The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-18


| Mr.; UNDERWOOD WELL Mr.. President, wish to
give The gentleman opportunity 10 record his vote for
~ and wish mine recorded against the principle, and
therefore ask for the yeas and nays its engrossment
wish TO ascertain the OF the Senate because that
will save time, trouble, and expense hereafter wish
TO learn whether the Senate will undertake to lee slate in
particular cases. and grant pensions where there
general laws authorizing 1t. believe that il intro
duce The practice II will lead TO paality more ia
yolsm, and interfere with the regular slave du
ties OF Congress- than almost anything else do My
experience has been that there hardly any where
you bring up an individual, and present her individual
case. and the wants by which she is entitled 10 the sym
pahes of Congress-, but it will be provided for and if
you begin to act in this way upon general principles you
Will consume almost the whole OF Congress in con
sdering these individual gratuiiies
Why sir, there was the case OF Charlotte Lynch ]
had occasion the other day TO mention that, and bad
occasion to meet II at the time by telling you The
quences OF it. That illustrates the whole condition Of
thlngs--an accomplished lady-a poetess, as senator
near me -nterminging and assocating with
members Of Congress, making deep impression upon
lhem IRON her merits IN every respect Sir, il required
all my hrmness 10 resist application OF that
was very near giving way myself. And now, when you
present an individual case OF woman, and have
eloquent appeals made for that that woman you
give the tatuy And, in reference to this very matter
the other day one of my good constituents, who. upon
the principles Of that b ia entitled to fifteen
advocating his cause upon that precedent presented
his memorial and believe that then my honorable friend
at my left Mr. HALEl shook his head and said had
nays and, as have already promised if you give the
graiuy in this case: shall make further resistance.
but give it in ALL We have innumerabe widows to pro-
vide for and if they widows OF worthy men--men
who have noby served their country, either in high
place in the ranks, for this, my opinion, makes
difference in the caimhe gratuy s due to them, even
if we bankrupt the treasury by it. If we start upon that
courses and now set the example, promise that will al
least study economy in not making speeches
No amendment being offered, the bill was reported to
the Senate.
Upon the question OF engrossmen for third reading,
the yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. BORLAND. have no desire TO- say word in
favor OF the bill but only in response to the senator from
Kentucky insist sir, that this is not as he supposes
the introduction OF new practice It may be accord
ing to the letter OF the law but it s in the spirit
Of the law Our present pension law grants the widow
of any officer soldier killed in battle, who may die
consequences OF wounds disease contracted in the
pension. 1t is true that General Worth was not killed
in batte but do nsst-and state il upon my personal
knowledge and the knowledge OF others who had an op
porunity 10 be acquanted with the fac,s-tha when he
returned from Mexico, where he had been fighting the
battles of bis country he broken down with disease
suffering from wounds received in former battles IN
don, he ordered to Texas. and marched into San
Antonio and there fell while the cholera was raging
ihere and thus he fell before foe more formidable to
him than the arms of his countrys enemies, leaving his
family-whom he had no, been able 10 take care of on
account OF his devotion 10 his country for thirty years
destitute of the common comforts and necessares OF life
falling in formidable battle than his gaantry ever
caused him to fight in behalf OF his country. | say
therefore, that in the spirit OF the lawntending 10 give
pensions to the widows OF our gallant soldiers and 9th
GERS who have fallen in their coun,rys servceshe IL
clearly entitled 10 this pension say Also that II is nc
principle We have done the same thing in the
of other widows, which furnish precedents The
lis precisely the amount fixed upon in the OF tn
widow of Commodore Decatur, and was made 10 con
form to il, that that might be claimed precedent,
necessary relieve the conscences of gentlemen which
are tender upon the of precedents have ne
more 10 say
The question being taken resulted-yeas 3s, nays s.
as follows:
Brodhead, Butler, Chase Clemens, Davis Dodge OF Wis
copsin Dodge of Iowa. Douglas Downs, tech Fish. Foo
| Of Vermont, Geyer, Gwin, Houston, James, Jones o
Iowa, Jones Of Tennessee Mallory, Mangum Mason Mil
Spruance, Stockton, Sumner, UPham, Wade, and Walk
er-3S
| NAYs-Messrs. Dawson, Hunter, King. Pratt, and Un
der wood-5.
| So the bill ordered TO be engrossed for a third
| reading.
FLoGGING THE NAVY.
Mr. GWIN. A memorial has been sent here from
presented this morning. for the restoration
of foggng in the navy. The Committee on Naval AT
fairs have under consideration the question OF subsu
ting another system, of punishment in the navy and
they would like TO know in advance whether or not II
the OF the Senate 10 restore the system OF oggng
give notice, therefore, that shall call up the question
next Tuesday, IN order to have II settled
COMPROMISE RESOLUTION.
The Senate then proceeded 10 the consideration Of the
special order-being the resolution submitted by MIR
FooTE, OF Mississippi, in relation TO the compromise
measures.
A long debate ensued, which is in part withheld for
vision; after which, on motion,
The Senate adjourned.
/