Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-04-05


purchase them of Mr. Colt.
Mr.. SHIELDS. l have done my duty in Offering the
amendment.
Mr.. CLEMENS. may state, in addition to what has
been said by the Senator from Illinois, that the Senator from
Texas and myself called on the chief Of the ordnance bureau,
and he informed that they did not want money but
merely wanted construction Of the law which would enable
them 10 furnish upon the equison OF the States these arms
instead of the old holster pistol which they are now entitled 70
receive under the act of 1902.
Mr. WALKER think know something in relation to
this There have been blank forms sent to the Cow
ernors of the States make applications for these arms
These blank applications have been hed up WITHOUT ne un
dersandng in many instances Of the operation Of them and
those applications have been made for these arms The law
does not authorize the ordnance bureau to expend any money
in the purchase Of arms this provision 10 adopted it
will give power to expend money for the benent OF the nd
vidua from whom these arms will be purchased
Mr. RUSK wish had time to discuss this ques-
ton but there Is law upon the subject There is
law upon the statute book requiring $500 worth OF
to be distributed to the militia of the States That Is
the law and the operation of is that annual aPpropa-
ton is made. 10 this bill there is appropriation OF some
$780, 900 for that very object These distributed to
the States in proportion to the returns OF their militia mo"
the question whether you will give them such arms as they
require, such will be OF service to them, or arms
which, combat with the Indians amount to nothing more
than cornstalks Why would rather among the lnd
with good club than with holster pistol or muskei Tor
they would be of at all anxious that the Uni
ted States should furnish Texas with these to be used
in the defence Of herself against the Indians
Mr.. WALKER. If the arms to be furnished, they
be purchased for the Government does not manufacture
them.
MI RUsK. We buy hundred thousand dollars worth
Mr. FOOTE The opponents Of this proposition say that
the Government does not manufacture these arms and yet
admitted that they better fitted for all the purposes OF the
States desiring than any others which can be named
The simple question then is whether shall supply the
States especially such States Texas and others bordering
the Indian territory. with these pistols or with such arms
utterly useless for any practical object II does seem
that the practical view Of the subject favorable TO this
proposition, and shall for it with great cheerfuness
do not suspect hst there is job here, notwithstanding the
suggestions of Senators.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. This is weapon for which
the inventor holds patent 1t therefore cannot be made at
the amores of the United States, that if they be dstr-
bued by the United States they must be purchased There
circumstances under which think might DC Wen
distribute these The rangers on the Texan frontier
find them very useful For city guards where controversies
occur in houses or 10 close Streets where would have to
half dozen suddenly they would be very useful
but do not think they proper arms TO issue to the militia
of the United States Our militia presuPposes preparation
for of and should arms OF the same standard
that they would be required to in that they may
be ready in the of to march to the field with ex
acy the weapon for which the fixed ammunition will be sent
Therefore it is that have certain calber for mukets
rifles and pistols, all agreeing that the cartridges for one
may be used for another This is also complicated weapon
and very easy understand how to keep in
order and take Of it. We all know very well that the
Of the militia used certain occasions, and then
put into the armores. Such weapons this in damp eli
will rust and 60 ruin do think it is advisable
issue them except very limited extent, and certainly
not to militia If the proposition had been in relation to
loading rifles, should have preferred it. should
have expected the Government buy the patent Of that
pom, and proceed to the manufacture Of it at
~ Mr.. GWlN. The country bordering on the Sierra Ne
vada is filed with Indians thirty thousand are estimated to
be there. The mountains veIysteep and very boken
and is impossible pursue these Indians overake
crafa
until these pistols adopted in that country They would
be very beneficial if could get hem and very
ious that my State should have the advantage Of them.
The amendment was agreed to-ayes II, noes IT,
The bill then reported to the Senate as it had been
amended in Committee Of the Whole and all the amendments
concued in except the which had been offered by
Mr. SHIELDS, in regard repeating pistols on concurrence
with which .ag... NH
Mr.. WALKER asked a separate vote and on that be
asked for the yeas and nays.
The question being taken concurng in the amendment,
resulted
YEAs-Mesrs. Atchison, Baldwin, Bradbury, Clemens
Dickinson, Douglas, Ewing. foote, Gwn, Hamn, Houson
Jones' King Rantoul Rhe Rusk Sebastian Shields Smith,
NAYs-Mesrs. Badger, Borland Bright, Chase, Clarke
Davis Davis of Mississippi Dawson Dodge
Of Iowa, Downs Fech, Hale Hunter, Mason Miller Morton
Norris Pearce, Pratt Seward Spruance Underwood, Walk
er, Whitcomb, and Yulee-25.
So the amendment was not concured in. s.
The amendments then ordered be engrossed and
the bill to be read third time the bill read third time,
and passed. r. . a#
NAVAL coURTs-MARTIAL.
Mr. JONES submitted the following resolution, which was
read and ordered to be printed
Resolved That the Committee Naval Affairs be instruct
ed to inquire into the expedency of revising much OF the
laws for the government of the navy relates the nstu
ton Of naval courts-mara in certain cases. and
thereon the third Monday in January
l. That whenever the Secretary Of the Navy shall be the
accuser Of officer the court
martial for the trial Of such officer shall be appointed by the
senior naval officer duty United States powers
and jurisdiction the whole proceedings in the shall
be the exercised by the commander of squadron
fleet OF the United States under the existing law.
That hereafter instituted the trial of
commander n-chef Of squadron fleet shall be court
martial of thirteen members 'o.
s. That with view the good Of the service well
economy both IN time and money In bringing to trial officers
OF the nav and conducting the proceedings of naval
MARTIAL no civilian shall hereafter be employed judge adj
vocate.
That the judge advocate shall hereafter be appointed from
the ocers OF the line OF the navy pracsed the army
whose compensation shall dollars per
day while officiating as Judge advocate.
RESCUE OF FUGITIVE SLAVE IN BOSTON.
Mr.. BRADBURY am instructed by the Committee on
the Judiciary, TO whom referred the message Of the Pre-
sden relative to the late proceedings Boston on the
sion Of the Of fugitive slave submit majority and
also minority report move that they be printed and also
that the committee be discharged from the further considers
ton Of the subject.
The reports ordered be printed and the committee
discharged from the further consideration Of the subject
BOUNTY LAND WARRANTS.
Mr.. BELL. There Is joint resolution on the table on
i,s third reading making land warrants assgnable hope
will be read third time now. aa
NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. PEARCE, from the Committee Finance, reported
back the bill making appropriations for the naval service for
0n -rarN