Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-01-23

private that the end OF the who die
vice, bounty 500 in scrip bearing interest Al per
and redeemable years. and the scrip issued shall be
receivable at any land office in the United States"
Mr. CORWIN moved that the further consideration of the
subject be postponed until tomorrow, and that the amend
ments be printed.
After further discussion upon the question of postpone
ment the yeas and aken and decided in the
negative Yeas 22, nays 2S.
"WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 90, lS47.
Mr.. CORWlN made verbal alteration in the amendment
proposed by him yesterday by inserting the words or be
enlisted"
Mr. WEBSTER rose and remarked that the substance of
this amendment raised the question Of dispensing with the
limitations and restrictions proposed, by the original amend
men to be attached the bounty land intended be confer
red persons entering into the military service of the Uni
ted States He thought the question important one,
and he trusted would be wisely decided So far respect
ed the probable effect OF the proposition submitted by the
Committee Military Affairs aud the probable effect Of that
proposition, modified proposed, upon the recruit
proposing enlist he had stated yesterday all that he
wished to except that adyeng to the practice of the
Government and the acts of Congress during the late with
England he had stated precisely because he did
collect precisely what the of bounties which
Congress proceeded for the purpose of filling the ranks Of the
army OF the United States towards the cose of that
Mr. W. here adyered to the provisions OF the law they
stood at the close of the war; in December, 1914. There
granted he said that time fold bounes In the
first place. there money bounty Of Sl24-fty to be
paid upon enlistment fifty upon joining the regiment being
ing honorable discharge. There also eight dollars
compensation to any noncommissioned officer soldier who
should procure recruit TO be enlisted And then there
bounty in land to the amount Of half section three hun
dred and twenty acres. /.
Mr. W. adverted the legal bearing OF the proposed
restraints upon aenaons and the authority Congress
impose restrictions after parting with the ownership these
lands These restrictions, Mr. W. sad in conclusion, if
adopted IN the form recommended by the committee would
render the inefficient for securing the object conem-
plated, viz. to encourage enlislmens
s. Mr. CRITTENDEN, after remarks in relation to the
power OF Congress impose restrictions upon the lands grant
ed to the soldiers in which he differed somewhat from the Sc
naor from Massachusetts, to the of that power, OBJ
served that he fet also epugnance to such provision
and was for that reason among Others that he had pro-
posed, at former stage of the dscusson substitute for
grant OF land OF indefinite and unknown value lying re-
note situation, where the soldier might probably wish to
go and which would naturally become the subject of these
fraudulent speculaions, grant of scrip warrant which
would enable the party to locate his land where he pleased
Mr. DAVIS observed that there seemed be disposition
manifested all sides to obviae what supposed be an
evil attending the granting of bounty ands and that evil
was that those who might be enlisted soldiers in the army
would be very likely to lose the benefit of the land given
as consideration for their services by transferring such title
as they might have whatever that might be- That this evil
exlsed to extent undoubtedly true and the in
qury was how they could best meet the difficulty In what
way to shape their legislation the individual
the property to which he entitled II not an easy
question to settle. They proceeding upon the suppos
ton that legislative restriction would do this but he appre
heed that legislative restrictions yet succeeded in re-
amng property in the hands of mpovdent man. What
then, the result They providing that transfers
should work forfeiture of the grant that the person
tanng by purchase from the soldier should derive
no benefit from his bargain. They attempting
barner between the soldier and tue specuaor Did their
pernce afford them any ground for believing that they would
accomplish the object they had in view Could they by any
legislative provisions make prudent Could they pre-
ven those who had disposition waste their property from
doing 50 In his opinion in large majority of cases the
suit would be- that instead of defeating the specuatons that
grow out Of such grants they would only throw the burden Of
increased risk upon the of such property BY with
holding from him complete title for period Of years.
very great additional risk created and the land be
disposed OF less favorable terms than if they gave clear
tlie He thought the more completely the individual
made master OF the property which put his hands, the
greater would be the benefit him entirely mista
ken policy which would defeat ITSELF undertake to lie these
boues up He could no other conclusion than this
and would prefer decidedly theissue of scrip.
Mr. CASS said he did rise to discuss this question Al
ALL for he thought had been sufficiently discussed already
de merely desired to say that seemed to him would be
better to come to decision possible The bill was
vastly important and Its passage ought be DELAYED
impression upon his mind present was that he should
vote decidedly against the restrictions for he agreed fully
what had been said by the honorable Senator from Massachu
' that was not in the power of the General Government
o impose restrictions and limitations after parting with the
ownership Of the land And he still further he thought
he Government could do indirectly what they had not the
'ower TO do directly and that they had the power
rong these grants by posponing the issuing of patents
hen the equitable title passed. he did believe that they
oud by Withholding the patent retain the right to exercise
my CONTROL Besides they assuming that the volunteer
Y soldier TO whom the grant made incompetent TO
axe care OF his interests and, in attempting guard
improvden man, they putting unnecessary burdens
pom the provdent Let the soldier be asked whether he de-
red that the property should he guarded in this way and
That would be his answer He would against any re-
lr;uons being put upon these grants.
Mr. WEBSTER replied TO Of the remarks Of the Sc
a,r from Kentucky, regarding the power OF Congress
eol the laws of descent in relation these grants and
ed, that il appeared to him that the form likely be
ectual IN attaining the object contemplated by these prov
ons relating TO bounty lands the form suggested in the
mendment proposed yesterday by the honorable Senator from
exas, which to grant land scrip be issued hereafter
nd to be received payment for lands He thought this the
Hpes and best form in which bountes could be granted
Mr.. BAGBY advocated the adoption Of the restrictive
lauses.
MT. DAYTON said this was question Of much mpor
'ne inasmuch as It was the introduction of principle
this bounty land SYSTEM which certainly ought TO be- and
trusted would be, well considered II seemed TO him that
ne arguments used overlooked the main provided Tor
hls bll They were not providing bounty for past
eces they were not giving pensions they providing
aW which was to operate nducemen for services
ONE The object to be attained the filling up the ranks
the army twas necessary, then, 10 ascertain what sys-
I'm OF legislation would best promote the value Of the gift
she'her with the power of alienation, without that power
neither system OF legislation which would 10 man,
gu snail have the benefit OF grant Of land hence
system OF legislation which says him. take il now
he difference, as it seemed to him. exactly the same
eween payment of cash in hand and promise 20 paw in
even years hence They about call upon the
~ io an enlistment Of ten thousand men, scrve for
ampagn, but Tor the war; for five years 10 meet not the
tee OF the in single battle but 10 encounter the
Malignant levers Of the climate Of the enemys country
they all recoeced the difficulty that was experienced in
lme past IN procuring ensnens Every man must there