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

* duthS VI WIS ~, we WtIt outy tlt tuoTt I'm
perously called upon to repel such an impu-
tation in our own case--lu teach the world
that republic can as justly appreciate, and
as literally reward, the devotion of gallant
men Ia the public service as the must despUtic
~, erniueuts of the old world. ! should, said
Mr.. MD. have my affections for a republican
government much impaired, if, in its mantle
nance, we must disregard the feelings of honor
aud The dictates of gratitude butt is no; so;
every dictate OF enlightened policy is in direct
opposition 10 the sentiment. Ii cannot he I'M
wise Ia do what the feelings of an honest and
honorable man tell him he ought To do. Sit
Ting in this lln,,se. said he, we represent the
People al the United States; and trust we
Shall not dishonur them. Need l ask, if this
claim MAS presented To our constituents, what
| they would do Suppose they were told that
the services an which il rests were rendered
To the nation when II WAS cuntending at fear
Gul odds with hardy, powerful, and veteran
tnemy-wbrn its spirits were sunk 10 the low
est point of deprt ssioD, and every heart that
loved il was oppressed With Respondent fore
boding-that IL Was at that moment that this
hero reclaimed her from degradation, and
poured IA tide OreXharaiing 10y from one ex
| ,remiy of the country TO the other that he
afterwards went, in the discharge ofpublic du-
| ty, into all the dangers of sickiy cline,
where he persisted. They would turn their
eyes Ia his mother, aged and tremulous, and tot
tering over the verge of the grave, and they
would consider that this bill asks but for three
hundred dollars a year Ia feed her, and TO
sooihe her helpless age. Would they refuse
tn give it To say so is TO insult the Amer-
can people, is To offer outrage TO the feelings
of man. For himself, he was persuaded, that,
in all cases, feeling and honor were the best
defence against false doctrine. We delude
| mn Ia as nv c,u,hisflcafinu c.iI Mr. Mcnuf-
fr. We are drawn into error by adverting TO
the experience of other nations. Gentlemen
urged the overgrown pension list of Britain ::
hut it twas false course of analogy to reason
from the state Of old European nations To our
own circumstances, which were SO widely diff
frrent Poverty was not there tile ground Of
pensionary grants-so far from il, that they
were every day bestowed on persons rolling
in wealth and luxury because they happened
10 be related 10 those in power With It's it is
far otherwise. Do gentlemen suppose that
because we give in peculiar and strongly
marked rase, we must, therefore. be so drsti-
lute of discretion rs to have no power 10 stop !?
| Have we not reason 10 Sdide us {? Surely we
are rational beings, and we are able TO stop
when we judge il proper 10 do so. Will gen
| tlemen say Ia this House, Don't do right
to-day, lest you should do wrong to-mur-
row 2" In the present case, feeling and rea-
son concur To establish the Justice of the
claim, and he called upon the House not To Vi
olate both ny refusing this pittance TO poor,
aged, dependent woman.
MIR A. STEVENSON Of Virginia, next adj
dressed the Committee he had no intention,
he said, when he came 10 the House, of par;i-
cipating in the discussion ofthis questiun the
debate had, however, assumed such an inter
esting character, tina, he felt himself urged by
considerations of duty and feeling, to ask the
indulgence of the Committee, for few mo-
menls. Mr.. S. said he had not anticipated
any serious opposition TO the bill he had hop
ed it would have passed unanimously, and
that the House (hesides performing sacred
duty would have been enabled, by the manner
in which the application was met, to have
soothed, in some measure, the Affections and
sorrow Of this venerable lady, for the loss OF
her gallant son. He regretted that the gentle
men from Georgia and Kentucky should ha, e
felt II necessary, in the discharge of their du
ty, to oppose this BILL and that regret was oc-
; casioned by the character of their opposition
The Committee had been told that the prece-
dent which they were about TO set, in passing
: this bill, was one Of alarming and dangerous
character That the policy Of the Government,
demanded It's rejection, and that there would
be no limit to applications upon our bounty.
Mr.. s. denied that this would be the case
this was not an application to the bounty of
the Government nor was it an application To
the cold-handed charity or generosity OF the
House. 1t was an appeal 10 the justice and
gratitude of the nation for there could not he
said, under Heaven, be more just claim, than
that which was presented by parent under
the circumstances ofthis case. But was the
House to be fettered by rules and prece-
dents ?-For his part, he cared not for prece-
dents. lie thought it was only necessary TO
iaayp tho hprieinn IN fh,, nf tho Hnue.,
and that precedentS might be dispensed with.
Surely, gentlemen were not afraid that prece-
dents for comforting honor and gratitude on
distins shed merit, would become too nume-
rous Nor did he regard the number nf APP
pcatOns which might be made. He was
prepared to give relief to all who were entitled
to the tice and gratitude of the nation
gratitude for services could not be too much
applaudrd. The generosity of our national
character was dear to the people, and ought
to be cherished by their representatives. He
! would place the aged parent, and especially
the mother, by the side of the widow and the
orphan-and ne would do this, not only in
relation TO our gallant officers, but to- the hum
hItst man who should die in the service of
the country. Mr.. S. asked what principle of
justice, or motive ofpoIicy was it, that did not
operate as strongly in the one case, as in the
other. If the object of Government in pro-
viding protection for the ioidoW and orphan,
be, to excite in your gallant defenders spirit
of emulation and patriotism, and tn stimulate
them to deeds Of noble and daring character,
! why might we not expect The same result in
progiding for the helpless and aged parent
! Did gentlemen require, that the feelings Of
The son were IN BIZ lost in those of the hus-
brnd or JaMer Did they believe that all the
moral considerations Of fIial attachment and