The National tribune., 1884-03-20

NEARLY the entire session of the House,
on Friday last, was occupied in debate on
the bill to grant Mrs. Meikleham, the only
surviving grandchild of Thomas Jefferson
who is now in her seventy first year, a resi-
dent of Georgetown, D. C@and entirely de-
pendent upon charity for support-a pension
of $1,000 a year. The Committee on PEN
sions reported the bill with an amendment
cutting down the amount of pension to
s., 500 per year, but it was not on this point
that the discussion arose, but on the ques-
ton whether Congress had any right to
scent from the public servant On account OF
whose distinguished civil services the pen
sion was asked, and it was vigorously main
tanned by the opposition that to do so would
be to set a precedent for the establishment
of the odious system of perpetual pensions
which prevails in England, and which is such
burden upon the taxpayers of that country.
1t was conceded ON all sides, of course, that
it was case where the charity of the Ma
ton would be well placed, so far as the
character and necessities of the beneficiary
were concerned, but the opinion finally pre-
vailed that, while it was shameful that this
venerable lady should be forced to appeal
to Congress for aid at her time of life, there
was really no just foundation for her claim,
and the bill was, therefore, rejected. In
the course of the debate some very touch
ing and eloquent appeals were made in her
behalf. The remarks of Mr. Wise, of Yir-
ginia, were particularly happy. Said he:
II is not the best-beioved daughter of Thomas
jefferson who comes here For fifty years that
true and beloved child of his old age has lain for
gotten in her grave, and the Government never
gave her penny. 1t is not the quaint little.
old-fashioned grandchild who stood by Thomas
JefTerson's dying bed, and perhaps when his grand
soul burst its earthly bonds for the first time
the great mystery of life and death. No, this Ma
ton did not go to his ustrious bedside and lead
/ that little weeping girl away and claim her the
/ Nations ward. Sixty years have gone by since
that day and the little child has grown up to be
I woman, WIFE, nnOLnec, WittOW. summers,
falls, and winters have come and gone; half CEN
/ fury Of years has passed on and to-day, sehooled
the neglect of the Republic she doubtless would
be surprised at this act OF charity she sits feeble
old, dying, with never one penny of suecor TO him
or his heirs from this Government for services that
stand up as proud and pre-eninent as the dome of
this Capitol stands amid the other structures by
which it is surrounded.
And yet no one who is familiar with the
! principles held by the author of the Deela-
ration of independence, can doubt that had
such bill as this been presented to him
during his term as President, he would I'M
hesitatingly have returned it without his
signature SO uncompromising was this
great American in his opposition to every
thing that srnacked of royal favor. When
the thousands of equally impoverished and
needy veterans of the late war, and the
thousands of soldiers widows and orphans
who are entitled to pensions have been
placed upon the rolls, it will be time enough
to consider the propriety of granting civil
pensions