Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-14
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER IL, 1850.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER IL, 1850.
IN SENATE.
Mr.. HALE have received and been requested to pre-
the Senate, petition signed by number Of citizens
Of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and adjacent towns in that
State which they represent that due regard the honor
and interests Of country, and to the security OF the
sona rights of all enlisted or who may hereafter
enlist in the service of the United States require that the
of Congress establishing rules and regulations for the
government Of the army Of the United States need
vision and amendment They represent that many punish
mens provided by law dispropooned TO the Offences
and that large disbursements from the public treasury
made deay the expenses Of holden for the
trial of petty msdemeanors They further state that has
recently been made known to them that martial in
fct upon pvates in the army punshmens severe and
cruel to outrage the feelings Of humanity They
that the law which authorized the infection of corporal pun
ishen except in Of deserion by stripes and lashes
has been repealed but certain evade the nten
ton Of the repeating act by Furnishing corPoreay with heavy
instruments of torture far ntoerabe than the LASH
They declare that be believed that in the nineteenth
century the degradation of the have tendency
make him better soldier They therefore suggest the pro-
pety Of code Of laws for the regulation Of the army and
the navy abolishng nhuman punishmen defining more
specifically the duties of commanding officers well p-
Yates and the authority and duties of courtsmara and of
subectng their decisions, in time of peace least to the
supervision Of the Judicial tribunals Of the United States
will state that this petition had its origin in the proceed
recently
Hampshire, at which the sentence Of the court
to excite in the community feelings Of Indignation.
will read that sentence. Il was that this private soldier
should foe all pay and allowance except such clothing
be necessary for year, to wentyur pound
ball and chain attached his leg band of iron about his
neck containing prongs each prong inches long,
to be confined in charge of guard hard labor during the
day, and solitary confinement at night, for the period
of time"
Mr.. CASS. What was the offence s
charpe was mi IF
orders The evidence is very brief and will be found in the
report which has been submitted the Senate ageeaby
resolution passed few days SINCE move that the
mortal and that report be referred the Committee Mill
tary Affairs and that the report be printed for the Of the
Senate
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi think the petition which
the Senator has presented is but manifestation Of that false
philanthropy which is abroad in the country, and which SO
much disposed TO interfere in matters not understood The
sentence which read by the Senator from New Hamp
shire, ne is quite sware was not executed The charge
which was preferred Is one so grave most counties It
would haze isJe5ed the offender to the Of death
Without knowing the circumstances and the condition Of the
garrison and the necessity for resoing to this extreme pun
shmen to impress that garrison the necessity of obedience
to ORDERS and TO preserve its efficiency such, those persons
have sent the petition which the Senator has presented and
ne gravey asks for the printing of the record before the
mltee have had an opportunity to examine and inquire
whether the Interests of the service would be subserved there
by or not
think It the duty Of the Senate look to the interests of
the service, and to the character Of the officers and not
swer to every false sentiment that may nsgae persons
Ignorant as meddesome to send petitions here am sorry
therefore, that the Senator did accept the suggestion made
by me to refer the whole matter to the committee and allow
1t 10 be examined by them and then let the Senate deter
mine whether the record shall be printed not and if
printed, whether should be printed with whou, the
port which the committee may think proper make. have
not seen the record and not prepared to form opinion
now bu', upon examination will make the soundest
decision am capable Of as TO the proprey Of printing it. and
whether il is proper for the commcs to submit report go
forth with Il or not
The PRESIDENT. The Chair would inform the sena-
tor that the motion to print must 60 10 the Committee
Printing.
Mr. HALE. hope, sir shah live to an exhibition,
at some day, Of "ue" philanthropy because every effort
made since have been here let be for what would has
been sgmazed by those opposed to it as false" phian
hropy Now, believe, if there be within the limits Of this
republic one solitary class OF individuals who have right
to look to this Government for protection against oppres
SON. particularly when that oppression conner from an officer
Of this Government, it is the private soldier and private
sailor There is other earthly power TO which they
look but to Congress.
The Senator from Mississippi suggested me- it is true,
to let the subject 60 TO the Committee Military Affairs be-
tore the motion to print made. received the sugges
ton but as did not accord with my convictions Of
what was right and proper with all due Difference to that
Senator declined to accede to it, The honorable Senator
asserts that know that the sentence not executed.
do not know great deal about but understand that II
was executed in part that approved by the officer who
ordered the court martial be called and was process Of
execution when the superior officer, Major General Scott,
had his eye fixed on the sentence and them by his oer
by his suggestion that part which related the wearing Of
this necklace with propgs inches in length
RENTED But the sentence executed in part. do not
ask ID have any extra numbers printed 20 to the
try but Tor the purpose Of enabling Senators to inform
OF the particulars Of case ask that may be
printed for the of the Senate.
WESTERN ARMoRY.
Mr. BENTON, in pursuance of previous notice, asked
and obtained leave to bring in bill of the following title
bill to authorize the President to select site for
armory and to procure the same and to the
| con struction Of the armory.
In introducing this bill Mr.. BENTON said I am not on
the committee which shall ask to have this bill REFEREED
Mr. President, and will therefore state in brief the object OF
the bill and the why the bill before us leaves to the
President OF the United States select site for Western
armoy and to make purchase Of the and commence the
erection OF the necessary buildings thereon The reason
for giving the power to make the selection TO the President
of the United States because has been found impossible
to get any site agreed upon by Of Congress- Il 10 now
nearly forty yearsever since the conclusion of the
1912 with Great Brlan-thst Western armory has been
considered great Western object 1t has now grown up
be national object. laudabIe effort was made 10
get vote of Congress by which the armory should be
blshed COL Johnson, lately deceased and who il he had
died OF almost any time for forty years past would have been
entitled TO kind and respectful notice in this chamber-he
gave twenty or thirty years exerons for the establishment
of this amory Volumes of reports were made upon he
subject by officers and commissioners sent out 10 examine
great many places and the bill authorizes the President
make further examinations IL be sees h All water sites il
the Great West have been examined before the invention
power into general motive power Man,
places have been recommended All these