The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-04-14

4 muncTaon Let mo remind you, however, that you
have oihgr aud closer tbs know the pain am about
10 give, aud see the teurs | make YOU shed but by
that love speak-hy that loyo which, like the light Of
Heaven, refracted in rays Of different. strength upon
your wife and children, which, When colociedanL com
hiucd forms the Sunshine Of your sod-by that love-
do adIue you, provide in time for those dearest oGcts
| ~ your care Yes, my friend, my heart heeds while
utter il but have fearful fUrebodings that sou may
hereafter find in public faith bken staff for your sup
port, and receive from public gratitude broken heart ior
| your reward
THIS appeal Of Mr. Emnet was OF no avail Fired
by his genus and possessed Of those itch and rare en-
downcnls of Heaven which are sometimes sent To bless
mankind, he prosecuted with zeal his system Tor mari
time defence up to aud during the last war; MI death
closed his valuable life, 10 1918 Ia his last moments
If the rccoecons Of his friends are TO be relied on, ne
was sustained and soothc by the confident heei that
country which had been enriched by his abors would
| make ample provision for his family,
/ Sir, when Fulton died , when the arm which gave life
and spirit 10 his great Inventions which have ioned an
era IN human history po~eress, spectators again
arose. encouraged by the opinions Of able counsel de-
MED the constitutional power OF the law IN granting the
exclusive navigation of the Hudson river by s:eam,
ard then commenced that memorable contest III the
State Of New York, cach IN succession, deciding
~ favor OF the giant, UNTIL upon appeal 10 the SUI
prelne Court d the United States, the jndgmo,t was
reversed the law declared unconstitutional and void
and thus the last hope Of his orphan family was torn
from them and they thrown upon the charities Of
cold and unfeelihg world embarrassed with the debts
OF their fathers estate aud with nothing TO sustain them
| but The recollection OF his virtues and his fame.
Ii Mr. Fulton, after he had obtained his patent Tor
propelng boats by steam power, instead OF applying 70
the Legislature Of New York had applied to Congress
70 purchase his patent would Congress have awarded
less SUN than The amount proposed by this bll ar
would ask honorable members who represent the West
country, TO estimate the value OF steam nasgaon
in developing her Notwithstanding her population
binding up her cities and villages as by the spirit Of
L .nI. .nEr al
pery, and pouring millions Of money into the National
Treasury, by the sale Of the public lands Sir would
ask them the value of the services Of Robert Fulton -
The great rivers Of the West the Ohlo the Mississippi
and Missouri, nnavigabe, except upon their
downward currents, until the introduction OF steam ma
vgation And now more than five hundred steamboats,
plying those waters, forming the wings OF west
crn prosperity trust that honorable members, whose
constituents share largely in the fruits OF his abors,
will not be unnindful Of the CLAIMS Of his children
The triumphs Of his distinction not confined to
the mechanic He the protector OF the canal
system Of this country The impulses Of his mind first
awakened public attention TO thai system OF internal I'M
proyements which is now the pride of New York and
Pennsylvania. In letter TO Mr. Gaatin Secretary Of
the Treasury 10 1908, he shows the Influence OF canal
navigation IN crmentng the bonds OF the Union,
Mr.. Speaker, have thus given rapid sketch OF tho
character and services of Robert Fulton. But, sir II is
compensation for his general services to this coan-
try, which has brought his children before Congress in
cIhc relief The language OF the bill Is:
For the services of Robert Fulton, IN inyentng
of coast and harbor defence, and in testing its
utility and for his services for nventing and superln
tending the construction OF steam frlgate at New
York during and after the late war and for the of
his patent for steam frgates and for the detention OF
his steamboat Vesnvus impressed into The service OF
tho United States and detained from the 3Oth OF De-
conher, 1914, TO the l2th March, 1915 both DAYS IN
elusive and for the damage done said boat while she
aground at New Orleans"
These claims we're presented TO Congress in the year
1929. No definite action was had upon them until, by
Joint resolution Of the Senate and House of Reprcsen
tatves, Of the 9th Of April 1885, the petition and pa
ptrs referred TO the Secretary OF the Navy. to
state an account On the Sd Of January, 1887 the Sc
cre,ary made his report, showing the balance due the
heirs with detailed statement OF the testimony and
ortfy each item Of the and it is the
conclusion arrived at by the Secretary which the bill
proposes 10 adopt ...
One item OF the account, stated by the Secreta
ry is:
ISIS, Damages for the detention Of the steamboat
Vesuvius, from 30h ecemher, 1914, to l2th March,
1915, $4,000"
This charge, sir, is sustained by ample testimony
The steamboat Vesuvus, measuring 356 tons, was
owned by Robert Fulton. and in the year 1874 was the
only steamboat the OHIO and Mississippi rivers, be-
tween Louisville, in Kentucky, and New OrIeans,--
This boat arrived at New Orleais IN the latter part OF
December, 1914. at the time great alarm prevailed IN
consequence OF the appearance OF the Brush army be-
fore that city. The boat was, the 3Oth Of the same
month. impressed and taken into the service Of the u
States for the transportation Of troops and munitions OF
war; and detained until the 18th Of March following
Robson Deiar who was commandant OF the Nesu-
vius the time of her mpressment states, on oath
that this the only boat between Louisville and
New Orleans her services would have been worth to
her owner during the campaign, (Which lasted between
three and four mon,hs) from eight to nine hundred dol
lars per day. Other witnesses make the estimate still
higher. And it is worthy OF remark that these estl
mates are not mere opinions, but based upon the
accurate calculation Of the profits this boat had
been clearing in her voyages between Louisville and
New Orleans.
John De Hart, who commanded the boat the follow
ing year. states oath that. for portion oil the time
during her mpressment, her services would have been
worth from fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars per
day. in conveying families and valuable effects upon the
river to escape from the supposed impending destrnc
ton Of that city. The Secretary, however, thinks the
estimates high and says, that as the Government
have been lately paying at the of $500 per day for
the of steamboat in the present Campaign against
the Seminole Induns, when steamboats, much more
easily procured than they were IN lS4 and 1915, he
thinks that 5000 per day for the use OF the boat would
hc reasonable compensation, which, with the esti-
for the damage done the boat, he puts at 100000
am disposed dissent iron, the Judgment Of the
Secretary but my opinion is, sir, from the testimony,
that the estimate is too low.
The next item is, the use of Mr. Fulion's patent
right for constructing steam rgaes $50, 600" In
ialon to this item and the for services super
inendcnl IN building steam frigatc at New York" the
Secretary IN his report, says:
"Mr Fulton secured to himself the right Of patent
for this invention the whole benefit Of which has result
ed the United States. liberal estimate Of the value
and importance of his services in this Invention should
be adopted .s.. .... .s.
1.-The opinions expressed in tile papers referred are
in favor Of very high estimate Of the value and mpor
lance OF this invention; and tho Mcssrs Robert aud
Epor,e T. SchnyIcr in their Ip,tnr Al of