Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-18
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


committee, reported bill to amend and
explain the act for designating, surveying
aud granting military bounty lands, pass
ed the lst May, lSl2-which was twice
read and agreed TO.
Mr.. ChappeU made report unfavorahle
to the Petition OF John Paulding, tone of
the citizens who captured the British adj
lutant general, Major ANDRE, during the
late Revolutionary War; who prays for an
increase of the pension allowed to him by
the government Ill consequence of that
service.
A debate ofno little interest arose on
this question, the early part of which our
Reporter did not hear
Mr.. Wright moved to reverse the report
of the committee, and to declare that the
prayer OF the Petitioner ought to be gram
ted.
The report was opposed by Messrs.
Wright, Smith of Md. Gold, Forsy Tia, Ro-
bertson and Sharp, on the ground of the
importance Of the services Of this person
and his companions, hemagnitude of the
virtue they displayed, and tlie justice OF
making such an addition TO the pension
allowed TO them, as should keep pace
with the depreciation ofmoney since the
amount of that pension was established.
The report was supported by Messrs-
Chappell, levitt, Tallmadge and Picker.
ing, on the injustice of legislating on a
single case of pensionfor services, which
were III fact, though important, but the
common duty of every citizen, and in
whchno disability was incurred whilst
there were many survivors of the reyoIuti-
on, whom the favour of The government
had not distinguished, and who are lam
gushing in obscurity and want, 10 whom
no relief had been or would be extend
ed.
What gave interest principally to the
debate, was the disclosure by Mr.. Tall
mndge, of Connecticut, ian officer at the
time, and commanding the advance guard
when Major Andre was brought in, )oflis
view of the merit of this transaction. with
which history and the records of the COM
try have made every man familiar. The
value of the service he did not deny but.
on the authority Of fhe declarations OF
Major Andre, (madc while in the custody
OF Colonel Tallmadge,) he gave If as his
opinion, that, If Major Andre could have
given TO these men the amount they de-
manded for his release, he never would
have been hung as spy, nor in captivity
on that occasion. Mr.. rs. statement
was mlnutely circumstantiaI, and given
with expressions Of his individual conf
dence IN lis correctness. Among other
circumstances, lie stated, that when Major
Andres boots were taken off by them. ii
was to search for plumber, &, not to detect
treason. These persons indeed, lie said,
were of that class people, who passed
between both armies, as often in one
camp as the other. and whom, he said. If
he had met with them, no should proba-
bly, have as soon unprecedented as Major
Andre, as he had always made it riilcto
do with these suspicious persons. The
conclusion 10 be drawn from the whole of
Mr.. TalImsdge's statement, of which this
is brief abstract, was, that these persons
had brought in Major Andre, only because
they should probably get more for his
apprehension than for his release.
This statement was received with sur
prise and incredibly as TO Major Andres
correctness, by the gentlemen on the 9th
or side of this question. 1t was very ex-
traordinary, it was said, that at a dav so
much nearer the transaction than The pre-
sent, there had existed no doubt on the
subject, and Congress, as mark of pub
lie gratitude for their honorable conduct
on this important occasion, settled on
thesepersOns pensions for life. Tho tes-
timony was strongly slated by one Of fhe
gentlemen Gen. SMITH TO Major Andres
high character and honor, If was impossi-
bic, twas said, that the character aud
conduct of the men should have been as
this day represented, yet so differently
depicted. The statement Of Major An
Dire, subject as il mast have been TO be
dscolored by misapprehcnsions of the
character and motives of Americans. A.
mong whom patriotism pervades every
rank in life, IL was urged, ought to have
uowcight, indeed it ought not 10 have
been mentioned, in competition with facts
on record, and established BY full invesii-
CATION, dnringthe lifetime OfGen. Wash
lngion, who certainly knew all the circum-
stances of the transaction.
Though this topic made prominent f.
gurein the debate, il is perhaps proper 10
say, that the question was decided on tile
ground taken in the report, ard above
stated as having been urged il debate in
favor Of il.
A motioa was made by MFR. Forsyth
(and losDto postpone The report to give
further time to examine the correctness
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