H. or R.]

Appropriation Bill.—Baltimore and Washington Railroad.

(JAN. 22, 1834

understood, by its motion to recede, that it was to recede Fowler, Philo C. Fuller, William K. Fuller, Galbrai from its disagreement, and give its assent to the amend- Gillet, Gilmer, Gordon, Graham, Griffin, Joseph H ment of the Senate, there could be no doubt as to the Thomas H. Hall, Halsey, Hamer, Joseph M. Harper result; nor would it be necessary to have a consequent James Harper, Harrison, Hathaway, Hawkins, Heath. motion of acquiescence. Henderson, Hubbard, A. Huntington, Inge, Jarvis, L

The question recurring to the motion submitted by Mr. M. Johnson, N. Johnson, C. Johnson, S. Jones, Benjam FOOT, viz: that the House recede from its disagreement Jones, Kavanagh, Kinnard, Lane, Lansing, Leavitt, Los to the amendment of the Senate.

Mr. S. JONES inquired, if a Committee of Conference should be appointed, could they propose any amendment to the House?

all, Lyon, Lytle, Abijah Mann, Mardis, John Y. Maar Moses Mason, McComas, McIntire, McKay, McKim, X: Vean; Miller, R. Mitchell, Muhlenberg, Osgood, Pap Parks, Patton, Patterson, Dutee J. Pearce, Franki Pierce, Pierson, Plummer, Polk, Pope, Ramsay, Rencie Schenck, Schley, Selden, A. H. Shepperd, Shinn, Smit Speight, Standifer, Stoddert, William Taylor, William ? Taylor, Francis Thomas, John Thompson, Turner, Te rill, Vanderpoel, Van Houten, Wagener, Ward, Wa well, Wayne, Whallon, C. P. White.-127.

And the question then being on the motion submita by Mr. POLK

The SPEAKER having replied in the affirmative— Mr. A. MANN said, that as it appeared that if the motion to recede prevailed, it was giving up the clause in the bill inserted by a large majority of the House, he could not agree to this. Not that he felt inclined to have any difference with the Senate upon points merely formal in themselves; but he thought it was only right and proper such a clause should be in the bill, and he would have supposed that neither House should desire to have a fund of this large description to be disposed of at its sole will justification for the Senate; and as he wished, if the How and pleasure. He wished a conference, by whom an were to have a quarrel with the Senate, that it shouli ta amendment could be proposed, that would put both just, he would suggest to the gentleman from Tenness Houses on the same footing. [Mr. POLK] to modify his motion, so as to remove the difficulty; after which, if the Senate should not be s fied, he, for one, was prepared, with the gentleman fron Georgia, to say, let the bill be lost.

Mr. WARDWELL called for the yeas and nays, which were ordered accordingly by the House.

Mr. McDUFFIE rose to remark, that when the precedent was first established which was now sought to be followed out, the clause to restrict the Senate as to the purchase of books was to meet a particular case, and to prevent the Senate then from doing what the House were not disposed to ratify; but as he concurred in the sentiment expressed by the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. BOULDIN,] "that laws made for a particular object were seldom wise," he hoped the motion to recede would be carried.

Mr. S. JONES desired to have the subject sent to a conference, and that the word "either" would be substituted in the bill for "the" House; by which alteration the Senate could perceive that no restraints were put on them which the House did not impose on themselves.

Mr. CLAY said, that as there was some coloring

Mr. FILLMORE said, if it was not modified, he woul call for a division of the question.

Mr. POLK_declined modifying, as, on reflection, br was convinced they would have, hereafter, sufficient.com trol upon the bill to enable the House to act on it as they might wish.

The question on the motion being divided, it was p on the first part, viz: that the House insist on the disa greement, &c., and lost.

And the second part, viz: that the House request a com ference; and it was carried in the affirmative; upon which a committee of five were named to act as conferees.

BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON RAILROAD. Mr. SCHLEY defended the clause, and justified his Some debate arose on the proper disposition to be giv voting for it in the first instance, on the ground that the en to the bill from the Senate further to continue in force House could not be supposed to know any thing of the" An act to authorize the extension, construction, and contracts made by the Senate, and thought the House had a right to act for themselves.

The question on the motion of Mr. Foor was then put, and decided in the negative:

use of a lateral branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Rai road into and within the District of Columbia," now a the table of the House.

