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

subscnhofs, Win go enclosed, vii be ne
game edition a. they furnish subscribers fo rvsx
and The dependeneles thereof. and shs uned ssses ~
America and their Territoyes ~ that the ffesd~Ns
land and naval force OF The Uned states Is es sAs ,ss
into effect aud TO issue TO pyate armed vessels 81 ne
era roprsa in sueh he shall shiak proper, and
der The seal OF tho United States agaast the sesr s9as
and effects Of Toe government Of the said Kingdom @ .fs
Britain and Ireland, and hs subjects IhcEeoi
4 "Approved, June 49, Isl2"
OF course my honorable FREUD cannot deny that his
law was passed but apprehead il takes from bis Afka.
ment the only ground which Il rests That gtoand
was The immortality and impoliry oi employing Mesa PET
sons. Now show that the parties whoask Tor The con-
nuance OF these pensions are not persona asking q hs
employed. but persons who are employed. aud whom
commissions were issued, under The act dcclaisg waf
with Great Britain; who were authorized TO 70 ypon TIE
high seas, under the broad seal of the United SiAss 'oT
the purpose OF making captures; and Therefore. we now
have nothing 10 do either with the policy morality oi
their original employment They We're employed BY our
predecessors, and The question IL. having tssn
employed, whether they are mol entitled 10 receive ihs
same pay as others who fought The common enemy
understand that the effect of the employment OF rlsas
armed vessels under this authority thsi TIVE PEI
cent OF The amoant captured by the pnvaeers was 81
apart for The purpose OF paying pensions TO the widows
OF those who might be killed in battle aud for The sspgo,
| OF those who might be wounded There WAS. besides
this. paid into the treasury Gas am informed upon he
statement OF gentleman known personally TO the hoa-
orable senator from Massachusetts, IMr EyEsErrl and
IN regard TO whose character. and the correctness e the
derived by the gallant conduct OF these men, The sa
vors of whom now come here and ask for hs ltsace
You have received and not appropriated 10 any arieasE
purpose, but for the general emolument Of The govern
meni from the portion of the prizes which went anasf
the general law 10 the government OF The United states
the sum OF $3oOO00O. That amount has gone into yoaI
treasury and you have used il Tor the common purposes oi
the country.
Understand further tina, of this TWO per cent the OH.
ginal amount placed in the treasury $2l3.ai3 an
that 1890, years after the war; there rename
IN the treasury unexhausted $l97l34 OF the two ref
centum.
My distinguished colleague MIR Parcel has sisieA
to the Senate, upon the authority TO which he has refer
red that the fund has been exhausted How has II besa
exhausted Bear in mind that this moi ony
the two centum but also received $1,000 eoa
Tor ilsproporion OF the prize money! and u has sppto-
priated these $2I35l3 by paying the pensions annually
and charging the payments to The principal o hs iasa
as II did at one time. BY buying bonds for certain PVT
poses in the States, which understand the fact Bat
if that is not SO, all know that since the the
eminent has had occasion 10 use, and has used all the
money in the treasury Then, say. the government has
used this fund.- and should at least have given these pen
sioners credit Tor the interest upon the used. Now,
undertake to say that ii interest account be stated by
which give these pensioners Of 1914 credit for S2is,.
3l3, or beginning with 1920, Tor sl97,i34, and n yoa
charge them with all the pensions which have been PAID
since 1920, and give them credit for the interest on The
principal OF the fund.- will find that the goyern@en'
largely indebted them. Then, ask, in equity and
justice, whether they ought not 10 be paid.
do not desire 10 discuss, though think. II we wefs
now about TO enter npon war. IT would be very well
humane part employ this OF defence In The
service of the country That might 30 question thso,
but IT is not question for discussion here and
Under the act declaring war with Great Britain IN.
vi,ei them 10 come. We told them that would issGs
TO them commissions of the government Those
missions were issued and the individuals were engaged
divided as were the prizes OF ss ins.a p,hes
hcers and who took the prizes on the one bshas
and the the other the government Feceis'
log 81, 100000 from them
Mr. BAYARD. | do not consider the question as i'm
III nh 4 adj thai thp yDyfrnm(ut. 4us
ring The last with great Britain, authorized pftas
teeTs No doubts that Commissions @ete issata 70
and said expressly that TO The extent 0i
the agreement OF the government with these ptisAe
plundeers was willing 10 be bound The government
sanctioned then what consider TO be contrary 70 TIE
laws OF humanty-what II has repeatedly tired 10 gei
rid OF since by It's treaties with olber nations Toths "a.
tent OF engagements, am willing 10 goi but am not
willing to one particle beyond That, to sanction whsi
ia called the gallant conduct o those men who vefs sns
gagged in prvaieerng Sir admit that there were lndi-
yidua exceptions Of gallany OF The part OF oar pEfa
ieers anJ probably those who We're The most sallsn'
were the who poured loss aGley ino the treasury
But ! am unable TO appreciate ihe saan'Ty oi maa
who, the command OF prvaieer, shnns The enenis
fsae or soop Of war, which their general rule, Ani
will plunder merchant vsssel-the private property oi
the Individual citizens OF ioelen enemy, wbefv there
Is no chance OF resistance, sed no possibility OF dsneef
have faith in the feeling or The splr, IN gebefai-l
ad nit there are excepuons-oi those who embark o.
board privaeers. l think the line where Thai dhgu
from common plundeune on lhe ocean IS, that The one
legal system OF piracy, and he Other - ILLEGAL ana ne
party is liable TO be hung praie in case be is slen
cannot draw any other distinction between them Ths
motive gain in both cases-nere private plandsf Tbs
object of the prvaeer is always to avoid contest aih
an equal iorce, any force unless he can obtain sn
DER and will the risk OF hazard IN obtaining u III
they can plunder private merchantmen without any f-
sisance that is always their object.
The system IS demorslzing 70 the men themselves
IS demorazing 10 the commander oi The vessel n d..
moralizng to the OF toe vessel protest sxsinsi
such system, though il was formerly adopted, as weis
many other things the laws and practices OF nations
which have since been abandoned. | admit thai wAs
adopted in 1919, and perfectly wiling 10 cary pui
the obligations which the government has assumed bui
my remarks show that did no, mean 70 s. ee'
yond that 80
Now, what were the obligations which ths govern.
mept assumed towards them In iSl2l They wsfs thsi
certain fund.- which these persons themselves s'sssd
should be held by the government, and distributes Tor ihs
nnrnose Of paving them pensions Did Congress pat then
on footns with the pavyi No, sir. the proyison a.
e the navy was, that they should be paid oui Of he
treasury generally but the provision "a TO pvassfs ~as
that they should be paid out OF particular faad, sna o1
OF no other fund. That the extent oi sxssns
and that fund.- too, TO be created by tbemsslses "
you will show me, loose calculations bsss, hni
BY obtaining The requisite information iron lhs dsfms
menl, that The government has still that fnnd ~ W 90
session, or has msused il. am willing 10 replace a. nno
pay the pensions OF The treasury 20 lar ~ shss ".ass
goes but am not willing now, with my vsss Ut ne
svsem of privateerng. To 20 oia beyoed ihs sfcl
of the government TO these psivstssrs@~n Al
the time declared
Mr. HUNTER. hope we shall have vote uYon
this eEdment There several Others Yet 20 ne Of
fered by the Committee Finance. The auss'sGa has
been discussed pro and con, and hope shall hsyss
vote upon this amendment
Mr. HAMLlN. ! hope we may have vote W