Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WEDNESDAY, APRn 26, ls4s.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, ls4S.
Mr.. CUMMfNS, from the Committee Revolutionary
reported bill granting pensions the surviving petty officers
searnen, and marines who under the command of Can't Sic
Phen DECATUR b captured and destroyed the gae Phladel
10 the harbor OF Tipo the night Of the 10Th of Febu
ay, 1904 Read twice.
Mr. CUMMiNS explained the object and provisions Of the
DIN us object was TO place upon the pension roll the suv
wing petty officers seaen, and marines of the crew Of the
intrepid in which the gallant Decatur had boarded and burnt
Tue gae Philadelphia in the harbor Of Trpo This sub
Jec had been before Congress for quarter OF century past
and had every instance been fayoraby reported UPON il
both branches Of the Legislature yet no had been passed
and why might seem strange that, when both Houses
had so long concued in desire to make suitable provision
Tor these brave and mertoous men, nothing should have
been done. But the reason was soon explained The os
OF every bill heretofore reported had been distribute among
the survivors of the engaged that heroic Transaction
about $780, 600 in prize money according to the provisions
OF the prize laws And all the committees had split upon he
same dliculty In the viz the mode Of such distributor
No objection had ever been raised against equity of the
claim. How could there be But all the difficulty lay il
the shape OF the law to satisfy IL Neither Decatur h;se
any of those who served under his command n b
daring exploit had received dollar of the prize money thew
had earned at such imminent hazard of their lives seemed
as the very magnitude and bancy of their achievement
had operated as obstacle their getting any thing from
their country in the shape Of reward I
The present bill avoided the fatal obstacle which had pre-
vented the success Of all previous attempts justice in
this case proceeded ground provided for no.
distribution Of prize money all, but substituted for such
distribution the placing of the of the Of that
gallant crew upon the pension roll.
It might be objected that contained no provision for the
beneh OF the officers but only for the The officers
would be entitled to larger allowance That was very true
but the bill puposey omitted their case and allowed 10 the
surviving petty officers, seamen, and Marines the same rate
of wages they were receiving at the time az the ~
the frigae. -
And why did it make provision for the officers The
answer would be found in document Mr. c. held in his
hand, and which be had obtained Department II was
list Of the crew Of the Intrepid Besides Decatur there were
three other eutenants viz Lawrence Banbdge and Power
Decatur was dead and his lady the roll pensioners
in which capacity she had drawn SlO 600 out Of the
treasury Lawrence also dead, and his widow pension
ed cambridge Dead and his surviving child was en-
joying pension Power too, deceased and his child
was provided for in like So there were no surviving
leuenanls to be provided for by this bill Of midshipen
there had been seven.
Mr. O. here read list Of their Also and stated that
these were all dead bat one and either their widows chill
den We're on the pension list The sole survivor now in
employment by the Navy DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. HOUSTON, Of Delaware put some query 10 Mr.
CuMMIFs and the latter made explanations in reply
but the conversation naudbh the Reporters seat
Mr. u went on To show that injustice would be done bv
the bill TO the officers whose surviving relatives had been pro-
vded for by the laws Of the land But the case of the
consisting OF petty officers. Sailors and Marines was clear
omission 1hey had received neither pension nor prizem
nor were they likely 70, unless something should be done
speedily in their behalf
Various reports had been made the case some Of them
very able especially one by Mr. Patton, Of Virginia. who had
shown very clearly the difficulty of suitably distributing the
przemoney among the various claimants entitled TO receive
it, II had been concnded that the money must 90 according
to the provision of the prize distribution laws for to make
change In the rule OF proceeding would be deemed dsrepec
full to the deceased officers But case was relieved Of
its chief embarrassment The officers were dead and their
families provided for while nothing had yet been done for the
bold men who had gany volunteered share their dan
ger The appeal in their behalf made not 10 the char
y but to the justice of the House and il received 50 much
the force from the fact that this the figate Phil
adepha was the single solitary exception all prize cases in
the history of the service In all other cases. when prize
al or from othe
not be brought into port her capto invariably received her
value in prize money. Mr. g. said he had before him List
of all the prizes taken by our vessels Of war.
The CHAIR here inquired Of Mr.. CumMIss whether his
bill contained an appropriation of money
Mr. CUMMINs replied that it did 1t merely proposed
toplace certain names on the pensi n roll.
Mr.. O. resuming, said he had in his hand list Of the cap
ures and in every instance appropriation had been made
pay the captos their prze-money. He read as sample
Of preceding legislation in these cases. the act granting prize
money for the frgate Constitution.
The fgate Philadelphia formed the only exception 10 the
general rule She had not been out but had BEEN by or
der Of Com Pebe, burnt within the harbor The men who
had volunteered to follow the intrepid Decatur all now
in the decline Of e all Of them being about seventy years old
and many Of them very in6rm. The committee abandoned
all idea of securing Tor them their shares Of the prize money!
and had he bad already stated, conened themselves with
simply putting their names on the pension roll.
Il only show the strength and equity of their claim
that Mr. G. had referred these papers 1t was indeed
true that 900 Justly due Them hope getting
that given up and this bill simply asked pension II was
House any claim which could be brought before it. He
hoped the bill would be placed that its consideration might
be reached during the present session. IF this should be
done its fate would he sealed aud these brave and nobe
hearted old would be suffered go down their graves
in penury and want the only in the navy who had
hravey earned their pzemoney and bad received it.
The achievement in which they had had share was one
which could fade from the historic page
which had given to the American navy standing before the
eyes OF the world. II was universally admitted to have
been Of the bodest and daring Of the age
twenty-five men, in small, light vessel, mounting but
four guns, entering strongly fortified habor surrounded
with forts and bastions, mounting hundred and fifteen
guns approaching the very base Of the Moorish CASTLE and
there boarding fgate with forty loaded guns ready fire.
and succeeding completely in destroying her and making good
their retreat was naval feat the glorious memory Of
which could die.
Mr. G. concluded By moving that the consideration Of this
bill be made the special order for the 4th Of July
The bill was referred and ordered to be printed but be-
fore the question was put making it special order
The House adjourned.