Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-04

the avowed opinions Of others, on as
manifest truths as ever met the concur
renee Of wisdom and sound judgment -
and vet on neither side was there defi-
cheney of talent or integrity. The facts,
as nearly as we could collect them, are
these: General 81. Clair at an early
stage Of the revolutionary war, having
then respectable property, embarked
himself aud it in the cause OF America,
aud at a moment when that cause was
1anguisling for want Of men and money,
seld his land, and advanced out ct the
proceeds arising from il, for the nsc OF
government, to an officer of the United
States of the name Of Butler very con-
siderable sum Of money to enable him to
enls. NEE. The cause, not the money,
being uppermost in his thoughts, he did
no, think Of taking vouchers, or Of de-
handing payment, for long time, when
the decay Of bis property compelled him
to apply for it, and difficulties were then
thrown in the way of his recovering it.,
by some deficiency in the accounts b.
tween Butler and the government. At
length, in the year 1910, after years OF
attendance and solicitations on his part,
congress passed an act allowing him a
sum of 1000 dollars, (his original loan
was 1900 lent 10 years agc) but upon
the special condition of bis renounclng
all further claims upon them. From what
passed yesterday in congress, it would
seem that he had, in attending upon con-
gress, incurred large debt Tor his sub
sistence; for the payment Of which he
had no earthly means Of providing, but
the balance due to him BY government,
and that in order to save himself from q
lail he was fain to accept the 1000 dol
lars offered to him by congress for bis
debt. He, therefore, was considered BY
.one as acting under what the law calls
duresss and much was yesterday said
in defence and censure Of that congress
in the transaction, on the grounds that it
had made use of the statute Of limitation
to bar such a claim. and had driven the
unfortunate claimant, through the instru.
mentality Of his distresses, to accept a
sum Of money much less than bis debt
The select committee who reported this
bill, took up general st. Glars Claims
upon the genSal ground that it was
manifest he had advanced 1900 dollars
to government, and had never been paid !;
and on that account, a, well as in consi-
deratiou of his great age US years. and
OF his fidelity, services and worth, they
voted him 5000 dollars as a sum that
would nearly cover that debt and the in
tcrest due upon it.
Mr.. Ogle, the chairman of the commit
zee, said that il government were to come
to fair account with general st Clair,
it would b. found to owe him much more
than 5000 dollars. Besides, something
was due to him, who when the country
was in danger and distress, gave his mo-
ney and himself, without reserve, to its
necessities, and was, after many years,
put of with compromise not veTy ere.
ditab!e to the cong ess that enforced It
on him--and thus was the man who had
rendered essential service to his country
and who to the last day Of Westinghouse
life was held in his good opinion and re.
spect, rewarded for his services.
Mr.. Bassett moved to amend Mr.. Har-
rissn's amendment, by striking out 1000
and leaving b.ank-but this aas mega
tived.
Mr.. Forsyth moved to amend the bill
so as to direct the claim to be settled by
the war department.
Mr.Harrison withdrew his amendment.
Gen. Smith affirmed that the money
was actually due to general 81. Clair, and
that neither the sum in the bill, nor the
pension, would fairly remunerate him
and general Reed testified to nearly the
same effect.
Mr.. Clay rose to justify the congress
of 1910, and said that the ground they
went upon was that the generals claim
was doubtful, and that the sum of 5000
dollars was granted as compromise, on
the expectation that il would put an end
to his claim. Still, however, Mr.. Clay
seid he was willing to voto a reasonable
pension TO him.
Mr.. Whitman said he was in the con-
gress Of 1910, and differed totally with
Mr.. Clay, respecting the grounds Of the
grant. -,
Mr.. Johnson of Kentucky said he was
on the committee on that occasion, and,
as we'll as he could recollect, the sum gi-
ven to general st. Clair was not to can
eel his Claims, but to enable him to pay
the expences incurred by his long atten.
dance.
Mr.. Sherwood, who was also in that
congress, denied the accuracy of Mr.
Claws statement-while Mr.. Southland,
| who WA also in that congress, agreed