Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-06-18
WAsHINeroN. June 4th.

SENATE.-Affer the presentations of Petitions and
the disposal of some miscellaneous matters,
Mr.. Cass introduced a resolution Of inquiry as to
whether any officer of the United States Army has,
without authority of law, called into service any
number of volunteers.
In explanation of the resolution, Mr.. Cass said he
referred to Gen. Gaines, who would be found, had
issued orders for the enrolment of some thousands
of volunteers, which if carried out would subject the
country to the expense of about million Of dollars
He did not impugn the motives ofGen. Gaines for he
knew him to be a high-minded and gallant officer,
but was evident his orders had been issued without
the proper authority from the Executive.
In reply to question, Mr.. Cas- stated that General
Gaines had been ordered TO Washington. The reso-
luton then laid over till tomorrow.
Several hours were next occupied by dull debate
on numerous proposed amendments TO the Post-Ofhce
appropriation bill.
HoUsE-As soon as the journal read, the
House resumed the consideration of the supplemental
bill The question concurring IN the
amendments Of the committee of the whole.
The amendments striking out the words "two
major generals and inserting one major general"
was cOncurred n-yeas lU7, nays 64. 80 this leaves
but one additional major general.
The next amendment reducing the number of brig
adler generals provided for in the bill, from four TO
two, was also concurred in-yeas los, nays 81.
The following amendment was also agreed to; yeas
81, nays 50.
"Prorided, That when the existing war with Mex
leo shall terminate, the number of major generals IN
the army shall be reduced to one and the number OF
brigadier generals shall be reduced to two and the
President of the United States is authorized and d.
rected to select from the whole number which may be
in Office without regard to the date Of their commits
sions the number to be retained and cause the re-
mainder to be discharged from the service of the Uni
ted States.
The following additional section was agreed to;-
,oos ITO mare
That the rules and articles for the government
of the armies of the United States established by the
above rected act in the first section Of the shall
be added the following;
cart. 1G2. Any officer or soldier, or any other of
the persons described or enumerated in the Goth, or
GOTH and ninety seventh of the said established ar-
cles, and in general all other followers of camp or
army Of the United States, when any such army OF
the United States shall be serving beyond the limit
of the United States and their organized Territorial
Governments may be tried, and captaly or otherwise
punished by sentence of general court martial, ac-
cordinp to the nature of the offence for any murder
or other felony committed upon the person property
of any of the persons herein included, or upon the
persons or property OF any of the people of the coun
try beyond the said geographical or judicial limits"
Another additional section was agreed to; yeas 81,
nays 81, as follows:
That from and after the passage of this act, no
officer in the army Of the U. s., not actually engaged
in prosecuting aiding in carrying on hostlIties
against the public enemy, shall be entitled to receive
more than eight ratiOns per day or commuation
therefor"
The BILL as amended, was then read third time
and passed by vote of ll9 to So
The bill was then returned to the Senate for its
currence in the amendment.
The House then went into committee OF the whole,
and considered the bill authorizing the President TO
sell the reserved mineral lands in the States of Him
DIS, Arkansas and the territories OF Wisconsin and
Iowa.
At late hour the committee rose.
JUNE 5, 1916.
SENATE-The entire session to-day, after the NOR
ming business, was occupied in very interesting
debate on Mr. Cass's resolution of inquiry into the
conduct of Gen. Gaines, in calling for twelve thous-
and volunteers The resolution was finally adopted
as amended by an additional resolution offered by MI.
Sewer, and modified by MIR. J. M. Clayton, calling
for the correspondence between Gen. Scott and the
War Department, and Gen. Taylor.