The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-03-30

We give tile following 10 show what suffering
q little delay, on the part of those whose duty it
is TO afford prompt relief, may inlictupon helpless,
perhaps deserving objects of procrasiinated JUS
tce. Il is highly credtable to the heart of Mr..
Chambers that he so fully yielded to the promp-
ings of humanity, as to become the efficient IN
strument of obtaining immediate relief for these
pitiable Victims Of msfortune; as it will be a
source OF pleasure that, by this act, the blessings
of Heaven will be invoked upon him by those
whose mseries were allevated
When Mr.. Cambreleng moved, in Saturday
nights sitting that the House 20 into Committee
Of the Whole on the state of the Union, to take
up certain appropriation bills
Mr.. Chambers asked to withdraw the motion
to enable him (Mr. c. 10 make statement and
Mr.. Cambre!eng having Withdrawn his motion,
Mr.. Chambers said the statement he wished to
make relaedto matter affecting himself, in some
degree and would therefore barely submit il TO
the House 10 do in the matter what might seem
| right and proper. He said he had for some weeks
past, and during the last session, been waylad
about the rotunda and on the stairs and passages
OF the Capitol by lean, hungry, STRENGTHENING
man, who met him at every turn, and the vision
of hose CHASTITY face haunted him even in his
hours of rest. This man had been one Of the
real laboring men--a sub-conractor--w had
Macadam:zed the beautiful avenue Immediately
in front of the Capitol during period Of deep
calamity and distress in the city, when the chole-
IA prevailed. The superintendent of the work
having reserved the right to ahrogate the contract
Tor any delay or suspension of the work, refused
TO permit tho contractor to suspend it; but sent
physicians amongst the laborcrs to advise them
not to work early in the morning, or late in the
evening, and not to work hard at any time Dis
ease, death, and alarm dispersed the greater part
of the operative force, the contractor was ruined,
and the sub-contracor was involved in all the
worst consequences Of the failure, and in debt for
"a great part Of the labor.
He had repeatedly been imprisoned for debt,
and separated from an interesting family for want
Of bread to feed them; disease had followed, and
the man was now, and had been for many months,
here soliciting justice at the hands of the Govern
ment, in state of actual suffering for the comforts
of life, while this Government owed him upwards
of five thousand dollars, which for years he has
been begging ior-yes, begging for jus,ice--for
he broken spirit, and suffering has almost made
him mad, The Senate, Mr.. G. said, had at last
passed bill for his relief, and this day, while the
House was in session, the committee over which
he had the honor to preside (and it was high
honor to preside over that committee, for they
earned their daily bread) had examined the bill,
and ordered him to ask leave to report it without
amendment and ask departure from all the rules
which might obstruct its commitment to Com
mittee Of the Whole; and he would even ask that
it should go to the Committee Of the Whole on
the state of the Union.
Mr.. g. begged leave to add that lie had some
doubt whether this man had not to day committed
a breach Of the privileges Of the House, for when
the Committee Of Claims emerged from their
room, the poor fellow as usual, was in waiting at
the door in fear and trembling, and on being told
the committee had decided to recommend to the
House to pass his BILL and that every effort would
be made to get it through, his sallow face turned
pale as death, and the fountains Of his eyes over
flowed, and the members of the committee, with
out exception, though not greatly given to ''the
melting mood joined in the poor fellows un-
dignifed expression of feeling. He, unfortunate
man, again saw in prospect his suffering wife and
little ones assembled around him, and himse'Efree
from the danger of return to his prison-it de-
pended upon the House whether it should be so
or not.
The good feeling of the House was manifest
ed by a general cry Of '.leave, leave'' The bill
was afterwards specially taken up in committee,
reported to the House, and passed after o'clock
in the morning. ]-Na. Int.
Scurrjyy IF ,Eco.,o, 'Tbrao no.s.I. ac -.