The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-04-04
TWENTY~NINTH CONGRESS-


ern boundary, from the goth of June 1910, to
the 4th OfMarch, 194l, which was agreed to-
HOUSE. On motion of Mr. HARRISON, went
into Committee for the purpose Of taking up
the bill Tor raising two regiments of mounted
rfemen.
| Mr. Mcconnell protested against acting on
this bill, as "A shameful waste of the peoples
money. As to the Oregon excitement, that
would all end in smoke. He would not vote
a cent for the army,tl the Senate showed
their hand. There was no necessity ofthese
rifle regiments.
Mr. Hamin would not vote for the bill, or
| amy bill, in reference TO our relations with
Great Britain or Mexico. He would vote for
it as necessary to promote the emigration to
Oregon.
Mr. Yell defended the bill as necessary for
purposes ofpeace. There must be more pro-
lection for the frontier. We had only two
companies to defend the Western frontier
from sixty thousand Indian warriors. The
whole effective force ofthe army was now in
Texas.
SENATE. TUESDAY, March "a. Mr. al
len desired that some day should be named
for closing the debate upon the Oregon ques-
ton. 1t was forty-five days since the notice
was reported TO the Senate and the debate
commenced. There were many reasons,
which could not now be named, why the de-
bate should be closed at an early day. He
should suggest Saturday next as the day for
the vote to be taken.
Mr. Morehead said he did not know wheth-
err the Senate would sanction the views ofthe
Senator from Ohio. AS one of the humblest
Senators, however, he desired to be heard up
on this question before the final vote was taxi
en-.
The debate was then resumed upon the
main question by Mr. Chalmers, of Miss, in
favor ofnotce in n moderate form.
HOUSE. The House adopted n Resolu-
ton to close the debate upon the bill for in
creasing the army two regiments, ut three o.
clock this day.
The debate followed upon the merits ofthe
BILL Mr. Black defending the bill, and APP
pending an amendment to require that the
Army Officers should be selected from those
already in commission, and no new officers
chosen.
Mr. Tilden opposed the bill as unnecessary
aud as measure merely designed to concil-
late the democracy of the Western States"
The militia OF the West were able 10 take
care ofthemselves, and the country did not
need the proposed increase of the army. Mr.
T. said nothing had been done in reference
To our foreign relations, aud nothing, there
fore, warranted an increase of the army.
MIR Rathbun ofNew York, also opposed the
such measure. So long as nothing was
done to extend our laws over Oregon, and
nothing to take possession of Oregon, and
there was no war in Mexico; he would not
vote an increase ofthe army.
Mr. Davis, of Miss. spoke until the hour Of
three when the Committee refused an amend
ment TO reduce the number to one regiment,
and authorized the President 10 have dis
mounted or mounted, the two regiments of
: Z. ,l,,,. i'll l,II
SENATE. WEDNESDAY, March 25. Mr.
Bcrrien introduced resolution calling on the
; committee ofmilitary and naval affairs, re-
spectiVely. for the documentary statements
received by them,recommending an increase
of the army and navy.
Mr. Benton sent to the table a letter from
the Secretary of War; recommending an in
crease ofthe army, &c. MIR Benton said it con-
; tnined all the information the committee had
received. Ii was ordered to be printed for
the use ofthe Senate.
The Oregon notice was taken up, and MIR
Sewer, of Ark, made strong speech on the
subject, in support of our title, and rdiculing
the panic which had prevailed in the Senate
he called it a Senatorial stampede. He
took his stand on forty-nine. What has be-
come ofthe 81 40 men? MIR Sewer said that
there was nothing in the Baltimore conven-
ton-and he was member of it-=that pre-
clu1eu IllG IFcslueDL ITOill SSttlluS OIc-
gon question by compromise.
HOUSE. The bill to raise two regiments
ofriflemen was again the subject of consid-
Grafton today-the final decision having been
deferred, last evening, upon the suggestion
of Mr. Adams, who wished to see the Presi-
dents message before he voted.
To dav the Chairman of the Committee on
military affairs was catechsed by Mr. q. Da-
Wis and Mr. Rhett, as to the confidential EX-
ecutive recommendations ofan Increase of
the army, alluded to in the message, as hav-
ing been sanctioned by the President
| After some conversations it was admitted
by Mr. Harden, that the communicated was
Of "a confidential nature. Mr. III. explained
that the two regiments had nothing to do with
any aspect of our foreign relations. But at
the recommendation of the Executive, he had
reported bill authorizing the President to
accept the services ofvolunteers, if, III his o.
pinion necessary for the defence of the coun-
try That bill he should call up. 1t was in
tended as preparation for defence in case
of War.
Mr. Rhett asked what number of men the
blank was to be filled with.
MIR HARRISON would state that when the bill
came up. .
II happen to know. 1t is 50,000-as rec
commended by the Secretary ofWar.
A substitute for Mr. Haralson's bill was
moved by Mr. Hungerford ofNew York, and
adopted, and the bill as amended passed,and
went to the Senate.
1t provides for filling up all the companies
of the army to eighty men; to be enlisted ior
three years. 1t will add four or five thousand
men to the rank and file.
SENATE. THURSDAY, March 20. Mr.
Chalmers, of Mississippi, presented the Gre