Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-20
Twenlty-scc0md C0ragress.--sess. 4,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
- IhMrsddu. .lKdrch %.
REvoLUrIoNARY PENSIONS BILL.

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONS BILL.
In Committee of the Whole on the State of the
Union, MIR. l.. Condict in the chair
Mr.. Craig offered the following amendment to
the bill, by adding at the end of the second section
the following proviso:
Provided, nevertheless, That nothing in this act
shall be so construed TO authorize the grant of
pension TO any person whose whole estate renI ner-
sonal and Mixed exclusive of necessary wearing ap-
parei, shall not be shown 10 the satisfaction of the
Secretary of War, and under such rules and regu-
htions as he may prescribe, be of less value than
dollars"
Mr. Craig said:
Mr.. Chairman, it is scarcely necessary to add
word in explanation of the object intended TO be eff
fccted by the proposed amendment 1t must be OBJ
vious to all. Believing it be unjust and impoitic
To grant pensions to the rich, have deemed it nv
duty, by the amendment just offered, To discrim-
nate between the rich and the poor soldiers of the
revolutionary war-bctween him who needs and
will feel the benefit of your bounty, and him who
being in alluence, does need aud will not put it
TO any beneficial purpose.
feel as sensbly rs any person, the strength Of
that obligation of gratitude under which all lie who
now in the enjoyment of the rich blessings which
have resulted from the glorious and successful con-
1ct for independence, maintained by ancestors,
and will, as cheerlully any other man, accord
generous relief TO all the surviving soldiers of that
war, who really need such relief. But, sir | am Ut
tcry avcrSc to the grant OF pensions to those of
them who already provided with the ncccssaries
and comforts of life.
What think you of granting pension Of $50
month to Gen. Hampton OFFS. Carolina who was
lieutenant in that war, and now of the wealth.
est men in the United States?
Does it not strike your mind at once as being
gross abuse OF the pensionary principle?
Gentlemen, in their anXietics to demonstrate their
gratitude the surviving soldiers of the revolution
to have overlooked some of the effects Of this
bill. They seem TO have forgotten the sources from
which the funds out of which the proposed pen
sions to be paid, to be supplied. They
batn tIoft ia
muny, rich and poor, to bear the taxes by which
the fund is To- be constituted; and that whilst they
demonstrating their gratitude to the surviving
soldier of the revolution, by extending to him a
a bounty he does not want, they are increasing the
miseries of poverty throughout the whole country by
the exaction of unnecessary taxes. Under this
BILL if it pass into law, every poor man who in the
course OF the year, uses bushe of salt, every
poor man who may provide cup of tea for a sick
wife child. a strip of flannel, to protect them
from the chilling winds of winters every poor man
who consumes any Of the many articles subecz to
impost duty will be made, i'll degree tributary to
the rich surviving soldier of the rcvouon.-Is this
right, Sir? Does not and justice revolt at it?
Is it just to exact tax, however small, from man
worth one hundred and fifty dollars, that you may
give 1t to another worth five timesora hundred times
as much? To my mind, such a procedure would
be an outrage upon all that is just or charitable;
miserable instruction of benevoIencc which la
wishes favors on one, and leaves another to sarve.
Ii is conended against the proposed disrcimna-
lOH bttNttn tue TItu ana tIe poor soldier tIdt we
linn debt and that we are bound to pay it ms
well 10 the rich to the poor. If it be true that
debt to the soldiers of the revolution, col
lectiyely, then admit should pay it to all. But
is this true? Do we a debt upon this ground?
can hardly think gentlemen serious in the assump-
ton Of this ground. A debt-what sort of a debt
Il debt, as defined by courts Of law equity? No.
Sir. What then? Why, debt of gratitude. And,
ms debt of gratitude, what does it require you to
do? Does il require you to rob the poor to give
TO the rich? No. II requires you in your legislative
capacity, on the part of the nation, to do nothing
more than you would feel YOURSELF an individual,
bound to do IN favor of any one, whom you may
be bound to regard bcneiactor. I'm illustration
OF the idea, let me suppose case. Suppose that
you werc at some past period of your life, pas
senger in vessel, sea; that in storm, you were
washed overheard; that two SAL ac, on board, wit
Messing your pcrllous situation forgetting their
own safety, plunged into the ts ~ rous waves and
bore you in safety the ship OF hcighboring land:
suppose Some twenty, thirty or fifty years after
wards, you meet these same sailors, in the city Of
Washington; one you find in allucnce, surrounded
with plenty Of the good things Of this life, the
other you find in rags and poverty. What, under
these supposed circumstances ought YOU to do2-
You ought to, and you would renew your olIipn.
ton, by acknowledgment, to the rich sailor and TO
the poor one you would prove your grateful rcmcm-
brance of his past services by muistcrinr subsan-
tally, to his wants. You would provide for him
according to your means and his wants Just then
% you would feel yourselfbound to act in regard to