Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-20

RESOLVED, That the following DO added to the
Standing Rules o. this House:
{" All elections by the House of Represe ptatives
shall be by p,ra rvce, by call Of the names Of the
members, alphabetically, from the roll"
On motion of Chambers, it was !
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Pen.
sions be instructed 10 inquire into the expediency
nding the benefits vi the OF the last session
Of Congress, entitled An act Tor the relief Of
tain surviving officers aud soldiers Of the Army Of
tie Revolution, to the surviving officers and sol.
diers of the regiment OF the Virginia State Line
employed in the reduction Of the British posts OF
ST. Vinccnnes and Kaskaskia, under the COM
mand of the late General George Rogers Clarke
On motion of MIR. Letcher, il was
| RESOLVED, That the Committee the Post Of
fee and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into
| the expediency Of establishing mail route from
Richmond. by SIaughter's Salt Works, Mount
Vernon, and Colonel Henry James's to Somerset,
| Pulaski County, Kentucky.
On motion Of MIR. Hamilton,
| The resolution moved by him on the 24th De-
cember, 1927, in relation to the constitutionay OF
| the act of the 18th July, l793, commonly called
the 'sSedition Law" and to retunding the fines
imposed under the same, was called up, and com
mit,ed to the Committee OF the Whole House OIL
the state OF the Union.
| Mr. Hamilton said, that it would be recollected
by the House, that he had moved for the last three
sessions a series Of resolutions which had for their
object restoration of certain pecuniary penalties
which had been imposed on certain persons under
an act Of Congr ess passed i'll l79S usually known
| by the appellation OF the Sediiion law These
solutions were yet upon the table. He had not
during the last session, pressed, with any sort
OF importantly, their consideration cn the House,
because he had felt some apprehension that the
interests of the parties who had suffered under the
Sedition Law, might be prejudiced by discus
| sion Of the topic during period Of great political
| eA;itement-when even the motives which had
induced him to bring forward the proposition were
SO liable TO misconstrucion under different crisis.
e.. SlSa, If Al
ton Of the House to the subject not for the pur-
pose Of pressing the discussion at this moment,
which he was aware would be improper, but with
the view of moving that the resolutions might be
taken up, in order that they might have an appro-
pirate reference 10 Committee of the whole on
| the state Of the Union, and be placed in such a
situation, that, at an early moment, he might ask
| the indulgence of the House, to hear him in de-
| fence of principle which, if true, imposed upon
the Government the strongest obligation TO afford
redress to those who had wrongsully sutfe red I'M
der violation Of the Constitutions duty which,
| however humble the advocate he felt the fullest
confidence he would be able to show they might
| discharge with the utmost safety and propriety.
| lie would, however, make no other remarks al
present beyond the submission OF the motion he had
! indicated.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
| On motion OF MIR. Mitchell, of Tennessee, the
! House then went into Committee OF the Whole on
the STATE OF the Union, Mr.. Condict in the Chair
| and took up the bill granting pensions TO certain
officers and soldiers OF the Revolutionary war.
| The bill was considered by sections, and various
verbal alterations were made IN the names Of the
| pensioners.
\ Various attempts were made by Messrs. Ram
| say, lsacks, Taylor, and Woods, to insert new
names on evidence which they offered but the
| Committee steadily refused TO insert them. One
name was stricken out, evidence that he was
| not entitled to the relief, and one account of
| death. Some debate arose general objection
| urged against the whole bill, by Me-. 2 =. Bar
bour on the ground that it desis mated particular
individuals for relief, instead Of laying down such
principles as would not only provide for thess indi
vidual. but also include all persons in the like cir
cunstances. He had no objection TO give relief
to the persons included in the bill. He was unac-
quainted with their several cases; but if the
were such to merit the interference of The House.
then others in the same case were equally entitled
oft Ii was always wise to avoid, far posi-
Bile, specified legislation, and to provide for classes
wherever they existed.
The bill was defended by Messrs. Mitchell, of
Tennessee, Bates, Of Missouri, Storrs, Reed
Wright. Of New York, Everett, and Culpeper; on
| the ground, that however correct the principle
might appear in the abstract, all attempts to re-
duce it to practice would be utterly unavaiiing-
Lay down whatever rule the gentleman mipb,
choose would still arise, differing in some of
the points laid down, and yet within the spirit and
| the equity of our Pension laws. Such cases would
always be relieved for the sufferers had right 10
petition, and the House would never refuse to hear
where; and il was better in this House than in the
| Commissioner OF the Pension Office. For this rea-
| son the House had Standing COMMITTEES; but that
| Committee would be without employment, if all
| cases must be provided for in general law. Va
rious cases were stated of the individuals in the
present BILL TO illustrate the impossibility of any
general provision. The Committee had another
bill prepared to which they had included as large
general class as could be embraced the present
Dill was intended TO provide for exceptions only.
The bill having been gone thro', was laid aside,
and the Committee, on motion Of Mr.. Mercer, pro
ceeded to consider the bill for the alton and
| repair OF the Cumberland Road.
MIR. Mercer moved to fill the blank in the bill
with the sum of 100000, which was finally q
| greed t0-ayes SO, noes rs.
MIR. NJ. briefly explained the facts Of the case.
That part OF the road which lies east of the Ohio
is l3O miles in length. On III miles of this road
the bill purposes TO erect toll gates, at not less than
have been erected, the residue Of the money is tc
be expended in repairs upon the road.
MIR. Nj. assured the Committee, that, when this
measure should have gone into effect they would
| never again be called upon TO appropriate money
for this road, the tolls will be sufficient to keep
il in repair. If not, it must remain charge upon
the Government and the 2,240,000 dollars which
had already been expended on this great national
work would be lost, and the road fall! into state of
| total dapidation.
The amendment having been agreed to, the bill
| was laid aside, and the Committee, on motion Of
Dir. Bartlett, took up the bill making provision for
| the exploring expedition in the Southern hemis-
phere. The blank in the appropriating clause
| having been filled with the sum Of $50, 900, Mr.
Bassett moved that the Committee rise.
MIR. Buchanan now entered the House, and
wished 10 offer an amendment TO the bill on the
| Cumberland Road.
| Mr.. Basseu withdrew his motion for the rising
l # H. n