The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-23
N CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES.I
rnlrsy-srrst Congress. -s'isss session.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY q, 1850,


~ be the reception OF reports from committees.
Mr.. SAWTELLE, from the Committee on Revolu-
uonay Claims reported that the committee had had under
consideration three several petitions from czens OF
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania asking for the
passage Of law granting relief 70 the surviving officers
and soldiers OF the late with Great Britain, and
asked be discharged from the further consideration OF
me same and recommended reference to the Committee
on Public Lands; which was ordered
On motion of MIR. s., that committee was discharged
from the further consideration Of the memorial OF the
legal representatives OF John Jackson deceased. asking
for pension Tor loss OF arm IN the action with the
Scraps which was referred 10 the Committee on Naval
On motion Of Mr. S.. The Committee on Public Lands
discharged from the iufther consideration q the
petition OF Susan Fam Tor pension; which was referred
to the Committee on Invalid Pensions
Mr.. GOODENOW. from the same committee, reported
bill for the relief Of the heirs Of Joshua Eddy read
twice, referred to the Committee OF the Whole House.
and ordered to be printed, \.
On In0toa Of Mr.. g., the same committee was dis,
charged from the further consideration Of the petition OF
Mr.. G. BUTLER, from The same committee, reported a
bill for the relief Of the heirs VI Captain Larkin smith,
an officer Of the revolution; also, bill for the relief OF
the heirs Of Lieutenant Bartlett Kinds, an officer Of
the revolutionary war; which were severaiy read twce
referred TO the Committee Of the Whole House, and or
Mr.. MORSE, from the Committee oh Private Land
Claims, reported bill 70 authorize certain persons en
lied bounty land 10 dispose OF the same by testament
The bill having been read twice BY It's title,
Mr.. NJ asked that i be put upon Its third reading
The bill having been read through,
Mr. M urged at some length the proprety OF pass
ing this act, inasnuch there We're now before the
Committee on Private Land Claims large number OF
cases wherein persons entitled to bounty lands, having
posed OF their land BY testament; and ne desired an ex-
preston Of the sense Of the House upon the principle
If the House would pass the bill, would relieve the
committee from much labor ANA investigation and, BY
adopting the principle would enable the Commissioners
Of he Land Office TO apply the law to the particular
cases When the bill for raising the additional military
II then that
the soldiers should have The right to dispose OF their
and but it was thought at that time that It would be
hest 10 prohibit them from dispensing OF it, lest they might
fall victims 10 the apacty Of sharpers who would prey
upon their appetes and their necessities
II there was any force in the argument al that time, it
has ceased exist the present time Probably before
this all those heirs OF soldiers have received the land;
and is now the desire oil the committee to enable the
soldiers who have received knlnesses from strangers to
nav not only debt OF gratitude, but real debt The
first section OF this bill enables the soldiers to dispose of
for the future, the bounty land which they emit
tied The second section provides that where this boun
y land has been disposed OF BY testament the DISPOSE
ton shall be held good and valid ansero said land,
any act 10 the contrary notwithstanding.
This bill does not call Tor any appropriation from the
treasury but only changes the mole OF dsposng OF the
land; and he trusted that the House would not commit
the bill, but pass II now.
Mr.. BURT, in few remarks opposed The motion Of
the gentleman from LOUISIANA MIR. MoRsE] and the bill
on the ground that its enactment would violate the hu-
name provisions Of existing laws designed to to
the aged parents OF the soldier and to others having nat
case OF his death He conceived that an the mertorous
cases referred by the gentleman from Louisiana, the
Committee Private Land Claims should report special
bills Mr. B. concluded his remarks by moving that the
bill be referred to the Committee OF the Whole on the
Mr. CARTIER fsir BuRr withdrawing his motion
for the reference for that purpose moved to amend the
bill by inserting before the word Testament the words
'he last will and y and alter few remarks urging It's
adoption upon the House was accepted by the gentle
man from Louisiana, mr. MoRsE.l
Mr. G. then renewed the motion Tor the reference OF
the bill 10 The Committee Of the Whole the state Of
After few conversational remarks between Mcssrs
VlNTON and MORSE,
Mr. HARRIS of Illinois, said that, as member OF the
few words in favor Of the passage Of this bill There
before the committee, wherein il is
shown that soldiers broken down by disease crippled
by wounds have returned from Mexico, and have been
humaney and carefully nursed by friends, and even
strangers, and who have finally died OF disease there
Contracted or wounds received, and who before their
death, supposng they had right 10 do, have devised
their right and title to their bounty lands TO those who
had been their and guardians in their last sick
Some OF them, al the lime OF their death, had IA
theirs Mothers wives children, those kindred
who as the law granting bounty lands provides shall
coed TO the rights OF the deceased soldier; and some OF
them had no such kindred living.
In the first case although they had such kindred, yet
they deemed il but Just that those who had kindly
cared for them and had watched by their sick bed and
would smooth their dying pillows should receive this
little bountytheir last and the only gift IN their power,
to remuneaie degree, the expenses incurred in
their behalf and The care and kindness bestowed upon
them Such disposition in harmony with the gener
Gus spirits OF our gallant soldiers who gathered such a
harvest OF glory for their country and for themselves on
the fields OF Mexico.
In the other case when The soldier had none Of those
kindred who, The law provides shall succeed 10 the
rights the SOLDIER any instances have occurred where,
BY will claims bounty land have been devised out oil
feelings Of gratitude for the kindness bestowed and ex-
pense incurred in their last sickness.
The FIRST section OF the proposed bill provides that the
soldiers entitled bounty lands under the ninth section
Of the entitled IN at 10 RAISE, for limited time,
additional military force. and for other purposes may
dispose oil their rights 10 the by last will and tesla
men made in conformity with the laws OF any State or
Territory where the same shall be executed"
The second section provides that IN default Of suet
hairs created forced hss by the oforesnd acf, any
testament nude, previous 10 the passage OF this act, shall
BE- deemed coed aud sufficient transfer Of all right
and tile 10 land granted by the provisions Of The act dp
proved the iiat day Of february, fst7."
The bill guards against the disturbance OF any rights TO
bounty land where the certificates have been issued!
Where they have not been issued, and where there
such heirs the law contemplated the bill provides
that in such devses heretofore made shall be valid
before the committee, they anxious Tor expression
Of the opinion OF The House this question. II il goes
into the Committee OF the Whole, fear that il will
be reached; and IL IL is eventually, the nitee in the
mean time must continue their iabors in the examination
Of cases and in making reports 10 the House, all oil
which would be useless, should the House finally pas,
this b-ihe business OF which believe no member will
seriously question.
Mr. MARSHALL said perceive no propriety in de
laying the passage OF This bill, by referring 10 the Com
mee Of the Whole, to take place a he loot o. The cal