The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-03-15
Horse OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mr.. GAYLE presented memorial from the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company, and ofcit-
izens of,he State of Alabama, Mississippi, Ten.
nessee and Kentucky, asking the right of way
over the public lands, and grant ofthe public
lands to said company. Reierredto The Com.
mittee on Public Lands.
On motion of Mr.. Putnam, the Committee
on Public Buildings, &c., were instructed to
examine and determine whether the Hall of'the
House of Rcprcsc natives is sufficiently venril-
lated with respect to the health ofthe members
and if not, report by bill, or otherwise, what
ventilation is necessary.
Mr.. Hunt. from the Committee Of Commerce
reported bill to to remit the duties upon Ger.
tain good, destroyed by the fire in New York.
Read twice and referred to the Committee ofthe
whole on the state OF the Union.
Mr.. Stephens, from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, to which was referred the bill grant.
ing to the Alabama, Florida, and Railroad
Company the alternate sections ofihe public
lands along the route of the contemplated roads
on certain conditions, reported an amendatory
bill. Referred to the Committee OF the Whole
on the state of the Union.
Mr.. Evans, of Maryland, from the same com.
mil,ee, reported bill to amend an act entitled
an &C, to raise for limited time;a additional
force, and for other purposes, approved Februa-
ry IL. lS47. The object Of the amendment is
to secure to non commissioned officers, mus-
clans, and privales. who may have been pro.
NOTED to commissions, their bounty land.
The bill was read twice, and Mr.. Evans, al
ter few remarks, requested that it might now
he put Oh lis passage.
Mr.. Richardson proposed an amendment
providing that they shall have been elected or
promoted after their arrival at the seat OF war.
Mr.. Haskell pointed out The injustice with
which the present law operates. Those SOL
diers who serve their country but single day
and are honorably discharged, are entitled TO
the bounty land; while the soldier who may serve
eleven months and twenty days, and on, the.
twenty first day, for mcritorious services, may
be promoted to commission, is deprived OF his
bounty land.
MIR. Evans, opposed the amendment Of Mr..
Richardson, and supported the bill as reported.
Mr.. McCIernard also was in favor OF the bill.
1t had been carefully considered by the com.
.nitec on public lands; its object was 10 extend
the benefits OF the bounty land system to such
soldiers as may have been promoted from tho
ranks Tor mcrilorous services; and there was no
reason why soldier who, by his gallant con-
| duct on the field battle, has gained promotion
shall be deprived thereby of the bounty land
which he would have received had he remain.
ed private soldiers.
Mr.. Harason was in favor of referring the
bill to the Committee on Military Affairs who
had already reported bill OH the same subjec
which had been referred to the Committee oil
the Whole.
Mr.. Pollock believed the construction given
by the War Department to the existing law is
erroneous, and that the Department ought, with.
out hesitation, to give the bounty land in all
such cases. But as the decision had been made
and lle object is TO correct the error, the bill
should be passed; but it should first 90 through
the ordinary stages of legislation.
Mr. Wick considered the bill previously re.
ported by the military committee as sufficient.
Ii was not Just because n soldier has been pro.
NOTED, and therefore cannot be discharged, that
he should be deprived of his bounty lands. 1t
was proper that they should pass a law making
promotion equivalent to an honorable discharge,
and such was tho character of the bill from the
military committee.
At tho CONCLUSION OF Mr.. Wicks remarks,
without further action on the bill,
On motion of Mr.. Vinton, the House resolved
itself into committee of the whole, and resumed
the consideration of the bill further to supply
deficiencies in the appropriation for the services
of the fiscal year ending 3Olh June ls4S.
A number OF amendments were proposed and
adopted. Among others, the appropriation for