Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-22

then he did those great qualities ofscul which
enabled him tn achieve that Incompatible -x-
plot with which he has enriched the renown
of his country. II the virtues Of the Gracchi
are To he attributed To the lofty seniiments
with which the daughter of Scipio Atrcanus
imbued their minds, thu. moral power of Per-
ry rs as truly to be traced Ia the enlightened
destruction OF his mother, VINO, by the course
she pursued in his education, rems To- have
had an early presentmrnt of the rich fruits
which would reward her maternal abors.-
For such task this lady was -minenily qua
lifted. To vigorous and cultivated intellect,
she nnitrs, in as higha degree as any one |
have ever known, refined sense of every
thing that is truly elevated and great in hu-
man action. A love for true glory, contempt
of death and danger. an ambition controlled
by AN exalted patriotism, and a magnanpiiy
para!tlng of all the generous and noble sym
pathies of our nature, were the lessons she
successfully and necessarily impressed an the
mind other son. speak with the confidence
ct one having personal knowledge of these
facts. And undertake to say, that the tIi-
umphant defeat of your enemies in the en-
gagement oftne 10Th of September, when you
most wanted the moral effect Of victory, Is
essentially 30 be attributed TO her who is
now the object of your charity-to her who
who girded on his sword, and bid him 10
go forth and conquer.
But ] will now, sir. state circumstance in
which the coolest calculation of pratt and
loss will perceive some Justice in her claim.
Alter the achievement which has rendered
thr name OF Perry SD memorable, ii was the
misfortune of his mother, by the loss of her
husband, 10 he reduced Ia "A situation of diff
Guilty and distress. Her son, witha fiIial de
votion which invariably distinguished him,
immediately appropriated portion of his pay
To the support OF his parent and her then I'M
provided Younger children. This sacred an
Duiiy was paid with the most exact pUnciuali-
~, until the death of her son. OF the circum-
stances ofhis death il is unnecessary To dwell.
They belong To a mournful portioH of our
history. Ii is enough for my purpose, 10 say,
that he died in your service, in the perform
ance of duties which you confidrd To him =
and it he had not been commissioned to bear
your flag TO distant and insauhrious cline,
il is not probable that you would now be dis
cussiDg this subject.
This pecun,ary loss you are bound to make
up to his mother on every principle of justicr,
laying aside, altogether the considerations Of
gratitude Nor is the force of this claim in
any degree impaired by the fact of his not
having died in battle. Your Government sent
him, in the moaih of August, TO The pestilen-
tial banks Ofthe Oronoco, in the performance
~ important naval and diplomatic functions,
where he encountered perils greater and far
more loathsome than the hostility of the enc
mics OF his country. These clams of his
thrice widowed mother ought not to he des-
tToyrd, brcause h-r gallant son yielded up his
spirit To the ravagrs of AN odious disease, I'M
solacrd by those consultations which would
have soothed his last pang, if lie had died in
the battles of his country.
l come now, SIR, Ia the events pOsterior TO
The death of Commodore Perry, which have
dIrectreaion Ia the impulse which has beep
given to public opinion, as tu the solemn ohli-
cation which rested on his country to- make
provision for the surviving objects of his soil
ciude and affection. II is one of the few e.
vents of my life, Of which have Just occasion
10 he proud, that, in the Legislature of my ma
tive stale, in December, 1919, moved Sc
RES at resolutions, requesting our Delegation
warmly To co-operate IN any measures that
might he Introduced in Congress, calculated
10 testify the gratitude of the country To the
memory of Commodore Perry. These reso-
lnilnns having direct reference TO the subject
before you, were unanimously adopted by the
Legislature If "a state, second TO none, in its
ardent devotion To a stern, orthodox repuhli-
can creed. The most prOpiiious circumslan-
stance attending this impulse from South Ca
roiina, was, that the measure was in cOtempo-
rary accord with the views Of gentleman
Mr.. Randnlph.) now on this floor, who, to an
ohlect 81 patriotic, pure, and grateful, len;
the persuasive energy of his eoquence. This
gentleman induced the House To sdopt re-
solution for the appointment of select com
mittee, to whom was cOnfided the duty Of in
curing what provision, COMFORTING with the
gratitude OF the country, it beloved Congress
TO make, for he family Of Commodore Per-
ry. 10 one, now no more, (my Iamentrd
predecessor,) who was member Of this com
mittee, the virtues ofwhOse noble heart were
enthusiastically devoted 10 the subjects Of its
labors, am indebted, for knowledge ofihe
principle by which the committee were go
verDed,in reporting the hill on this subject,
on the 2Sih of Feb. 1890. This committee,
justly regarding the great and eminent seryi-
ces Of Com. Perry, and the INDECENT situation
IN which he had left his mother, and immehi-
ate family, thought IL would not BIZ going be
You'd the gratitude of the country. and the
wants of the indi, iduaIs TO bp relieved. thai
one half of his full pay and emolumenrs as
post captain IN the navy uf the u States
should be divided between them during GER
tain periods, and on certain contingencies
The very first clause in this hill made y sepa-
rate ana distinct provision for his mother
precisely 10 the amOnnt of the pecunisry al
lowance Of the bill on your table Whrn.
however, this measure was To he acted upnn.
some Of H. frie lis, from q fear lest the " hole
bill might e lOsi, IN cOntending for too mach
consented 80 The erasure Of TINS most l.ious
aud beautiful feature in the bin one, the mos,
strongly indicative OF the feeling and conside-
rate granlude Of the country. The gentleman
from Va MIR Randulub s che ,Sus ,.i,.;.,,,. ,,.
Of this committee, yielded To This alteration
more, have understood, from considerations
1T policy than from q c9nviciinn If its pro-
tri.fr Mr H.nhnlrh hare Ill 49, 4 -