Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-11

The House being equally divided, the Speaker voted
with the yeas and the question was decided I'D the
affirmative majority being sufficient TO suspend the
rules for the purpose OF gong INTO COMMITTEE oil the
| Whole on the State of the Union
/ APPROPRIATIONS FOR PENSIONS.
The House then resolved itself into Committee OF the
Whole on the State of the Union, and proceeded to
the consideration of the bill making appropriations for
the Revolutionary and other pensioners of the United
States Mr. Clifford was called to preside over the
delberations of the committee. The bill appropriaes
| Er revolutionary pensions 1914 900
| For invalid pensioners l07 600
For widows and orphans, 1lc,2ll
For do far five wears 16S,3li
For half pay through Sd Auditors Office, 1000
| For ,rreor,1es through Cd Auditors Office 600
For do through Sd Auditor Office, 900
Sl,0i4 ,I55
The bill was read by the Clerk, when
Mr. THOMPSON of South Carolina chairman of
the Committee Military Affairs, moved the following
amendment:
SIC g lind be it further enacted, That 100000 be,
and the same is hereby appropriated, 10 be expended
der the direction of the Secretary OF War; for the bene-
fit of such of the Seminole chiefs and warriors may
surrender for emigration.
| Mr. PETRIKIN inquired if the amendment was in
order under the rule which provides that proposition
on subject different from that under consideration shall
be admitted under color of amendment
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Cliiford) decided that the
amendment was in order under the 9TH rule, which
4
| Mr. w. THOMPSON (who spoke amidst much
confusion in the Hall 10 render it impossible for the
Reporter hear than the general of his
observatons) said that it could not be necessary for
him 10 say much in favor OF the expedency of adopting
this amendment, because the facts contained in the
communication which had been transmitted BY the Sc
crctary of War would be sufficient on that point That
we should ultimately have TO resort 10 negotiation he
| mir. T) did not entertain doubt. lie believed that
the adoption of the proposition due not only to the
! of
rests Of The entire Union.
| Mr. T. alluded generally to the course of England,
and averied 10 the dangers which, lie said threatened
us abroad with reference TO that nation as to which
nation, lie thought the difficulty of an amcablc ad-
iustment Of pending controversies almost insuperabe
Vain indeed he might say silly, would II be to suppose,
that England, after having avowed the act OF Nj Leod
as having been committed under her authority, would
quietly stand by and see him condemned and executed
under our laws, if a conviction should take place he
alluded to the rallying point which the West Indies
presented to the power of England-to her black regl-
ment thereto the protection afforded during the great
part Of the year by the saiubry OF the climate &c
He expressed conclusion, anxious desire that
the Florida war should be brought to close during the
present session and he should, in leaving Congress,
feel most happy if he should have been in any way in
strumenla in accomplishing that desirable end
Mr.. ADAMS said lie was not yet satisfied that the
amendment Of the gentleman from ). Carolina orr
Thompson) was in order.
And some further conversation ensued on that point,
which however resulted in action; after which
Mr. PROFIT said that, if he understood the pro-
position of the gentleman from South Carolina (sir
Thompson it contemplated the appropriation OF one
hundred thousand dollars to perfect arrangements with
the Seminole Indians, and it came directly from the
Secretary of War 1t was enough for him (Mr - to
know that the Administration now in charge OF the al
fairs Of the Government believed the appropriation to
be necessary and he would vote for it; and if million
dollars instead of $lOOOOO were necessary ne would
4 vote for that also.
A wrong construction had been put on certain re-
marks made by him at the last session oil Congress
He had objected to the appropriation OF hty NIL
lions Of dollars, if necessary but It was to the manner
of the expenditure that his objection had been made
One remark he would make in regard to the tone oil
the debates in this House during the present session OF
Congress Scarcely ever was an appropriation asked
for the Florida war; Tor other matters connected with
our policy towards Indians or foreign natons0 but
the Government of Great Britain must be lngged IN.
Now, he would ask was it becoming the character OF
American statesmen 10 stand on this oor seIzng every
opportunity to speak of the overgrown power OF Great
Britain-of her rapacty-of her determination to
extend her conuuesis, The only difference between
Great Britain and the United States was this that Great
Britain acted whist talked. But Great Britain was
not the only Government that had manifested raPacons
tendencies MIR. p. here alluded to the nroads made
bv France upon certain parts Of South America, and
upon the Continent, of Africa Yet, MIR. P. said, gen.
temen had not word TO say about France yet Great
Britain because she asserted and vindcated the rights
of her citizens whenever they were injured or Cypress
ed was made the constant object OF observation here
If gentlemen were for war, why did they not propose
il, WHY did they talk so much aboutt' Why should
all the Governments of the earth be led to believe, by
the debates here that there hostile feeling per-
vadng this land, when there was not:
Mr. w. THOMPSON here rose in explanation, and
was understood to say that he was the last man who
wanted war and that lie would not enter upon one IN
less forced to do by just regard Tor the rights and
honor Of the country.
MIR. PROFIT continued. He believed most sim
cerely that the gentleman from South Carolina, (Alr
Thompson J would be the last man TO urge on war
and he believed also that that gentleman would be one
of the first to stand forward with his accustomed energy
and patriotism if war should come aid he believed
also, that disse ming voice would be heard, II war
/ were necessary. But we were talking OF war when
not speck of it 10 be seen. He denied that Eng
land was armng herself in the manner which had been
indicated; she only maintaining the position she
had always maintained Of great nation; and II we
were to do the same, 1t would be the better Tor us
Whilst gentlemen here talking about war, the
West stood ready TO give fifty millions, if necessary, to
nut the country in n state of defence, if the mo-
ney had 10 be raised of the public lands 1t was an
insult to the West TO say that they claimed any rights
over these lands which other States had not He had
often had to fight against that principle; none but a
young Politician who had nothing else to build upon,
nculcated H. II not the feeling of the people.
/ There was another thing to which he objected. lie
alluded the anticipation OF the acton OF our courts
charge the gentleman from s. Carolina (Mr thompson
with doing this If the newspapers of the day told US
the TRUTH there was something going on in the State OF
n. York, which, TO say the least of it, would not re-
dound to her honor and credit If the of this nd
vidual was TO be brought here, should have
specimen Of Congressional debating. He repeated he
would vote for this 100000, for million of dollars
if necessary He believed that the gentleman from
South Carolina (Mr. Thompson) deserved credit fol
endeavorin to put an end 10 this Florida war, which
had been disgrace 10 the country. But if no propo
siion for war in another quarter was TO be introduced
let the debate upon it drop, otherwise it would be
nterminable He believed, if this done, the
bill nigh, be reported to the House this morning. and
passed But let it not go forth, from any thing said
here that the American Congress secretly harbor
ing disposition for war, but had not the courage tc
make the declaration
Mr.. PETRIKlN understood to say that he could
boast Of much eloquence chvulry as the gen
teman from South Carolina, (Mr. Thompson,) nor wa:
he (Mr. P any fonder of fighting than others. He dis
liked it, and he disliked also to the rules of the