tributed to the fund. Such was the more than ample condition of the navy pension fund, as will appear by the annual reports of the Navy Department, when the act of March 3, 1837, opened the door to the heirs of all who at any time had died in the naval service, and in one short year the whole fund, principal as well as interest, was swept away, and Congress ever since has been compelled to make good the deficiency, as pledged by the ninth section referred to, by annual appropriation out of the public treasury."

The following extracts from their report express the views entertained by the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives in 1837, in which this committee cordially concurs:

"In performing the extraordinary exploit above stated, Parsons ruptured himself severely, insomuch that he was dismissed from the service of the United States as no longer capable of performing its duties. "At the time he was dismissed, he asked for some assistance, or pension; but it was refused, because our pension law provided for those only who were wounded in battle.

"Thus it appears that the memorialist lost his health and ability to support himself and family in the service of his country and in saving the lives of his countrymen; that he voluntarily perilled his life and sacrificed his health in the noblest and most useful service to his country; and yet, so far from receiving any reward or remuneration, was dismissed from the service on account of the very deeds that gave him a just claim to their highest approbation and protection and aid.

"Your committee knew not which most to admire: that heroism and devotion, which perilled his own life and health in saving the lives of others; or that patient and unobstrusive merit, which neither published his exploits nor asked relief a second time, (so long as he could support himself,) on account of the evils he had suffered.

"The case of the petitioner seems to the committee signally meritorious, and deserving the highest commendation of the government. Had he ruptured himself or been wounded in fighting the battles of his country, and destroying her enemies, thanks and a pension would have been awarded. Surely, it is more glorious to save the lives of friends than to take the lives of enemies."

In view of all the circumstances of the case, the committee are of opinion that the claimant is justly entitled to the relief asked for, and report a bill accordingly.

1st Session.

No. 93.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

FEBRUARY 7, 1854.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. JONES, of Iowa, made the following

REPORT.

[To accompany Bill S. 192.]

The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Amos Knapp, beg leave to report :

It appears that on the 12th day of July, 1852, an act was passed, placing the name of petitioner on the pension rolls, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to take effect from its passage. By a certificate of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, it is proved that the papers of Amos Knapp, upon which the relief was finally granted in 1852, were presented and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, in April, 1848-with the exception of a certificate of Hon. A. M. Schermerhorn, that the signatures to his petition were genuine. The petitioner now prays that his pension may be made to commence at the time when he presented the evidence, with the exception referred to, upon which the act of 1852 was based. This evidence having been several times under examination by the committees of both houses, and reported by them to be satisfactory, the committee does not deem a re-examination necessary, except touching the date of its completion; which appears, so far as all material points are concerned, to have been in 1848. As the precedent has been established, both in the special legislation of Congress and the practice of the government under general laws, of granting pensions from the date of the completion of the necessary proof, the committee are of opinion that Mr. Knap is in equity entitled to his pension from the year 1848.

The evidence is also clear and of the highest character (being of record as certified by Assistant Adjutant General Thomas, and by Third Auditor of the Treasury, Gallaher, that said Amos Knapp was a sergeant, (and not a private,) in the 31st infantry of the war establishment of 1812; and as such, as shown by the pay-tables, was entitled to and received eleven dollars per month. It also further is shown by the papers accompanying the petition that Mr. Knapp, while in the service and in the line of his duty, incurred disease (rheumatism) which resulted, after his honorable discharge, in total disability. In view of all the circumstances, the committee are of opinion that no more than justice will be done to a gallant and faithful soldier, now aged and helpless, by increasing his pension to eleven dollars per month, and making it to commence at the time of the completion of the necessary proofs. They therefore herewith report a bill for his relief, and making his pension to commence on the 1st July, 1848.