Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-15

claim rests on other grounds being based not on
any express contract, but on equitable considers-
tons alone. Ought these two distinct claims 20
be- blended together. lie trusted not. The blend
Ing OF them at the last session had been ia, al 10
both bihs land the came result, would, in all like
hood, now occur He opposed 10 the
amendments, AMI hoped the two claims would be
kept entirely separate.
Mr.. Weems said, he had shewn himself during
the last Congress, warm friend to the claims OF
the officers, which he considered addressed
equally TO gratitude and TO justice. But the gen
tleman who rad jus, taken his mistaken IN
his statement, that the claims of officers aud SOL
! diers had been blended they had been reported
on in different committees, and provided for by
differ ent bills But Mr. w. insisted that the SOL
ders claim strictly legal that of the OIL
GERS; as The act of l7SI, while il promised TO
the one hsli-pay for life, promised equally 10 the
Others bounty OF $l00-and he was fully per-
susded, unless the soldiers demand should be cou.
Piled with that OF their officers, it could never be
carried alone through this House lie would ney,
er vote tor the one without the other
Mr. Bartlett protested against the premature
consideration or comparison of the merils of the
two claims IL was not now the question whe-
ther the soldiers had been paid or the officers had
been paid, or whether either ought 10 be paid-it
was mere question of order and of COW enience;
what had been done before in this House had no
bearing On this question. The officers found their
claim on evidence peculiar to itseif-and which
had now been referred to a Select Committee; but
the President refers TO other claimants ant TO other
facts AS question of conv enience, he thought
that the reference of this part of the Message
ought 10 go TO separate committee, but he hoped
that gentlemen would not indulge themselves in .
discussion OF the original merits on a mere arrange
ment OF convenience. AS 10 the claims, lie hoped
that justice would be done to all.
Mr.. Taylor adyerted to the importance of giving
TO business correct arrangement in the outset of
session. Ehe general subject OF 9. the warriors OF
the Revolution" divided itself into three different
branches The first of these, which was always
referred to the Standing Committee of Reroiu.
f,ond'y Pensions, embraced claims which were
founded, exclusively, on existing statutes. The
next included the clsims of officers under the re-
solution OF the Congress of 1850 which promised
half-pay for life 10 officers then in actual service
and who should so continue till the end of the war
This half-pay was commuted afterwards for full
pay Tor hive years; but this Communication was
a'sented to by the officers, individually but in
] corps many of the younger officers considered
themselves as hardly dealt with in being obliged to
accept OF 1t, and they had from time to time come
to this House with petitions for relief These pc.
titions had always gone to Select Committee:
and Is they were in the form of legal demand
supported by evidence the only question for such
Select Committee 10 decide was, whether the claim
was just demand. If it was, the House was
bound to allow ii: ii not, these officers were placed
on The same footing with the rest of those who
| "aS sCIfeu III tue UeYOlutlOn, snu who had a
erai equitable Claim ON the public gratitude. The
third branch included matters of graiuity The
Claims Tor which were addressed not TO the strict
justice, but to the magnanirnity and bounty of
Congress. Demands of this kind were referred 10
! a Standing Committee on 4" Pensions and ReYolu.
ilonaTy Claims" All these several classes of
| claims were as distinct from each other as po.s-
ble-and he therefore hoped that they would b..
kept as separate IN their reference, as they were
in thes own nature.
Mr.. dayton followed on the same side, and set
out with expressing bis hope that all would con-
cur IN the desire that the claims of all these ella
might receive as formidable bearing as thew
we've entitled 10. The object of referring them 10
committees was, that the House might decide
with all the light 1t could obian-and Whatever
reieience would best secure this effect ouch, To
De accepted AS the two claims, of the officers
ana the soldiers, were founded, on the one side
upon justice, and on the other upon gratitude; if
both went, to one committee, there would be the
danger OF prejudice on The one or the Other
ground OF claim. Some gentleeen, however the
sentiments OF their hearts might urge them TO a
hDerai reward IN the way of gratuity, were res,
trained oy their vlcIs OF constitutional restriction
| ana would never give the public money unless in
| me exercise OF some one of the enumerated now
ers OF Congress. Should majority of the cor.
tniHe hoil such sentiments, the claim of the Sol.
uleTs would, oil course, receive an unfayorable re-
port; but II The two claims weat TO separate com,
| -""S' view De expected oil each
mere Mr.. -. adveTied, with much feeling 10 the
few remaining days of many of these claimants,
whose numbers were rapidly diminishing with the
revolution oil every year; If relief should be defer
red much Longer, there would be none left 10 re-,
ceiVe 1t. He protested against the inference that
| those who were in favor OF the Olicers' claim
were therefore adverse that of the Soldiers and
then adverted TO the course which had been nur
| sued by the House on former occasions in which
ule petition OF the Officers, though in eyery in
stance fayorably reported on, was ensuinbere1 and
hnaiy smolhered by amendments providing for
other claims Their claim should be decided in
oePehuently, ana on It's own merits; if il was lust
aud supported By evidence why must il be re-
jecled?
Mr.; d. concluded by expressing his earnest hope
ulal lher remuneration, though late, would not be
REUSED ana 'nat their Claim would bays fair ops
portuniiy OF being favorsbly presented 10 the no
tice of the House.
Mr. brown took the other side and denied
that the claim Of the Soldiers rested on eraiirds
alone. II was directed TO justice IS much "a ,ba,
OF the Officers. lie did not, indeed, hold tb.,
either had what could be called strictly legsl
demand on the Government, but both had he
same ground oil equitable compensation; nor could
he ever consent 10 have them separated Wbsn
be saw The extreme periinacity of the f,iends ~
me Oiicers, in endesvoring 10 have the Soldiers
lel' behind, II raised prejudice in his bosom
Inc ofhceTs had agents here's The poor soldier had
none, and could stf7Td none; but be trusted iboi,
cause would find many advocates, Is ho would sefye
them witbou fee.
Mr.. Livingston spoke 10 reply, and went e,
some length toto discussion Of the subject; re.
sre''ng the premature manner In which gentlemen
committed themselves on a matter not yetrsported
upon; this Argued III FOR lsr hearing Of the
oihcera' CLAIM. lie deprecated sending bo,b
Claims 10 the same committee. Admittins for