The Litchfield County post., 1828-01-10

sons were indicted, convicted. and suffered tn pecuniary penalties under this law, that the Committee Of Ways and Means be directed to report a bill which shall make full prOVis- ion for refundlng the said persons the amount, with lawful interest, of the fines which they may have paid to the respective Marshals Ol the District Courts empowered to levey and receive the same. And in case of death or the absence from the United States, of any of said parties, then to their legal representa- lives, or such person or persons as may be du- ly authorised to receive the same.
 Mir. Hamilton said, he dId not rise for the purpose of asking the House to consider, at the present moment, the resolutions which he had ust had the honour of submitting. His object was rather to indicate the time at which he should ask such consideration for he was aware that the resolutions cover ed too much ground, and involved too many delicate considerations, both of principle and expedency, to be precpitately discussed.
 He hoped that as an act of justice, which he owed to himself, that he might be permit ted, to avOw, that, in moving in this matter, he was influenced by no desire to make the past subservient to any purpose of cotemporory excitement. The resolutions were introdu- ced because, he believed that the parties who had suffered in the pecuniary penalties under the Sedition Law, were just as much entitled to have the fines which they had paid refun- ded to them, as an ordinary suitor in Court of Justice was to have sum of money re- funded to him which he had paid through fraud or mistake; and, in his humble opin- ion the only effectua mode of offering fit atonement for the violation inflicted on the Constitution, by the passage of the Sedition Law, was, to make full indemnity to those who had suffered by its enforcement.
 The question was one of purely abstract justice and constitutional law, and, as such he desired to present it. He challenged the ful lest discussion and the freest opposition, and had no hesitation in declaring that, if, in the light which the debate was calculated to elicit. he should be convinced that he was sustaining on principle, an untenable position, he would be the first to relieve the House from all fur ther trouble in regard to the resolutions, by moving to withdraw them. But, believing precisely the reverse all he asked was an c. qual frankness on all sides of the House, that the question might be met, not hnked or summed, and nalIy,openIy, ,and manfuily. set at rest forever.
 He would, therfore, for the present, move lldG IiC ICoOlutiOuoS bC HtlutCNs ohu OI the table, and would further give notice that, would respectfully ask of the House their consideration.
 The resolution was ordered to lie on the table accordingly.
 Thursday, Dec. S7.
 OFFICERS OF THE CUsToMs.--Mr. Cam breleng, from the Committee on Commerce, made the following report:
 The Committee on Commerce, to whom the
 petition James Miller, James Robertson,
 Wm. II. Ellis, and Joshua Prentss, were re-
 ferred having considered them Report:
 That James Miller, Collector of the Port of Salem, James Robertson Collector of the Port of Petersburgh, William H. Ellis Sur veyor of the Port of New-Haven, and Joshua Prentiss Surveyor of the Port of Marblehead, represent that, owing to the decline in the importation of foreign merchandise at these Ports, and to an alteration in the laws rcgula- ting the coasting trade, they did not receive adequate compensation for their services.
 From the facts stated by the petitioners, the Committee are of opinion that, in some revenue districts, the officers of the Customs do not receive just compensation. In some of the smaller ports, certain officers are al lowed small salaries but in all they princl- paly depend upon their Commissions and fees of office, which necessarily tiuctuate, and are sometimes permanently reduced. Some of the cases under consideration are probably of that character, and no doubt there are many others which require that some further pro vision should be made. The Committee be- lieve that such provision may be made with out detriment to the public service, and with out any additional charge on the revenue or commerce of the country. A measure ap- propriating the surplus commissions and fees, accruing in the large ports to the payment of the officers in the small ports, the duties of different offices, would probably increase the compensation, and secure the services of com petent and faithful officers. The Committee do not however, deem it expedient to act spe- ciay on private petitions in cases of this character. If any remedy is applied, it must be by a general act, founded upon information from the Treasury. In order that they may have all the information necessary to enable them to decide upon the expediency of some further general provision, the Committee sub init, for the consideration of the House, the following resolution:
 That the Committee on Commerce he dis charged from the consideration, of the peti- tions of James Miller, James Robertson, William H. Ellis, and Joshua Prentiss, and that they be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with directions to report to the House the compensation annually received by each Collector, Deputy Collector, Naval Of Ennn DI x>f Hl,