Mr. CHINN stated, that he had been instructed to move YEAS.-Messrs. John Quincy Adams, Heman Allen, that the bill be recommitted to the Committee on the De Chilton Allan, Ashley, Banks, Barber, Barnitz, Barrin- trict of Columbia. It was a bill in which the people ef ger, Bates, Baylies, Beaty, James M. Bell, Binney, Boul- the District had a direct and near concern, and the subdin, Briggs, Burges, Cage, Chambers, Chilton, Choate, ject certainly pertained of right to their own committee William Clark, Corwin, Coulter, Crane, Crockett, Dar- Mr. McKIM explained. The bill merely proposed lington, Davis, Deberry, Deming, Denny, Dennis, Dick- revival of a former law, which had expired by its own h son, Evans, Edward Everett, H. Everett, Ewing, Fillmore, itation. The company had obtained a new law from the Foot, Fulton, Gamble, Gholson, Gorham, Grayson, Gren- Legislature of Maryland, and they now wished concer nell, Hiland Hall, Hard, Hardin, Hazletine, Hiester, How-rent legislation from Congress. That Legislature has ell, Jabez W. Huntington, W. C. Johnson, King, Laporte, granted $500,000 towards the construction of the road, Lawrence, Lay, Lewis, Love, Martindale, Marshall, Mc- and they had therefore added fifty cents per passenger to Duffie, McKennan, Milligan, Moore, Murphy, Parker, the rates before proposed, by way of compensation for Pinckney, Potts, Reed, W. B. Shepard, W. Slade, C. this aid. He had no objection that the bill should go to Slade, Sloane, Spangler, Tompkins, Tweedy, Vance, the District Committee, although he did not see how the Vinton, Watmough, Webster, E. D. White, Frederick people of the District could expect to get any portion of Whittlesey, Elisha Whittlesey, Williams, Wilson, Wise, the toll for a road, so small a part of which passed through Young.-87. the District; unless, indeed, they would, like Maryland, NAYS.-Messrs. John Adams, John J. Allen, William subscribe a part of the capital to make the road. Allen, Archer, Beale, Bean, Beardsley, John Bell, James Mr. CHINN only insisted that the people of the District Blair, John Blair, Bockee, Bodle, Boon, Brown, Bull, should have an opportunity of being heard. Bunch, Burns, Bynum, Cambreleng, Carmichael, Carr, Mr. VINTON had no objection to the recommitment Casey, Chaney, Chinn, Claiborne, S. Clark, Clay, Clay- of the bill, but opposed its going to the District Committon, Clowney, Coffee, Connor, Cramer, Amos Davis, tee, inasmuch as it belonged, manifestly, to the Commit Davenport, Day, Philemon Dickerson, David W. Dick- tee on Roads and Canals. He had no idea of the District inson, Duncan, Dunlap, Felder, Forrester, Foster, Committee taking it out of the hands of the committee to

JAN. 22, 23, 1834.]

Baltimore and Washington Railroad-Indian Appropriation Bill—Pension Bill. [H. OF R.

which it had been appropriately referred. As well might For the few patriots affected by this resolution, who a bill for a road through Michigan be sent to the Commit- yet linger among us, there is but one feeling and but one tee on Territories. This was not an affair of this District opinion. We entertain a lively and respectful recollecmerely, or mainly; this road was part of the great line of tion of their services, and a strong desire to relieve their communication from Boston to New Orleans, and, as such, wants by a nation's gratitude. was under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Roads and Canals.

This being the object of the resolution, it was expected that it would be permitted to take the usual course, unMr. STODDERT said he would enter into no compar- obstructed by amendments, and unopposed by objections. ison or contest as to the relative dignity of different com- This we had a right to anticipate, from respect to the mittees of the House; but, as one of the representatives wishes of the western people, and to the persons sought from Maryland, he was anxious to avoid all collision of to be relieved, if not as a matter of courtesy to the westjurisdiction. The road had been authorized by the Legisla- ern delegation.

ture of Maryland, but its completion required the legisla- Such has not been the good fortune of the resolution. tion of Congress, as the local Legislature of the District. On the contrary, it has been resisted at the threshold. The District had none other, and the place where its in- An attempt is made, not only to alter its character entirely, terests were to be presented was the District Committee and prevent all inquiry, but to dash from the statute book of that House. That committee had no desire to frustrate the pension laws-from the pension list the names of all the undertaking; far from it; and he, though deeply in- the wounded and war-worn soldiers of the revolution, and terested in all that concerned the prosperity of his own to stamp the National Legislature with folly, and the reState, thought there was weight in the reason why the public with ingratitude, bill ought to go to the Committee on the District. The people of his own district were also deeply concerned in the provisions of this bill. The road passed directly through his district. There was also a turnpike road, the stock of which was partly held in Baltimore, and partly in Washington, which was likely, if not suitably protected, to be ruined by this railroad. He wished both sides of the question to be fully considered.

