The Arkansas banner., 1851-03-04
Congressional Proceedings.
rmfRTY-FiRsr coyGRrss-sscoND SESSION
 Bounty Land Law and HaFboF Bill.
MoSpAr, Jan. 27. 1851.

nous co nsent of the House to iutEoduee iont re- solution for ie purpose of giving proper coastrac ton io the bounty land set of last year, thai that act slIn include si officers and soldiers who were engaged in the military service of the country for three months aud who served ,he time reqarred 9y law And if Is iu order should also like to speak m reference to this resolution. as have heen re quested 10 do by the gentleman rOm Missouri Mir halt1 near me
 The Speaker That can only be done with the unanimous consent of tine Housl.
 The Clerk read the resolution. follows:
 Resaf.ed 5y ate Ssesse asd HSase of Rsfyeseafa- tiyss of the Uaiisd Stiss of J4n'riea iR Congress asseIsd. That nothing in the first section Of the act Of the 18th September. 1850 graaiing bonnty land to eertsia officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States shall be so construed 10 exclude any commis- stoned or non-cemmssioned officer, musei.n, or private whether of fegalars, voIan rangers or mili ia who was mustered into the service Of the United States and served the length oi time quired by said act.
 Mr H.rsison. trust the House will permit me very briefly explain the objects of the result ton and the reasons for it's proposal. aud l hope the House will then bs willing 10 allow me 10 intro duce it.
 In reference to the first clause of the act Of ls50 the Secrrtnry of the Interior has felt himself strained t0 put such construction upoa that as 10 exende many officers and soldiers who have been regularly mnsterei into the service of the umited States aud actually served the length ef time quircd of them by the act of 2sth September, 1850 There are soldiers who were regularly mustered inio the service and office ed by the United States who have served three months, aud who, because they were not engaged In actual hostIes, in blood shed are not entitled. under ihe construction given 10 the act by the Secretary of the Interior, to the benefit of the act. .he Secretary of the Interior admits. that there many. both of officers aud soldiers, who have been thus regularly mustered ,,ln nf Iiuiied tafs and Vehnsse claims for bounty land he ihiuks come wit in ths equity of the law but which, trader the coastruc- ton he feels himself boun nd to put upon the law excluded from it's benefits. That construction re- quires that they shall have been actually engaged in some war of hostility, and without b.ing orgi- nslly Intended to b. excluded they are, the law stands drbarred from participating in the benefits of the law of last year granting bounty land 10 Of fcers and soldiers engaged in the military service of the United States.
 Now it is the obect of the resolution that ask the unSni,nous consent of the House 10 introduce, to render all officers soldiers c who have actually been engaged in the service of the United States, and who nave served the time required by the law. he houmiies il was, believe, originally intended to confer upon them by the act of 1850. could give instances, Mr Speaker.
 Mir. Burt Will tine gentleman from Georgia al- low me 10 ask him qurs iosl
 Mir. Harason Certainly. Mr. Burt desire to inquire Of the gentleman from Grorgia, whether the terns of hls resolution would not give bouaties 10 volunteers who wers mustered into ih service Of the United Slates but who were never sent nto the held1 MT Haralson. No. sir The resolution speciH cally states that tho soldiers must hays served the length of time required ln said act, tact ot 18th Sertember, lS50.l
 Mir Bart think the grni'4naaslOes not un. derstand mv question. Suppose they should have ed the length Of t.e tor S,t:h the velu neered Tor tad h4 h~Fli atSrhary at Inc close of the war bGi had Gsve, actually been in the Some of ti- volunteers, as the gentleman from Georgia kaows were stationed al posts in the United States and never were in ihe war al all - What l ask is whether these cases might not be embraced by this rasslutioHf Mr. Haralson. 1 do sst know Mr JOHN SON. of Arkansas 1T the gentleman from Georgia will allow me, will stale ti,s that is ihe case new under ,hs decision of the Depar.- ment
 Mr. Haralson What is.
 Mr.JOHN SON. Those soldiers who sta toned al forts in the United Sla es, and in actual battle at the seat nf War, entitled 10 bounty land under lhe decision Of the Depart ment
 MT Harrison That is he case where there actually existing war blooisrd and hosttiitiss hu' the resolution which have the honor to submit IS intended Tor the benefit of Il ose m,a who U9der went all the pTivaons of tue slldler, who left their families. We're regularly mustered into the service, and served for the length of time required by the act but who excluded because it was not a war.
 will read the language of the law in order that hs House may properly understand the matter. It is follows
 That each of the surviving, the widow minor children of deceased, commissioned or non commissioned officers. musicians or privates, whether of regulars volunteers, rangers or militia, who performed erVics in any regiment, company, detachment in the service vf the United States, in the War with Great Britain, declared by the U Uni ted States he 18th of June, lsl2. or in any of the Indian wars since i79). and each of the com mssioned off .ers who angs.ed in the military service of ihe Uniled States in the late wiih NJ Aco, shall be entitled to land follows: those who engaged to serve twelve months during the war"
 Now the Secretary of the Interior requires that il shall have been of hostility. That ia the construction which he puts upoa the language of the law. Now held that whenever soldier has given his assent 10 go into ihs military service of lhs United Sta eS. and has been mustered into the service, and has served the length of tie required whether it be a war of actual hostilities, where hps,ilites CTS prevented, il is military service he is entitled 10 the benefit Of th@ law Such s the condit of those wlie were in the service of the Unit-d States removing the Cherokees aad it s 10 give Inc law Ihs construction that have intsodu ced this resoiuton.
 Mr Evans, of Maryland. I rise to point of order. ask if il is in dor to debate inc resolu tionl l object 10 the gentleman proceeding The Speaker The gentlemsn from Georgia is proceeding by the unanimous consent of The House. If objection is made he cAHnot proceed Mir, Haralsoa. will not de,sin the House long The Speaker. Is there any obleelioni Mr Rumsey. l object. 1 Mr. Haralson mayed 10 suspend tho rule to ena ble him 10 iatrodnce ths joint resolution. l The question put, aud the motion was not l agreed To.
 HARBOR BILL. | Mr. JOHNSON. of Arkansas, asked the unani. moas eonsent of the House 10 introduce A reaoia- i lion; which read for information. ss follows RcSolped, That House bil No 34s, being "a bill making appropriations for the improvement of esr tain harbors and rivers, be Usds Inc special order for Tuesday of pext week, aud coniiane the special order from day te day uatil disposed of
 Mir. JOae. and Mir. Burt simultaneously objected l MT. JOHNSON, move to suspend the rales and in order that we may have a test vote ask fol