Southern planter., 1832-04-28

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

the heirs 0l Elisha winter and sOna 10 institute
proceedings to Try The validity Of their titles 70
certain lands"
Mr. FLUMMER said, that the subject matter Of
She bll was referred TO the Committee Oh Public
Lands Of an carly period Of tho session. that il was
ono Of the FIRST References made to that committee,
but had not been reported on until this time,
in consequence Of tho committee having given
the business Of other gentlemen from other quar-
tiers Of the Union precedence. This, he did not
complain Of, as tho investigation Of tho subject,
.ftom is nature and importance, required much
tme and labor, but he thought il due 10 the claim.
ants, that the bill should be placed among tho or
ders OF the House, on equal footing with the
claims of other individuals, whose petitions wero
not referred at SO carly period as in this case, but
bad been reported on much sooner; he, therefore,
moved 10 Committee Of the Whole House, and
mike Il tho special order for this day two weeks;
and hoped for the reasons which he had stated, that
no opposition would DO made TO the motion. In
reply TO Mr.. THoMAs and others, who opposed Me
notion, Mr.. PLUMMER said that, 10 consequence
ofihe station which he occupied the floor Of tho
House, as the Representative Of portion of the A.
,morican people, and as the only organ that portion
have, in this branch Of tho legislative department
ofthe government, he feltcompelled to redeem that
constructive pledge, which every member Of This
House virtually makes, when he accepts seat with
constituents, assert their rights and advocate all e
gal and equitable claims which they, or any por-
ton Of thom, may havo on their government !
should, said Mr.. PLuMMEx, think myself incompo-
tent, and shrink from the task wero II not for this
aayng clause incorporated into the pledge, which
every officer makes when he enters on the duties Of
bis station according to the best 0fhis skill and a.
bililies." When rise 10 address the House on any
subject, or even to make motion, or present
petition, the indescribable embarrassment feel Is
almost enough to sink me into lsnce, and prevent
me from ever making another effort. The difficult
~ which member has 10 labor under, in making
himself heard on this floor and to command the at
teniion Of the House, on any subject and particular
ly one, in which the community at large feel little
or no interest, adds greatly TO those feelings Of en-
barassment, which every young man must have, in |
rising 10 address a delibeative assembly, compos
cd ofso much intelligence and experience as is con-
tanned 10 this Hall. ], however, am able to con-
sole myself with the reflection, that the inter
terestB ofihe claimants will moi be jeopardized be-
foreso enlightened body as the The House ofReP-
Feseniatives Of tho United States, by any want Of
capacity in me to do justice to their case, and that
II requires no master spirit to make bare statement
OBJECTS, which, If heard and understood, will com
pei every unprejudiced mind to grant them the re-
lief which the justice Of then case demands. (Here
tho Speaker admonished Mr. PLuMMnR, that Il was
not IN order 10 gointo the merits Of the bill) Mr..
PLUMNSR proceeded The claimants do not ask
for gratuity from tho General Government; if |
they did, an appeal might be made 10 your hberal-
1y. They do not ask for a charitable donation; Il |
they did, an appeal might be made to your feelings J
Of benevolcnce They do not appear before he |
House as applicants for pensions, for services rem
ldered in defence Of their country; IL they did, an
appeal might be made TO your magnanimity. But.
Sir, they appear here as American citizens, claim
ing rights guaranteed to them by the constitution
and laws OF their adopted country. They call oO
tho Government 70. redeem pledge which she |
made in tho solemn form Of a treaty, to project
item in the enjoyment oftheir property They ask /
the Government 10 do that which she is bound, not
only by evcry principle Of honor and moral oblQa-
ton TO do, but which she is compelled by treaty
made by her own Ministers, with all the Gormalites
and solemnities ola written compact, to perform
There facts in relation to the claim Of these in
.dividuals which, Unknown, would arouse the indQ |
uant feelings and excite the sympathies Of the mem
bors Of this House, in favor Of the unfortunate
subjects Of France, who we're transferred from that
government TO tho United States, by the treaty of
Paris, on the 3osh April, 1908. Not unfortunate
in heing citizens Of the French Republic, whose
Consul was SO humane in his feelings, and alon-
tive to their interests 10 provide by treaty for the
proiecilon OF their persons and property, but Rfor
fnGGfean being transferred TO a government which
has neglected their interests, dsregarded their 10
gal rights, and turned deafear 10 their complaints
J shall not atiemp, to describe the feelings of dis.
appointment and disgust Of the claimants on being
deprived Of their properly and their homes, which
were granted 10 them by the Spanish Government,
ratified and secured by France; by the cold calcu-
lailng policy Of that Government which IS the pride
and admiration fthe world, and which processes 10
administer her laws TO her citizens by the even
scale Of justice. will not describe the feelings of
misery, with which the "grey hairs" Of the original
claimants were brought down "with sorrow to the
grave" their estates squandered their homes taken
from them their hopes blasted their wives detected
and impoverished; their children thrown destitute.
without the means Of education or sustenance. on 4
tho charity Of an unieeng world for a support bv
the great and magnanimous Government ofthe ii. y
nlted STATES. But will confine myself to brief
statement Of the facts in relation 10 the case he Il
lleying that if oan command an attentive audi. /,
enee, shereis still redeeming spiritin our Govern D
mont, which will amply atone for the wronoa done o
and injuries inhicedon her citizens, by deprv;ns n
them ofiheF homes, which they inherited from their n
ancestors. In order to a correct UNDERSTANDING ~ q
the subject, it win be- necessary to 90 back to q
an carly period Of the history ofthe smith ,ves,or