The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-22


the act concerning naval pensions and the navy pension
nnd" Ne.
That bill passed, and understood at the time,
consequences OF her peculiar situation, and because OF
her claim for the galany md meritorous services OF
her husband; for, 1t usual to give pensions TO
widows of persons not killed in the service! should
Mr. YULEE Our legislation has been various in
that respect In cases, the laws allowed pen
sons TO the widows OF those who died IN the service,
whether from wounds or By natural death. AT other
times only those widows whose husbands died in conse
quence of the ycssitHies OF their received pen
SONS. What induced Congress to pass the law which
the senator CITES am unable to say It may have been
gaanry any other motive which the senator chooses
10 attribute TO IT. but certainly the pension 10 the widow
cannot be ayment for the capture of this vessel and
especially payment OF the debt due to the engaged
IN this public service.
do not think however, that it is proper, polite, or
legal disregard the established practice OF the govern
any particular case, unless there be good
because, whea practice is established, the promise Is
held those who give their efforts TO the end which
Cong regards deserving of remuneration on the
part of the government observe the practice
wards them towards others. regard It, therefore,
debt due to these men, to give them what you have
always given 10 others IN like circumstances; for do
know of a single exception.
If senators wish the matter postponed, have OBJ
lection,
Mr. KING I shall not ask for its postponement
No amendment being offered the bill, it report
ed to the Senate; when, the question being upon the
grossment--
Mr. HALE demanded the yeas and nays which were
ordered.
Mr. BREESE again called for the reading OF the bill,
Mr. UNDERWOOD should be glad SIR that this
matter should lie should like to know little
about it, and should not be inclined to pass the bill
without further information.
Mr.. YULEE | have no objection.
The further consideration Of the bill was then post
poned until tomorrow.
PRIVATE CALENDAR
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the bill
for The relief OF Frederick Dawson James Schott, and
Elisha d. Whitney; which.
On motion by Mr. JOHNSON Of Maryland was pass
ed over for the present.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the House
bill for the relief of Calvin Emmons; which having
been amended its further consideration al the sug
gestion OF Mr. WESrCOTT, postponed until tomorrow.
The Senate proceeded, in committee of the whole,
TO the consideration Of the House bill for the relief OF
Col Robert Wallace, ad-de-camp to Gen VIM Hull
which reported to the Senate without amendment
The question being ordering the bid to third read
ing, DIVISION called for
Mr. UNDERWOOD expressed his regret to see any
opposition to this claim and earnestly hoped that the hon
orabe senators would state their obecuons so that II the
bill found to be OF such nature that II could not be
safely acted to-day might lie over in order TO allow
tine examine II.
Mr. BRIGHT said he would state the reasons why he
should vote against IT, 1t was one OF those cases in
hch the principal merit was It's age Ii the claim
fair one, contained any merit, IT certainly would
have been settled long The report OF the committee
proved nothing As TO the price claimed for the horse,
he thought $3.50 most exravagant, considering that at
the period when the rendered, horses
not valued high the present day, The bill,
its very face shows itself to be OF that kind of claim that
ought 70 be reported against.
Mr. BUTLER was not aware OF any precedent Tor
payment of the value OF horse X allowable TO
pay for services rendered but moi for the loss OF any such
species of property
Mi UNDERWOOD replied, that he believed the value
Of horses killed in the late with Mexico had been
allowed, and this was similar claim, for the value OF
horse lost by capture He had understood that bill of
this had passed the House, and perhaps the Senate
He however desired the matter to be postponed I'LL to-
morrow, in order that he might inquire more particularly
regard 10 that fact This bill having passed the House
was sent he was not mistaken, directly to the Senate,
and there referred TO the Committee on Claims OF which he
member. Attn time he supposed It belonged more
properly to the Committee Military Affairs, OF which
Gen Cass was the chairman The bill referred to that
committee, and Gen Cass being personally acquainted
with all the facts in the case reported m Its favor and Mr.
u. little surprised that IT should be opposed
srenuousIy That the services were rendered and the
property lost there could be doubt but because the IN
dvldua in whose behalf the claim was made was untortu
nate being captured he hoped would be reason Tor
refusing to pay him. He hoped that the rule would not
be established that the unsuccessful of
rendered good ground against claim, for IN that
the successful soldier only would be compensated
This gentleman did act aud under Gen Hull and It
be regretted that his aid had not been eff
fectua and that the expedition had not resulted more
happily than in the surrender of the army But that
reason why the claim should not be granted.
II had been remarked by the gentleman from Indiana that
$3.50 eyorbtant price pay for horse during
that If his friend would take pans ascertain the
value OF the horses used IN the of 1912, he would
find them have been the finest the country, and that
pI6O was very moderate gOOg fulu5
Mr.. BRIGHT would submit to the senator from Ken
lucky whether the lapse OF time not evidence that
the claim had merit There was, moreover, evil
denCe produced 10 prove that the services rendered
On the contrary, the report itself shows, and 1t
and reasonable TO suppose that if the individual
titled to pay, he would have asserted that right
about the time the services rendered. The fact OF
It's coming here years afterwards, presumpve evil
dence that il a umped up affair, for the purpose of
drawing money from the treasury.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD did not think his friend correct in
suppOsng that because claim old, It therefore
to be presumed groundless On the contrary, his own
experience IN either branch of Congress had led him
to the conclusion that Just claims like wine-grow
ing better and better they became old He had had TO
upon claims OF forty and fifty years standing of
which presented Tor the first tme and very good
ones, too, they were
Now with regard to the particular circumstances in
thus case, he not as he remarked, well apprzed OF
them. II might have been that Mr. Wallace never ex
pecied any compensation and that his circumstances
such that he needed none, until IN his old age,
he uds himself IN need OF this small pttance Tor services
rendered He desired, however, 70 have the subject
postponed until he could have time inform himself and
perhaps be able to answer the objections urged
Mr.. BREESE could necessity for postpollng the
consideration of the bill He apprehended that the
mittee had gwen all the important facts IN their report
He did that the claimant had any right in the
army whatever He was only as volunteer ad.de
camp If he had rank in the army, his claim would
most certainly have been settled long since.
Mr. KING said that the senator from Illinois had not
examined the case. THIS claim presented in 1887,
and rejected, aud Mr. Wallace did not think proper to
before Congress again till the year 1916 when il
rejected again. II gentlemen thought proper to
put the bill 20 test they would find that there were
many to give II their sanction. The claim was extra
ordinary one Was anybody paid for losses sustained IN