Mr. VINTON moved that the bill be recommitted to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

After some further conversation, the bill was sent to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL.

All this is sought to be done upon the extraordinary discovery made by the honorable gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. BOULDIN,] that the practice of nations to reward individuals for perilous and important services to the public is founded in a principle immoral, corrupt, and corrupting.

The honorable gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. WILLIAMS] has urged an objection of a very different complexion: That the resolution sought to place the soldiers of the West, for services performed since the revolution, on an equality with those of the revolution, whom he had supposed a distinct class, more elevated and meritorious than any others.

Mr. EVERETT, of Vermont, by instruction of the Com-jections, equally extraordinary, and infinitely more novel: The gentleman from Rhode Island has urged other obmittee on Indian Affairs, moved that the Indian appropria-That pensions have been granted to officers and soldiers tion bill, which had been reported from the Committee of of the revolution, not as a mark of national gratitude, not Ways and Means, be committed to the committee of which as a reward for eminent services, but in the character of he was a member, in order that the committee might have an opportunity to examine whether some of the officers, sub-agents, &c., for whom compensation was proposed by the bill, were or were not sanctioned by law. The committee apprehended that they were not; but wished time to examine more fully. That was a question which prop erly belonged, not to the Committee of Ways and Means,

but to that on Indian Affairs.

cents, showing the exact difference between the payments arrearages of pay, upon a close calculation of dollars and received in a depreciated and a sound currency. That, if any such war as has been spoken of by western gentlemen ever existed, it was a private, not a public war. That, if any claim existed, it was upon individual, not national gratitude. That they had been paid in the acquisition of land for themselves and children. That it was uncertain Mr. POLK, the chairman of the Committee of Ways whether the white man or the Indian was the aggressor. and Means, not being in the House, the consideration of That it could not be known whether they fought for dethe bill was, on motion of Mr. CLAY, postponed until fence or private revenge. That they were not enlisted, draughted, or regularly entered into the public service. The honorable gentleman from South Carolina, to whom The pension bill coming up next, the contest on the he had heretofore listened with pleasure, has still graver case of Colonel Combs was renewed; Mr. CLAY oppos- objections-objections which, if correct, would render ing, Messrs. HARDIN and EVANS advocating the claim: and Mr. ELLSWORTH holding that the claimant ought first to have gone to the War Department. Like the former debate, this was of an animated character; but, before any question was taken, the bill was laid over till Friday.

to-morrow.

PENSION BILL.

And then, (at near 4 o'clock,) the House adjourned.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23.

EXTENSION OF THE PENSION LAWS.

Mr. CHILTON's resolutions respecting the extension of the pension laws coming up again as the unfinished business for the morning

the resolution fearfully dangerous. He declares all pension laws unequal, and therefore unjust. That they are calculated to substitute indolence for industry and enterprise. That they swell the patronage of the Government, and tend to demoralize the people, and this at the expense of the South.

These, Mr. Speaker, (continued Mr. L.,) are substantially, if not literally, the objections urged against the original resolution, and in favor of the amendment. That they proceed from opinions honestly entertained, I have no doubt. I will go farther, and concede the point, that, if any portion of these objections be well taken, the resolution ought not to pass. On the contrary, if met and answered, a large majority may be expected to support it.

Mr. LANE rose and said, that, should any apology be For that purpose, (said Mr. L.,) I throw myself upon considered necessary for trespassing upon the time of the the indulgence of this House, and respectfully request House and the patience of its members, in considering the the kind attention of its members while I briefly examine principles involved in the resolution, that apology would the several objections. Those which asserted the corbe found in the importance given to the subject by the rupting tendency of the pension system upon the indi

people whom he had the honor, in part, to represent. Ividual pensioners, he first considered. That such was

H. OF R.]

Extension of the Pension Laws.

