Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-02-03
From Correspondence of the Charleston Mercury
WAsHINGT ON, an 10, lS47.a.

WASHINGTON, Jan l9, 1877
, Mr.. Sewer, from the Committee OF
!, Foreign Relations, reported bill tsimi
lar TO that OF last SESSION. appropriatin!
SO, 100000 10 enable the President Il
bring the war TO conclusion. Mr. S
gaze notice that he should ask The, consid
Grafton OF The bill a, au early day. <
Mr.. Benton, from the Commiuee OF
Military Affairs, reported the Army. Bill
with an amendment providing for gran
of760 acres of land to all who shallssyol
un,eer for II months, or during The war
and who shall serve 10 months, Unless
killed or disabled in service, and also rem
dering The lands inallienabe previous tG
! the issuing Of the patent, and poslponine
the issue of the pateut until seven years
after the land is located.
Mr.. Berrien called attention to the fact
that the instructions directed Officers Of
Volunteers 10 be included, while the bill
made no provision for Them. He there:
fore moved an amendment so as 10 include
the Officers Of Volunteers.
Hereupon Mr.. Benton and Mr.. Berricn
had debate all to themselves; each
speaking about half dozen ,imes-Mr.
! Benlou rough and litle respectful in his
replies, while MIR. Berrieu was civil and
causiic.
Mr.. Crittenden and MIR. Badger made
some remarks in explanation Of their
views, both being members Of the Com
millee on Military Affairs, the former not
being in favor Of granting the lands to the
Officers, and tie latter in favor Of it.
After some further remarks from Mes
srs. Berrien aud Bcnlon, Mr.. Calhoun
asked for the reading Of The Instructions 10
the committee.
They were again read. ~
Mr.. Calhoun said he was not in favor
of the amendment now proposed, aud he
doubted very much whether he should be
able to bring himself TO vote for any such
provision for granting bounty lands
They had bad good deal OF experience
on this subject, and the result Of. that ex-
pereuce was, that it was the very worst
mode, both for the Treasury aud for The
soldiers and volunteers for whose benefit
it was intended. But he rose 10 say that
in his humble opiniun, it was due to the
mover Of this proposiliou-it was due 10
The authority of The Senate ITSELF that The
amendment should be put in, so that the
bill should staud precisely where it would
have stood if the members of the commit
lee had recolected that there had been
such instructions. He was disposed 10
throw no censure upon lhe committee
there were a great many amendments
moved, aud il was DOT extraordinary thar
this particular matter should haze beer
overlooked. But, most undoubleGig, ii
The committee had known there were
such Instructions, and omitted 10 put them
IN, il would be au acl OF the deepest dis.
respect to the Senate. Under this Imprcs.
sion, though opposed to the proposition,
he, for one, should give his decided vote
to put the amendment where it would
have been ii the committee bad rcmem
bered the i6sirpclions.
Mr.. Benton. said tliat. ;ifsthe 5Apiion of.
tit s5enu,or fT,ns Gs0fsi lPfeSs ted; ;Iaart
precision would become part ofitlTe bill
blythe acl of the Seuare, and could no, be
again dissenled from. The proper mode,
he thought, would be 10 send il. back 10
the colnnhee, and he now made that
motion.
Mr.. Calhoun said he was not in The habit
Of doing any thing without reflection
He might have been mistaken as 10 the
stage in which this bill was now. But
he had spoken under The impression that
it was before The Senate as in. committee
of The whole; if so, an amendment could
be inserted, anil the Senate would have an
10 strike out The amendment {;
or, at least, 10 record lis vole upon it when
The bill was taken out Of the committee
L was point, however, which he never
could Weld, that The bill should be made
to conform 10 Ehc instructions given to the
committee.
Mr.. Benton. The Senator from South
Carolina makes it question of revolt-a
question of revolt, sir. Of disobedience 10
the Senate; oI rebellion. for which the
committee is to be reprimanded by the
Senate. Are we children building cob.
houses Is this Senate by grave vote,
10 put in an amendment, and Immediately
knock it out? And that for The purpose
IF showing the committee ,ha, the Senate
wilt make them obey? For that is The
ground upon which the Senator puts it
of disobediouce, revolt, Of disrespect aud
/ is in this way that the Senate is 10 chide
he committee, like children putting chips
upon one another's head and knocking
hem of: The appropriate motion is to
'einslruct the committee. move to re-
commit the instruction, and in The mean
ime, sir, Isay again that the commiuee
lcled' like men of business.
Mr.. Calhoun. am not apt to be excl
ed or to be puerio. 'fhere is 10 pueriI-
ty about IT.; there is no accusation Of re-
'ot. The majority Of the committee
themselves sustained him in The view he
ook. But i, was the Senator from Mis-.
ouri himself who sci up the authority Of
he committee, and justified his disobedi