Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-09
PROCEEDINGS In CONGRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM OUR DAILY REPORTS OF THE
PROCEEDINGS IN BOTH HOUSES.
IN SENATE.

I'm oENA u.
PENSIONS TO WIDOWS OF ARMY OFFICERS.
The Senate then proceeded consider the bill for the
lief of Mary McRae, widow Of Lieut. Col. VIM. McRae.
Mr. BENTON asked for the reading OF the report
panyng the bill.
The report having been read by the Secretary
Mr.. CALHOUN (who had been momentarily absent from
his seat and said that although he had not heard the
whole of the report yet he believed he had distinct recoec
ton of this It in which was proposed to give
to the widow of officer of the army, who died while in
service, but not in battle, pension for life" II
rey novel application, far the army concerned, TO
ask for pension for widow under such circumstances and
application which, if allowed would lead extern
innovation. 1t assumed he believed, to be proper
extend the practice of granting such PENSIONS because
had prevailed in regard to the widows Of naval officers
There gentlemen present who were more familiar with
matters relating to the naval service than he was But
his impression correct this naval system had out
Of law which passed through Congress in hurried mann
the close of session. and for which seemed willing
to be responsible. There was, if his memory served him
truly very large of money collected and set apart for
pension fund, out OF prizes captured by the navy and this
fund.- under the law which he had alluded received the d
ecton of giving pensions to the widows of naval officers
equivalent TO the half pay of such officers There was
were struggle made in which he himself took part to
rule this law, and he under the impression that IL had
been modified in this however, he supposed he must have
been mistaken. The of Mary McRae might be, and he
had doubt meritorlous but OF this kind
would become precedent and would draw after it numerous
other cases If it should be granted in this instance Con-
gess would be beset with similar applications and general
principle would be thus established. The question: in this
view of it. of much importance that he thought
there ought to be full Senate when vote be taken
upon it. Their pension list already sweed beyond all
reasonable bounds There not nation of Europe which
had extensive pension system as ours constituted
very large proportion of the expenditures of this Government
and he thought there were other objection its in
crease that the present very improper period for comenc
ing further extension.
Under these Impressions he should vote against the bill
and in order to have an opportunity to record his vote he
asked for the yeas and nays. They ordered.
Mr.. BENTON said the honorable Senator was doubt
entirely correct in suppong that If this bill should be passed.
would lead further applications of the same kind But
matter well worthy Of the serious consideration of
the Senate, whether justice did require at their hands the
allowance of such pensions He had had the honor OF sub
hitting resolution this subject, the first day Of the
sion, directing the Committee Military Affairs to inquire
into the expedeny of putting the widows of the soldiers and
officers Of the army Of the United States upon the foot
ing with the widows Of the officers and seamen in the navy
Under the instruction of the committee he had drawn up
bill for this purpose; and in the discussion upon that bill
would up appropriately the question to the gen
era principle of granting such pensions He thought it
would be the preferable way to determine the general prnc
pie before deciding upon individual And, with this
vew he proposed that this bill be postponed until after the
other should have been disposed of.
Mr. CALHOUN. Let it be laid upon the table.
Mr. BENTON. Yes let it lie upon the table for the
present
The bill was accordingly laid upon the table, be taken
up at future day.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The Senate proceeded consider, in Committee Of the
Whoe the bill reduce and graduate the price Of the public
lands.
Mr. BAGBY moved to amend the bill SO as to make its
provisions apply lands which had been exposed for sale
period of ten years instead of een provided by the BILL
remakng that the bill Stood the largest and most in
teestng portion Of the public lands in his State would
be deprived of all the benefit expected to be derived from this
system of reduction and graduation and for this he
wished to the of the Senate upon his motion He
therefore asked for the yeas and nays
| They were ordered.
Mr. CRTTTENDEN observed that this was bill of con-
siderable Importance and which called for consd
Grafton the part of the Senate Without desiring any
pocrasnaon unnecessary delay he hoped there would
be objection to It's being postponed and made the special
order of the day for early day. that Senators might have
their attention directed to the subject He moved that be
made the special order for Monday next.
Mr. BREESE said he disposed to offer any oppo-
ston to this motion; he would merely remark that this bill
identical with the which passed this body in July
last And it the very bill which the Secretary Of the
Treasury recommended being calculated 10 bring into the
treasury about $780, 600 annually The honorable Senator
from Kentucky had examined the bill attenvey at the time
of its passage last session. and had expressed his views in
laon to it. He had certainly objection to short post
ponemcn if the Senator desired it, but at the time he
hoped that the vote would be taken upon the motion of the
Senator from Alabama and upon that motion he wished to
make single remark.
Mr.. HUNTINGTON, interposng said he hoped the hon
orab Senator would insist upon the vote being taken
this time. The Senator would ecoect that though this
the bill which passed the Senate yet that with
no favor in the other House, but that the bill which
back essentially different.
4 Mr.. BREESE asked if this not the bill il stood
after it received the modification OF the House.
i Mr. HUNTINGTON remarked that he believed the bill OF
the Senate laid upon the table in the House.
/ Mr.. BREESE made no further objection and
The further consideration of the bill accordingly post
poned, and made the special order for Monday next.
|. THE TARIFF.
4 The adverse report of the Committee Printing, that
the memorial Of the inhabitants of the parish of ST. May
in louisiana in relation to the repeal of the tariff of 1885,
be mol printed, came up in its order when
| Mr.. SIMMONS moved to strike out the word " not"
On this motion highly animated and interesting discus
sion took place. in which Mesrs SIMMONS, CASS CHAI-
MERS, JOHNSON, of Louisiana, ARCHER, ATHER-
1T0N, JOHNSON OF Maryland, and others participated
i Mr.. SIMMONS demanded the yeas and nays his mo-
ton, which ordered.
And the question having been taken decided in the
afipative, as follows:
\ YEAS-Messrs. Archer Badger, Cilley Thos Clayton,
j. NJ Clayton, Corwin Crittenen, Davis Dayton Greene,
Huntington, Jarnagin johnson, of Md, johnson, of La,
Mangum, Miller Morehead, Pearce Simmons Upham, and
Woodbrdge--2i
il NAYSMessrs Ashley, Atehison Atherton Bagby Ben
ton, Bright Butler Calhoun, Glass; Chalmers Dix Houston,
Laws Niles, Sewer, Speght, and Turney-H.
BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE.
Mr. ATCHlSON, in pursuance Of notice, obtained leave
to bring in bill compromise the claim OF the heirs of John
Smith IT,, under Spanish grant
Mr. DIX, in pursuance of notice. asked and obtained leave
to bring bill for the relief Of Ralph Tompns and Others
children and heirs law Of the late Daniel d. Tompkns
4 deceased.