[JAN. 23, 1834.

the effect, will not be admitted by those who consider that the West and the soldiers of the revolution. In a few these pensioners are from seventy to ninety years of age months it will be forty years since the last services were before the aid of the Government is extended to them. performed, for which compensation is claimed by this rese Are such men to be corrupted by a comfortable provision lution. And I hope it will be as cheerfully granted. As in their declining years? Are their habits to be demoral- to the objection that revolutionary pensions are granted ized by receiving a merited reward for their services? as arrearages of pay-as difference between payments Such men are too old to learn new vices, even if they made in a depreciated and a sound currency-a moment's were as morally degraded as the gentleman's objection consideration proves its utter inapplicability. seems to imply. But this implication is inapplicable and unjust. The high character of the great body of those proposed to be relieved renders it unnecessary to answer the objection. The eminent services of their earlier years, and their old age, given only to good habits, are certain safeguards against corruption, even if such an effect were seriously apprehended.

The same answer (continued Mr. L.) may be given to the charge, that the pension system tends to substitute indolence for industry and enterprise, and to make pensioners a burden on society. What energy or enterprise can be expected from men of eighty? What indolence fostered?

By the law, those who served two years are on a pat with those who served seven, and receive equal amounts. The man who dies before the pension law passes, receives nothing. He who dies in one year, receives one-tenth as much as he who lives ten years.

The nice calculations of the gentleman from Rhode Island would show that the compensation should be equ to all; for, surely, the dying a few days earlier or later cannot alter the so-much-talked-of difference between i depreciated and a sound currency. It is obvious that the fancied rule of the gentleman has no application. The true principle, unquestionably, is that which has been stated The same principle runs throughout all our pension laws Is energy checked, and indolence nourished, by reward- and applies to invalid pensioners, and to those whom age ing services which required the highest degree of active has disabled from exertion. The provision is propat. exertions? Will the provision for their declining years tioned, in every class of pensioners, to his inability to sup render them a burden to society? Without it, many might ply his wants. When forty years have elapsed, Gover indeed be thrown upon the charity of the community, and ment kindly steps in to supply the place of those ene: be forced to the wretched necessity of begging alms from gies which were exerted and exhausted in its service. door to door. It is the usage of all nations to reward The time has now come to apply this principle to those those who peril their lives in the service of their country, who fought in the Indian wars, previous to the treaty of either by civil honors or pecuniary compensations. Yet Greenville, in 1794.

he would not rest wholly on precedent and practice, But gentlemen say that we exhaust the treasury; that which are often at variance with correct principles of we tax the South to sustain the pensioners. The num action. The wars of other nations are generally caused ber of revolutionary pensioners is, at the highest, 35,0 by the passions or interests of those who have the direction One-half of these will in ten years be no more; three of the Government. The caprice of a single ruler has fourths in fifteen years, and in twenty years all will prob been too often the cause of national ruin. The people ably have died.

on.

might well object to pension the hirelings who had been Those now claiming will not amount to more than fi the willing tools of such a ruler. But our wars have teen hundred, and their number will rapidly diminish. been of a very different character. They have been The whole amount of expenditure for pensions will be deemed necessary by the people either to acquire their increased during the first year after the proposed la independence, or to secure its enjoyment. The people passes, but will thenceforward rapidly decline; and, be themselves dictate the war, and come forward to carry it fore the period shall arrive for applying the same prin The services were performed for the public, and ciple to the soldiers of the last war, the pension list W have a far higher value, because they secure far more im- contain the names of no revolutionary pensioners. portant rights, than the military services in any other It has been said by the gentleman from Rhode Island, [M country. Petty rivalry, ambition of conquest, the desire BURGES,] that these Indian wars were private, not public. to set up or pull down a particular dynasty, or motives must confess my inability to comprehend this distinction. If still more paltry, are the usual causes of ordinary wars. regular levies, constant hostilities, alternate defeats and But, with us, our liberties, our republican existence, or successes, large numbers killed, and great advantages se sheer self-defence, are the only sufficient causes of war. cured by a definite treaty of peace, be distinctive mark To the public the service has been rendered, and by the of public wars, these were public. Will the gentleman public it should be rewarded. The same good faith of say that the campaigns of Harmar, St. Clair, and Wayne, moral obligation binds the Government and the individual: were the incursions of a private war? if service is done, to repay; if a benefit is secured or obtained, to be grateful to him whose exertions have effected it. The same principle is binding on all. The only proper difference of opinion is as to the manner in which it shall be applied.

