The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-16
ARMS FOR EMIGRANrs.

ton authorizing the Secretary OF War to furnish arms
ana annunon 70 PERSONS emlga1lng to the Territories
the same without amendment.
i LEAVE.
l Mr. WALKER, IN pursuance of notice, asked ant
obtained leave bring in bill concerning lands lying
between The meander line and the middle OF the mean
dered streams which read first and second time
by It's ttle and referred to the Committee Public
Lands
/ MIR DODGE of Iowa. in pursuance OF notice, asked
and obtained leave introduce bill for the relief oil
Moses Meeker and David G. Bates; which was read a
first and second time by its title and referred to the Com
mittee on Claims
RESOLUTION
! Mr. KING submitted the following resolution; which
was considered by unanimous consent and agreed to.
Resopsd That the Committee on Military Affairs be in
struced to inquire into the exprdiency of authorizing
grant of land 70 the surviving officers Of the army who
commenced in 1872 and then discharged from the
service under the provisions of OF Congress for
dncing The army and also To the widows and children OF
those who have died since the close OF that
On motion By Mr. Blu fLER, the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the amendments made by the House
| to Senate bill concerning testimony.
| Mr. b. then moved that the amendments be concurred
IN; which was agreed to.
DIX.
| Mr.. JOHNSON of louisiana moved that the prior or
der of the day be postponed and that the Senate proceed
to the consideration of the bill granting pension to the
widow OF Major Dix.
Mr.. MASON was opposed to considering bills out of
the regular order Thursday had been set apart for pri
Mr.. JOHNSON OF Louisiana. This is private bill
MT HALE said there were thousands of other cases
equally merIlorous with this and he knew OF no reason
! Tor giving this the precedence.
| Mr.. DAVIS of Mississippi expressed the hope that
there would be debate upon the bill if taken up.
! The question being taken upon the motion to proceed
TO the consideration Of the bill it agreed to.
The Senate accordingly, committee of the whole,
proceeded to the consideration of said bill
| MIR. UNDERWOOD. | wish the chairman of the
Committee Pensions would inform me- the Senate, and
the county, whether this not the entering wedge to
new system OF pensions wish TO know, sir. whether
the widows OF all the officers the army who may die,
not In the SERVICE rather not of wounds received
the service, of diseases contracted in the service,
but who die of disease contracted by them, like any
10 pensions; for | see reason why Mrs. Harvey,
or Mrs. Jesup or any other lady whose husband is
in the army should not be entitled to pension, il their
husbands die under similar circumstances, well
Mrs. Dix want 70 know the principle upon which
this bill is based There are other officers who have
died, sir who may die under similar circumstances,
it seems to and this bill passes should be disposed
to give pensions to all others similarly situated This
selection OF individual cases. instead of making gene
raj law is course OF Legislation to which | am utterly
opposed
Mr.. JOHNSON of Louisiana ! expected sir, that this
bill would pass withou, any debate whatever. Col Dix
Of those gallant officers educated at West Point
who, in with Mexico, rendered most important
services which contributed largely to the success of
our army Two of those officers fell glorousy in the
discharge of their duty, and covered with mpersh
able another fell dangerously wounded after
having displayed the utmost gallaniry and skill. Major
was one OF most galant OHlceTS In
served with distinction rendering the important
vices to army He was one OF the most meritorous
and gallant officers in the army and the report of the
handing general shows that he sustained the highest
reputation as an officer.
| Now sir, he did not die in the field, AMI it is almost
miraculous that he did not for he much exposed
any officer engaged but, sir, he died in the public
service, and he died IN the discharge of his military du
ties by disease contracted by exposure while in the
vice OF bis country Although his case does not come
within the letter of the law, it does within the
spirit OF the law; and the statute book will show that
this is the spirit OF the law by several instances which
have occurred This case comes so clearly within the
spirit of the law, that the Commissioner OF Pensions
grets that he has not the power to grant pension. Nu
merous have occurred not strong this, where
pensions have been allo wed.
| Mr., UNDERWOOD. This is a matter, sir in which,
If were to consult the feelings of my heart would
vote for this bill, and for every other application in be-
half of all other widows in the United States | would
moi discriminate; but | want principle upon which
base all my votes which will stand the test of the
scrutiny OF my constituents. when am called upon for
a reason for the vote | have given.
Now, sir, II | am correctly informed, this gentleman
died of the cholera That the information published
the country as to the disease that carried him off Dying
IN that way you are to pension his widow and, if you
follow the precedent thus set the widow of every mer-
torous officer who has calamity rendered such services
to the country attribued-and have doubt most
correctly-to this gentleman. 1t will amount to this
that the widow OF every gallant officer be pensoned
after his death Now sir if this be the result, ought
| to have general bill to that effect
But sir shall delan the Senate, arguing against
the feelings which animate the bosom of ALL upon
Question of policy, because know how hopeless
task il is All ask is that the yeas and nays may be
given upon the question: to see who are willing to settle
this precedent
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi. will detain the Senate
but moment with my remarks. This is not appeal
made to the heart 1t is not desire that justice should
fall, in order that charity might rise 1t which
comes nearly within the provisions of the law that my
own opinion was that the pension ought to have been al
lowed by the department This officer, after long service,
returned to the United States and Immediately put up
duty He remained upon duty after the troops had dis
banded and Just alter having closed his duties, his
way to Washington city to make his last return, when he
would have been released from all duty connected with
the war with Mexico. On his way he seized with
fatal disease arising from his being in the service in
that part of the country, and he died thought it
within the provisions OF the law. thought he had not
returned to his home when he died. and that his death
grew out OF the with Mexico 1t is this which dis
ungushes between this and the other which
the senator from Kentucky mentions and which will pre-
vent It's becoming precedent for the wild and loose
Legislation which the senator contempates resulting
from IT.
The Jill was then reported to the Senate without
amendment and ordered to be engrossed for third
reading
The question being upon the passage of the bill, the
yeas AMI nays were demanded, and ordered
Mr.. HING. do not concur with the remarks of the
honorable senator from Mississippi that seemed to take
this out Of the general grounds upon which OPP
posed By the honorable senator from Kentucky agreed
with that senator entirely that should certainly soI
short penslouing the widows of all persons who may
die natural death, however gallant may have been then
services IN the of the country Ii that the
sequence of this BILL it will open door pensions
which here shall be limit have seen the introduc
ton OF thus system OF pensions into the government VIZ
} commenced very cautiously by granting pensions &c
particular individuals for services rendered to the
country of character greatly meritorious, and rem
darn OF tha hay, ,{ ha 81 H. ,oJ., .l,,I