Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-11
SOLDIERS BOUNTY LANDS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ., 1913.

a,on 4, The House, the bill reported by Mr.. EVANS,
asrJ from The COMMITTEES Public Lands, TO amend an
- oyn,lel ]. An act TO raise for a limited time additions
;l,ry fp ana for other purposes, approved February
Isa7 upon which questions pendng VIZ the ques
ton on agreeing the amendment OF Mr. RicHARpsos, o.
Illinois and question on the motion OF Mr. GinDISGs ina
die lin be committed 10 Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union.
Mr. EVANS, Of Maryland, who entitled 10 the floor,
caused be read the 9th section oil the act OF the last session
az Congress giving bounty non-commssoned officers
musicians, and privatss in the war with Mexico
Now by the construction which had been put upon TINS
act by the War Department. which the honorable gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr. PoLLocK the other day seemed
think ~. ........sa ~. .n.s seemed 10 him Mr.
very fair construction, these noncommss'onei oicers mu
scians and priyates matter how they bad distinguished
themselves matter how freely they had poured out Their
blood in Mexico matter what sacrifices ey hah MADE II
leaving their country and going lar distant land nc
by what merit account Of what service they had
received their promotion, by the very fact OF promotion lost
their 100 of land This was the decision OF the De-
partment-and very correct decision ne thought y was
upon this Of the last Congress Yet nothing could nc
palmer than that when the soldier had served his whole term
of enlistment except within few days, and was promoted
nothing could be just than they should receive then
bounty lands As said by the honorable gentleman from
Illinois (r RrcHARpsos) the other day. there had been
where soldiers had actually been compelled to accept
promotions which they would not have done had they known
that such would have been the construction Of the Depart
ment
This bill similar in its character 10 the bill reported By
the Committee on Military Affairs The bill from the Com
miee Military Afars-whch the gentleman from Indiana
(Mr WICK said he drew upProvided substantially or the
very matter provided by this bill from the Committee on
Public Lsnds They differed slightly in their form de bad
the other BILL and from careful examnalonofl ne pre-
ieed the bill reported by tim from the Commute on uoc
Lands and therefore he could not onsen 10 substitute the
other for this
The gentleman from Pennsylvania Nj PoLLocR) had
spoken OF the soldiers Of the last Narihe war OF
inquired why they were not proyited iof \ was MS
(Mr Z ~ impression that they were provided ~ ,s.rs
acts But they ~ s reen provided o should be done
o. zate BILL However, he had not intended to occupy
the the Houss aad he should conclude with motion
which he intended unknness to any one IN tins House.
bet the purpose OF Bringing The House vote the BILL
and thereby doing justice the gallant who have served
their county hatle-feds Of Mexico There
why the bill should be passed, and therefore
ne moved the previous question.
The previous question was not seconded
Mr.. THOMPSON, OF Mississippi, said, if he understood
this b designed give what deemed proper
construction to law passed by the last Congress He pro-
ceeed further explain what he understood to be the effect
OF the bill if should be agreed and expressed Me opinion
that should be changed conne it to promotions less
than field officers He desired also to make another amend
ment for the purpose Of doing another of justice which
had been long delayedhe alluded to the soldiers of the last
By his amendment he proposed TO give TO each
commissioned officer, musician, and private who regular
mustered into the service Of the United States member
Of volunteer company company Of militia for
less than twelve months service during the war of 1872
and received honorable discharge, certificate warrant
for hundred and sixty of land And in the event Of
deain ofcer,
private, after his discharge and before the issuing OF the ce
hcate warrant should be issued according TO the rules
which the descent of bounty land provided in the
act OF February lth, 1917 For service OF less time than
year he wished TO make other provisions for three months
service he proposed give certificate warrant Tor forty
acres Of land.
Mr.. McCEERNAND entrea,ed the gentleman frem Mis-
sppi 10 cucumber this bill with such provision that
indicated inasmuch would inevitably defeat the bill itself
Mr. THOMPSON was Of opinion thai the gentleman from
Illinois would for the bill and for The amendment also,
and be one Of the last men to vote il DOM.
The SPEAKER informed the gentleman from Mississippi
that his amendment in order. The pending bill
decaratoy in its characer simply prescribed
ton for part Of the bill lsi7, whereas the amendment which
the gentleman from Mississippi proposed to oier Of
trey different character.
Mr. McCLERNiND saiI the gentleman from Mississippi
had asked him if he would stand side by side with that
gentleman support bill u give bounty lands the
uneers Of the last that be replied that such
always received his support aud be prepared TO vote for
such bin at proper tne but not when would have the
effect OF sirlnglng the MEASURE now pending.
Mr. THOMPSON denied that his object was 10 srangle
this He was DESTROYS cooperate with those who
evidently eager to DO justice 10 the merito ious
who had served in the Mexican but he desired the
same time 10 couple with provision 70 DO justice TO
ther class OF who also had strong claims their country
However, perhaps would be advisable refer the bill
TO the Committee Of the Whole the Of the Union,
where could be amended accomplish biz purpose and
the desire Of the friends Of this BILL He would 90 further
STILL and make the bin the special order for par
ticular day,
Mr. EVANS begged to remind tie gentleman that this
merely decaratory It related To the construction Of
particular act ami he hoped thc gentleman would
barIass 1t with any irrelevant motion.
Mr. IHOMPSON still Insisted that il should be referred,
that might Nc whether carried out their intentions
Mr.. RICHARDSON made explanations, which were
not distinctly heard, but they understodo be eera-
ton Of the sentiments expressed by him when til. subject v
last before the House, which then reported in the Ma
tional IntelhgsncsT.
Mr.. MOREHEAD corrected an error into which the GEN
tIcman from Illinois (Mr RcH,RpsoS) bad fallen. Tha
gentleman bell we'd that IL volunteer died before he reaches
the Of military operations be entitled his boun
~ lands. Such the construction put the law bot
letter which be the Secretary Wa,
he had learned that such soldier would be entitled h
bounty land.
Some conversation ensued, IN which Mr. HALL, VI
RICHARDSON, and Mr. MOREHEAD took part.
Mr. BOYD said he had not risen TO make speech upo
this BILL but simply for the purpose Of suggesting
ment restricting s benefits officers below the grade Of e
officers He thought would be best the opsratio
Of the bill TO the lover grades of officers in the army.
Mr.. RICHARDSON said he had objection TO such a
amendment-dIh 10 wanted was himself right He wi
not opposed TO the b he was strongly in it, favor
knew we'll the need there for such provision
:empated The which had been referred by his
league Mr. THOMPSON which bad repeatedly 0,
Cured during the pccEt war. After the battle Of Buer
Vista they had great difficulty in finding officers for comp
mics who bad lost every officer 10 action because WI
had served IN The ranks ard thereby earned their boan
lands were unwilling 20 accept commissions because It's
would 10 Sc their land The bill ought 10 pass, bot Mr.
was for limiting its operaton in such d. jG