Mr. L. said he had listened with great regret to the re
marks made by the honorable gentleman from Kentucky,
[Mr. HARDIN,] as to the conduct of General St. Clair at
Ticonderoga, and in his western campaign. The misip
prehension of his character and conduct was so general,
that he begged to place it fairly before the public.

heavily and so unjustly.
On no man has the ingratitude of his country fallen so
The revolution found him
wealthy, and with every prospect of advancement chil
his aristocratic connexions and individual abilities could
present.

Fortunately, the laws already made furnish a plain and excellent rule to direct us in the application. The invalid pensioners are provided for in the first instance, and the compensation given is proportioned to the amount of disability to others, who served during the same period, until old age had disabled them from supplying their own wants; and then it is that the debt owed by the public He embraced the cause of his country, cast off the ties may be paid with benefit to the veteran survivors, and which bound him to his mother country, and placed his This (Mr. L. said) he believed to be the true prin- for his property and himself at the disposal of the new Govern ciple of our pension system. By accident or design, the abilities, but still more for the chivalric purity of his char several laws made, and proposed to be made, fixed forty acter, he was the intimate friend of Washington, and his years as the time which should elapse after the service house was the home of Lafayette. As president of Corwas performed before the pension was granted. gress, as Governor of the Western Territory, with powers

with honor to the Government.

This principle was applicable alike to the soldiers of

still the same

chivalric and capable officer. Well may it be said of him, that his misfortunes were his only faults; them alone it is necessary to explain, and heavy is the debt that public opinion owes to his memory.

[H. or R.

which was alike complimentary to General St. Clair, and condemnatory of himself.

Mr. L. then read the following extract from the report of a committee, made on the 8th of May, 1792, on the causes of the failure of the expedition under Major General St. Clair:

"From the foregoing state of facts, the committee suggest the following, as the principal causes, in their opinion, of the failure of the late expedition under Major Gen

The evacuation of Ticonderoga was wakened into a fault by his subsequent defeat at the West. In the long interval, he had received the strongest proofs of public confidence. It is true that the evacuation of the works was condemned in the general opinion. The public are too ready to impute calamities to the malconduct of indi-eral St. Clair: viduals, when, in truth, the cause is found in their failure to furnish the proper means.

The defence of Ticonderoga was impossible with the force under General St. Clair. The evacuation saved the garrison, and enabled them to join the main army, and thereby secured the surrender of Burgoyne. Mr. L. then read the following extracts from Wilkinson's Memoirs; p. 199.

Extract from a letter dated Mape's Creek, July 28, 1777. "Believe me, sir, if virtue or justice have existence, the man (General St. Clair) who stands condemned for retreating from Ticonderoga will ere long be thanked for the salvation of 3,000 men, who, instead of being in captivity, are now opposing the enemy."

Again, page 216, General Wilkinson says:

"I shall ever believe that General St. Clair, by the abandonment of Ticonderoga, laid the foundation of our good fortune in the convention at Saratoga."

The court-martial which inquired into the conduct of General St. Clair, and of which Major General Lincoln was president, found as follows:

"That, having duly considered the charges preferred against Major General St. Clair, (in reference to the evacuation of Ticonderoga,) and the evidence, are unanimously of opinion that he is not guilty of either or any of them, and do unanimously acquit him of all and every of them, with the highest honor.

B. LINCOLN, President, and Major General.

"The delay in furnishing the materials and estimates for, and in passing the act for the protection of the frontiers; the time after the passing of which was hardly sufficient to complete and discipline an army for such an expedition, during the summer months of the same year. "The delays consequent upon the gross and various mismanagements and neglects in the quartermaster's and contractor's departments; the lateness of the season at which the expedition was undertaken; the green forage having been previously destroyed by the frost, so that a sufficiency of subsistence for the horses necessary for the army could not be procured.

"The want of discipline and experience in the troops. "The committee conceive it but justice to the commander-in-chief to say, that, in their opinion, the failure of the late expedition can, in no respect, be imputed to his conduct, either at any time before, or during the action; but that, as his conduct in all the preparatory ar rangements was marked with peculiar ability and zeal, so his conduct during the action furnished strong testimony of his coolness and intrepidity.

"The committee suggest, as reasons for leaving the numbers of troops at particular periods, and the dates of some facts, blank, the want of sufficient time to complete the report with minateness, and, in some instances, the want of the necessary evidence."

