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

F., wast.ful and unnecessary expenditure of
your treasure.
have preferred. Sir, in the narrative have
given you. even the risqu. of being irdinns1v
minute, rather than that single circumstance,
should BE- omitted. calculated Ia give YOU n
full view of Airs. Prrry's situation. Her claim
now recurs with all IFS original force, and NAV
he said To- carry species of moral interest
rom ITS posfponement.
Let us nov inquire whether this claim does
NOT come fully within the scope Of the princi-
pie with which I set ont. Does not this lady
stand in the light Of benrfactress to her
country Did She mol nourish at her bosom,
man who did you vast and countless SER
vice Did she not instil into his soul those
moral elements which fitted him far conqurst:
that longing after immortality; that shining
and transcend-nt ,alor that refined aud rxat-
ed chivalry-which give an Understandable
| charm 10 his whole character
fear, Sir, il these questions are answered
coldiy, even in the affirmative, amidst the agi
taiion "f many topics odious in their rharac-
ter and perncious in their discussinn " e have
Forgotten part of what we owe Ia the hero
OF Lake Erie. Is il an unreasonable trespass
upon your time To ask you To 20 back with
me, Tor one m"ment, 10 that period " ben the
victory nf 10Th of Sept. flashed from one end
| ot tnis linton la the other. with a bright and
cheering ins're, chasing back Ia the regions "f
eternal night the clouds and darkness which
once seemed To have rested on your destiny
| and. IN the light of its glory, giving new ar
dor To vaior. fresh hopes and confidence To pa
tr'otism! There wasnot heart, among Sc
ven millions nf freemen, amidst all the dstrac-
tions of party TO which il did mol bring gladnes,
and exnItation For the victory was perfect
! IN Its KIND. II was complete. 10 entire sweep
in- and overwhelming suhjugatiun. Ii gave
security to fifteen hundred miles Of vour from
tier, and the how, which went home To IN.
| pride of yenr foe. palsied the upliftrd arm of
ms savage ally, and the tomahawk fell harm
less tn the earth. Amidst these events, your
hero stands forth in high and Respondent
| relief. But LIT me moi spoil the moral gran
deur of scene, which belongs, by the jninf
destiny Of glory and genius, Ia the pencil of
| some future artist who shall he worthy 0fh
theme, IN feeling. in full force. all its match
less suhlirnny. Let his canvass then breathe
with all the animaiions of life, and giori.s of
arr. To him h. confded the task of repre-
senfing your hero in the midst of a carnage
| hnexampl"d IN the annals ofmodern warfare.
CARRYING VIGOROUSLY the tactics of Rodney tu
q .zZllng excess, never contemplated nv that
hardy veteran in The intensity of his vaor.
There are, Mr.Chairman, snme posthumous
claims of gratitude, which survive the indivi-
uual, and re"Iain on this side of thu grave Ii
Is when the object of eur gratitude is removed
| beyond the reach Of our Kindness, that the
gust aud enlightened instinct of this nobest
sentiment of our nature induces us 10 go
torth aud seek for those our bpne(actor loved
best, and on them to lavish the tributes of
! TINS c"nsecrated obligation No stone, erect
ed by ms country, marks even the spot where
the remains of our gallant countfyman are
Wondering INTO " a cold clod of tire ,aey;"
but tins pIttance, poor as il ~, which is asked
for his paIe Dt will be more consoling To MS
names than monumental gIories, i'm which the
genius of Chantry and Canuva might contend
ior mastery. Death has not paid the obliga-
ions of gratitude you owe yunr hero They
survive IN the person of the venerable being
who gave him birth. The force of this n uth.
1t is in vain for you To escape. Ii is but
cold and heariless sophistry, VIII ich attempts
TO discriminate between the gratitude of "A
country or government, and that which be-
comes AN individual. They are obligations of
equivalent authority, and rest upon the sound
ness Of the same principle.
Let us now, Sir, inquire, whether The pro-
posed annuity of 8 500 to Mrs. Perry. is not
July within that frugaliiy which Ought to go
vern our bounty. Does this sum allow for
any thlng more than the absolute susltuance
OF life Do you give, in such an amount. one
ask, whether the payment of this sum is
within your ability? On this point, | am adj
'nonlshed into silence, by the ridicule ~ hich
would await such discussion Nor will !
permit you to plead economy, when see so
httle OF II employed in matters which have
personal reference to yourselves, and in objects
over which we have a direct control. Th.
testimonies of your extravagance are about
me. The cost of one Of those columns which
Uphoid The dome of this cherries waste Of
'naSnihcence, would provide Il fund, the inte-
resi- OF "hich would support the parent Of
your hero, during the remnant of her iC. !:
dnd all the expense Of the proposed annuity
would twice over be paid, during IFS utmost
duration, from the amount which we annu-
ally pay ont of the public treasure. for n.ws-
papers. Precedents of self-graiificaiiOn. il
seems, are never dangerous But, i'm bpslow-
,ng pItIance IN the inUiher Of your gallant
oenelactOr, there may br something superIa.
liVe'y perilons IN the example Let me not
We tnld mat you have already done enough. i'm
providing for Ihr widow and children of Com
ferry. | say, in this you have done nuhly /:
Dut something yet remains to complet. ' our
bent'ac'ioD, To which you bre urged bi the
strongest claims for the situation Of his mo
ineT IS equally US exigeDt, to say the least nf
H. as that OF his wife and children and the
relations of the one, To- the object of vn,,r
gratitude, are quite proxi,uate as ,hose of
/ the other.
believe, Sir, that have hut one more to-
PIC on which It IS indispensahly necessary to
say WORD and chat is, as 10 the wants Of
MIS- feriy. On this point, can assure those
VINO wouid never dispense YOUR hninty ex
cfpt m cases Of absolute necessity, that She +.
quite poor enough to satisfy all their scruplrs.
But DO not think il becomes either the occa-
son. or The memory of the individual, To-