Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-10-19


take the following report of proceedings OH the
floor of Congress.
HARRISON AND GENERAL STARK.
The bill for granting pension of sixty dollars
per month to MAJOR General john Stark was read
third time.
On the uueston-thall the bill pass
Mr.. ". p. .udcldy asked for information of the
COMMITTEE who reported the bill, as no written
port had accompanied it, on what grounds is stood ;
whether the pension was granted because OF i'll
dgence on the part of Gen. Stark or for what
other reason.
Mr.. Cojb of Georgia, said he must join his
voice to that of his friend from Pennsylvania lie
knew not, from any thing that appeared, what
were the claims of General Stark, nor that he
stood IN need oil pension. why was he seIec-
tel, from among the many surviving officers Of
the Revolution, to receive II pension of this n.
mount? lie hoped the reason would be explain
ed-.or though with reluctance, he must vote n
gnnst tr bill.
| Mr., Harrison, of Ohio, said his friend from
George could not lave heen present when this
subject was before the house nj the last session or
he woul not have asked the information which
he now desired. He had supposed lia friend
| from Georgia was better acquainted with the his
tory of his country, than not 10 know the merits
and distinguished revolutionary services of this
hoary veteran. At the darkest period of the rev.
olution, Gen. Stark had rendered the most i'm
UOTluHl StTNlNtS " his tOulllTN-uUtl those SefNi
ces were not occasional, but were prolonged to
The close of the contest. IL said that
ibis worthy was in INDECENT circumstances, aud
debilitated by old age; that if not soon bestowed
he would not live 10 enjoy the aid about to he af
torded TO him. Was it possible, Mr. ii. asked,
that aI American Congress could behold dis
mg,I>hed patriot as he is, sinking into the grave
Il The want OF every necessary Of life; or that
they would coIdly place him among the mass of
pensioners under the general act OF last session !?
FOR his part, he would give out the last dollar in
The Treasury for the relief OF General Stark
with him, he said, ii was not matter of choice
TO vote for the bill it was an impcriouS duty.
Mr.. Lirermore said, that us member Of this
house, and citizen of New Hampshire, he was
grateful to the gentleman from Ohio for The man
ner in which he had expressed himself on this
occasion. lie would only add that, rs to the cir
cuuslances Ut Gen. Stark, they were, TO his per
sonnl knowledge, very reduced. He was, as to
personal eXertion tor his support, at the age OF
ninety years, wholly helpless. lie might or might
not be owner Of n small farm; but, ii so, it was
an unproduclive one. lie was, and had been for
same time, dependent for support on his children,
themselves in very moderate circumstances, This
was the true situation OF General Stark.
Mr. Butler, OF New Hampshire, gave some
further information respecting General Stark
He was he sad the only surviving General OH
Ger of the Revolution, now declining in old age,
who were not very well able to do IT, This, Mr..
B. sad might he The last opportunity Congress
could have of contributing To tho relief of his
wants. As precedent had hern demanded, Mr..
g. quoted the pension granted NJ the last session
Cen ST Clair rs directly in point. Gen. stark, he
added, had served during the VIII ,le French war,
and no man had afterwards douo more than him
to assert and establish The independence Of his
country.
Mr.. Cobb explained, that he did not mean 10
suggest that Gen. >. was incorporate, but mere
ly TO state his ignorance of the fact whether his
present poverty had been owing TO his fault OF
misfortune.
The question ON the passage oflhe bill was de-
cihed in the affirmative without division and was
sent To The Senate for concurrence.
The remainder of the days sitting WINS spent ia
committee OF The whole, Oh The claim of the heirs
of Beaunarchais.
Mr.. BaidiOn, concluded lis speech in support
Of the Justice of this claim, aud The expedency oil
The governments paying it,.
Mr. Colsion spoke for about hafun hour against
the claim.
When the committee rose, reported progress
and Obtained leave to sit again, And
The House adjourned.
TOWN ELECTIONS in CONNECTICUT y.
The result of the town elections IN Connect
cut so far MS they have been heard from, are all
one way The Wings arc every where sweeping
the board and have carried towns which they
never succeeded in carrying before. We have
not room for particulars. Boston ALIAS.
More DrEaieaIions The Memphis (Tenn.) En-
ouirer saws at was stated here last week by a
gentleman Just from Arkansas, that Capt. Collins
Ilie disbursng agent at Little Rock had proven
dehulter to very large amount; rumor says
100000 TO 100000.