Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-08
FRIDAY, july 7, ls4s.

OF the House TO amend The act entitled supplemental To
entitled SAN act providing for the prosecution of the
existing between the United States the republic Of
Mexico and for other purposes reported the back the
House with amendments.
This bill relates the dsbanding of the officers of the army
al the close OF the with Mexico
The amendment Of the pospones the execution Of
the bill until the fourth Of March, lS49.
On motion Of Mr. BOLTS the House proceeded to the
consideration Of the said bill and amendments
Mr. JONES, Of Tennessee, opposed both to the bill
and TO the amendments He opposed continuing these
officers in the service He thought the time had arrived by
the proclamation of the President that the srina-
ted when that law which is attempted be extended
the 4h OF March takes effect and became the duty of
the President that law He could no necessity
for continuing any Of these officers the service longer than
the emergency which called them into the service The ses
gency having ceased they should be continued in the ser
vice Of the country, and therefore be moved that the and
its amendments be committed TO the Committee the Whole
on the state of the Union
Mr. GENTRY, present advised and with the nfor-
nation before him, concued in the presented by his
colleague (A JosEs) fully When legislation had by
Congress for the creation OF additional officers Of the army
deemed sound policy provide that when the public
necessity which required this Of officers should have
passed away the law by which they created should pro-
vide for the termination of their office the end Of the
He public policy which required change
this respect why should they suspend the operation of
the law to the 4h Of March next They might we'll
pend the law which provides for dsbandng the rank and file
the priyaes well officers II the existing law should
operate inurousy-f any officer has rendered pre-
services, which would commend him exception from its
operation, let the law take effect and then let special law
be passed to restore him his rank But proposed
keep in the service all the officers until the 4h of March next
He could he repeated for this suspension
of the operation of the law he preferred, he had stated
that those who were metoors should be restored to their
rank by special Law.
Mr.. Bolts said there certainly reason why he,
as member of the Committee Military Affairs, the
chairman of that committee, should feel any particular anxiety
for the passage of this BILL But it became bis duty the
organ OF that committee to state the House the why
they had agreed to in Of the amendments OF the
Senate and to propose amendments to others.
Mr.. HOUSTON, Of Alabama, inquired if this bill did
make appropriation and therefore, if matter Of course
not go the Committee OF the Whole the state of
the Union
The SPEAKER said be was not aware that the bill con-
tanned an appropriation, but the gentleman from Alabama
must be that if did, had already been in Committee
Of the Whole the Of the Union had been passed by
this House and sent to the Senate whence had with
Nh. BURT assured the gentleman from Alabama the bill
made no appropriation.
Mr.. HOUSTON said it might not In direct terms but he
thought would be found that large involved
Mr.. Bolts again rose for the purpose Of making
PLANTATION of the of this BILL and Of the necessity of
passage Personally he should be satisfied with any action
the House might take upon it. He would repeat what be
said yesterday respecting the which presented
10 the House. He then recapulated the provisions Of the
law Of the last Congress- which provides that the resto
ton Of peace the major generals then in commission shall be
reduced one and the brgadie generals This b
which had been the Senate and had back with
amendment therefore either be passed immediately
unavoidable consequences would be that either Gen. Scott
Gen. Taylor be stricken from the roll and likewise
oil bgader generals two, who would be retained at the
discretion of the President of the United States The time
has arrived when the act whose provisions be had quoted,
would be in full force, the Presidents proclamation Of peace
having been published unless this bill passed this day.
The Senate instead of repeating this section of the act
proposes suspend II till the fourth day Of March next
and this not only respects general officers but all other
officers connected with the army. The object OF this Mr.
II
than could be possible 1t hereby intended
TO retain these officers in commission until the 4th Of March
but they would under the operation of the existing law
out Immediately the proclamation Of peace, and no time
remained for elaboration, the posponement made
to prevent such result and gain the time necessary act
undersandngy in the Ii was in contemplation by beth
Houses provide for the country peace establishment Now
until should have been decided what number of troops were
TO be retained in the service it could not Of be
tanned how many officers would be necessary RETAIN IL
understood Of that would be required
than in commission before the war; especially the
peace establishment waste be increased probably would
be- How, then, possible for Congress decide in
hour how many Of the officers in commission should be
dismissed 1t was impossible and give the House time
should be postponement recommended BY the Senate
should the House agree do this, would be competent to
repeal the provision Tomorrow, il pleased and to
provide peace establishment To repeal the law at once
would nfc great hardship OF the officers Mr. b.
cited particularly the Of mertorous captains who bad
recently been promoted TO a majority.
Mr.. GENTRY said that IL the object Of suspendng
than what had been stated he should give his
hearty but the Of the amendment were
general and sweeping II lis effect confined to offcers
promoted he should have objection TO It, But what did
with all these additional generals OF with their
epaulets The over, and there was no need
OF retaining them day longer.
Mr. B0YDEN suggested in reply TO Mr. Boris, that the
proclamation Of peace though made to-day was GATED on the
4th instant If there any force in what the gentleman
bad said on subject the officers out Of the service
already.
Mr. Bolts said that he had before asserted that al
the officers would 20 out but only those of high grade. He
would not undertake say whether the proclamation would
take effect in law from the day Of its date the day Of
promugson. He should suppoewoud be reckoned from the
day when it was made known the world Il might be dated
10 the line without any request Of their own, had been
promoted be majors. Now, there could not be more
gang and monstrous act OF injustice than that these
men, without fault should in their old age be egislated
Of Office Were there time do what wSs desired by his
friend from Tennessee (M GEsrRr,) Mr. b. should be
ready as be but was because Of the Of time that
order TO avoid oppression and rashne he wished postpone
the repeal Of the act and retain these oces until the 4h
of March next but until there shouldbe fan opportunity Of
acting on their case without INJECTING injustice.
Mr. ROCKWELL, Of Connections moved that the House
20 into Committee Of the Whole the pSiyate calendar.
Mr. VTNTON ssid il that motion was pressed, he should
move 10 90 into Committee of the Whole OH the OF the
Union
The question being put Mr. RocKwEIfs motion, was
negaiyed.
Mr. yINTON then moved to 20 into Committee Of the