The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-04
In CONGRESS OF The U. STATES.


HOUSE or REPnEsEsrAT1vEs.
The journal having been read
RAILROAD oAEOoN
Mr.. McCLELLAND, from the select committee upon
the memoirs. Of a. spcsd o to
aid hum in constructing railroad from Lake Michigan
10 the Pacific ocean read twice. and referred to the Com
ms sTA R0 Of u MS sndry
utions OF the Legislature Of that State. in relation 10 do
Of lands for the support Of State asylums for the
Mr. CABELL presented the following resolutions of
the legislature Of the State Of Florida:
Preamble and resolutions Of the General Assembly of
Florida, for light houses at New Smyrna Egmont Key,
and at the mouth Of the Suwannse river Also, memo.
rails for marine hospital and custom house at Apalach
coa and for the Improvement of Apalachicola bay Also
the ST. Johns for the fertilization of the cape OF Flo
da and ST. Andrews bay; for the grant OF ST. Francis
barracks, at 81 Augustine, for the Of seminary OF
learning; for port OF entry at Miami, in Dade county
and for mail routes st. Lucie and Dade counties, and
from Milton 10 Nathansville.
Laid on the table, and ordered to printed.
MIR. TAYLOR presented resolutions OF the Legislature
OF Ohio, relation various subjects: laid the table,
and ordered to be printed,
Mr.. T. also, (by unanimous consent,) submitted the
following resolution viz:
Resolved That the COMMITTEES Of the Whole House on the
state Of the Union be discharged from the further consider
10 the General Land Office" and that be put upon
passage
Which was agreed to.
The said bill was then considered and after debate in
HOUSTON Of Alabama, COLLANER, and BOCOCK,
took part, the bill recommtted to the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
BOUNTY LANDS.
On motion of Mr. KAUFMAN, the House resolved
itself into the Committee Of the Whole House the state
of the UniOn (Mr HLLIARD in the char,) and resumed
the consideration Of the bill to amend the act to raise
other purposes"
This bill provides for bounty lands to officers in the
volunteer corps serving in Mexico, who have been made
'a Mr. T RIe%iSo of Kenucsyhavng the floor on
this subecafter adyertng to the RESPONSIVENESS of the
amendment Of the gentleman from Mississippi extending
the privilege of bounty land to the volunteers in the bor
der with the western Indians which continued after
those who fought in the late with Great Britain, he
commended also that they were equally entitled to the
bounty OF the government
With reference to the ten regiment bill, he made
gument in favor OF increasing the volunteer corps in
ference to the increase OF the regular in
reply TO the speech Of MI. THOMPSON. of mississippi
In the Of his remarks, he proposed and read the
following amendments
Belt further enacted That hereafter it shall be the duty
may file il his office any power Of attorney
fer from any soldier to any other person. nevertheless in
soldier last made either paying money for his
services Or Of money TOR any description Of ser
scrip, to observe the same line Of conduct.
Bs farther enacted That. whenever now by the exist
Or Soldier who has died n the service during the
present war with Mexico are entitled to bounty lands in
die in the service leaving wife, children parents that
e e a o ss Of
decedent shall be entitled inherit and take such interest
tied to under the laws OF the place Of enlistment.
The purpose OF the first amendment was that the SOL
der should have the first right where there
n the eagerness with which the land sharks seek to OBJ
the title to the soldiers land warrant the moment
he touches our wharf on his return from Mexico and
the advantage always taken OF his bad health and
penniless condition.
With reference to his second amendment, proposing
that the warrant, in of the death OF the original
holder without any lawful heir, shall go the nearest
of kin, be subject to disposition by will, il seemed to
him to be but just and proper that the law should be
Mr. DUNN (Mr. T. giving way) proposed to offer
substitute for the amendment OF the gentleman from
The CHAIRMAN stated that the amendment by the
gentleman from Kentucky was not yet in ords there be-
ing already two amendments pending
mr.. IHOMPSUN SAID ne intended to offer his amend
in conclusion, to estimate the expenses Of the Mexican
war; and to show that it would cost about seventy five
dollars per head for each vote.
Mr. McCLERNAND 1t is not my purpose to introduce
the subject OF party politics party action into this debate
although think may say. in answer to the gentleman
democratic Congressional granted the present bounty
Of land the soldiers, Of the present AS for myself
my n regard 10 the pay Of the soldiers has been
OF land the soldiers and the increase of their monthly
wages, but also took active part in originating the
proposition to increase the pay of the soldiers.
Passing from this topic, | should say that much of
what ! intended to submit upon the subject under
sdeation has been happily anticipated by the gentleman
from Mississippi (Mr. JACOB THOMPSON who addressed
the House few days ago, and by the gentleman from
Kentucky Mr.. THOMPSON, who has Just taken his seat
There is therefore, but little left for me bat to enlarge
and enforce the views presented by these gentlemen
which, with the indulgence of the committee, will en-
deavor to do.
The bill and the pending amendments present two dis
tnct propositions first the extension of the bounty OF
land to commissioned officers below the grade of major
who have been promoted from the ranks during the
ent war; that granted by the act of February iS47
TO privaes. And secondly, the extension of ratabe
bounty the soldiers who served in the of 1880
against the Indians and to the militia, volunteers. and
rangers, who served in the of 1919 against Great
soldiers propose sir to consider these propositions in
the order in which they are stated.
Without paasng to dwell upon the argument in favor
OF the first mentioned proposition, will endeavor euc
date its merits by the example Of particular case |
take the case OF Capt Corde of my State for the pur
pose. Capt c. entered the service OF the United States
as volunteer the 29th OF june 1S48 and proceeded
from Illinois to San Antonio, in Texas where he wa.
transferred Capt Webbs company which afterwards
served rs one of the advance guards of Gen Woods col
umn. From San Antonio he marched to or near Mon
clova thence to Parras, Sallo and to Buena Vista
In the battle of Buena VISTA at o'clock on the morning
of the 23d of February every officer of his company had
been slan and he ordered to take command of the
company, which he did, until the battle won. On
the goth of the month"; the brave and devoted