The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
FRIDAY, JANUARY q, 1888.
[IS CoRTiHUATloK.
SENATE.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.


The adjustment and payment OF the claims OF Major
VIM Hazard Wigg.
MIR. BADGER / hope the honorable senator will
withdraw that motion for a moment to allow me to
Mr. BUTLER Very WELL sir withdraw it.
Mr.. BADGER, from the Committee on the Judiciary,
TO whom was referred the bill concerning bail in civil
causes in The District OF Columbia, reported II back with
out amendment.
Mr. B. ana also directed by the same committee to
report back the bill from the House prevent frauds
upon the treasury of the United States, with sundry
amendments will make brief statement TO the Sen
ale, and hope they will not object to take up and con-
slider these amendments, and pass the bill at once.
Mr.. BUTLER. Tin his seat) ! am afraid you will de-
prve me OF my chance
Mr. BADGER. If it takes any time, will agree that
Mr BUTLER. | will say to the honorable senator
that am very sollcous that this should
ceive the sanction OF law and at the same time, do
not wish TO interfere with his bill, II he will consent
that the Wigg shall up, will be ready 10 80
with his bill as soon as that Is disposed OF.
Mr.. BADGER. Withdraw my request
WILLIAM HAZARD wIGG.
Mr. BUTLER then renewed his motion which be-
ing agreed to- the Senate proceeded to the consideration,
izing the adjustment and payment, OF the claims OF
VIM, Hazard Wgg. deceased, for losses sustained by
him during the of the revolution
Mr. DESAUSSURE Mr. President, move 10 amend
the bill by striking out. in the fourth line of the second
section the words 1880, with legal interest from The
18th day OF November, 7s2 and inserting in lieu there
day of March, 1851" The amendment it will be per-
ceved proposes change the amount obe allowed by the
bill from $780, lit to 37l97 and also proposes another
change--ihat the interest shall be allowed only from
the 4lh of March, 1856 l. instead of from the 14lh Of No
yember 1852 When the bill was before the Senate
previous occasion, il seemed TO meet with the approba
ton OF this body generally, but the question TO
interest 1t was supposed tina, il inconsistent with
tue rules which had been adopted by the Senate 10 allow
interest on this claim from the year l792 Upon due
consideration Mr. President II has been thought best 10
oh tha Sipp in rel IN
erest and that it should be allowed only from the
mencement OF the present Congress, durng which this
application was made, presume tins change WI re-
move the objections which were urged against the Dill
heretofore on The ground OF interest
n addition TO tina, change with regard to Interest," Mr.
President propose also 10 make change 10 the amour, Of
the principal The of $50 III was the lowest possible
valuation which could be put upon the property as VIII De
found by referring TO the repoH--the value OF which,
say The committee rs assessed al lne lowest Iaes.
They assessed il at the lowest rates because they pro-
posed 10 allow interest upon II Tor the whole PERIOD
Now, propose 10 substitute, IN the place OF the very
low allowance which was made by the committee OF the
Senate, the allowance which has been made by the
mtee of the House The committee OF the House Of
Representatives reported that the losses sustained would
amount to S37,l97 and that IS the sum which propose
allow. Sir, believe that justice VIII hardly be done
even By this allowance but nevertheless, as the Senate
seem to be startled by the amount of interest accumua
Ting this claim from The year 1882, the friends OF the
BILL her than leopard It's passage, have thought that
they would adopt the proposition OF allowing interest
only from the commencement OF the present Congress
think that upon looking INTO the report VIII be found
if the question OF interest 10 be brought into discus
sion that there good reasons why this claim was
presented earlier For example, the death OF MAJOR
Wgg took place Immediately alter The revolutionary war
his son was college al that period. and The evidence
which was furnished with regard 10 the claim at that
time was placed in the hands OF Mr. Hnison. The son
returned home minor; and Mr.. Hutson died either
while the son at college soon afterwards 30 that
This evidence of the claim thus lost of ,igDl
Yni ~',rarsoh am rather inclined TO think
that these circumstances will excu pate the party from
| ..ku lNtpa hrn nd
claim at the proper time But as that question will not
now be raised hope that all opposition TO this bill will
be disarmed BY The extreme moderation OF The present
MIR. HALE | think that the honorable senator from
South Carolina proposes by his amendment to introduce
new principle he strikes GU, the whole amount OF in
tefes and then proposes 10 pay interest from The
mencement of the present Congress. II we give il IN
this case, cannot why ought not 10 give il 10
every private claimant. have no objection, however
to the amendment, and after the vote taken upon it,
will say what have TO say upon the merits OF the bill
which will be very brief.
The section then read proposed 10 be amended
as follows:
"sYo q And bs IL further enacted That The said nc
counting officers dusment of the said losses sha
and they hereby directed 10, allow the said Wigg the
sum OF I'D one hundred and
dollars with legal interest from the fourth day OF March,
1851 until the day OF stating the account OF said losses
Mr. HALE asked for division OF the question on the
amendment; which was agreed TO.
The question being then taken, both branches oil the
amendment were adopted
Mr.. HALE, As this bill postponed upon my
suggestion when 1t last under consideration, and
promised at that time to look into IL a little, and
give to the Senate the result OF my investigations
will state that il this report is 10 be relied upon tor Its
history then have been unfortunate in the investga
ton have made The excited state OF feeling under
which is said these prisoners suffered, 1t is alleged IN
the report, from the exaggerated state OF the public
feeling account OF the execution OF Major Andre.
Now if am right in my dates Major Andre
cu,ed on the I'd OF October 1850, and Charleston
dered on the 18th OF May previous.
Mr.. BUTLER. But that has nothing TO do with this
question,
Mr. HALE. Well. sir these the facts | find
them may be mistaken, but bthink not. But, what
ever feeling may been entertained in relation 10 the
detention OF Major Wgg, II these facts be true-and
have them from the Librarian, TO whom sent for them
some time ago, and he sent them TO me-Charlesion
surrendered on The 18th of May, 1850, and Andre
executed on the I'd OF October following, some six
months after.
Mr. BUTLER. That is all true
Mr. HALE. The report further states that the facts OF
Ramsay II So then have been unfortunate In my re.
search into those histories. Garden and Ramsay both
give the history OF the siege and surrender OF Charleston
but they entirely silent upon this far what
research have been able TO besow upon has given me
information have also been assisted by the librarian
of Congress- and n tbefe Is word about this in
either of these histories then have been unfortunate
have not been able to find II. The honorable senator
from Rhode Island, Mr. JAMES, who makes this report
can correct II am wrong have looked with some
care into both of these histories, and have found
nothing in them about this There is general his
tory about the defence and surrender OF Charleston but