Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-06-11
CONGRESS.

red 70 the COMMITTEE on Military Affairs. Mr..
Cass occupied the attention of the Senate for some
time in speech intended, as he said to resuscitate
the line Of 81 40. He could not deal, however, to
any advantage with Mr.. Bentons facts, but twitted
HIM with occupying position Inconsistent with the
one taken by him in speech he delivered in 1912.
Mr. Benton replied in speech of about thirty min
utes.-He said his argument had been dubbed at
and distorted--not answered. These 81 40 men,
under mistake, had aroused and excited the
country. They had committed great error, and
they knew it, yet they persisted in it, The Sena-
tor from Michigan, he said, knew it.-He had not
once mentioned New Caledonia or Frazier's river.
a country covered over with British posts and set
Elements. He would not name the country for
which he was ready 10 plunge us into war. and
for which he knew we had no title whatever.
In the House, Mr.. Kaufman, one Of the mem
bers from Texas, appeared and took his seat. The
day was spent upon Territorial business
On Tuesday, in the Senate, Mr. Lewis, of Ala
oama, offered two resolutions calling upon the Pres
ldent of the U. States to communicate to the Senate
the amount Of available funds for the ensuing fiscal
year-the probable necessity of loan-the proba-
BILE expense OF a vigorous prosecution Of the war
against Mexco-the means of raising revenue pro-
posed-and all other information having reference
| to the state of the Finances Mr. Webster remark
ed that he thought the attention of the Government
should be called to the fact that the money market
at this time was greatly embarrassed The con-
centration Of the public funds at New Orleans the
transfer of funds in specie and by land from North
en cities to New Orleans, was likely TO inflict n
good deal of mischief. He thought that some meas
ures should be taken for relief. II was not for him
to designate what those measures should be, but he
suggested the issue of Treasury drafts. Mr.. Niles
expressed the belief that vigorous application of
the Sub-Treasury system would be the best means
OF relief. MIR. Davis said he was glad the resou-
tons had been brought forward. 1t was time the
policy of the Administration should be known. The
policy laid down by the President and his friends
SIX months ago had been in reference to a state of
peace, and not to state of war. The resolutions
We're laid over.
In the House, the supplementary war bill was
under discussion Opposition was made TO the APP
polntment Of any more Generals and also TO the
power given to the President to appoint certain Off
cers-commssaries, quarter masters and surgeons
| VI
ell thought the bill allowed greater increase of the
number of officers than was necessary, and urged
that economy should not be lost sight Of No vote
was taken upon the bill. The remainder Of the
day was devoted to Territorial business
On Wednesday, in the Senate, the Paymaster's
bill was reported back from the Military Commit
tee, with recommendation that the amendments
of the House be not concurred in. Mr.. Benton re-
marked that the amendments of the House made
the office Of Paymaster temporary, and i MS judg-
ment and that of the Committee, the office should
be permanent The Senate concurred with the
Committee, and the bill was sent back to the House
Memorials were presented by Messrs Pennybacker
and Archer praying that the bill to retrocede the
city of Alexandria to Virginia may become a law.
The bill for granting alternate sections of land on
Pearl river, IN Mississippi and Louisiana for purpo-
SEES OF internal improvement, was called up Mr.
Webster said he could acknowledge no constitution
al distinction between voting land and taking money
out of the Treasury for internal Improvements But
in his Judgment there was power to do either. Mr..
Calhoun said he could not acknowledge the power
IN the General Government to make appropriations
of money for works of internal improvement, but
the Government could give away one portion of the
lands to enhance the value of the rest The bill
finally passed over to take up the resolutions of
Mr. Lewis calling for information in regard to the
means proposed by the Administration for meeting
the expenses Of the Mexican war Mr. Crittenden
offered an additional resolution somewhat extending
the inquiry, and the resolutions were then adopted
In the House, the bill for increasing the Army
nj
was taken up in Committee of the Whole and de-
bated at considerable length. The proposition to
give to the President the power to reduce the num-
Der Of Major Generals in the Army to one after the
war; and the to be retained to have no reference
to the priority of his commission, was regarded in
the debate covert assault upon Gen. Scott
The amendment adopted, IS to IT, The bill
was finally reported from the Committee, and the
House adjourned.
On Thursday, in the Senate, Mr.. Cass offered
a resolution requesting the President to inform the
Senate whether any officer of the Army has, during
the past or present year, made any calls upon any
of the States for militia volunteers and if so,
what number of troops have been thus called for and
what the expense incurred thereby, and also whe-
ther such calls have been countermanded by the
War Department. Mr.. Cass said his resolution
had reference to calls made by Gen. Gaines, and
he read statement of those calls amounting in all
to upwards Of 10000 troops at expense, as he
said, of over million OF dollars. Gen. Gaines had
also made numerous appointments of staff officers
and others, for all which he had no authority what
ever. Mr.. Cass did not impute any improper mo
tves to Gen. Gaines, but he had certainly acted