Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 679 FEBRUARY, 1826.] Navy Appropriation Bill. [H. OF R. dared that the pension should commence at the say any thing in opposition to the wishes of a time the required declaration should be made. colleague; but the decision of the Secretary of It was soon found that an immense class of per- War was now settled, and he thought it would sons were receiving pensions who were never be a pity to disturb it. The law was sufficiently contemplated by the Legislature, and, in conse- plain-it meant to say that the pension should quence, another act was passed in 1820, the ef- commence with the date of the proof. It was feet of which was to exclude all but those who never the intention of Congress that those who proved themselves to be paupers. By this last were stricken off the pension roll, should again act, the Secretary of War was made the judge, receive pensions, till they had satisfied the propto determine whether any applicant had, or had er officer of the Department that they had a not, satisfactorily shown himself entitled to the right to them. benefit of the public bounty —and he was re- Mr. ESTILL said in reply, that he had not exquired to withhold the payment of the pension, pected any objection would be urged against till a certain schedule, accompanied by a pre- making an inquiry; his resolution contemplated scribed oath, should have been laid before him. no more; and, when the report should be reIn 1823, a farther act was passed, supplemental ceived from the committee, it would be time to those preceding; and according to the con- enough to discuss the merits of the question. struction of this supplemental act, which was The question was then put, and the resolution adopted as the rule of the War Department, it was adopted-ayes 95. was determined that (even in the case of those who finally proved themselves to be paupers, Navy Appropriation Bill-Liberia Agency. and fully entitled) all pensions should be sus- The House then again went into Committee pended, from the date of the act of 1818, till the of the Whole, Mr. MARKLEY in the chair, on the time full proof was made according to the new bill "making appropriations for the Naval Serforms required. In consequence of this con- vice of the United States, for the year 1826." struction of the law, it happened that those very The question being on filling the blank in persons for whose benefit the pension, law first the item for an agency, and expenses for cappassed, and who were admitted to be legitimately tured Africans, on the coast of Africa, with entitled to its benefits, lost the amount of their $32,000pensions from the passing of the act of 1820 to Mir. FORsYTr observed, that he was by no 1823; and this without having been guilty of means satisfied, either by the information stated any fraud, or attempt to deceive. A case of yesterday by the Chairman of the Colmmittee of this kind existed in that part of the country Ways and Means, or that contained in the report from which he came. An individual applied of the Secretary of the Navy, of the propriety of for a pension in 1818, and, furnishing the proof this appropriation. The chairman of the cornthen required, continued to receive it till 1820. mittee had said, that the report of the Secretary Owing to sabre wounds in his head, his under- expressly states, that there is no connection bestanding was much impaired, and he neglected tween the United States Agency and the Colonito furnish farther evidence, till 1824; in conse- zation Society. For himself, after an attentive quence, he was deprived of his pension for those perusal of the report, Mr. F. said, he was unable four years, though most clearly one of those to discover in it any such declaration. There is, persons for whose benefit the law was made. indeed, one passage, in which the Secretary says, Mr. E. thought this was unjust. He did not be- that the Government Agents have been inlieve there were many cases of a similar kind; structed not to connect their views with those but the object of his resolution was to embrace of the Society; but it is most manifest that this class of persons, whether few or not. He there is a perfect connection between the Agendiffered from the War Department, in the con- cy and the Society. The Secretary declares that struction which it had given to the law of 1823. they have a mutual dependence on each other. He did not believe it was the intention of Con- He goes so far as to say, in so many words, that gress to withhold a pension from any of those the Society, the Colony, and the Agency, could who were indeed paupers, and had served their not exist independently of each other. The place country with fidelity. He was not, however, of both is the same; the officers of both are the very anxious in the matter. He presumed the same; the same persons act in a double capacity, act of 1820 had for its object nothing more than and are authorized by their appointment and to protect the treasury from imposition, and to instructions, to incur expenses for the benefit of ascertain whether an applicant was what he pre- the Society, whenever required so to do. Mr. tended to be. The resolution asked that a com- F. did not profess to be intimately acquainted mittee may consider the subject, and report on with the concerns of the colony; but he bethe expediency of amending the law, unless they lieved he might state, with great safety, that should agree with Mr. E. in the opinion that the there is a fort there. He found, from one item present construction of the law is erroneous; in the report, that, for the defence of the twentyin which case they would so report; and an ex- eight persons whom the United States have to pression would be obtained of the opinion of support at the Agency, the Agents had purCongress, one way or the other, which was all chased 220 muskets. This seemed a very sufMr. E. aimed at. ficient armament for twenty-eight men, even Mr. MaCoY observed, that he did not like to with both the Agents at their head. It must

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 679
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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