Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-02-09

of New York on the subject, reported Oil
authorizing the president of the u STATES 70
retroceJe to the city of New-York the piece
ofground therein called the Battery: which
bill was read.
The senate resumed The consideration OF
the bill further to establish the compensation
of the officers OF the customs, and for other
purposes, and spent some time in maturing
its details: after which. it was further post
poned until to. morrow.
The senate then again took up the bill
for the relief OF Com Samuel Fucker; au
thorising him to be placed on the list of in
valid pensioners, at SO dollars month
on which bill long and wide debate took
place.
Mr. Smith opposed this bill on principle;
admitting the merits Of capt. T. but argu-
ing that. if really an invalid and unable to
maintain himself, there was already provi-
sion made by law ~ embrace his case and
afford relief; that if not an invalid. this bill
ought not to pass the system Of pensioning
for public services merely, being bad in it.
self, and still worse in its tendency. Mr..
S. also went into an examination of the cir
cumstances alleged in the case of the sp-
plicant, to shew that they did not justify
the passage Of the bill that the applicant
had been already, long since, uncommoniy
well provided for by the public, to support
which he referred to resolves Of congress,
a'c.; that affording this gratuitous relief to
the applicant would be treadng on the
rights of thousands OF other citizens equally
meriiorious, &c.
MIR. Holmes, Of Maine. replied to Mr.. S.
and submitted a number of arguments in
addition to those which he used when the
bill was before under consideration, in sup
port of it; referring to the long and singular
~ successful services, and the highly gal
liant conduct Of com. T. during the revou-
tionary war, and bis present reduced cir
cumstsnces. and great age, to establish the
justice Of granting him maintenance out
Of the navy pension fund that fund being
expressly pledged to afford relet in such
cases as the present.
Mr.. Smith replied, and commended that
this very pension fund was intended TO pro-
vide for disa bled seamen, and not for those
who were not disabled that com T. did
not come within the description, and there
fore was not entitled to be distinguished
from all the other honorable and brave men
who have grown old since they signaized
themselves in the revolution. He argued
also lin reply TO remark Of Mr.. Walker,
of Georgia, The other day. that the statute
of limitations was a just law, as well as a
wise and prudent one.
Mr.. Chandler made remark or two in
reply to Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. King, o: New-York, placed this case
on footing with few others Of the revo-
lutionary class, particularly that Of General
Stark, for whom bill passed at recent
session. He adverted to some of the pro-
minent features Of com. rs revolutionary
services and contended that it was not
Just or equitable that veteran OF the reyo-
luton such as he, in want row Of the means
of support, should ask relief 10 vain. There
was no danger, he argued, from such a
course; for, however natural the prejudices
in this country, which existed against the
pession system. they arose from the abuses
practised in Great Britain, where pensions
were lavished by the crown upon tavorites
of every kind, often without regard to pub
lie services or private virtues. There was
no danger Of such an abuse in this country
The Justice of military pensions had been
settled in this country it was power de-
legated to the government by the constitu-
ton and there was no risk of its abuse in
a government constituted as ours, as the
people, holding the corrective, would al
ways apply remedy if the practice was e.
yer carried beyond its just & proper limits.
Mr.. Smith after >uhinining feN
remarks, moved to postpone the bill
indefinitely.
Mr.. Macon observed that nothing
would be- more curious than history
Of the pensions Of this country the
practice was constantly getting wider
and wider; but it had been well said,
the history Of the country was lost
He referred to the circumstances of
the first pensions and those granted
since. to shpw the regular extension
of the principle beyond the limits at