The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-08


How was Il with the Smithsonian Institution In that
instance tne government loaned The fund and lost par
tbs distinguished senator from Maryland, who proposes
this amendment, [Mr PEARcx would b. The last senator
leglmals and appropriate object II had been lost BY
loan on the part Of the government he would be The
first TO require that it should be replaced assume upon
this question precisely the position which that senator
would assume upon ihai--tbat the fund having been
originally created by the reservation OF two per cent
those who entitled to il entitled to ther pensions
from the interest OF that fund.- and not from Tue principal
When the fact and when II Is not conadcted by
any senator here that the interest upon the
fund has been exhausted and thai amount mas never
been annually paid there is sheer justice, and nothing
but sheer JUSTICE in paying TO this class OF individuals
those pensions. without regard to the other question: as
whether they entitled TO them Tor the services which
Nh HUNTER. Does the senator from Maine say that
senator disputes the assertion that the fund has never
Mr. HAMIIN | understand no senator to deny this:
that the fund originally amounted 20 over $780, 600, and
that the amount paid from the department IN any year has
equalled six per centum on that fund.- That was
Mr.. HUNTER There are papers in the possession of
the senator from Maryland showing that the fund has
Dir. HAMLIN. Not at ALL sir; not at all Those pa
pes show that the amount has been taken out OF the fund
WIN
on the per-centun fund, would show. think that
the government is very greatly indebted TO these pension
CID Ovck duu duOVc uc Ahat 10 NY
Mr. PEARCE. The papers do not disclose what is the
fact In regard to it. They affirm the exhaustion OF The
fund. They do not show whether the accruing interest
has been paid not but presume the interest has been
applied because that was the case 10 regard 10 the navy
pension fund proper. They first applied the Interest," and
when that was exhausted they went upon the principal
But, sir, prvateer pensions were much larger formerly
than now first because up to 1874 we gave pensions TO
pensions ceased, and we never gave any 10 widows
DO not know what the fact Is; have no official nforma
ton upon the subjects but presume the interest accruing
on this fund must have been applied 10 the payment OF
these pensions, and when that exhausted they went
MI. EVERETT Mr.. President, some few of the re-
manning pensioners this list constituents OF mine,
and really feel 10 be duty TO express the hope that
this amendment will not be adopted There are but very
few Of these pensioners now. The gentleman from Ma
ryand Mr.. PEARCE] has stated them at nineteen My
information is that there about twenty four OF them.
AT any rate their number is small They must be very
far advanced in life. Some Of them the widows Of
those 10 whom the pensions originally paid and
think il would be very hard Just they pass
ing out Of this world, that you should withdraw from
them this poor pittance If il were original question
If the Senate OF the United States were now called pass
upon The question whether should encourage the
TEN OF privateerng-i do not think that shoad differ
greatly from the honorable from Delaware, M
BAYARD But has been already observed, this is not
open question il is matter OF principle and of
practice settled in reference TO these individuals forty
years ago and it would be great hardship now to visit
upon these poor old individuals, just dropping into The
grave, and upon their widows. the .scruples which
may entertain as 70 encouraging private warfare should
be sorry TO see it done, and think the country would
deem il great hardship.
In reference 10 the statements which have been made
on the authority Of the paper which hold IL my hand
| know very well the person who prepared this paper
He has been neighbor and constituent OF mine He
sgnalized himself greatly in the war of 1912, and take
upon TO say that there not an officer in the
regular service who did 10 carry that war; who
conducted himself with greater gallany, and will say,
too sir with greater success He was engaged in twenty
thirty actions He was wounded; he was taken pris
in short, he achieved reputation which, within
the narrow circle Of aprivae individual might truly be
called always ran away from armed
ships: and did nothing but make war upon The defence
less. can assure him that il is great mistake.
Mr. BAYARD. TIE honorable senator will allow me
10 say that stated expressly that there exceptions
but as general rule OF necessity. The course Of prva
teers 10 attack the deeneeess for the purpose OF plum
der and not 10 make war for the purpose Of conquest
against armed vessels That is The general course the
Mr. EVERETT do not mean 10 misstaie the sena.
tor, OF course but rather think, il he will refresh his
recollection OF the history OF that war, he will agree with
that the private armed ships conducted themselves in
manner fully entitled TO the credit OF patriotism. and
even OF heroism lie, read single paragraph from
the statement to which have referred From official
reports and other reliable data the following facts
sustained; OF the fifty six -ofwa and kings packets
captured during the war, mounting eight hundred and
sxty-sx guhs The private ships captured twenty, mount
ing two hundred and twelve guns"
quarter OF the guns and considerable proportion OF
the vessels numerically taken Fifty-six was the
whole number OF naval vessels captured and the private
armed ships took twenty Then oil two thousand three
hundred and sixy-nine merchant vessels captured
ing eight thousand guns, the private ships captured two
thousand and sxtyfour" There is blur in the print
30 that cannot make out the number Of guos OF the
merchant vessels capued but may be placed at about
quarter. So that you have these private armed ships
performing onefour'h part OF all that done in cap
tuning either public private armed vessels OF the enemy
think this shows that those 10 which the
from Delaware mir. BAYARD] alIudes could not have
been exceptions; but on The contrary il IL more likely
thai they were the rule, and that wherever private
armed chip Of the United States met anything like an
equal force, the commander did not scruple make bat
lie. know that ba, the with the gallant per
son who prepsred this statement, for have read
and over again the detailed accounts OF the bloody actions
which wete thus fought by that individual who il still
living Ind who, hope IL not to be doomed the
uhcafon Of hearing that this poor pittsnce which
now giving 70 these most menofious persons is about 10
be taken iron, them
Mr. PEARCE. MIR. President, rise only 10 mention
single fact II has been assumed here upon the au
ihoriiy oil The paper which The honorable senator from
Msssachusei's has, that The government OF the United
States received portion OF the prize money; that in its
distribution part was allowed the government find
that that s not On looking at The law, perceive
hat the whole proceeds 10 be divided among the
ohces and crew OF the vessel according the agreement
made between Themselves in that respect Il IL rue
however Mat the United States received considerable
sum OF money from those prizes but they received in
me shape OF duiies The goods could not properly be
Brought into The United States withou, with
The general law and that law dispensed with pro-
vision being made tina, these goods should paw dues
The United Saies received three millions OF dollars
in duties, but not a share OF the prize money Then
we cannot be called uron 10 apply these three millions 10
this purpose Nothing but duties paid TO the gov.
ernWen, "a IN other