Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-03-29
MARGARET BLENNERHAssEr.

oquehce Oh WIFI, Is residing at present
in New York in extreme indigence.-
In the senate on the 18th instant Mr..
CLAY said he had another petition
which he desired to present 1t was
from Margaret Blennerhasset, the wild
ow of a gentleman of that name who
formely lived upon an island in the
Ohio river, and who was supposed to
be in some way connected with the
famous enterprise of Colonel Burr
This lady he hadiseen in company with
her husband in the winter of 1905 or 6.
he believed in the city of Lexington.
and he could assert that she was then
one of the most beautiful and accom-
plished Of her sex that he had ever
seen. She was an Irish lady, and in
addition to her own personal merits,
she had the advantage ofbeing connec-
ted with the family of the iIIustrious
Emmett. Her husband was a man OF
much learning and ability,a distinguish
ed member Of the'legal profession, of a
literary turn of mind, wholly unfit for
any such purpose as the world sup
posed him to be connected with Burr
to accomplish. History, however, in
formed them that a connection existed
and in consequence Of such connection
BIennerbasset and his family were
obliged to surrender their beautiful resi-
dence, and to leave the island which
they had with much expense and care,
adorned and beaUtifed. He (Mr'
Clay ,recoIlected having visited that
island in the spring of 1886. There
were then to be''seen the remains of its
former beautiful condition,its ornamen-
ted grounds, gravelled walks, shrub
berries, flower gardens, and the house
itself not yet totally destroyed; every
thing betokening the residence of a
gentleman of taste and fortune, and
bearing testimony also to those di]api-
dations which constitute the object of
the petition, which he now asked leave
to present to the Senate.
1t appeared from the petition, and
he (Mr. Clay entertained no doubt
of the correctness of the statement,from
circumstances within his own knowl-
edge that in consequence of the oc-
of the place by a military
force, consisting of fifty or one hum
dred soldiers, who were under little or
no control, and consequently very ri
otous and disorderly in their conduct,
that great deal of injury was CON-
mitted upon the walls and the furniture.
The testimony chfaccompanied the
petition, proceeded from Mr.. Neville,
a member of some of the most distin-
guished families in the State in which
he lives. This testimony went to
show the devastation which had been
committed upon the property by throw
ing down the fences and leaving the
growing crops exposed o,be destroyed,
and other ourages, and ravages to
great extent.
This lady, said Mr.. CIay5is now in
extreme indigence;she has returned re-
Gently to this country from her native
land, and is now residing in the city Of
New York, with son who is wholly
incapable of rendering any assistance
to his amiable mother, in her destitute
condition. She has forborne for sew
eral years to present her claim, because
Of the prejudices which she supposed
must have existed against her late hus-
band, in consequence of his alleged
with the schemes of Col.
Burr. She now comes recommended
10 the attention Of Congress, not only
by the very beautiful letter which she
has herself written to me, but also by
a letter from Mr.. Emmett, the son Of
that distinguished Emmett who sought
an asylum upon our shores, land broth
er of that Emmett who so nobly dis
himself in the liberties of
this country. She now presents her
claim, accompanied by the most con-
elusive evidence of the enormous I'M
ries which had been committed upon
the property of her late husband; inju-
ries for which it it is incumbent upon
this Government to make amends.
The only question will be as TO the
amount; and in such case as this,
where so much delay has occurred
while the injuries which has been in
ficted are perfectly notorious, and in
consideration of the distressed condi-
ton of the applicant, | hope the COM
mlttee will take the matter into their
early consideration, and that they will
do ample justice to this greatly injured
and meritorious lady.
Mr.. Clay then moved to dispense
with the reading of the reading of the
petition, and that it be referred TO the
Committee on Claims.