Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-20

volunteers in Mexico the of the public service
may require, and who may, the termination present
term, voluntarily engage to serve during the with Mexico
and that provision be made for commissioning the officers
Should this receive the favorable consideration Of
Congress- tits that bounty be granted TO them
upon their voluntarily extending their term Of service, This
would only be due to these gallant men, but it would be
economy to the Governments because If discharged at the end
of the twelve months the Government would be bound TO
heavy expense in bringing them back to their homes and in
sending TO the seat Of corps Of fresh troops to supply
their place.
BY the act of the thirteenth of May last the President
authorized TO accept the services Of volunteers in companies
bataons squadrons, aad regiments" but provision
made for filing up vacancies which might by DEATH
discharges from the service account OF sickness or other
casualties In consequence of this omission, many Of the
corps now service have been much reduced in numbers
Nor any provision made for filling vacancies Of regmenta
company officers who might die resign. Information
has been received the War Department of the resignation
of more than hundred of these officers They APP
pointed by the State authorities and information has been
except in few instances that their places have been
filled and the efficiency Of the service has been impaired from
this cause To remedy these defects recommend that
thoy be given accept the services volunteers
TO fill the places Of such may die or become unfit for the
service and be discharged and that provision be also made for
filling the places Of egmensl and company officers who may
die resign By such provisions, the volunteer corps may
be constantly kept full may approximate the
number Authorized and called into service in the first instance
While is deemed to be true policy prosecute the
in the Indicated and thus make the enemy feel
its pressure and its evils, shall be at all lines ready with
the authority conferred by the constitution, and with oil
the which may be placed at my command by Congress-
to conclude just and honorable peace
OF equal importance with energetic and vigorous prose
cuiion OF the war the means required defay
and to uphold and maintain the public credit
Inmy annual message Of the 9Th of December last sub
med for the consideration Of Congress the popey of i'm
posing, measure, duties of the
ticles embraced in the free list The principal articles
exempt from duty from which any considerable
could be derived, tea and coffee, moderate
duty these articles it is estimated would produce
ally amount exceeding two and half millions of dollars
Though in period of peace, when ample could be
derived from duties other articles for the support Of the
Government may have been deemed proper tc
duty of these articles yet when the country is engaged in
foreign and all demanded to meet the
unavoidable increased expenditure in maintaining armies
in the field sound perceived why should not
avail ourselves OF the which may be derived from
this The objections which have heretofore existed
the imposition Of these duties applicable state
peace, when they not needed We now, however,
engaged in foreign We need money prosecute il,
and maintain the public honor and credit 1t be
doubted that the patriotic people Of the United States would
cheerfuy and without complaints submit to the payment
this additional duty, any other that may be necessary
the honor of the country provide for the unavoda
BILE expenses of the Government and to uphold the public
credit 1t is recommended that any duties which may be
posed these articles be limited in their duration the Pc
riod of the
An additional annual revenues it is estimated, Of between
half million and million of dollars would be derived from
the graduation and reduction of the price such Of the public
lands have been long offered in the market the minimum
price established by theexsng laws and have remained
sold. And, in addition other commenting the
measure favorable consideration, recommended f.
nancal measure The duty suggested tea and Coffee
the graduation and reduction of the price of the public lands
would additional annual to the Treasury
not less than three millions Of dollars and would thereby
the necessity of mourning public debt annually that
amount the interest which be paid semi annually
and ultimately the debt itself, by tax on the people.
and lnuu hrep nvef
by the Government and People of the United States
to loans unless in of public emergency,
then only for the smallest amount which the public necessities
will permit.
mended would produce would moreover, enable the Govern
ment negotiate lcan for any additional which
be found 10 be needed with facility and at cheaper rate
than can be done without them.
Under the injunction of the constitution which makes m
duty from time to time to give TO Congress information
the of the Unon and recommend their considers
ton such measures shall be judged Unnecessary and expe
dent respectfully and earnestly invite the action of Con
gess the herein presented for their consideration
The public good, well of my responsibility to
common constituents in my judgment imperousy deman
that should present them for enlightened consideration
and invoke favorable action upon them before the close of you
present session. JAMES X. POLK.
i The message read and referred.
THE THREE MILLION BILL.
The House then resolved itself into Committee Of tn
Whole (Mr NoRRIs in the chair, and proceeded
dent enter upon negotiations for the restoration Of
/ with Mexico.
Mr.. PENDLETON being entitled to the floor proceeds
| in his remarks, which occupied twelve minutes. Their
were then about minutes left
Mr. GRAHAM obtained the floor, and said, there
but few minutes left, he would that the commte
rise, order extend the time at which the vote to b.
taken On amendments.
| Thequesion put and rejected.
Mr. DROMGOOLE then obtained the floor, and occupied
il until the hour Of IL o'clock, (abou five minutes.
The Chairman then closed the debate, and the COMMITTEES
i proceeded to vote on the amendments. !.
i Mr. STRONG withdrew the amendment he offered severa
O00."
j MrDROMGoOLE sent to the Clerks table and had reac
an amendment which he said he would when in orde
i as a Substitute for the bill. II will be seen below.
The question being proposed adopting the preamble o
| the BID
Mr. WINTHROP rose 10 ORDER and inquired Of the Chat
whether when there preamble to bill the question
4 the preamble not TO be decided last in order
The CHAIR ruled that the sections Of the bill must first be
passed upon.
4 Mr. DROMGoOLE said that, as his amendment was
substitute for the whole BILL the question its adoption
ments, the original bill.
Mr. STEWART proposed to amend the bill by inserting
proviso as follows
q Provided That the three million dollars hereby appro
priaed shall not be paid until treaty shall be ratified by the
| United States and Mexico"
i Mr.. PRESTON KING wished to offer as an amendment
to the bill the Wlmot proviso but after discussion order
withdrew the notion and gave notice that he should offer tina
/ NJ tba, irna