Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-11-04

OPINION OF Robert FuLroN
following eloquent remarks of MIR. lie.
care, the late Attorney General of the
United States, npon Bill for the relief
of the Heirs Of Fulton the 18th of
February, 1888. They do equal honor
to his head and heart.
Mr.. Legare said, he trusted that the
question would at once be put, and that
the House whuld pass the Bill. He
was satisfied on the high authority Of
the Chairman of the Committee of
Claims [ Mr.. Whittlesey] that the de-
mand was just and fair.
Every conscientious man would feel
justified on that ground alone in voting
for the Bill; and he was sure every
generous man would feel dissatisfied if
he should vote against it.
Mr. Legare well remembered when
the Report first alluded to was render
ed. He was then in this city, and had
an opportunity Of personally witness
ing some Of the misery it was then in
tended to relieve. The memory of it
could not be effaced from the mind
1t seemed like some hideous dream
that in country which was but one
great Monument Of Fulton's geuius,
such case could possibly be real. -
Never had Poet, Statesman or hero, a
mong the Mausoleums in Westmins-
ter Abbey, such monument as had
been raised to Fulton's memory. Let
any man go on the lofty peaks Of the
Alleghanies, and look down upon the
scene spread out below. Let his eye
glance down the valleys of the Ohio
and the Mississippi, alive with all the
wonders of our internal commerce.
Let his eye wander on the other wide
spread plains, on the other side, cover
ed with cities, that sprung up, as it
were but yesterday. Let him contem-
plate the happy scene Of busy wealth
and enterprise and successful industry,
which every where presents to view
All this was the creation Of the genius
Of one man. And yet his children, in
the midst of this spectacle of social
prosperity, were seen knocking as pau
pers, at the door Of Congress, and ask
ing, in his name, for bread.
He repeated, that such sight, seem
ed to him like some frightful vision
1t could not be reality. Yet such had
been the fact; and at this late day their
claim remained unsatisfed, and there
were men found who were for denying
this tardy justice still longer. The
House had heard the testimony Of one,
on whose scrupulous integrity, or
whose unbending fidelity to the de-
mands of public justice, il had for
years relied, and never relied in vain,
in decided advocacy of this bill, as
matter Of right. Can they refuse q
claim they vouched? Blu, there was
another circumstance in the case,
which gave the claim peculiar force
Not only did Mr.. Legare believe in his
conscience that Fulton had done more
good for this country than any man
(save oNE) who had ever breathed in
it, but just as he was about to reap the
harvest Of his fortune, the just reward
Of his great talents and meritorious ex-
ertions, a point Of law was started; the
exertions of counsel were called in;
spectators thought they had now
good chance of success; and in the
hour of anticipated reward, Fulton
found himself bound sacrifice on the
alter of the law, to a stern principle Of
constitutional right. 1t was indeed
double sacrifice.
His own hope, and that Of his fami-
! ly, persisted in moment, by the breath
ola legal decision. Mr.. Legaae invok-
ed the House to do justice. They could
do no more than Justice to the memory
of such man. If they were to give
twice the sum proposed by the bill,
they would still be within the mark.
IN. B.-The Bill passed by large
majority, but to late for the Sonata that
session; and it has since twice passed
the House Of Representatives, but los:
by delsysn the Senate.
The BUSINESS OF ALBANY.-The
amount of Flour arrived during the
last week Of September at the Albany
Office was
Flour, 65,527 bbIs.
Wheat, 1868 bush.
Reducing the wheat to -four, it makes