The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-27

OF ue clerks, who are ZANZIBAR with these CLAIMS
from their position, 10 enler largely INTO specula
tion with the claimants, stating the obstacles and
difficulties they would have TO encounter prosecut-
ing their claims and for simply furnishing the
sary evidence, which is always procured by the
claimant himself, they have been enabled to extort
IRON the poor claimant one-haf Of his claim to get
| the other half This was what he Mr. III wished
TO prevent, and he thought the best would be
10 publish 10 the world list OF all the claimants, and
make II general instead OF an exclusive ysiem of
private speculation. All he wanted justice done
| 10 all the parties concerned.
| MrTHOMASSON said that the resolution ought 10
be amended, although he opposed TO this inter-
rupton OF the regular system which had been pur.
sued upon this subject by the Department but if The
House was determined 10 pass II, he offered tue fol.
lowing amendment
'fhat he also furnish lis! Of the of the Off
GERS and soldiers of the Revolution, who entitled
to arrearages Of land or money entitled to
| pensions"
| MIR. IIAMI.IN said he would have accepted the
modification Of the gentleman if il was not apparent
that II was intended merely "rider" 10 stride
| down his resolution, and be the means of defeating
| the OBJECT OF his motion, which was TO bring all
The rghtiul claimants TO light that the heirs of those
| interested in the matter might them but he
could not see that the gentemans proposition to
| amend would secure the object he had IN view--his
| amendment would make the document vouminous
and might be The means of defeating what he
~
proposition separate and distinct one, he would
pledge himself to give il his supporand requested
him TO withdraw il.
Mr.. THOMASSON refused.
| Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON said he was not against
giving publicity to these claims, but it was his object
to protect the claimants and lie moved to refer the
| resolution TO the Committee on Revolutionary Claims
with instructions to report bill prohibiting trans
fer Of these claims This would cover his OBJ
lection
mat tbn ,,,bl;. IF Tho
names.
Mr.. DILLINGHAM; said that some Of the clerks
OF the Departments had resigned their places, after
having found out the nature Of these claims and the
residence OF the claimants, and became solicitors
! not OF law-but for the purpose of heecing these
poor claimants, whom Congress bound to pro-
tect; and he was for giving publicity to this list Of
claimants that those interested III them might have
! an opportunity of securing their just rights Con
gress never intended that the claims of the merto-
rous soldier for services rendered to the country,
should be made subject Of speculation by these
selfstyled solicitors and "ha'pies" that iniest the
! purlieus OF the public ediices, watching for those
whom they might devour; and he hoped the resolu
ton of the gentleman from Maine would be adopt
| ed.
| Mr.. BOWER spoke earnestly in support of the re-
solution of the gentleman from Maine, and said he
was fully Of the nature Of of tht sc claims
| and the manner in which the claimants had been de-
frauded out of their just rights by these Spectators"
claim for their services. Sir, said (Mr. b, some Of
these claimants those who belonged TO the
Northwestern army with him during the late
with Great Britain and who had, during that strug
gle, been compelled 10 eat hickory roots and slippery
elm bark to sustain themselves il being the only food
within their reach and he hoped Congress would pro-
tec them from being thus plundered; therefore, he
should vote in favor Of the resolution TO print the
document.
The previous question was demanded, which
! Mr. WELLER said that the motion of his ffie nd
| from Tennessee to Commit this resolution was in end
ed 10 defeat lis obi act. He is generally right but
when he gsts wrong, he is very wrong His Objection
TO publishing would create a monopoly, because the
clerks In the d. partment would have the whole bust
to Themselves and this was what he wished TO
avoid Sir, (sal Mr.. w. ) | am opposed To keeping
anything in the dark and particularly that of public
character and with which the widow and the orphan
were deeply interested He spoke earnestly in favor
of printing and said he sorry that he vas compel
led TO differ with his friend from Tennessee, who is
generally correct upon this subject In conclusion,
he said lie hoped the resolution of the geneman from
New Hampshire would be adopted, and took his seat
tina liking the House for It's kindness.
The question then required upon referring the
| solution, when there no quorum voting
The question was again put, and division called
for, when Messrs. Thomasson and Red ng APP
pointed telers, who reported 81 10 The affirmative
and 81 in the negative.
So the resolution was not referred.
The question was then put upon the amendment OF
Mr.. THoMAssos, aud il decided that quo
rum had voted.
The reading Of the amendment was called for.
Ii was read.
The SPEAKER then counted the ii use and re.
ported there was a quorum.
Mr. REID, of North Carolina, hoped the gentle.
man from Maine would accept Of the amendment,
and thus save time.
Mr. HAMl.lN declined.
The question then required upon the amendment
and il decided in the affirmative.
Mr.. REDlNG offered the following amendment,
which concurred in, and the resolution amend
ed was adopted by the House
"And also TO furnish the names and balances due
to the officers and soldiers of the last war"
The resolution of Mr. HALE, as follows, was then
called up
Resolrsd, That the Secretary Of the Navy be in
struced TO report 10 this House when the Home
Squadron was first established by law what have
been the annual expenditures Therefore and how much
of the estimated expense of the next y is intended
for that purpose.
amendment
"And what duty ha, been performed by the Home
Squadron"
Mr.. HALE spoke al some length in support of his
resolution. He said great deal had been said about
an increase of the Navy to meet Great Britain
which would cost 0ne hundred millions He said that
General Jackson had accomplished more by the firm
and decided stand he had taken i n relation TO our
claims against France, without cxpending one cent
in addition to the necessary appropriation for the
peace establishment, and he for rerenchmcnt in
the various Departments Of the Government
Mr.. C. J. INGERSOLL asked for the reading of
the resolution and the amendment.
They read.
Mr. | said that he believed that one million Of dol
lars might be saved in this branch Of the service il
properly applied. lie ridicued the idea of this new
tangled system Of economy, which had been leyelled
at the Navy. He called the attention of the House
to their own extravaganza, and said that he should