THE NATIONAL PENSION TO MRS. PARKER

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 12, 18 July 1890, Page 11

THE NATIONAL PENSION TO MRS. PARNELL

The bill granting a pension to Mrs. Delia T. Stewart Parnell passed the House of Representatives on May 9, with an amendment which cuts down the pension from 1200 dolß. a year to 600 dols Atrainit tbis reduction Congressman Amos Oummings, of New York made • spirited protest, bringing out very clearly the fact that the pension is granted, not because Mrs. Parnell is the mother of the Irish leader but because she is the daughter of one of the most heroic, devoted' and distinguished sailors that ever served in tbe American Nary' Incidentally Mr. Oummings presented what is a very inspiring and interesting chapter of naval biography. We reproduce it below The New York Sun says of it : "No American who loves the smell of salt air and the sight of the streaming red, white, and blue can read it without a thrill."

(From the Congressional Becord of May 10.) Mr. Cummings:— This pension bill is for the benefit of the daughter of Admiral Charles Stewart, and the fact that she is the mother of Charles Stewart Parnell has nothing to do with it. Born in Philadelpia, he entered the Navy as Lieutenant on March 9, 1798. He served in a frigate in the West Indies, operating against French privateers. On July 15, while in command of the Experience, he captured the French schooner, Deux Amis. He was afterward chased by two French vessels. By skilfully avoiding them be afterward caught them separately, and captured the sohoooer Diana before her sister vessel could assist her. On November .16, 1800, he took the privateer Louisa Bridger. In December he rescued sixty women and children, who had been wrecked while flying from the revolution in San Domingo.

In 1802 Stewart served as executive of the Constellation blockading Tripoli. In 1803 he was placed in command of the brig Siren in Preble's squadron off Tripoli. There he conveyed Decatur in the Intrepid to destroy the Philadelphia. He participated in all the attacks on Tripoli, and was included in the vote of thanks in Congress on March 3, 1 805, to Preble's officers. He took command of the Essex, and went with the fleet to Tunis, where he convinced his commander-in-ohief that it was illegal to make war except by declaration of Congress.

In 1806 he commanded the Constellation, and was promoted to captain April 22, 1806. He superintended the construction of gunboats at New York in 1806-7. With Bainbridge, at the outbreak of the war of 1812, he dissuaded the Cabinet from the proposed policy of not sending the navy to sea against the British. He was appoiated to command the Constellation in that war. In going to Norfolk be met a British fleet, which he skilfully avoided. He afterwards participated in the defence of that city.

In the summer of 1813 he took command of the Constitution. He destroyed the Pictou, an armed ship, and the brigs Catherint and Pbcenix. He chased several British ships of war and the frigate La Pique, and narrowly escaped two British frigates near Boston. With new sails he left Boston in December 1814. He captured the brig Lord Nelson, off Bermuda, December 24, 1814, and the ship Susan off Lisbon. On February 23, 1815, he took two Britisb thipa of war, the Cyane and Levant, after a spirited engagement of fifty minutes. While at anchor at St. Jago, Cape de Verde islands, a British fleet approached. He ran out of the harbour and adroitly escaped with the Constitution and Cyane. The Levant was recaptured by the fleet in the neutral harbour.

For this exploit Commodore Stewart received from Congress a vote of thanks, a sword, and a gold medal. The Pennsylvania Legislature gave him a sword, and be was presented with the freedom of the city of New York.

Like the famous frigate Constitution, Stewart received the appellation of " Old Ironsides." He commanded the Mediterranean squadron in the Franklin in 1816-'2O, and the Pacific squadron in 1820-24. On the Pacific coast he caused a paper blockade to be annulled, and vindicated the rights of American commerce. He waa Commissioner of the Navy in 18 30-32, commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1838-'4l, and'in 1841 was mentioned as a candidate fo President, but was not nominated. He had charge of the horn squadron in 1842-43, commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard again in 1846, anr) from 1854 till 1861. He was retired as senior Commouore in 1856 and flag officer in 1860, and on July 16, 1862, was commissioned Rear Admiral, after which he was on waiting orders antil his death. He was in the service seventy-one years, and was Benior officer in the American navy for seventeen years. Such, Mr. Speaker, is the record of this admirable office. The retired list of the navy to-day costs the Government 1,650,000 dols., yearly. Since this list was established the total aggregate cost has been 16 331,000 dols. The records of all the naval officers on the retired list to-day — and I do not say it in the way of disparagement— will not compare with the record of this one American Admiral, They were educated at the expense of the Government, and were retired on three-quarters pay when sixty-two yeara old. He irtak actively on duty over seventy-one years. Many of them received prize money ; he got not a cent for ths Levant, although cut ont of a neutral port. His patriotiem was so great that he never claimed prize money.

If the country had returned him his due his daughter to-day would not be suffering for the necessaries of life. She is seventy-four years old, sick, infirm and destitute. Not two weeks ago you passed a pension bill here granting to the widow of Admiral Nicholson 100 dols. a month. It was money well bestowed. How, in view of your action then, you can cut the proposed pension of tho daughter of "Old Ironsides " down to 60dols. a month, surpasses my com* prehension. I appeal to your manhood and patriotism to reitoiO t this pension to what was proposed in the original bill.

Mr. Jameß Bedpath is at present engaged in writing the U^^H Jeffereon Davis,