Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-25


violence No constitutional objection could be
raised 10 this manner Of dispensing The funds of the
county. aud they were left to follow the dictates
OF humanity. 1t was proper TO consider what a
ieAahur!a formerly was, and what she now u.s.
once she was conponen: part of the great
State OF Virginia; claiming protection from the
sovereignty OF that State: that protection had
been resigned; and she part of this Dis
'rc', and had no Legislature to look TO for a-sis.
lance, but to the Congi ess of the United States
Itid she remained in her former condition, the
Legislature of that great State, now in session,
would doubtless have made appropriation ade-
lia'c 20 the misioI,unes of the sufferers. But nov
'hey had no other hope OF protection and succour
man IRON Congress; they had no other appeal but
10 the United 2,ates. Mr.. IL. then asked and
obtained leave tn ia rojuee bill 10 appropriate
the sum OF 1000 for the relief of the INDECENT
sufferers by the late fire la Alexand. ia, to be plac
ed in the hands OF the Mayor of that City TO be
disposed OF by him; which was real twice by
unanimous consen
| Mr. Barton opposed the bill: lie thought it
subject upon which it would be improper AMI in
eSpedient Ia legisla;e ii the losers had insured
their property, which, in most cases, il was proba
Die, had been done the saffernss would no, likely
te 81 great as had been INA sned. To mshe their
snieIngs The subject of an act of Congress- struck
Him as needless, az they would experience the
same extension OF sympathy and assistance which
had oetn given TO other places, when oveI,aken
by similar di-asters. by ind viua contribution. lie
NODE on sudden occasion, which always created
ieYefisn vehement AMI led men advocate mea-
sa.es which, IN moments o! cooler reflection, they
might have lei, i, their duty to oppose.
Mr. Smith OF NJ ryiand. SAID, that the People
OF Alexanliia were peculiarly situated; they were
u;.der the care of the United States, and it was
more incumbent ape: Congress to extend prctec-
lion to he inhabitants of The District than to those
oil any oher individual portion OF territory in the
United States. Tue seo,len'n from Missouri had
s"iu' ih't The property was chiefly insured; but
he had no; taken into Consideration that only two
'h:'ds OF the value %! bai.di'g, was ever insured,
as tie nsuianc offices guarded themselves in this
manner isom the ELECTS OF too great a security on
The part oi those who insured; u no nigh, If en-.
tireiy shielded from osa, become negligent. And,
even supporting the buildings 10 have been insured
'nsfe was a great part OF the property lot, on
winch II would doubtless lie very difficult 10 ef-
ieci Insurance, because it's value could not EASILY
be estimated. In this Indictment reason OF the wear
wh7a so Large number OF persons were thrown,
by such disaster, npoa the beaevoience OF those
VINO were also in degree suffer ers; when per-
sons :, TO yesterday living in plenty aud com
'oi' were to- day deprived o: tie means oil shelter
aao subsistence; 1t was no time TO Canvass coily
we extent OF the suffering, lie probability Of
their receiving suecour elsewhere Many instances
OF misery m ht be brought before the Sc ate, bul
! he would mention oaly one; i. was that Of a
widow, who had, previous to This calamity, lived
IN plenty upon her means aad who, by the evsa,
OF yesterday, had been made destitute And
should 1t lie saii that Congcs Shat their hands 10
distress ike this? Should they turn from con- .
migration which took II .ce within their sirl AMI
Win hear'iess Indifference bid The Sufferers look 10
me CHARITY o! their fellow ci:;zeas for relief? lie
had hoped that hi. pr OF ositi would have passed
me senate su5 SnentiO; ard he was somewhat
| surprised that it had encountered opro.!tion Il
seemed 10 be looked upon ty the Gent!esnan Fl ON
Missouri, as new case. Bat, il WAS no new
case Congress had formerly extended similar ,e-
!iet TO other sufferers: hey had appropriated fl
thousand dollars to the sufferers OF Lagn1yra; AMI
had, even daring this session, aiowt, persons hay
'nS lost taeir lands by The eAri; quake in Missouri
to locate Oh OH" lands Why hen should they
refuse tn grant Ie;iei occasion which so lust
! iy c'lled Tor their assistance?
| MI Chandler said, that by this bill 'hey were
called upon 10 give relief. hch if il depended on
his own viii, he should not feel disposed 10 with.
hoid lie did not feel les. iof those who had .uf.
tered, h'n the gentleman from aryland; bni il
he, M C.) were 20 vote for Til, bin, what
should tie be able 10 to say L. portion vi his con-
s'iihent'. who had been, within two years visited
with Calamity UNNECESSARILY grsater tlan thai
"ron "h.ch they an.. comm, ling II was
k5Ow that, IN The Stare Of Maine 4 cO.,ti gration
I took place last year, which covered an handed
miles sguaIe, destroying toi-os and barns, AMI
| even Sic Fro:iuce cf The field. Bat The Teopls in
tb't codnuy had received relief from Congress-
he DID not think ihsy hal any right To EXPECT il;
nor dii he think Congress boI.ud to Les.oy i;
IN thi. instance. lie was willing 10 put his hand
Into hi- pocket, and give freely "a any one 10
wards this object but he could not supror, ;he BIZ
uader confederation. lie de- l,ied 10 God he could
not pat his hand into The pocket. OF his Constituents.
who had suffered equally by the same degourine
element, and give t,"'r money 20 relieve ose vlo
had been "JiTeI IN this case. lie certainly ,you,J
have assent cd To il had moi liz sense OF t..ty di-
Tecled him otherwise. IT. however, his ~ an NOW
DONE precedent would have been established: and
On other oCra-ioas it would be neccssa. y TO make
appropriations for The relief OF other elites Tie
! argument that Alexlnlra vas in the ui,,ict of
\ COlum' ia did not pear him to be sati,faclnty
/ one, and ceft1Dly had no rover 10 convince his
mind that ihe measure would b. a correct one
/ MI. liaHison Observed. tha; lie had not antici-
pa ed the necessity Of making speech on the sub
cci IL seemed 10 bs argued, ;hi, rs the property
was insured consequently, the money appfopTi.iod
! would be applied where II was net needed. But
/ 1t would BE- oh ervel hat the bill only promo cd
TO apply the relief 10 iLs pdlgcLt portion Of those
! who had suffered: AMI It To be depo.ifsl in
/ p oper hdnd-; to be pat at ihe disposal Of the
| Mayor, who " onll he able TO discrininafe, and
/ would apply the donation TO those wh1 IesI,
needed it, n to he qIestiO1 Of ihe claim of ~
iesandfis on the Uaitcd sies, it inust be fenein
b1ed, that hist ity had given ~ her CLAIM, upon
the Legislature, fer The good OF ;be United S,stss
They had no representation ~ th- llails of their
Il n,tVe State, aud where shpnd they ssply for a.
Sstance hl; 10 Congress, ueic soycreisas? what
the si:uaiion of Alexandra non in cotup,,,.
son with tia, before she was coded 10 Tie United
States? Previous 10 that tine it was AsuCi-hing
town, with every prospec, Of increasing proeperi.
~. II had, of lae yeirs, been mich dep, eesed.
hat 4