Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-01-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr. Morgan, presented a memorial
from sundry inhabitants OF the city and
state of e Y. praying for additional. en-
couragement by the government in AID
| Of domestic manufactures, by INCREASING
the tariff and imposing further restraints
on sales at auction, which received its
| appr opriate reference, and was ordered
to be printed.
Mr.. Cambreleng presented a memo
| rial from sundry citizens of New York,
demonstrating against the passage ola
| bankrupt law, which was referred
MI. Cushman presented a memorial
from sundry revolutionary soldiers re-
siding in the District of Maine and else
where, praying for such an alteration
of the law relating to the revolutionary
pensions, as may extend the benefits in
tended to be produced by that law. In
presenting the petition. MIR. c. observ-
ed, that, as it would be consoling to the
aged vetrans of the revolution to ac-
quaint the present generation with their
services their sufferings,& their achieve
ments, he requested it might De print
ed. This mark of respect was due to
their patriotism and valor. Ii we can
not relieve their distress, said he, we
can at least soolhe their wounds.
The petition was rend and referred;
but the house refused to print it.
Mr.. Wright presented the petition of
Thomas Kemp. which he introduced
with the following remarks:
Mr.. Speaker: | am requested to pre-
sent the petition of Thomas Kemp, a
ship carpenter, If Maryland, who built
the ships of war Erie and Ontario, In
the port of Baltimore. ! feel it due to
candor to state, that this petition has
been heretofore before the house in 1916,
and then rejected. And, MIR. Speaker,
while | have stated SO much, as must
form a lieu on the mind of the house a.
gainst the claim, | must claim their in
diligence while | state the merits of the
claim, and suggest the principles forthe
consideration of the house, on which |
think it ought to be decided. This con,
tract for the building ofthose ships was
entered into in the spring of 1918, and
the prices, ofcourse, regulated by the
then state of those prices, intending
merely to give to the ship builder a rea-
sonable compensation for his materials
and labor but soon after, the port Of
Baltimore was blockaded by the British.
which cut off the communication, and
raised the price of the materials fifty per
cent. However, Mr.. Kemp proceeded
to finish the ships. which now ride in
triumph under the American flag, com
manded by their gallant commanders;
while he is left unpaid the sum Of 6,223
dollars, the price actually paid by him
for materials and labor, without pock
citing one farthing for his services, to
console himself with the honor of hav-
ing built those ships. Sir, the act Of
God, or the states enemies, shall work
an injury to no man, is a principle uni
versally admitted, and lately acted on,
in restoring to the late President his fur
n%iture, destroyed by the enemy by fire..
The blockade of the harbor of Bal
timore indirectly bore on this contract,
and furnishes, in my judgment, a just
ground for relief. Permit me to remark,
that the payment of this sum will not
impose the tax of one disme per head
on the American people, OF the one hand
while 1t imposes a loss of 6,223 dollars
on an individual who had faithfully
served his country.
The petition was referred to the com
mittee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. Williams, from the committee to
whom was referred the memorial of Eli
Hart, praying compensation for proper
ty destroyed during the late war on the
Niagara frontier, made an u~nfavorable
report thereon which was, on motion of
MIR. Tracy, referred to a committee Of
the whole.
Mr., Williams Of N. C.. from the same
committee, MADE an unfavorable report on
a like petition OF Cad Pierce; which was
read, and on motion of Mr.. Tracy, refer
red to a Committee of the whole. Mr.T.
also moved to print this report, intend inc
to bring the subject before the house; but
this motion was opposed by Mr.. Rich, and
negatived.
Mr.. Williams, from the same commit
tee, made a report on the petition OF Rich
ardO'Brien accompanied by bill supple.
mentary to the act formerly passed for bis
relief; which was twice read and com.
milted.
MIR. Rankin, from the Committee on
Public Lands, reported a bill "for the re-
lief of certain purchasers of Puhlic