The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-02
CITY OF WASHINGTON FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY g. s4e.

the senator from New York to one point If the Law
dposes Of this money, after the death of Commodore
Decatur how the Senate deprive those who en-
titled TO the money, under the law, by any amendment
which may be offered!
! Mr. UNDERWOOD No law at ALL
'e Mr. GSDEhw s 'f sse to the senator my
inquiry. want information. Coming from the interior,
as do know very little about maritime regulations,
having informed myself but very little about them
What want to know is this: if Of Congress reg
ulacs what distribution shall be made Of prize money at
the death OF an officer, how eau turn it from the
channel into which it is directed by that law 1t has
been said that there is particular law which directs
the course which this money should take had sup
posed there regulation which, in all such cases,
directed what disposition should be made of the money
the officer died prior 10 the distribution Of the prize
suppose, from what has been SAID here that it is In the
power df Congress to dispose OF II as peases This is
what wish TO Understand.
Mr.. YULEE Perhaps can satisfy the senator This
money does not enter into the assets Of the deceased II
they had brought the ship out Of the harbor they would
have been entitled, Under the prize act the amount of
the value of the vessel but as che destroy ed in the
harbor, they derived nothing under the existing laws.
1t has, however, been usual in such cases. where there
have been mertorous services to make such reward
a bounty, as might be deemed commensurate with the
bounty which is paid The distribution is not only regu
lated with respect to the officer while living, but in
instances it provides ior the distribution a, the death Of
the officer The division is restricted equally to his
widow and children; but in default of widow and
children, the money remains in the treasury, and goes
not to the creditors or collateral issue. In this case,
sir, appears by the testimony referred to by the Com
miliee Naval Aairs that Mrs. Twggs and her risers
provided for IN this amendment were adopted by Com
nodoIe Decatur as bis children, and regarded such
seems, therefore, appropriate and quite proper that
Congress, taking notice OF this fact which has been
brought to its notice, should provide that they be
garded rs entitled 10 this bounty.
NJ. -, IL. ..,I
was laid aside in consequence Of my desire ascertain
whether some provision should not be male for the
widows and particularly for the widow of Commodore
Decatur IN consequence OF the claims which his heirs
had set up at his death
find, sir, upon examination that the widow of Com
modore Decatur has received nothlng-not one cent
The resolution of the last Congress left option with
her whether TO receive the usual pension depend upon
special act of Congress. She unfortunately selected
the general law and that having expired by its own im
taOn, she is nov in the receipt of nothing whatever
1t appears 10 that, although there may be pro-
prety in giving to the neces OF Commodore Decatur as
he intended 10 make provisions for hem-although
there propriey in giving them portion Of what
may be allowed graulty 10 the widow and heirs OF
those who participated in that very brilliant achievements
yet it appears that going to give them too
much in the amendment now proposed, and that the
widow. at least, should be placed on different footing
from the heirs. She should have at least onehaf the
amount allowed if you choose, you may distribute the
receiving nothing under act of Congress- and she is
now in destitute condition. My feelings are very
strongly III aVOT Oh tHc passage vi
edge the afectionate relations existing between their
uncle and themselves but it seems TO me, as know
Commodore Decatur to have been proud man. that he
would have left the whole estate TO his widow. rather
than TO leave her to the charity OF the world. Her for
tune-what little was left, owing to debts-was absorb
ed for the greater part by the erection OF that immense
building at the of Presidents Square. AS stated
before, Congress gave her the pension under the joint
resolution She induced to take if under general
law. which has expired by its own W. limitation hope
allow more than one half OF this bounty to the nieces
leaving the other half TO the widow.
MT p h am Ts s II DC a. s
gestion that the amendment shall be framed to al
low one half to the widow the other half to be dsrbn-
ted among the three nieces, giving them sixth each
| will assent to that modification.
Mr.. BERRlEN wouldprefer myself that the question
should be put upon The amendment IN ITS original form
understand this to be bounty proposed by Congress
be given to the officers and crew of this vessel Ii is in
tended bounty so far as Commodore Decatur is con-
cerned to those persons to whom he, if he had lived
reason why moiey Of this should be given ey
cusvey to his widow, and that three other objects OF his
bounty should be permitted to share the residue only
think they should all stand upon equal footing. My
information upon the subject is that Commodore Decatur
designed to have these ladies heirs, and that he alb
stained from making will, under the impression that this
feeling of his bosom shared-n the same degree
in which it entertained by hmsef-by his wife IT,,
unfortunately differences have since occurred, IT seems
to me that in regulating the distribution OF this bounty,
we should look to the time when harmony existed be-
tween all the parties think the purposes of Commodore
Decatur would be best accomplished by distribution
which would place each of these parties upon the
footing would prefer the original form OF the amend
ment | would ask the Senator from New York, instead
of accepting the modification, to allow i to be moved
amendment to The amendment, in order to test the
OF the Senate upon this point
Mr.. DIX. will assent to that.
Mr. KING The senator from Georgia has not, con-
clude from the remarks he has made, adverted 10 the
general provision of the bill If he had done no would
have perceived that tits exception to its general prov
sions, departing from its whole character The bill pro-
poses to give to the widow
MIR. YULEE, Gnterposng) The widow and children
Mr.. KING (resuning) The widow and children
who partook in this destruction. We do not inter
fere with the general provisions of the bill Why should
suffer the widow of officer who parook in this
achiev 10 receive the whole amount and deprive
another who is the widow OF the most gallant officer
certainly of the most gallant ofcers-his country
cred by Commodore Decatur his children, so far his
affection led him, and he would have furnished them
the necessary for their subsistence But sir, you
make distinction between Commodore Decaturs widow
and the widows of other officers ask the senator from
Georgia whether the widow of Lawrence-tThe re-
1t is an nvidous distinction, and against the widow
of him who performed that gallant act act distn-
gushed for more gaantry than any performance IN The
history of our country. Yet You draw that distinction
against widow who, if he had decided, would
have received the whole of this property because she is
more dependant She is growing old, and has no re-
sources desire to be right and Just upon the question:
and disposed to be liberal as can towards the
nieces, without doing an act OF great injustice
Mr.. ALLEN 1t strikes me, sir, in matter OF tins
Sort that the condition OF the parties Is matter 10 De
considered. If the nieces of Commodore Decatur are
wealthy persons and not so much IN need OF ms
money as the widow OF Commodore Decatur IL, 1t strikes
Al, ,ho ahoull have