dir.
Clark, arguing ll;at no law existed for billetiny
troops IN the houses ofthe citizens, or their oc-
equation Tor military stores, &c. and thai all
Such Occupations were OF course paid for:
which fact be also vouched from his personal
knowledge, and dat The use OF the houses
referred 70, was nor oaiy paid tor, out at AN
letters, sc. to establish his views OF The legal
ny OF the claim ottLe sufferers, the laws war,
sc.
Mr. Johnson of Ky. argued i'm support of the
b'ii, the principle Of which had been sanction
ed by the adoption of the 9th section OF The
claims law OF last session. which section had
not been objected 20, and the repeal OF which
di'i not take place from any change of opinion
as 10 The prorriety OF the principle, but from
a tearo OF ITS abuse, by the construction which
had bees Civ en- In IT, aud accansc it was pre-
stunned THAI il could be administered with great
er correctness by this House. lie contcuiied
also, thnt the motive OF retaliation alleged by
the enemy for the destruction of property on
tie Niagara frontier was mere preteNt, and
although he was willing to indemnify by some
general provision, the Suiterings on lie Chesa-
reake, The riVcr RaiSn, sc. yet the amend
ment was not grounded OH any principle vet
decided on, as III the case OF the Niagara suf
ierers, and for that reason he should rot
vote now to incorporate the motion in this
bill.
Mr.. Wright followed in opposition 20 in
Identifying the sufferers on the Niagara !;
to whom
Mr. Gold and Mr. Harrison replied, and
advocated strennouSly the relief of those suf-
iererS.
Mr.. Smith Of Maryland, declared himself
in favor bcth ~ she amendment and the Origi-
nal bill, and spoke sOme time il support there
of.
Mr.. Pickering was opposed 10 tie bill in a.
~
sress had already authorized astrict inquiry in
to all losses b tie late war and that the CON
migration ct tic Niagara frontier was an act @ /
retaliation Tor burning the town of Newark
which was nnauthorlzcdin civil warfare s. I'M
necessary.
Mr.. Root replied to dr. Pickering. ard adj
vocated at some length the justice OF extending
rsltef 10 the sufferers IN question, and advoca-
ted as authorized and necessary the destruc-
ton of Newark, which was the alledred
cause tor desolating our frontier on the Nj
agara.
Mr.. Harrison defended the destruction
CT newark by the American troops, aud had
no doubt that, Il Mr.. Pickering was to view
the situation OF that town, and its relation to
Fort Niagara, he wOuli approve the burning
or II and Mr.. II. WAS willing to stake his mi
htaryr reputation on the propriety of thatmea-
sure, as military one which every military
man would sanction
Mir. Pickering replied, that the destruc-
ton of Newark was ailedged 10 be in de
fence OF Fort George, and not Fort Maya
Mr.. Peter expressed the objections he
entertained 10 the amendment proposed by
Mr Archer, and stated his reasons for deem
ins tne deet'weti0n OF Newark t,lanfhorized
by military law, and unnecess ". &c.
ht. archer again sappCrieC his amendment,
aId replied TO the arguments of those who
conde,nned the burning OF Nerark, which
ne sad was done with the double view of de-
tending Fort George, and ultimately Fort Nj
agara
The question was at length taken on
Mr. Archer's motion, and decided in the mega
tive.
After going through the bill and making some
immateridi anne ncnts--
Nir. Forsyth moved the amendment he YES
terday suggested, to strikeout The FIRST section
OF the bill, and insert in lieu thereof the an
preparation of million of dollars for the relief
ot persons in different parts of the country.
VINO have suffered losses in consequence OF
military occupation by the forces Of the United
States. 10 be distributed in proportion 10 the
losssnStlined by each Individual, as compared
win The residue ofhis property, the poorest in
dtNidualto receive the largest sum in proportion
To his loss
The question was taken thereon without do
pate, and decided in the negative withouta d-
vision.
air Forsyth, then, she doubted whctherthis
biii, after all the time it should consume had a
majority in its favor, and for the purpose.
therefore, OF saving tine, by ut once ti'vino
the sense OF the Horse or it-moved 10
strike out the first secton-in effect TO destroy
it.
This motion was negatived by considera-
bic majority; when
The committee rose, reported the bill as d.
meDded 4; aud
The House adjourned
----==-==z. 81 <szss s=ssz=zz-===-------
nnNg s1C,rE7EN