Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-22

inadequate To the object. Further observations
were made ON the subject by Messrs. WaL-
,roHh and Riea, when
Mr.. HardiR remarked that he was clad the
attention of the House had been called TO the
subject 10y his friend from Tennessee, (NIr.
Cooke.
IL hao become matter of serious con
cern, and proper subject for the inierposition
oil that House. y case had fallen under his
special observance in which Il District Paw
master was detaulter, and had failed for the |
sum Oh -. i,ooO, when the only bonds that he
lad gwen FOR the faithful discharge ofhs duty. |
amounted only to $4,000 in the aggregate
ne believed that IN 10 cases out of 90 the pc |
nal bonds that had been TAKEN in cases of de- |
iauIters, had been inadequate to the public |
security. He was altogether opposed to tax
lhS penal bonds iii any case. He preferred Il |
bond that should be- limited by no precise
sum, hut should extend TO Il full indemnity for
every extent 81 delinquency. He would,
therefore, propose to amend the bill so as TO
require bonds, without penalty, for the due
discharges Of the duties imposed. instead of
bonds for specific sum, So as that the 70
vernmcnt might recover of sureties the whole
amount which it might lose by the neglect or
misconduct of the principal
Mr.. Cooke would chceriully acqu;esce in any
measure that should he more effective in al
tainnS the object in view, than that he had
suggested lie therefore assen,ed to AIr. HIS
| proposition.
| Mr. iakeo opposed The amendments but his
remarks could not he heard by the reporter
Mr I"c6er, OF va. was in favor of the gen
er;l object which the mover had in view, but
doubted the cNpcdiclcy of Introducing il in
the present bill. lie thought that this was
not proper time, especially as it would OBJ
erale nniayorably on the objects of the public
| bounty. Ii was now the practice in those
States where there were such banks as the go
vefnincnt Thought proper TO cntrst with the
deposit, to lodge with them the sums necessa-
ry To meet tie payment of these pensions.-
Ia other states he believed the semi-annual
CLAIMS OF invalid pensioners were not of an a
mount too great tor the security of 6 5000
boAus. IL the amendment should be adopted.
ne feared 1t would occasion very serious in
cohNcn ence to The pensioners as they might
he under the necessity OF obtaining their pay
mtnts IN the city Of Washington, instead of re-
ceNiHS them IN the states 10 which they be-
lohSed, Tor the banks would never give bond
torso small an object as this temporary depo-
sit.
| Mr.. Iiardin could forcscc no such difficult
t. as the gentleman from Virginia seemed to
appiehend TIE securi Y required by his pro
possiti would never be more extensive than
the posa bic deiaication. He was willing how
ever, to meet tie WISHES Of gentlemen, pro
Vided the public interest was sufficiently Sc
cured lie had drawn The amendment in
ias'r' ana should have no objection that the
bill lie on the table, to the end that a plan he
hatured to remedy the evil that the public
suffer.
Mr.. Iacker made few remarks in reply. |
when
MIR. II. Nelson observed, that il was com |
mon Tor Offenders To escape justice, and SO diff |
lcuit for Congress To enact laws which in |
Gennty could not cvade, that it would GER |
lainiy be IneXpedient to devise new system. |
without beng well assured that it was red.,- |
chile 10 practice, and eficacious TO produce the
result that the mover intended ii had been
many years since he had been conversant |
win Investigations of this sort, but to him il |
would seem that the performance ofdutIes, as
expressed the amendment, wnuld not he hold
10 involve pecuniary responsibility, in The dis |
Dursemcnt ofthe public moneys. At any rate. |
1t was Il subject on which the acuteness and |
aSluteness oflawyers would be able to raise
questions that rarely result fayorably to the
public He would therefore move that the bin |
he recommitted to Committee of the Whole.
10 the end that IFS friends may have upportu-
niy To e%trcate it from all those difficulties
III winch 1t seems to be at present involved.
Mr.. Cook was apprrhensire that the course |
proposed would involve the Secretary of
War IN difficulties not easy to sllrmount for
II could hardly be supposed that he could be |
inie TO ascertain the amounts that should be |
deposited from time to time with the agents
10 meet the payment of the pensions, nor the
SnHIclency OF the security that might be offer.
cd for the indemnity of the public.
The rccommitment was opposed by Mr..
i1tea and Mr. Lille, and supported by Mr..
Hayirtd, who advertcd to the frauds tha, had
been practised upon the United States to an
extent that called loudly for remedv.-
lie thought the present period as proper as
any that would probably be presented during
the session for taking the subiectinto consiles
ration, and he hoped it would receive all that
attention whichtsimportanc demanded. The
question was then taken or the motion TO re-
Sommit and carried
Mr. Rankin, from the committee on pub
nc lands, reported bill . for the relief of pur
chaserS of certain lands" which was twice
reau, ana committed To committee of the
whole.
Mr. Tumble submitted the following reso-
liuiOns
Resoired. That the committee on Roads and Canals
he instructed TO inquire into the expcdiencv of pro-
ymng by law iot the repair and preservation OF in.
Cumorrlanh Road, and for tie establishment of toll
gates thereon
Resoired, That the same committee be instructed
10 inquire whether any, and fany what further pro-
VISION ought to he made by law, enable the Pres-
ucn oi the United States complete the survey and
'cilioh OF tie proposed continuation Of the Cunler-
linu road, Rom Wheeling, IN The State of Virginia,
'"uugh the states OF ONO, Indiana and Illinois r., |
ie MISSISSIPPI river, and whether any and, If any
Whtt provision ought 10 he made TO enable tile Pre.i
utni 10 cause the sad road TO be constructed
heS0tre6, That tie President OF the Unircd States
nc requested 10 cause this house be Informed ,vhe-
ther the commissioners apiainiod IN Law on, L. 60
tnna ION Of the Cumberland Road from VbccI;,, |
ih iht state OF Nirginnt through tho states of Obi5
Inii',' aug i''moisi to the Mississippi river have