"7th November, 1792-committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Wednesday next. 14th November, 1792-Committee of the Whole House discharged, and report recommitted to a select committee. 15th FebruMr. L. read extracts from Marshall's Life of Wash-ary, 1793-amendatory report made, stronger in its charington, corroborating the correctness of General St. Clair's acter, and more highly complimentary to General St. conduct, and giving the reasons for the act, showing that it was unavoidable, was done with the approbation of a council of war, and was productive of the happiest consequences.

Mr. L. quoted extracts to the same effect from Ramsay's History: "Subsequent events clearly proved the wisdom and propriety of the retreat from Ticonderoga." Vol. 2, p. 35.

Mr. L. remarked, that all concurrent testimony clearly showed that this was an act characterized by General St. Clair's usual sagacity, and one which entitled him to gratitude, not censure.

Clair."

The history of General St. Clair is a humiliating lesson of injustice and ingratitude. One of the ablest and best of all our public men; his services important and long continued; his character above suspicion; his fortune and his life spent in the public service-and all this could only procure him contemptuous disregard of just claims while he lived, and the mockery of scorn after a death in indigence and sorrow had relieved him from the weight of a nation's ingratitude.

Mr. L. said he was sure that the honorable gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. HARDIN] was not aware of these The other misfortune, which has blighted a long life of facts. He felt sure that had that gentleman known, as he useful and eminent service, and withered, in the public knew, the descendants of that distinguished man, respect estimation, a reputation more nearly allied in purity, abil- for them would have prevented him from wounding his ity, and common achievements, with those of Washington memory. General St. Clair, unfortunate in all things and Lafayette, than that of any other man, has been else, has the rare merit of being truly represented in inequally misrepresented-equally misunderstood. Mr. L. tegrity and ability by his posterity. To them this counsaid he would not detain the House by an examination of try owes a heavy debt of reparation. But there is in my the circumstances connected with St. Clair's defeat. It eye an honorable gentleman, [Mr. DENNY, of Pennsylvaneed only be remembered that he was stricken in years; nia,] who can far better than myself tell the tale of injusthat public opinion inconsiderately and most unjustly de- tice and ingratitude. cided against him; that the then Secretary of War, to Mr. L. then proceeded to answer the objection that whose misconduct the defeat was mainly owing, endeav- the law proposed, and pension laws generally, conferred ored to cast the whole blame on General St. Clair. The benefits on the worthless. This, he said, was an abuse examination was made by a committee of this House, and in the administration of the public bounty, and required at its head was Giles, one of Virginia's most distinguished to be vigilantly guarded against. But the perjury of a sons. After a full and careful investigation, that commit- few impostors should not be allowed to militate against tee made the report which I hold in my hand. The Sec- the legitimacy of the provision. It should not be allowed etary of War, on whom the blame was, by this report, to deprive the really deserving of the recompense to justly thrown, obtained a re-examination; the result of which they were fairly entitled. Such an argument will

H. OF R.]

Extension of the Pension Laws.

[JAN. 23, 1834.

succeeding five years; and five years more, making the full period of sixty years, will remove them all.

apply to every possible law. Yet, surely, the fear of abuse the ten years ensuing; one-half of this remainder in the is not a sufficient argument against an equitable law. [Here the hour allotted to morning business having expired, Mr. L.'s remarks were suspended. The same sub- Forty years has been fixed by custom as the period ject coming up again next day, Mr. L. resumed and con- which shall elapse after the service is performed, before cluded what he had to say, as follows:] the pension is granted. One-eighth of those who served Mr. L. said that, in conclusion of his yesterday's re-alone survive, and they rapidly drop off in the ratio stated. marks, he begged leave to say that he was not a little The number whom the proposed law will place on the surprised at the quarter from which proceeds the oppo-pension list will not exceed fifteen hundred. This wil sition to this resolution. Have the constituents of the more than supply the vacancies caused by deaths of revo gentlemen from the East and South reaped no advantages lutionary pensioners during the first year after the passage from the services proposed to be remunerated? Have of the law. In the succeeding year it will be reduced to they enjoyed no benefits from the pension system? Who nearly its present number; and, subsequently, the diminuhave found homes in the great valley which was the tions will go en rapidly, until, in twenty years, our pertheatre and the prize of the contest? They are emigrants sion list will be clear from all, save the invalid pensioners from the East and South, and who, while enjoying all the of the last war. advantages which their position and their enterprise have secured to them, will gladly yield aid to the few old men yet living of those whose exertions won the country from its savage possessors.

