Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-03-29
virei,llia Rerolutioraru claims.

sion, Chairman of Committee, to investigate
certain revolutionary claims Of this state, 10
behalf of some Of her citizens.
On "Wednesday, three or four days before the
session closed, he presented report unfavora-
Bile 10 the claims. II excited good deal OF
dissatisfaction among the Virginia members
and they determined to prevent its being print
ed
On motion being made by Mr.. Hall to print
some one Of the members Of tina, state moved
to lay il on the table. This was rejected l27
to as, showing determination on the part Of
the House to print
On Thursday, after some discussion on the
part of MIR. Briggs of Mass. 10 favor Of, and
MIR. Mallory of Va. against, the printing Of il,
moved, called for the reading of the report al
length. The Speaker decided that this was
the right Of any member, and the Clerk com
menced the reading Of the report. This was
continued through the morning hours OF
Thursday and Friday, till on Saturday, on the
rules being suspended for other business, on a
call Of the House moved by member Of vir-
gnia, the report was laid on the table among
the unfinished business Of the House.
In 1880, Congress on the application ofthe
Virginia delegation, granted over 900
acres of land scrip to satisfy warrants issued
by that state for services Of her continental
troops during the revolution. Since then a
100000 more Of acres have been granted and
the Legislature of Virginia are soliciting still
further grants.
These warrants are issued by the authori-
Ties Of Virginia, and have been satisfied by the
evidence on which they are granted. With a
certificate obtained, on the strength Of this
warrant, from the Virginia authorities, the Of
fcer or his representative, comes to Congress
and claims. fire years full pay according to his
rank. In this way some hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars have been obtained from the
public Treasury.
The report makes some curious develop
menis and will probably put an end TO the pay
ment Of the claims by the United States. The
allowance of land 10 the officers is large, rang
ing from $4,000 acres to a Major General to
2,666 10 subaliern. Thus making the temp
tation 10 obtain these warrants very great.
The report shows from historical facts and
documents, that not more than AL persons
could have been entitled to warrants for SER
vices at one time, whereas the number of war
rants already granted is $50. Thus showing
that large portion of the claims are inbound
ed.
The claims for five years full pay, many
of which have been allowed and over hun
bred more of which are now pending, are pre-
scented under the resolve of Oct. 1850, and
have been lately claimed and allowed on the
ground that the officers in whose behalf, they
are made, were left out in the reduction of the
army which took place ut that time.
The committee show that but 10 officers
from Virginia were left out at iha, time, erery
one Of whom then received his combination
pay. Consequently there is not single Off
Ger Of the Virginia line entitled TO a dollar on
this ground, and all thus presented are fraudu-
lent.
The report gives statement of more than
20 claims for communication, which have either
been allowed, or are now pending in Congress
with favorable reports OF committees, in which
the committee show by documentary evidence,
the officers are not entitled several of
which cases, sums varying from two TO fifteen
thousand dollars have been drawn from the
Treasury, by individuals for services never
performed. In one case 1880 dollars were
thus obtained, 10 not one cent Of which was
the individual entitled.
In relation TO The County land warrants, the
addressed letter 10 the Governor
Of Virginia, asking for copies Of the evidence
on which sundry land warrants had been grant
ed by the Erecufire of that state.
Al the end Of 3 or weeks in reply 10 sec
ond letter from the Chairman, the Secretary of
the Commonwealth informed him that The
Executive had come 10 no decision on The ap-
piicdtion ofthe Committee"
Such are some of the leading facts. The
refusal of the Governor and the attempt of the
Virginia delegation TO prevent the facts from
being made known are not calculated TO in
spire a very great confidence in these claims
We have no doubt nineteen-twenteihs of them
are fraudulent. Mr.. Hall is n member of The
next Congress and will not let the matter
sleep.
The course pursued by the Virginia delega-
ton in this matter reflects no honor on them
and is highly discrediiable. If this be speci-
men of Southern honor and magnanimity, of
which we hear SO much, we say, deliver us
from il. Indeed we have been informed, that
Mr. Visa ,voe on nonch oshatnad of he cor,s.,