The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-04

through. and, his expense. and by pledgng his
credit, he manned The ship and carried the cargo to Ire
land and his return he claimed payment for the
penses TO which he had been put understand that Com
modore De Kay thought his expenses would be about
$l6DOO bat It turns out, on examination OF the vouch
ers that he expended 50 900. He died. leaving no
fortune of his own, and his widow presents this clam
She has pad the and the question u.s. whether gov
eminent will repay H. compel her TO be at the expense
OF carrying this corn to Ireland.
Mr.. BADGER said that it was, in his opinion, very
important matter to ascertain whether this affair was OF
New York on New Jersey origin.
Mr.. MILLER. 1t being matter OF charity, do not
hink ii should be matter of Stale boundaries: Com,
molore De Kay lived part OF the time in New York and
part Of the time in New Jersey.
Mr. BADGER So far as charity is concerned, If is
true is not matter of State boundaries. because it
mus come out of the government What want to as
ceeiing took place al New York or New Jersey
Mr., MILLER. have already stated IN the hearing OF
Ans Aoaeaie sss.A"s how shtr nattcr originated The
fund which Commodore De KY relied was in the
hands OF a certain committee IN the city OF New Y ork
having been collected from various parts of The country
for the relief OF the people OF Ireland and he was dis
appointed by the refusal OF that committee to appropriate
that fund to pay Tor navigating the vessel under his COM
mand.
Mr., BADGER Preparatory to my remarks wish to
submit another and an important question to the senator
from New York. | wish TO know how 1t is ascertalned
that, inpoin of fact besides the sixteen thousand dol
lars we have already paid there yet remains balance or
residue of eight thousand dollars more Will the hon
orabe senator from New York tell me that
Mr.. DIX, We ascertain it by the letter of the Fourth
Auditor, that has just been read.
MIR. BADGER suppose this auditing took place
under the private appropriation bill OF last session: For
paying the expenses OF the irlgate Macedonia IN carrying
iood to Ireland, sum not exceeding $4,000" have
only say that opposed the lending OF this public ship
to be put under the charge OF private persons and my
honorable friend from South Carolina (Mr. BurLER)
and opposed at the last session. the payment of this
money for the use of the ship by those who had borrow
ed her But the Senate overrued and decided then
that the expenses were to be paid. If we paid SIX
teen thousand dollars then for the benefit of Commodore
II. kaN bInt tvnn IN nlyn Iphtt hon nd
now Tor the benefit of his widow Il is only the carrying
out OF homely phrase IN regard to the good vands,
MI ana S1T5 S' Mr. Pesdsnt think that this mat
ter il understood by the Senate, will commend ITSELF at
all events, to their kind feelings and of Justice
The Senae will recoect how this ship came to be lent
to these individuals, The original proposition on the
part of Commodore De Kay was TO command the vessel
That was his intent and he supposed there would be
charitable individuals enough in the city OF New York,
such as were found in other cities from which ships
despatched the errand OF mercy, to furnish
lie means to provide ratons for Sailors that there would
be sailors enough to the snip, wins would volunteer
upon charitable excursion of that kind and he
gentleman OF leisure and and proposed to pay
his in vidual expenses and command the vessel
Under these circumstances the vessel was lent, food
supplied for the starving Scotch and Irish from all
sections OF the country, but there were no means poyl-
ded to procure ratons-no sailors volunteered for the
purpose of sailing the ship; and ultimately after the ship
laden, she must continue TO lie at the wharf else
Commodore De Kay must pay the expense OF manning,
furnishing, and sailing her out OF his own pocket. Well
pay the expense OF sailing this vessel Europe, out OF
his pocket And it will be recoected that after he
arrived in Europe, the British government offered to pay
the freight upon the shipment And if he had received
the freg upon the shipment, there would have been
claim upon This government for remuneration for money
expended But Commodore De Kay, with proper feeling
and consulting doubtless the wishes of those who had
been instrumental in sending this charity, well as the
wishes of the country at large, declines receiving freight
upon the shipment from the British government return,
here with this money paid out his pocket, and APP
nj IN who
had the pleasure of knowing Commodore De Kay
will readily understand that he himself had no precise
he had actually expended There were his vouchers.
once heard him say that he supposed he had expended
some tweny-odd thousand dollars, and it was pro-
posed first 10 pay him that amount, but it finally dwln-
died down to sixteen thousand Subsequently, however,
these vouchers, which had been placed in the hands OF
the auditors, authenticated the estimate OF Commodore
De Kay When the auditors came to inspect his vouchers
appeared that he had expended eight thousand dollars
more than the government paid him; and he actually
mortgaged the property OF his wife Tor the payment OF
that money. That money is yet unpaid; Commodore De
Kay is dead and this eight thousand dollars will have
TO be paid out Of the property OF his widow, unless this
claim be allowed.
vouchers who has audited the accounts says that this
money has actually been paid out by Commodore De
Kay. There be doubt, then, OF the business oil
this claim and the simple question is, whether the gov
eminent will permit the widow of that generous, noble
hearted man to pay this money-permt her property to
be sacrificed and herself perhaps to be reduced to strait
whether they will with becoming sense OF Justice take
it upon themselves to pay this of eight thousand dol
lars trust that they will adopt the latter alternative
Mr.. FOOrE. Mr.. President, hope that am not in
different TO many OF those tender considerations that
have been addressed by the honorable senator from
New Jersey. But feel bound to say an honest man
that am compelled oppose the payment OF this money
This subject brought before at the last session
tina, time looked into the matter, and looked into il
not only with attentive mind but with senslbies deep.
~ excited by the details of suffering which heard.
voted, at that time, to the full extent of what consid
cred the claim to recompense urged before US. now
regret that voted dollar, since this claim is now re
neyved upon | am mortified Ito the most feeble
that feel authorized to use) at the renewal OF thu:
application, and but for there being lady IN the case
would say that am Disguised.
Mr. President, / am that all has been paid fo
which there was shadow OF claim. And think we
| would be setting most mschievous and pernicious ex
ample were we TO sanction the claim, so Called as a
present presented Neither arguments nor facts are pre-
sened in its support We hear nothing but the sheeres
defamation addressed to us in behalf of a gentleman
who has died and left widow-a very common cas-,
indeed. We must all die sooner later, and when W.
shall have laid heads down upon deaths dreamles
pillow, trust that will be respected and imagin,
| that no very worthy gentleman expects his widow ant
orphans be cared Tor and supported by the genera
government simply on the ground of commiseraon
That there is manner of Justice in this claim am
fully convinced as OF my existence and therefore
cannot vote Tor IT.
Mr. BUTLER Mr. President, only wish to explain
in very few words my position this subject and
| think | can, in very brief space, Justify my forme
course in relation to it. From the be ginning opposed
the proposition to appropriate half million of dollar
OF the public treasury for the relief OF the Irish poor
think It was arrested in the other House And wher
that bill defeated in the House OF Representatives
il was proposed that should lend public vessel Il
those in New York and New Jersey who had contribute,