Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-05-17

| without Judgment and withhold payment from tho -.
icers until they obtained judgments! The disc; nav
would be unjust and absurd and, therefore ~ ma
make il is not 10 be ascrbcd Congress by in'
depreciation nj least The language must l.. ,I'H'ht:
will justify any officer Of the government or o,hc ' ""
impung 10 the Legislature the dcs;pn In do n = l+fs9
absurd as we'll as UNJUST act Useless
J That Congress owed The military officers ,n,:
| pay Them without waiting far Judgment i. c
il owed the naYal officers and meant a. nav rh -
clear; and then the simple question H. did it In r,s t
intend require the judgment against not .i, 'ei
ria before il would pay! II is impossible 10 beli wy p
man doubt that Congress intended 10 do ,ou,l &
10 ln.te out the same measure IL the naval and MN
Ii intended 10 satisfy the Just and blood .bou,h
oil EACH and that intent Is not In be defeated By ,.,
crlcy of expression, if there be any, or b. 80, q
rigid construction Of the words al the act Tie ue, "
naval officers and especially oi such the 9,,,
served through the whole war in the highest crad -
least great that of any other body 81 mon ""
members ri the revolutionary Congress- ap,reri.-
merits and the hazard OF their service placed IN ~ s V
same footing in all respects with the officers u fh
il lightly 10 lie supposed that 4 later Congress ,,t e
ing he benefits Z" their services aud peri in h. i
Die BIZ s>ing al free government, which t; y. ;"
cure, intended 10 repnate their claim--ro degate, ~
their equal rank, those who employed them a.sipn!
in advance. %"
But the act Of 1885 Transferring the duty at ,,r.
claims la the Treasury Department. expressly e. -
payment OF the conmutaon caims-the ,ietici,rry ~,
mutation -ncanlng clearly, and practically .,,s
the balance due Ia those officers who had receive, ,n =
pay when entitled Ia continuation. H. then co.,,,1
lie property due Ia tile naval officers this Ienar,,
bound 10 pay II, because tile a, 81 l-3s makes M %
nation but provides Tor the payment of all coumut-
claims.
But submit that the uniform practice Of the eplrr
has settled the question: that Is limited Ia The psy
of Judgments only IN favor OF naval officers and n
fore, that the last clause oil the act al l-32 and the e.
spirit of The act embraces them. aude Ia tie 50,
practice pursued in every where the clam IA, .
proved the satisfaction 81 the department. of paving
officers halt pay who have recovered Judgment since
rassage Of the act, and those who have obtained no
mentS N all.
Now il is clear that The vi lS32 does not limit the
ment 10 judgments then recovered il a naval officer may
paid halt pay upon judgments since rendered Ii is eo,
clear that il does not limit the payment Ia Judgments on
naval Offices may be paid halt pay without Juiamtr
any meand II i equally clear that the department
allow half pay without Judgment when Communication
due. il only may, but i bound Ia, pay the commu,l
by the authority oil a the OF Congress and the ~,
decision in Calls Now all the allowances Of Lat
naval officers who had obtained 10 judgments, anu 10
Of them n have obtained Judgments since ls}3 were
roneouS or the act of 1892 does not limit the power Of
department IL judgments 1ta Iencred and il IL does
ii.en the only limitation Is 10 pay wha. Is really due
as where that is due; communication where tina, is due
IT. then have shown, as respectfully think have
the gallant and patriotic commander ut the OF Nlre
in the war OF the revolution, entitled 10 his comm
ton OF hall paw then the department has ample auho
to pay and with confidence appeal 10 it, satisfied that
Won sir authority to pay Just debt - long deferred vii
sure you viii dischage;as satisfied tina, man will
Justice with pleasure than and especially gall
officer OF the revolution represented By who has
orited his fathers gaantry AM PATRIOTISM and like him
devoted his lie his country. Wien they shall meet 40:
let him BE- able say 10 hi venerable parent, o.. soun
has done you Justice
Win great respect, have the honor 10 be, slf.
Your o5cdltnt servant,
JAMES LYONS
Hon. Thomas EwlNo Secretary OF the Interior Wash.
ton Civ