Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-30

MI. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President rise for the pur-
pose OF giving Senator's and particularly my friends ON the
oPpose SIDE OF the chamber such information this subject
as nave collected Since this bill was under consideration
the other day have taken the trouble 10 look over ali The
documents connected with it, and believe now that under
stand the facts and the principle which the Military Com
mittee have reported in this The bill allows
ton for horse valued hundred and eighty dollars II
allows compensation for collateral services as the aid Of
Gen Hull Tor year. Gentlemen the other side es;r
to know on what principle the allowance was made First
as to the horse have taken the trouble examine the
statutes in regard TO private claims Of this character and
among the various acts Of Congress passed there have been
several allowances made for the purpose Of compromising their
owners for horses lost in the service Of the United States
will only trouble the Senate with reading from one or two of
them. Indeed, sir it is difficult pass this subject with
out looking few of those acts. win only call the aten-
uon Of the Senate BY way Of precedent to few Of the first
acts which have been passed in relation the subject In the
year 1916 an act for the relief of Joseph Wilson passed.
paying for horse killed by sentinel The accounting off,
Ger was directed TO ascertain the value Of the horse and the
paid for the horse thus destroyed being in the
service Of the United States In 1920 an act was passed for
the relief OF Joseph Bruce allowing the Of sixty five dol
lars in full for his claim against the United States for horse
lost in the public service and this too without saving how
lo-wheher killed by sentinel shot by the enemy lost for
want Of forage or escaped and away In 1920 an act
was passed for the value of horse lost in the service The
next class OF acts are for payments allowed for horses lost for
want OF forage Now, sir in this the horse has been
lost in consequence Of an American general suenderng an
American army TO the enemy The horse has been lost in
the service Of the United States and without the fault Of his
owner The owner has been derived of that properythe
fault being with the commanding general who refused to all
low him to fight If you pay for horses lost for Of TO-
rage, you say you pay because the Government failed
to furnish the means of keeping the horse alive. II
you pay for accident whereby piece Of pro-
pery has been lost by individual, and he not to blame
for it upon what principle you refuse pay for this horse
lost because American general in violation Of his duty
surrenders army to the enemy Reconsct General Hui
tried for this offence condemned and ordered to be shot
for and by that proceedng-he act of your own court
maia-you fix the offence upon the head Of the general,
and exonerate the troops. Thus in the rejection Of hhb
in the refusal pay for this horseyou about hat
when an officer soldier loses his property by the deauh Of
his general in the service Of the United States and he presents
claim against the Government, is not be respected YET
by your own acts, the principle has been established, that
when property has been lost the service Of the Government
accidentally, without the fault of the loser the Government
is under moral obligations to pay for it.
After some debate, the bill read third time, ayes 49,
noes l6, and passed; and the Senate adjourned.