The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-06
IN CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES.
Thirticth Congress-First Session.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, ls4s.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The journal having been read
Mr., GRlNNELL rose 10 correction of the journal
1t stated the journal that Mr. GRINNELL, from tho
Committee on Commerce, TO which referred the Sen
ate bill making appropriations Tor light houses, light
boats &c, reported the back to the House without
amendment. The entry on the journal incorrect
the bill was reported back TO the House with sundry
amendments. The journal was corrected accordingly.
Mr. FRENCH moved a suspension of the rules 10 ena
BILE him move that Senate bill 10 compensate Col r.
M Johnson for the use of the Choctaw Indian Academy
lying the Speakers table, be taken up and referred to
the Committee on Indian Affairs: Ayes 2i AZ. No
Mr. CHASE moved that there be call of the House
Disagreed TO: Ayes Ia, noes lOi.
The question was again put on Mr. FRENcHs motion,
and there were: Ayes 70, noes 60. Twothrs not
ing in the affirmative, the rules were not suspended
Mr. ROCKWELL moved that the House resolve itself
into Committee of the Whole the private calendar
rejected.
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion of Mr.. HOLMES of New York. the House
resolved itself into Committee of the Whole the
OF the Union, MIR. AsHMUN in the char) and resumed
the consideration OF the bill making appropriations for
the support OF the army for the ending the 3oh june
1S49.
Mr. DANIELS of North Carolina, who had the floor
from the midnight adjournment yesterday then proceeded
to address the committee the general topics which
have been the subectsef discussion for some time past
Mr. COBB, of Alabama, succeeded to the floor. After
advertng to the difficulty he had experienced in attempt
ing to get the floor OF the House to give him opportu
nty to attend TO the business ntrused to his hands, he
said at the proper time he would propose amend the
bill by clause authorizing soldiers warrants for bounty
land to be located in foryacre tracts, if the holder
elect, but restricting the exercise of this privilege to the
soldier in whose name the warrant issued.
When he had spoken about fifteen minutes, the hour
of twelve O'Clock arrved-the hour for closing in Com
mttee of the Whole-and arrested the remarks of the
gentleman from Alabama
Mr.. VINION, chairman of the committee reporting,
awaited himself OF the hour privilege for explanations and
review of the debate upon the bill after the expiration of
the time when it was ordered that the debate should
cease During the hour he gave way for explanations
by several gentlemen.
Mr. McLANE asked if the committee were prepared
with amendments estimates for another bill il the
House should determine to make regmental additions to
the army?
Mr.. VlNTON replied that the committee were furnish
ed with estimates upon the basis of 100 men, and 81 men,
and AZ men, TO the company; but they were prepared
with estimates for the support of additional regiments
ty of some modification Of the bill He did not believe
that the chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means
would refuse utterly to send any force to protect the
frontier of California; yet he felt that he would send
with great reluctance. He could not bring his mind to
feel any apprehension that the committee and The House
would refuse the necessary additional force to the army
He did not believe that any clamor, come from what
quarter might could prevent this Congress from giving
ample protection to the western frontier 1t idle to
say, that with nine thousand men proper be
taken of the seaboard and sufficient force sent to Cali
fona 1t idle to think OF taking of our FORTH
cations with only twenty-five or thirty 10 each
Military demand four artillery regiments take
of the seaboard. He spoke of the large amounts of
money expended in Notifications on the Atlantic sea
board and stated that for the want OF adequate military
force this employed TO take Of
them, at twenty-five or thirty dollars month Did gem
tlemen suppose that these would be hired if they
not needed' We had but eight regiments left at
fortytwo men to company, when filled up 10 the maxi
num- A fair estimate upon this basis would give only
about 5000 men for the whole interior force of the
United States. II was worse than idle TO talk OF protect
ing the western frontier with three thousand men.
Entertaining these views he submitted that the army
should be increased. The question was, how much
He would add two regiments II not he would take the
advice OF the President and authorize increase OF the
rank and file upon the basis OF 81 the company
Mr. TOOMBS said that the President, in his peace
message, while he reads homiy against large stand
ing army, at the same time he communicates, by ndrec
ton, recommendation to increase the army to what 1t
would be if the companies filled up to 100 men. He
would limit the increase to 5000 men.
Mr. BURT would fix the number for the peace esab-
lishment. He would slightly increase the number pro-
posed in the bill He would have the basis AZ men
the company and give discretion to the President TO in
the rank and file to 100 OF companies assigned
TO particular fields of duty
MI TOOMBS spoke of the danger of giving military
discretion, and opposed the principle with much earnest
ness He would sooner disband the whole army, than
adopt principle which might result in crushing the gov
eminent under the weight of the usurpahons and cor
ruptons of the army.
The bill was then read through by the clerk. When
Mr.. DUNCAN of Kentucky proposed to amend this
section to fix the number OF the rank and file OF
each company at 81 to the company.
MIR. DlCKEY proposed to amend the amendment by
authorizing increase of the rank and file of particular
companies lin the discretion of the President OF the Uni
ted Staes) 100 men, but limiting the aggregate force OF
the army to 10000 men, excepting officers; which was
ruled out of order.
Mr.. Bolts proposed TO amend the amendment by Tx
ing the number of rank and file at 81 TO the com
panygiving the discretion of the President to increase
diminish the same in particular cases, limiting the
number of increase to 100 men to the company. What
ever was his opinion of the value of the acquisition
of territory, Che considered worhess) he bound to
go for military force sufficient for the present necessities
of the service.
Mr.. DUNCAN accepted the amendment as a modifca-
ton of his own.
Mr.. B. then submitted communication from the Secre-
tary of War and the Adjutant General with reference
to this subject which was read by unanimous consent
Mr.. FlCKLIN proposed formal amendment, 10 enable
him to deliver his views upon the necessity of reducing
the army. In reply to Mr. McIANE's proposition to in
the number of the regiments with view to protect
the western frontier, he said such proposition might
better come from some western member. He assumed
that the peace establishment proposed in the bill would
be amply sufficient for the service
Mr.. BARRlNGER made formal amendment, to
enable him to express his views in favor OF the PROPOSE
ton of the gentleman from Kentucky
MIR. DlCKEY now proposed his former amendment,
with modification, a substitute for the amendment
proposed by the gentleman from Kentucky. The modi-
icaton increases the limit of the aggregate OF the rank
and file to 10 270 lost
Mr. MCKAY proposed formal amendment, to enable
him to say that there necessity for the amend
ment of the gentleman from Kentucky for if the act of
18th May 1885, were repealed, proposed in the I'd