Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-07-06
MR.. HALLS REPORT ON VIRGINIA LAND

CLAIMS.
It's In our paper oftbc 22l ult. we alluded briefly
to the lahors of Mr.. A Hen, late member from the
fourth district and of Mr.. Hall of,he first district,
on the subject of Virginia Land Claims. Since
then we have received notice of Mr.. Halls re
port from the Washington correspondent vol the
Boston Atlas, which we copy for tile information
of our readers. OF the abors of Mr. Hall and of
the importance of his report, Senator Pierce OF NJ
II. thus spoke in speech in the Senate OH tbs LIST
OF May, upon claims for seven years half pay
Mr.. p. is chairman of the Senate COMMITTEES on
pensions, and his opinion upon this subject is
therefore of peculiar value: - go
"tluch light mas been thrown upon this stub.
ject, hy records obtained from abroad, within the
last few years aud gentleman abundanty com
perent to the task, to whom am indebted for very
interesting and important information, Zion. Hi
urd Hail, of Vermont,) has given 10 the Virginia
claims of this character patient and thorough IN
vesligation and the remarkable result IS, that he
is new able 10 show, by documentary and other
evidence, that not one of the tDenty ntne cases
from that state, provided for by acts OF Congress
since 1928, have any good iounda'ion.N The
truth is these claims from Virginia are like claims
from other sections OF the country roundless'
TAT this point several cases introduced, where
had been paid by the government under spe-
cia Of Congress- and in which nconiestabe record
evidence stated to show that they without ioun-
dation, either law or cquliy but as those and many
mere similar presented in the able and elaborate
report Of Mr. Hail. pub shcd since the debate, House
Doc. No. 49, that is respectfully referred to-
Correspondence orhe Alias.
WASHINGTON, June II, 1910.
Report Of Mr.. Hail o. Vermont, on The u gina
Revolutionary claims-bou,,ty land and conlmu-
tati0n pay
I,st m haya hpou
from the Treasury of the United States in money
and its equivalent in land script over three mil
| lions of dollars claims made in behalf of iht
troops of The revolutionary amy from Virginia.
! These payments are over and above all sums
which in common with the troops of other States
those of Virginia had previously received, ant
were receiving in the form OF pensions; and also
i over ard above the immense state land bounties
| which her troops had been allowed to locate be
tween the Sciola and Litlle Miami in Ohio, BY
which n tract of country, Preserved by her deed y
cesson,l larger than the state of Connecticut, AM
nearly us large as Massachusetts, had been cover
J ed 10y her military warrants.
Besides the claims before mentioned there wa
/ another class, called commulaon claims. unde
which the heirs OF persons who were alledged L
have served ms officers in the continental line G
the revolutionary army 10 the end OF the war, lat
II been, by special acts of Congress, allowed iii
4 amount of five years full pay, with about fiji
, hundred thousand dollars had been pnd from III
Treasury aud OF this class, aud the class Of Viz
1 ginia bounty land claiuls before MENTIONED IN
amount pending before Congress at The commence
y ment of the present session, was not much les
h than million Of dollars in addition TO those wc
. had heen previously allowed
/ These claims had been suffered to pnss ihroug
: Congress, with but little examination, very few
n the members being aware Of the grounds ON Whc
they were paid, of the weight OF the burden the
imposed upon the Treasury. Mr.. Allen of V
d was the first to cal the attention of the House
9 Represent tives TO the unsatisfactory character
u the principles aud evidence on winch commute
ton claims We're allowed, and to interiuse al
ID formidable opposition 10 them. At The Inst set
p. sion, lhe subject was taken up 10y Mr.. Hall of
" and together with that of Virginia bounty In
IS claims was referred TO select committee, OF viii,
= he was chairman. The committee reported Il
late in the session for their report to be acted o
aud il remained among the unfinished business
,e the session.
IS AT the present session, the subject has been fl
" ther prosecuted b. Mr., Hall, WHO, with the concu
renee oilhe committee of revolutionary claims,
which he is n member Ias made an able and ell
y b0raie report, unfuvO rable TO the claims of viii
a, report I'M extra number OF copies has been pril
So ted
/, The examination made by MIR. Hall has evdel
IS ly been one of great labor and research and
ne results seem likely 10 put an end TO the further
nd lowance Of thu claims 1t appears from the
r. port that the bounty land claims have been aiio
T by the authorities o! Virginia but lhut they ha
Re- been paid by the United States, and without
)m quiry into the evidence on which they wero ioI
ded. IL would not be matter of surprise il
l. authorities of Virginia should have been rail
liberal in the allowance to her own citizens
5's claims which were TO he paid by another z,
Ne eminent. II is accordingly found, that tn
$, claims have been allowed on slight paro evlden