Friday, March 16.
Mrs. Hamilton's Claim.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, on the bill for the relief of Elizabeth Hamilton.
Messrs. Smilie, Root, W. Alston, Bacon, Macon, Clay, and Boyd, opposed the bill, and Messrs. Johnson, Sheffey, and Nelson, supported it.
The committee rose about four o'clock, and reported the bill.
Mr. Macon moved to amend the said bill by striking out the following words: "five years' full pay for the services of her said deceased husband as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolutionary war, which five years' full pay is the commutation of his half-pay for life;" for the purpose of inserting, "whatever may be due to her for his services as an officer during the Revolutionary war."
Mr. Gholson called for a division of the question.
And the motion to strike out was negatived, yeas 57, nays 54.
Mr. W. Alston moved to amend the bill by adding the following proviso:
"Provided, That it shall be made to appear, to the satisfaction of the accounting officers of the Treasury Department, that the said Alexander Hamilton ever was entitled to half pay or commutation."
The question on Mr. Alston's amendment was decided in the negative—yeas 55, nays 56.
And on motion, the House then adjourned, about five o'clock.