Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-27

II
| agreed TO without objection after few OH
servatIons from Mr.. Comstock.
Mr.. Hoi'nes OF Mas. suggested an amend
| ment TO the bill, going to make its phrase
Ology more precise IN regard to those to
whom 1t should apply because, as at pre-
sent worded, If would entiflc TO a pension
not only those who were in need of il. but
those also, who, tho in affluence, were dis
abled by age or infrmity from procuring
subsistence by manual labor.
Between MIR. Colston, of Va. and Mr..
Orr, OF Mass. an amendment was moved
to the bill, that every officer or soldier
who served III any manner duriHg the re-
volutionary war, q now surviving, should
be entitled 10 the pension above mention
ed-the one 10 20, the other TO Il dollars
per month.
On this motion, a desultnry debate a.
rose, III which the following sentiments
were expressed by the gentlemen 10
whose names they are subioiucr.
| Mr.. Cotston objected TO the qualficaii-
on OF mdigence, required by the bill, 10
eniitle Tho surviving revolutionary ofScer
end soldier TO the benefit of It's provisions.
Let notthe soldier, said he, bywilose bra
very and sutierlngs we are entitled 10 hold
| seats on this floor, be required 10 expose
his poverty to the world, and exhibit the
proof OF II, TO entitle him to relief The
incorporation OF such a provision in the
| bili, he considered as degrading 10 the
House. In what light was this bill to he
regarded! Was II TO be considered as an
ACT of justice II was less than Justice.
having suffered these meritOrious men TO
| have remained tor years unrewarded, TO
offer TO the poor remains of them the
right 10 pension during life. clogqed
with such conditions. AS an act of bene
ficence, Inc should be ashamed TO hear it
supported on this floor. On this subject.
MIR. e. said, he hoped liberal spirit
would prevail; and that, for the short
remnant of their lives, pension would be
gwen to ailwho survived, of the soldiers
of the revolution
MIR. Orr accorded fully In the semti-
ment of Mr.. Colston On the first peru
sal Of the bill, he was struck with the
thought, what must be the feelings of
the high-minded officer ofthe revolution.
| compelled 10 produce in open court the
proofs of his own indulgence and he ho-
ped the House would amend that part of
| the BILL
Mr. Harrison, of Ohio, avowed his high
| respect for The Survivors of the revolution,
! and his sincere desire to contribute TO
their comfort in old age But, he said.
| far, because itwould embrace every one
who had shouldered musket, even for
an hour, during the Revolutionary war.
As 10 these who had seen serious service,
so far from having claim to the need
OF liberality, the amendment would be
but a measure otJustlce, as no bounty
had been accorded 10 them. Persons.
| however covered with SCARS, and borne
down by length of service in those DAYS.
ought not to be COMPOUNDED will, those
who had been called out for an hour or q
day. Some of the militia, he tbot were ne
well entitled to this pension as any regu
lars, of whom the Jersey militia might he
| particularly mentioned. But he wished
TO have the operation ofthe bill limited TO
| such as should have served months or
more.
Mr.. Southland, of N. J. did not like tie
word : SHAFT, as applied TO the receipt
of pensions: "shaH receive pensions he
said, was making the bill compnlsorv -
Some of the survivors, he said. were veal
thy; towards them he felt gratitude for
the services they had rendered their conn
try; buthe would not extend TO then, tLe
same measure as TO the INDECENT and fine
afflicted. Some of those who survive. tho
war itself had made rich--the wealth of
some OF them was almost unbouuded and
IN some cases, he was sorry tosay. il was
acquired by specializing on the soldiers
claims. Such characters, he was rot IN
favor OF putting ON the pension jist ~ HE
us. Under the amendment proposed
said MIR. ). there are many gentlemen in
my view, who would become pensioners
perhaps myself among them. if chose
| to be compelled 10 take one. There were
many men on Tins floor, he believed, who
| deserved tlc gratitude ofthe country. but
VINO would not accept pension at lis
| hands. 10
Mr.: Smith, ofNid. said, that, in drafting
| the blii, tlieselect committee had conform.
| edltpretty much to the words OF the mec.
| sage; and he belevedit was their drs;re
| TO confIne il 10 the survivors of fire ,r,n,,
ofthe revolution. Except one, indeei
| the committee who reported the bill vas
! composed entirely Of officers of the revo-
luton, and would have felt delicacv in
introducing a bill on tie very liberal
principles which some gentlemen had adj
vocated. But ifihis House chose 10 e.
! tend the provisions of this bill To all e,r-
! ylyors, he should not for one. object =
! lie might not, under the rules Of H..
| House, he permitted, as one interaefcd
to vote on the question; nor SHOULD he
vote on such a quesiion-nor would lie
| take the pension. But he should uot oh,
iect to the amendment, since there seem
ed 10 be pretty general sentiment nre-
yalIlDg, that, lfthe House chose 10 be The
raj, II should be TO all alike. II he tbongbt
however, that such an amendment would
endanger the fate of the BILL he sbomld
certainly adhere TO the bill as it original
" stood.
Mr.. Btoo'?fsfd opposed the amend
ment as 1t might prejudice the fate of lhe
bill the nrnvisinns nf ,,.l.icl, j.. ~ - ~ -