The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,


Mr. VENABIE from the Committee on the Jul
dietary, 10 which had been referred the memorial
of William Alexander, preierring charges against
the Hon. j. e.. Watrous, Judge OF the onlied states
for the district oil Texas the suuJect r.quir-
Tag further investigation, reported r'solniion' as
follows:
Resolved That the Committee on the Judiciary
, authorized 10 send for persons and papers, with
authority examine witnesses on oath, In relation
10 the charges made against the Hon John Z.
Watrous, Judge of the United States court Tor the
district OF Texas.
MIR. STEPHENS, of Georgia, asked the gentle
mar what was the nature Of the charges!
Mr.. VENABLE replied that the memorial MED
charges Judge Watrous with sundry ml7demeah-
and offences; among them: practioing law ana
receiving fees in the State of Texas touching mat
ters similar to those which had been decided IN his
ow court; with having adJudicated cases In whlch
he was personally interested, and charging viola
tons OF the laws oi Texas All oi winch ouSat ~
be inquired into.
Mr. HOUSTON inquired whether he understood
that this is preliminary to an Impeachment
Mr.. VENABLE replied that the committee dc,
sifed TO look fully into the charger, and that, II
they should be found true, recommendation
would be made that the matter be further prose-
cuted
was the purpose Of the committee to bring winesses
from Texas, 10 take testimony IN that state iof
the purpose of having it before them!
Mr.. NENABLE replied that the committee
would as far rs they could, prevent unnecessary
expense or trouble; but important is the charac-
ter and purity OF Judges, that every means ought
10 be pure ued ASCERTAIN for the sa'lsiacu on OF te
country, whether any one oil theih mas soiAcu 'Ae
GTInine.
The resolution then agreed TO.
PRIVATE cALEspAR.
On motion OF Mr.. DANIEL, the House went into
Committee Of the Whole MIR. DlssEY IN the CHAIR
and proceeded TO the consideration Oi the Dill Iof
tie relief of the heirs of John ckson, deceased
The merits Of the cage, in brief, are, as appears
from the report, that while Captain John Pau
J,uea cruising oil the spurn, on me Goas' "l
England in the American ship oi-War Bon iiouihe
Richard on the twenty second day OF september,
1873, John Jackson, British pilot, came on ooaru
his ship Instaking for British ship oi war mat
Captain Jones. requiring the assistance oil plo'
While near the banks ON that coast detained nan
ON board his ship, and he was there .npIoyen as
the pilot OF said ship in the brilliant ACTON ~hsh
took place between the same ana The scraps 'h
which action Jackson lost an arm IL appear,
from a letter of Captain Jones, that the second Heu-
tenant Of the Bon flomme Richard was, WIN t"eh-
~ Othera, ut the time OF the battle win ue
Scraps ON board oi Jackson's pilot boat, ana
that when Captun Jones found Il impossible 70
prevent the Bon HOmme Richard from sInk
ing Jacksun's boat was OF singular service IN
saving the men, particularly tie wounded SOM
81 whom, Captain JOnea was persuaucn' "ouiH
Lave been drowned had not he nave beet
furnished with The means Of saving them. In
consideration Of the services OF jackson, ahd h'H
severe misfortune, Captain Jones paid hun one
hundred ducats and gave him written promise
I'm behalf of tue United States, that he should re
ceise half pay a. pilot tho remainder oi hrs me-
10 commence from the date Of the writing, Hud
payable every sr months by the American am
ba,sador at the Court OF France, upon proper proof
VI Identity. IL does not appear, however, that thls
engag ernent OF Captain Jones, IN behalf oil the
United states, has ever been performed John
jackson died IN the year 1915, leaving one son and
two daughters HE son, James Jackson, alter
this, came 20 this country a. prosecute the clalm'
and deceased before be found the evidence m The
case; and it appears that ho left one son aud only
heir who 10 now n resident Of the Navy fafd, lh
the city Of Washington; that the said james IN his
lifetime claimed 10 have purchased the right oil his
two sisters in this demand and was the SOLE owner
thereof
The bill, accompanying the report authorize
the Secretary Of the Treasury 10 pay % the legal
repre.entatives Of John Jackson, deceased, such a
cum AZ will equal pension NJ the rate OF ga dol
lars per month, from November is. l1s9, to TIE
day Of Jacks0n's death. agreeably 10 the pledge
gwen by the captain II the Bon homme Richard,
and the report u the committee Of the Continental
Congress made on the 25th day " Septemb'f'
1855
After debate, motion 60 lay the bill aside,wit a
recommendation to the House that Il do not pace,
sas disagreed to-aycs s., noes II; and u wa
then laid abide 20 h. reported 10 the IA use.
a. was also the bill Tor the reici Of GustHVus a.
De Russey, late an acting purser m the navy.
The committee rose. and, without taking acton
Upon th. bills above. named -
The House adjourned until Monday