The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-04-15
WAsnlNeros.. April sth, 1880.

WAsHINGTos, april Sth, 1880.
SIR-The Rhode Island Republican OF the
Ist inst. | received yesterday, and among
the leading articles in it, have noticed the
following:
"The vote Of Mr. Pearce, on the bill for the
relief Of certain persons engaged in the land
and naval service during the Revolutionary
war, excites some surprise in this quarter; and
we cannot conceive what motive could have
induced him tohave his name recorded among
the opponents Of the bill"
From the time took my seat TO the pre- p
sent time, never have voted against any
bill, with the exception Of this, providing
for the officers and soldiers of the Revolu
ton; theysall have had my cordial support,
and this also, would, if il had been such, as
in my opinion, would have conferred any
benefits on those officers and soldiers, with.
out gross injustice to others. And before
examine the provisions Of this bill, will
hazard an opinion. that if it should become
q law, its operation in two years would rem
der odious, il not effect repeal Of the
whole Of the laws made to relieve the vet
erans Of the Revolutionary army. 1t has
not yet come within the action Of The Sen
ate where it is now pending, and so far
from having cause to change my vote, or
regret that voted against the bill, hope
that body will in its wisdom put its veto
upon it. BY examining the ayes and noes
upon the fnal passage Of the bill, you will
find that it passed the house by lean ma
jority, mhen it was not full, and by the votes
of nqnpy who from 1918 to the present time
have voted against all laws in aid Of our
Revolutionary army. What their motives
were you can infer. The bill passed TO be
engrossed and read the third time, by the
casting vote Of the chair, and mr.. Steven
son, so far as my knowledge extends has
heretofore voted against all the laws to
which have referred. There is in the
house OF Representatives majority OF six.
" in favour of rewardlng or rather paying
the officers g. soldiers of the Revolutionary
war. Thiswas shown on the various divisions
on the bill reported by mr.. Bates this ses
sion and bv the ayes and noes on the final
passage Of that bill; why then, as the ma.
iorty in favour ofthis bill was but nine, this
sudden change, if the bill itself was not in
the opinions of others. as we'll as my own,
obnoxious? A few observations as to the
cause and origin of this bill, and will call
your attention to the provisions oft. Col.
Ogden, meritorious officer of the Revo
lutipn, who was in service at the end OF
the war, who is consequently provided for
by the Act Of 1923, giving hun half pay
for life, and who has recently been appoint
ed to lucrative Office by the Executive of
the U. States, in consequence Of long ex
isting embarrassments, was unable to meet
his engagements and was imprisoned. To
relieve him the bill was reported. 1t had
its origin in an attempt at special lcgisla
ton, sometimes dangerous, and not unire-
Quently pregnant with many evils. My col
league filled with the milk Of human kind
ness for such worthless, in the ovcrfowing
Of his zeal for them, reported general bill
whose provisions, think, with all due def
erence g. respect for him,with their proba
bic bearings upon the community, he did not
fully consider. by the first section of the
Act no person receiving pension, shall be
arrested, held to bail, or imprisoned, on civil
process, issued under the authority ofthe u
nited States the courts ofthe U. States are
in relation to such persons ousted Of their
jurisdiction, in reference to all contracts
which were in force before they received
tue dlu VI tHeiT SOuuIiJ. " oio" "c OPS
ration of this act, will suppose that man
in Rhode Island was an officer in the Rev
olutionary army, at the end Of the war; he
receives by virtue ofthe provisions OF the
Act Of May, 1923, five or six hundred dol
lars year. or more according to his rank,
and is entitled to the same during life. II
he owed debt Of one thousand dollars,
although he has property worth Fifty thou
sand, land we have such men in Rhode
Island) previous to May 1928, to citizen
in New York, that citizen could not touch
by virtue ofsny process from the federal
courts, one cent Of his pension, or his 9th
er property; and think shall show that
nothing can be collected Of him. by any
process from our State courts. Nothing
can be, by the nrocess from the other
courts, because ho cannot be arrested, held
90 bail, or imprisoned, and by the process
Off. Island his property cannot be touched,
when he is present. The second section
will be injurious both to the pensioner and
the creditor, for peradventurc, if the form
er should, under the authority OF the laws
Of the State, be committed to Jail, he can
never be released. Il inficts heavy pen
atty upon the creditor who shall receive
any money from the person committed ifit
be part Of his pension, and whether the
money rendered or offered 10 be paid, ,is from
the private funds Of the pensioner in fact,
or whether it is governmental bounty, the
creditor cannot tell, and cannot feel secure
in receiving it. The moment the person
is discharged, he can cause q complaint to
be instituted against the S.odjtor, and dl-