The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-10

mr very clearly before the Senate IL may be well that
the report should be read
The report accordingly read
NO amendment being made the bill was reported to the
Senate and ordered TO be engossed for third reading
WIN. A. sLAcUM.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the bill
for the relief OF the personal representatives of VIM A.
Slacnm, deceased which was read second time, and
considered as in committee OF the whole
Mr. MANGUM stated that the bill had had very thor
ough examinations and had passed the Senate three four
times He believed that the committee had been unan-
nous In favor OF IT,
No amendment being made, the bill reported TO the
Senate, and ordered 10 be engossed for third reading
- ELIZABETH ARNOLD.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the bill
granting pension to Elizabeth Arnold which read
HE second time, and considered in committee OF the
Mt BRoDHEAD asked for the reading Of the report
ihe report was accordingly read
Mr FELCH would like 10 inquire OF the chairman
OF the Committee on Pensions what is the principle in
vowed In TINS bill-whether we not extending the
whole matter OF naval pensions to class OF cases in
which they have never yet been given, and whether
there are any special circumstance in this which
require such departure from the ordinary rule.
Mr.. CLARKE. If the chairman of the COMMITTEES on
Pensions will allow me to state the peculiar crcum
stances, will do it, On the 22d OF December, l775--
pendence--t IS well known that there naval force
hted out IN this country. which went craisng along
coast and finally took possession OF the island of New
Providence, where there was very large amount of
munitions OF war. That naval force fitted out in
the waters OF Rhode Island may be allowed 10 saw
that IN my own veins the blood of of the
manders. The selection made at that time of the
most able, experienced, and gallant that could be
found to ocer their vessels small they were, and inn
perfectly hted out as they were The most gallant men
were placed in command, and among them. upon the very
earliest record OF your government Of appointments made
was Jonathan Pitcher, man whom myself knew-a
man who had the universal reputation OF being of
the most gallant, patriotic and daring that took
up arms IN The service OF his county, either upon the
land or upon the sea He OF those that did
not look TO the pecuniary rewards of the government
lie went into Their service with warm and earnest zeal
TO sustain the declaration OF independence and he
nued IN this service during the war; long any naval
armament was sustained by the United States and while
IN annoying and destroying the enemy. This individual
was in France, lieutenant board the ship Providence
which was commanded by John Paul Jones. | believe
that Dr. franklin says that after John Paul Jones was
compelled 10 leave the vessel he put her under the
mand OF this man to bring her back to the United States
he was perhaps not an accomplished man. he was
rough but an honest There might have been more
accomplished sailors but entered Jealous
y INTO the cause OF his country exposed himself
readily, or rendered more efficient conspicuous
wees MS man made no claims upon the government.
He lived In an humble situation he died in poverty. He
always said that his given to his country
IRON love for his country and for bery He asked no
pension during his e for himself ior those connect
ed with him During the last year, aged daughier his
only surviving child, came 10 and stated her totally
destitute situation. She had nothing whatever but the
recollection OF The debt that due from the country 10
her father, who had gtlany exposed himself in de-
fence OF the liberties oil his country and she did hope
that the Congress OF the United States would give her this
little ptlance make herself comfortable sne express
ed H. during the remaining days allotted 10 her here.
she is aged and inhrm She cannot long receive from
the government this anything else in this world She
is perfectly destitute II ine services OF her father
during the revolutionary have not entitled her 10
this small boon from the government which has now
grown rch, know not what appeal can be made either
10 the justice or 10 The sensbiies OF members There
is the whole and il any objection possibly be
made 10 thus allowance, | wish 10 hear it,
Mr. 1 Hava dom M afs sIa
made by the senator from Rhode Island upon this subject
both as TO the mertoous services OF the father and 10
the other mailer he has referred to-the poverty OF the
present applicant But asked the question oil the chair
man OF the committee which has been answered by the
senator from Rhode Island for the purpose OF ascertain
Ing what was the principle involved in this bill have no
objection 10 gong far any 10 provide literally
for the ocers and soldiers who have served in the
rious in which the country has been engaged But
seems to me that we adopt here entirely prin
cple, unknown either IN the navy the army pensions
Inc naval pensions commenced about the year lS00 and
special fund apart for the purpose of paying them
The vanous laws were so liberal absorb that fund
But in all these cases. am under the impression that no
o this kind was received The pensions
gwen either to the widow the child OF the deceased
solder In all these cases the father or husband had
been killed in service had died from wounds received
in the service This case is total departure from that
principle
But. again those laws which have embraced the
widow and children have OF them, think, gone so
far this They have merely embraced the widow and
minor children carefully providing that the latter shall
receive only so long a. they are minors Most OF the
laws limit the pension to i've years, and embrace only
such children under sixteen years OF That Is ts
case with all the laws have passed Now, the ques-
ton is, prepared to depart from II IL we are IN
this instance, then prepared TO consult and act upon
general bill TO depart IRON this pinclpe ~ all nsan-
THIS Is meritorous case, admit; but there ~
hardly any which be presented OF persons who
served in the revolutionary war that can be cbarac.
terzed in any other than highly merorious
Now, II we point OF fact determined to act upon
and adopt this princpe then am prepared TO act upon
principle OF this kind but do not wish 10 apply u 10
individual case aoneto seek out individual cases ior
its application.
Now let me make one other remark. We had this
same principle proposed IN regard TO all the army pen
tend pensions children of officers and pvales to carry
bey ond what any OF the previous laws had done. II
hrst presented itself here general provision OF law,
adopting that principle general provision. had the
curiosity inquire-but also did so in the performance
OF what considered my duty-at the Pension Once, and
there found that II adopted this provision we would
make II necessary 10 pay something like halt million Of
dollars out OF the treasury Tor pensions think any per-
who would take the trouble 10 examine the matter
would feel as much disappointed as was, and would
Ind the matter OF much more Importance than he woId
otherwise have supposed without this examination.
Now, before we adopt the principle herein re9afd TO
navy pensions, disposed 10 look into the matter,
least call the attention OF the Senate to the
character OF the principle which we are adopting aud 10
that II do adopt IT we shall do so by general
provision of law and not by special provision, as IN
this
Mr. CLARKE 1 certainly had no disposition to involve
the from Michigan Mr. FrLcHl IN the discus
sion OF this prncpie Bat he asks the question, upon
what principle is this done answer, simply upon the
principle OF humanity.
SENATOR. And justice
MIR. CLARKE Yes OF Justice also. | thank the sena.