From this view, it appears that this dreaded draft upon the treasury amounts to a few thousand dollars during s single year.

Supposing the same principle applied to the soldiers of It is said they should not be classed with the soldiers of the last war, (as in justice it must be,) not more than ten the revolution. It is unnecessary to institute a compari- thousand will survive to receive the benefits, and these son, if they be found to have sufficient claims upon the will not come upon the pension list until death has stricknational gratitude. If pensions were granted, as the gen- en off all the old pensioners. This fearful draft upon the tleman from Rhode Island avers they are, solely on treasury is, therefore, only in the gentleman's imaginebalances proved by accurate comparison of debits and cred- tion. The expense under the head of pensions is, with its, and should he, on this basis, adjust the balances due the slight exception noticed, now at its maximum. Time those whom the resolution proposes to compensate, the will rapidly diminish it, despite the gentleman's forebo treasury of the United States could not pay the debt. dings. The whole West, with its millions of acres of improved land, its invaluable channels of commerce, its profitable produce, and acquired wealth, is on the one hand; and on the other, a few decrepit veterans, whose youth and manhood were passed in the wilderness, in daily contest and hourly privation.

But, says the gentleman, [Mr. BURGES,] they were not regularly enlisted and draughted. Those who lived in the West thirty years ago will smile at this objection. I would refer the gentleman to my honorable colleague, [Mr. BooN,] who will tell him that the pioneer of the West, Colonel Boon, whose name has been immortalized by the greatest poet of the age, spent his life in incessant contest; and, strange as it may seem to the well-drill. ed notions of the gentleman from Rhode Island, never was

enlisted in the service.

We of the West have been weak enough to suppose that we might be permitted to defend our homes and our families, to serve our country, and aid each other, without a regular enlistment. We have carried our weakness still further, and thought that, if privations were endured, and dangers encountered, it took nothing from our merit that we might have slunk away without the risk of being shot for desertion.

But these objections carry their answer upon their face. Mr. L. proceeded to say that he begged leave to add a few words to what he said yesterday in reference to the objection that the provision would occasion a large draft upon the treasury.

Under the act of 18th March, 1818, eleven thousand and thirty-four revolutionary soldiers were placed on the pension list.

Under the act of 7th June, 1832, twenty-three thousand three hundred and forty-eight have been enrolled, including one hundred and seventy-seven who relinquished old pensions and came in under this act. The claims not yet decided will swell this number to twenty-five thousand.

The whole number of pensioners may be estimated at thirty-five thousand.

But, even if the supposed law did increase the expense, Mr. L. said he should support it. The question, in his opinion, rests on principles not to be affected by such an objection. A few thousand dollars, more or less, are to this nation of trifling import, compared with the preservation of its good faith and general policy. He had already said that our wars are made for national defence, and not to gratify the passions of a single ruler. Our soldiers are not as the soldiers of other nations. Our wars will prob ably be very few, and a great incentive to exertion would be lost if our pension system were abandoned.

The profession of a soldier is at all times unpleasant. In peace, he who is unfortunately thrown into the ranks of the army is deprived of all social enjoyments; is shut out from the sympathies and the acquisitions which are the aim and gratification of other men. When grown old and decrepit, they are thrown upon the cold charity of the world for support. I have been pleased to see a bill introduced, providing an asylum for their old age.

If such be the state of the regular soldier in time of peace, what is the condition of the citizen, forced from his home and his family, to encounter privation and danger foreign to his habits?

We have already declared, by laws universally approv ed, what should be done. We have provided for the soldiers of the revolution, and for the invalid soldiers of the last war. The pension laws constitute a system consistent throughout.

The soldiers proposed to be relieved stand on the same footing before this Congress as did the soldiers of the revolution before the Congress which passed the pension laws for their benefit.

Consistency with existing laws, and justice to these individuals, imperatively call on us to make the provision contemplated by the resolution.

It is true that we cannot mete out to each service its exact reward. It is true that we may benefit a few unworthy in providing for the many who are worthy. The same objection will apply to every law; and such an argument is a paltry evasion of a just debt.

An examination and comparison of the several censuses Mr. L. proceeded to say that the gentleman was mistaof our population show, that of a class of men between ken in supposing that these men had been paid in land. If twenty and forty-five years of age, seven-eighths will they have the good fortune to possess any, it has been purdie in forty years; one-half of the remainder will die in chased at the Government price; which price, with the