The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-27

from their position, to enter largely into specuia
ton with the claimants, stating the obstacles and
difficulties they would have to encounter IN prosecut
ing their claims, and for simply furnishing the noccs-
sary evidence, which is always procured by the
claimant himself they have been enabled 10 extort
from the poor claimant one-haf of his claim to get
the other half. This what he Mr.. ii wished
to prevent and he thought the best would be
to publish TO the world list of all the claimants aud
make il general instead of an exclusive system of
private speculation. All he wanted was Justice done
10 all the parties concerned.
Mr.THOMASSON said that the resolution ought to
be amended, although he was opposed to this inter-
ruption Of the regular system which had been pur-
sued upon this subject by the Department but if the
House was determined to pass it, he offered the fol
lowing amendment
'Tha he also furnish a list Of the names of the Off
and soldiers of the Revolution who entitled
to arrearages Of land or money, or are entitled to
pensions"
Mr.. HAMLlN said he would have accepted the
modlcaton OF the gentleman If II was not apparent
that it intended merely as ''rider to ''ride'
down his resolution and be the means OF defeating
the object Of his motion, which to bring all
the rghu claimants to light that the heirs of those
interested IN the matter might secure them but he
could not see that the genteman's proposition to
amend would secure the object he had in view--his
amendment would make the document voluminous
and might be the means Of defeating what he
wished to accomplish but if he would make his
pfOpOSlllOn a separate ana QtStnct one, lie Woulu
pledge himself to give it his support-and requested
him to withdraw it.
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 he moved to refer the
resolution to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims,
with instructions to report bill prohibiting trans
fer of these claims. This would his OBJ
lection.
Mr.. DANA spoke against the publication of the
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 fleeing these
poor claimants, whom Congress bound to pro-
tect; and he for giving publicity to this list OF
claimants that those interested in them might have
! an opportunity Of securing their just rights. Con.
gress intended that the claims of the merito-
rous soldier, for services rendered to the country,
should be made subject of speculation by these
selfstyed solicitors and hnpies" that infest the
purlieus Of the public edfices watching for those
whom they might devour; and he hoped the resou-
ton Of the gentleman from Maine would be adopt
| ed.
| Mr.. BOWER spoke earnestly in support of the
| solution of the gentleman from Maine, and said he
was fully aware OF the nature Of some OF these claims
and the manner in which the claimants had been de-
frauded out of their just rights by these specuators
who had frequently charged one half of the original
claim for their services. Sir, said (Mr. b. Of
these claimants were those who belonged to the
Northwestern army with him during the late war
with Great Britain, and who had during that strug-
gle, been compelled to eat hickory roots and slippr
elm bark to sustain themselves it being the only food
within their reach, and he hoped Congress would pro-
tect them from being thus plundered therefore, he
should vote in favor of the resolution TO print the
document.
The previous qucs ion was demanded, which was
not seconded.
MIR WELLER said that the motion of his friend
from Tennessee to commit this resolution was mi end
ed to defeat It's object. He is generally right, but
when he gets wrong, he is very wrong. his objection
to publishing would create monopoly, because the
clerks in the Department would have the whole busI-
ness to themselves, and this what he wished to
avoid. Sir, (saii MIR. W. am opposed tn keeping
thing in the dark and particularly that Of public
character, and with which the widow and the orphan
deeply interested. He spoke earnestly in favor
of printing and said he was sorry that he compel
led differ with his friend from Tennessee, who is
generally correct upon this subject. In conclusion,
he said lie hoped the resolution of the gentleman from
| New Hampshire would be adopted and took his seat,
thanking the House for its kindness.
The question then required upon referring the re-
solution, when there was no quorum voting
The question again put, and division called
for, when Messrs. Thomasson aud Red ng were APP
pointed tellers, who reported II IN The affirmative,
| and 81 in the negative.
! So the resolution not referred.
The question was then put upon the amendment Of
Mr. THoMAssoN and II was decided that no quo
rum had voted.
The reading Of the amendpent was called for.
1t was read.
The SPEAKER then counted the II use and re-
ported there quorum.
Mr.. REID, Of North Carolina, hoped the gentle
man from Maine would accept of the amendment
and thus save time.
Mr. HAMLlN declined.
The question then required upon the amendment /;
and il was decided in the affirmative
Mr.. REDING offered the following amendment,
which was 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 MIR. HALE, as follows, was then
called up
Resolred, That the Secretary Of the Navy be in
structed TO report to this House when the Home
Squadron was first established by law what have
been the annual expenditures therefor; and how much
of the estimated expense of the next year intended
for that purpose.
Mr.. HAMLIN suggested to hi, colleague an
amendment:
"And what duty ho, been performed by the Home
Squadron"
Mr. HALE spoke at some length in support of his
resolution. He said a great deal had been said about
which would cost one hundred millions lie 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 expending one cent
in addition to the necessary appropriation for the
peace establishment and he was for retrenchment in
the various Departments of the Government
MIR. c. j. lNGERSOLL asked for the reading Of
the resolution and the amendment
They were read.
MIR l. said that he believed that million Of dol.
lars might be saved in this branch of the service if
properly applied He rdiculed the idea Of this new
tangled system of economy, which had been eyeed !
at the Navy. He called the attention of the House
TO their own extravaganza, and said that he should
bring forward proposition to reduce the expendi-
lures of Congress- which the proper place for
reform to commence, and he hoped that Congress
would be enabled to adjourn in May Some friend
near me says the Democratic Convention meets at
Baltimore in May,l but he assured his friend that
he was not thinking just now Of making Presi-