The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-23
JOHN HIhhkkT.

\ HILBERT
/ On motion by Mr. MAMLlN, the Senate proceeded,
as IN committee OF the whole, the consideration OF the
House bill for the relief OF John Hilbert and amend
ment being offered, IT then reported to the Senate
without amendment, ordered TO third reading, read
| a third time and passed.
| RELIEF OF INVALID SOLDIERS.
i Mr.. JONES moved 10 suspend the prior orders 10
take up Senate bill (6) "to regulate the pensions OF
officers, soldiers, seamen and Marines who have been
or may hereafter be disabled while the service of the
United States" This bill, although not strictly OF a
private character, embraces fifteen private cases,
each one OF which would have TO be considered II The
committee had reported separate bills, and would con.
sequently consume much greater portion OF the time OF
Congress This bill, sir, provides increased conpensa
ton Tor our brave countrymen who have lost one or
more limbs in the service 1t embraces the case of a
noble constituent OF mine-Captain j. w. Gnih,h-who
lost his right al the battle of Churubusco, and who
is entitled to the increased compensation provided for in
this bill, and much more
Mr. YULEE urged the propriey of following the order
OF the calendar This would probably be the last oppo
uny which would be afforded TO pass private bills in time
toge them through the House Bills passed to day might
possibly be acted in the House tomorrow and it
by certain whether another day would be given
| to the private calendar there, beyond tomorrow. lie
would suggest that it would be just go the caen
dar in regular order, and if there any special bills
which required action out of the regular ORDER they could
be taken up 10 morrow any other day He hoped the
Senate would refuse all further appeals for special
ton
| Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana remarked that the
assigned for taking up this bill that il was general
bill, which provided for some fifteen cases OF soldiers
some of whom had lost both their arms or legs, and
also Tor all cases OF similar character. An Immense
Number OF petitions had been presented, asking for the
found that according to the existing laws, the who
had lost got the pension he who had
lost both. The provisions OF the bill were strongly rec
commended by the War Department II had before him
twelve of the character described of individuals
who had lost, of them both arms, others eye
and the other nearly gone, and others two of their
coling TO the injury received, and intended
all cases. that might hereafter arise, of this character
Mr. YULEE thought that such bill could not pass
without discussion. The existing laws provided pen
sions Tor all who had lost limbs or who had been dsa
bled in 1t might be said that the pensions allowed
inadequate TO these If that be so, the question
was, whether was proper to consume the time OF the
Senate in discussing this bill when the already
partially provided Tor by law. There could be very
because they already had pensions granted to them by
law. lie would moreover, raise the question OF ORDER
whether this was private bill
MIR. MASON fell it incumbent on him TO demonstrate
against such ndugencies as allowing bills continually
be taken up out Of the proper order His position in the
Committee on Claims placed him under great embarrass-
ment for he felt II duty to refuse all such applications
The old mlers rule, hst come first served wasa very
proper one to govern the Senate.
| Mr. FOOTE said that it was obvious that the Senate
could pass through much OF the private calendar by
taking up those bills only that could be passed without
discussion. There considerable number OF those
| II there understanding that should he acted
that would awaken any discussion, he should have
objection to taking the present bill He had waited
tienty for long time for an opportunity OF urging the at
|
but $500, which was reported unanimously, and which
OF the plainest possi BILE OF equity but
which would not be reached unless was allowed prece-
dence from the fact of its requiring discussion.
| Mr. DODGE hoped that the motion OF his colea,u que
might prevail One OF the petitioners embraced in the
Der OF cases for which the bill provided worthy
fluent of his who hal lost his right in the bat
tie OF Churubusco. There was no possible chance 10
procure aiqlate pension for him except by the pas
sage of this bill He felt assured that the bill would lead
TO no dscusson and as it was not very likely that ii
could be passed at all unless was passed to day. he
would urge the consideration of il now.
Mr. RREESE said that it seemed to him that the bill
of general character, and was intended to obvate
the defects of the present pension law He therefore
believed that il could not be taken up private bill day
/ Mr. JOHNSON wished to say one word The Com
mittee on Pensions had reported more bills than any
other committee, and the provided Tor by this bill
were important and merorious than any of the 9th
ers which that committee had reported Instead of re-
porting upon each Of the they had reported num-
Der of them in general bill graduating the amount OF
pension according to the amount Of injury.
| Mr. fULEE Gnterposlng) insisted upon the point OF
order. 49, 49,
for him to decide the point of order until the bill was
The bill was then read, and ii was decided by the
Chair that it was a general bill, and could not be con-
sidered on private bill day
JOSEPH M'AFFEE.
Mr. FOOTE moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of the bill for the relief Of the heirs and e-
gal representatives of Joseph MeA flee, deceased.
Mr. b. stated the facts of the case TO be these:
Joseph McAfee some twelve fifteen years ago, pur
chased from the trustees OF JEFFERSON college large
amount of certain lands which had been previously
granted to that college by Congress. 1t so happened
when they purchased that it found that por
ton of ,hem--one hundred and sixty was actually
covered by another claim, by reason of which this indi
vldual deprived OF that portion OF his land. The
Committee on Private Lands took that matter into
sideraon and were in some doubt whether they should
not give him larger recompense than the present bill
affords, which only dollar and quarter per
acre.
/ The bill was then reported the Senate, ordered to be
and read a third time, read third
ami passed.
| POLLY CAMERON.
i Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia agreed with the senator
from Virginia in rcleenceto extending the privilege to
persons of taking up favorte bills; but as he believed
that the privilege had been extended every other
tor he hoped it would not be denied to himself. He
would prefer that the special order should be taken up
but this the last day for private bills, he should
on this occasion, claim the indulgence of the Senate He
thought it was due TO the country that the remaining
portion Of the time of the Senate should be devoted
House OF Representatives. He would ask the Senate 70
take up the bill for the relief OF Polly Cameron, which
was one of this character.
i Mr. ATCHISON trusted that the rules of the Senate
would be longer violated The effect of this violation
was struggle the part of senators to obtain the floor
in order to have particular bill taken up. He had half
dozen bills which he had hoped would have been taken
ration of private bills but they had been excluded by
these special motions 10 take up particular bills, and he
held that those had much Justice them any others
\ MIR YULEE informed the senator from Georgia that
the bill 10 which he referred had yet been reported
by the committee; and consequently the motion not
entertained
The Senate then proceeded to consider private bills
IL