Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-10
almost wit exception occupied for public stores
arsenals, barracks, quarters, sc.

almost wit exception occupied for public stores
arssnals, barracks, quarters, &c.
Dc. 2e, 1924, pages SO, So, ss.
Mr.. Tracy said "the enemy themselves had avoW-
ed that they destroyed the buildings because they
had been used and occupied by ouI army" ~
The British Government had given to their Can
adam subjects on the Niagara frontier about $500,
600, and had adopted other measures, by which
remuneration to the full extent-of their losses was
making. he then proceeded to show why the
claims of our citizens on this government were
much stronger than the Canadians on theirs.
Mr.. T. required to some of the testimony taken
in regard to these claims, to show that the facts
existed in degree even stronger than be bad
ststed-e1hibiting state Of things to justify the
destruction of property on the Niagara frontier,
not only for general causes bat for the particular
cause OF the justidable presumption that the pro-
perry occupied as barracks, &C., was the property
Of the United States, and the certainty that the
property within these buildings, at least, was the
property of the government. Mr.. 7. here read
extracts from the evidence of Gen. Porter to sus.
tain him. He dwelt upon the fact disclosed by the
committee of safety, had demonstrated with Gen.
Mcclure in December, 1918, against quartering
bis troops in that village expressly stating that if
he did so, they had reason to apprehend the des-
tructon Of their property as the consequence; to
which Gen. Mcclure said in reply, that he would
pledge his honor that indemnity would be paid by
the government for any losses which might be sus-
tanned. Gen. Mcclure, whilst
making the reply which any honorable man or pa
triot would on such occasion, insisted on taking
possession OF the buildings, which were, indeed,
Indispensable to the shelter of the force under his
command. Not long after this, the enemy came
Mr. T. stated the circumstance of their coming,
and the manner and time of their destroying the
property. The mass of the tes.
tmony from our own officers proved that the des~
tructon Of this property caused by its military
occupation. Independent of this strong concur
rent testimony, there was body of evidence of
British officers to the same effect.
Mr. T. pursued the history of this disastrous season,
with all its circumstances, to show that the invasion
of the Niagara frontier was purely military opera.
ton, &c. The occupation for military purposes was
indeed, almost universal Several of the buildings
were destroyed by the explosion of the powder aud
ammunition deposited in them. The dispositions on
this subject, taken together formed complete
chain of testimony, establishing what were the mo-
tives and objects, &c, of the destruction of this
property.
JAN. s, ls25,-Pages 12l, 1872, 1913.
Mr.. Buchanan said he would state as clear
proposition, which had not been much disputed in
the course of the discussion, that this government
was bound a matter OF right, to indemnify indi-
vdnals for the destruction OF their property by the
enemy, provided such destruction was in pursu
ance Of the rules of civilized warfare. II that were
not the case, then we were not compelled by any
principle of public law to make such indemnity
Every motive OF policy would forbid it.
The claim not coming under this rule Mr.. B. ops
posed the bill. He said, however, he was not
willing to afford the sufferers relief "They have
claims, sand he, "upon generosity, not upon
our justice. l would mitigate their caIdaities, not
indemnify them for their losses. They have suf-
fered more than the common misfortunes of war,
they therefore entitled to the compassion of a
pater,,ai government" 81 would give them $3.50,
900 or $500 600 to be distributed pro rata in salts
faction OF all demands"
JAN. 18th, 1S2b-psge 274.
The bill passed the House-yeas 1913, nays 90
Mr.. BUCHANAN VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE.
The following is copy of the bill
Be it enacted, &c, That any person having
claim for building destroyed BY the enemy during
IL. Al
1881 to which this is an amendment, and of the
act to amend the same, passed the Sd OF March,
1917, which shall have been presented to the COM
missioner of Claims appointed under the act first
aforesaid, at any time before the 10th of April
lSlS and which was not paid under said acts, nor
finally rejected by said Commissioner, may, within
nine months hereafter present the same, with the
evidence to support it, to the Third Auditor of the
Treasury for examination and adjustment; and if he
shall be satisfied the building or buildings, for
which damages are claimed, was, at the time OF its
destruction, occupied by order Ct any agent or off
Ger of the United States, as place of depose for
military naval stores, or as barracks for the mil
itary forces of the United States he shall proceed
to assess the damages and certify the amount for
payment in the way pointed out in the act first
above referred to, which shall be Immediately paid
out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated. Provided, That if the Auditor shah
be satisfied the evidence before him is insufficient
to enable him correctly to decide between the Unis
ted States and the claimant, he may, on giving no
tce to the claimant cause other evidence to be Ia
ken. And proDided also, That no payment shall
be made under the provisions of this act, where
the property destroyed was occupied under a
tract wi tn the owner, and at tie risk OF such
SIC. .. And be it further enacted, That the
amount which shall appear to have been paid to
The owners, as rent, tor the use or occupation OF
their property, shall be deducted from the amount
directed to be paid to them under this act.
SIC. 8. Aud be it further enacted, That in
the whole amount of claims presented and allowed
under this act, shall exceed the sum of S250.0OO,
then, and in that case, the claimants shall respect
lively receive only their Tateable proportion OF the
Of $3.50, 900, to be liquidated by the said Au-
ditor in the adjustment of the amount to be receiv-
ed By such claimants respectivey.-Page l49.
Does not Mr.. Buchanan's opposition to
the war Of 1912, and to the just claims Of
the Niagara sufferers, show what sort of
feelings were smothered up in his bosom?
How he must have hated the war and all
who were in any way connected with it;
when he could so coldly repulse the honest
sufferer, and treat him as a beggar. Other
members of Congress, who had supported
the war, might have voted against the re-
lief bill without any suspicion as to their
motives; but Mr. Buchanan cannot escape.