Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-12-25
STAUNTON VIRGINIA. MONDAY, DECEMBER %. 1854.


undertake to vote either of those sums, t
ascertain which is the real sum, in ordr
that that real sum may be granted to th
party entitled to it.
Now, let us see how this sum is mad,
up? The first item in the account is So,
433 81, which is for monthly pay adjnste,
at the Treasury in 1854, aud then left due
then comes seven years half-pay, sa,
$1,000; then pay and emoluments 70
three years and twenty days. say $4,000
making an aggregate Of S27, 433 81 am
upon those three sums comes this amour
OF interest which runs The claim up to $50
l513. Now. ask ii, under these tircum
stances, with claim Ike this, the Hous,
will depart from tie rule which has beer
recognized here in almost every instance
{noi to allow interest on claims,) by allow
ing this claim with interest more thar
double the amount of the claim itself.
II the principle is right in tl'iscase, why
is it not night in regard to all the other
private claims that come up for considera-
ton ia tins body Why is it that if A B,
here at home, amongst ourselves, presents
his claim to Congress and urges it, session
after session, and that claim is lot acted
upon for years-why is it, ask, that he
Is not allowed Interest,"? And why is i,
that the gentleman from New York has
not taken it upon himself TO DO justice to
such claimant as those, when their claims
have been under consideration here,
But, sir, in this case, for the first time,
this principle of allowing interest is to be
engrafted on our legislation as permanent
principle. This is to be held up hereafter
precedent All the other claims that
are awaiting the consideration Of Ibis co.,
mittee are to be made to carry interest,
and the result will be that when you come
to pay the claims, you will not only haze
to pay them, but probably three to five
times the amount of the claims themselves,
in the shape Of interest. Now. sir, say
that before that principle shall be estab-
lished we should look into this matter
carefully, particularly as the gentlemen Of
the committee cannot themselves agree in
mere matter Of calculaton-a mere ma T.
ter Of dollars and cents-a mere matter of
calculation of interest on a given sum. Is
it Lot, therefore, altogether important that
time should be given to look into this mat
ter, and that we should have the privilege
of seeing whether this gentleman from
New York is right, or that gentleman from
Ohio is RI ,i.,s
air. Reekllam. | ask leave TO correct
the statement Of the gentleman from Vir-
ginia.
Mr.. Letchef. Certainly.
Mr.. Peek ham. There was no difference
in the calculation of interest b. the COM
mittee. As to that, the committee agreed
unanimously. But the gentleman who
made this report committed a mistake in
not crediting the Government with the
amount paid. Ii was, therefore, a differ
ence, not Of interest, but OF the amount
due. The gentleman allowed an amount
greater than the sum which appears by
the papers TO be due.
h:r. Kerr. When was the amount that
you speak of paid
Mr.. Peckham. 1t was before the bat
tie Of Camden, where he was killed-be-
fore he went to the South to take COM
mand OF the troops.
Mr.. Letcher. Then. il the committee
made mistake in a,ccrtaining the amount
due, so much the worse. II, with the pa.
pers before them from the Treasury De-
partment, the committee made mistake
which makes difference of some SIS, 900,
the case is so much the worse for that com
mittee, and demands at the hands Of the
House more careful scrutiny.
Mr.. Corwin. will state. Mr.. Chair
man, that there is no difference OF opinion
in the midst Of the committee upon the
equity and good conscience OF this east
In drawing the report-asl did draw it
took into consideration the seven year S
haf.pay, not deducting from that sum the
different SUNS OF money which Baron de
Kalb had received from our agents i'll
France and elsewhere before his DEATH
Take these sums, with the interest on
in question. There is no error about it,
There is no error about the calculation OF
interest /; and the amendment Is offered so
that the House may determine, at this time,
whether these deductions Gse to be made,
or whether it will give to the heirs Of Ba-
ron de kalb the seven years half-pay, ex-
elusive OF dednctions, by passing the bill
for $50 513 81, or whether the House VI ii
adopt the amendment of the gentleman
from New York, MIR, Peckham.] | do.
not care which course the House may take
think the bill should be for $90513 81,
but if the House think otherwise, then let
it be passed for $72,070. But have no
doubt tina, it oughtso be passed Tor the
former sum.
Mr. Ietcher. Aud the result Of the ex-
PLANTATION is that, upon the principle oil
egaity and good conscience, the gentleman
over the way Mr. Corwin thinks that
the sum ought TO be 500 5l3 81 and, on
the principle OF right. the gentleman from
New York Mr.. Peckham thinks that il
ought to be S72070
hope the same rule will be adopted in
respect to this as to all other matters. II
the claim cannot be ostponed for the pnr.
pose OF investigation, then | shall move to
fill up the amount in this bill with the sum
of $27 ,433 81. the principal sum, without
interest, instead OF the sum now contained
III it and submit that motion.
Mr.. Kerr. | think that if ever there
was a claim which ought to be by tins time
fully invested and clearly explained on this
floor, the claim we are at present consid-
erina is Of that character. The commit
tee, with eommeadable diligence, as