Mr. VAN BUREN said he hoped the bill would not be re-committed. It would create an injurious delay-while, if there ever was a case in which a legislative decision ought speedily to be made, it was this. The bill ought not, therefore, to be recommitted, so as to place it behind the other business. He thought the Senator from Maine might reach his object without recommitting the bill; and Mr. V. B. considered the best method would be, to offer an amendment to the effect proposed.

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Mr. VAN BUREN asked the reading of the proposition made by Mr. Parris; which, having been complied with, Mr. V. B. said that it ought not to be adopted. It went infinitely beyond the object proposed by this bill, which was, to liquidate a debt to one class of individuals, who, having been promised half pay for life, had never received an equivalent for the benefit thus held forth in expectation. The proposition of the gentleman from Maine proposed to settle—not the certificates of commutation alone—but all the accounts of the Revolution. Mr. V. B. thought that the gentleman had taken an incorrect view of the subject, and trusted his motion would not prevail.