The Providence Journal, And Town And Country Advertiser

At the close of the last session of Congress, the honourable MATTHEW LYON, Esq; member from the state of Vermont, applied to the sergeant at arms (who settles the members' bills for mileage and attendance) to settle his bill for mileage and attendance during the session. Mr. Lyon had come to Congress only a very short time before the session ended, having in the fall of last year been imprisoned in the gaol of Vergennes, in the state of Vermont, on a judgment of the Circuit Court there, for seditious. But Mr. Lyon had the modesty to demand pay for attendance in Congress during the whole of the session. The sergeant at arms thought this claim inadmissible, and would not pass his account without the approbation of the speaker. Mr. Lyon had so much grace left him as to be ashamed to apply to the speaker himself; but he had so little grace as to ask another to do that which he knew he ought not to do himself. At his request, the sergeant at arms mentioned the matter to the speaker:—The speaker, like the sergeant at arms, and every honest man, was of opinion that Mr. Lyon's claim was inadmissible. Mr. Lyon claimed mileage from the gaol of Vergennes to Philadelphia. The reader is requested to observe, that the gaol of Vergennes is farther from Philadelphia than Mr. Lyon's house is. The sergeant at arms was again sent to the speaker. The speaker, with all the promptness for which Mr. Dayton is remarkable, replied, "Perhaps the claim is right: Go back and get from Mr. Lyon a certificate, that the gaol of Vergennes is his usual place of abode, and that he means to return thither; and on that certificate I will authorize the settlement of his account for mileage as he has presented it."
It is needless to add, that Mr. Lyon did not choose to give such certificate, and Mr. Lyon got only the wages he deserved: But it may be proper to observe, that two other bills for seditious were cut and dry for Mr. Lyon, on his return to Vermont; and that he chose to retire for shelter with his friend Mason, of Virginia, and has lately announced his intention of going to Kentucky.