The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-12
TIE MON.


Mr. WALKER The arms are to be purchased. for
| the government does not manufacture them:
Mr.. RUSK. Several hundred thousand dollars worth
| bought every year
Mr.. FOOTE. Il may be that the government does not
mai aeure them and yet il rs known that these arms
better suited for the purposes OF The States desiring
| arms than any others which can be named The ques-
iou then, is whether shall supply the Statesmen
staies as Texas and others botdering on the ndmn
conniry--wh these pistols or with such ~ are nearly
useless Il does seem 10 me that The practical view
favorable 10 the amendment, and shall vote Tor IL
bsve great to believe there IS no Job here al all
notwithstanding the suggestion OF senators
| Mr., DAVIS OF Mississippi ms - q weapon ~. LOT
which the inventor holds patent They canno mere
iore be made the armores of the United States 30 lar
distributed by the United States. they must De par,
chased There are some circumstances under which
think il would be we'll to distribute these arms The
Rangers OF Texas upon the fronHer found them inSau
able For cyguards where controversies houses
ter hall dozen suddenly they would be useful bnt
do not think they the proper arms tos the militla
militia pesupposes state Of wai ana s.Si !" uSe
in order that they may be IN readiness ~ the event OF
war; and may march the field with exactly the weapon
for which the fxe ammunition will be sent 1t is there
fore that have certain cabre of muskets, rifles and
pistols all reeng that the contents OF could be
used in another. This is also complicated weapon,
and il is easy to understand how to take care OF
such weapon Each man should have II IN ms own
possession in order take proper of it. We know
that the arms OF the militia are used on certain OCCASIONS
and then put into The armoy Such weapons as these in
damp climate will rust and TO rum. do not think
it adv able them. except to very limited ex.
tent and certainly not to the militia II the amendment
had read breech-oading rifles" should have preferred
it. should have expected the government to buy the
patent, and to proceed to manufacture them So. - ,,
I Mr. GWlN The country bordering on the Sierra NE,
vada is hed with Indians There are thirty thousand
estimated be there The mountains very steep and
a musket You cannot fight them with any success until
these pistols adopted in that country. They would
be very beneficial If could get them; and am very
anxious tina. my State at least should have the advantage
| of them. e.e ~ ~ ta.a@a
The amendment agreed ,o--ayes IT, noes 10.
No further amendments being offered the bill was re-
ported TO the Senate amended and the question COM
ing up concurring in the amendments made in com
mittee gl-.- ~ TIE. 1o.@.
ment: ~tat. N.
'Providd That Secretary of War shall authorize and
direct and delivery such States and Territories
as may make requision for the repeating pistols,
approved by the ordinance department. the
which such State OF Territory may be entitled 10 arms
under the existing aw.' I#.. .a. d.. .#8. .-
The other amendments having been conCurred in.
| Mr. WALKER asked for the yeas and nays on the
foregoing amendment; which were ordered
Mr. RUSK. One word on that amendment. II pro-
poses 10 authorize the States TO take such arms as they
shall think most efficient If governor OF a State who
is the commander n-chef Of the militia, and who has
used these arms chooses select arms that are available
he has a right 10 do If he does not, matter OF
the muskes and ordinary pistols are to be taken
in their place. | have seen The old pieces OF cannon
taken by The States that not worth sixpence The
muskets out OF ten rust and rot and are oil
no use This amendment leaves discretionary and as
! to Ot taken out oil the treasury IL
the same, whether for muskes or for repeating pistols
4 Here you give authority TO ask Tor such arms as Inc
State desires think the law had better be repealed en-
| trely. q ..r .aa
Mr. WALKER. desire to remark upon two point,
assumed by the senator from Texas. He says that if
muskes issued they will rust and become good Tor
nothing that be the objection TO the issue OF these
pistols greatly increased. As the senator from Mssls
sipi remarked they will for want of use and care neces
! sarily become rusty and good for nothing. a-e
In the second place, the senator is mistaken in saying
that it will require additional expenditure OF money
to provide these pistols Under the law as stands. the
distribution of is made from those we have already
in the arsenas; but 10 provide these pistols will require
an expenditure because, have no, got them. they
will have to be purchased.
red this amendment what the cost OF these pistols
understand il is some $40 or more.
Mr.. SHIELDS. have already stated that these pls-
tolls cannot be got under this provso unless il is en-
braced within the present law The intention IS to fur
nsh them to New Mexico. Texas, and California for the
purpose of defending the inhabitants. rs. ...s
| Mr.. YULEE My question was, what is The cost OF
these pistols ..a.."
Mr. YUIEE. And what is The cost CT the other kind
4 Mr. PEARCE here asked the unanimous consent Tor
leave to take from the table the bill making sppopra
o Mr. CLEMENS Objected to lis being done until The
present subject was disposed Of H.aa.. d.
| The question recurring on the amendment Of Mr.
Mr DAVIS said 1t is no, merely for the pleasure Of
the States that issued ii is also for the benefit
of the government 1t is TO provide the militia with
TO purchase certain number of certain kind OF arms
and them TO the States and Territories 1t does
not differ al all from issuing certain amount OF money
10 those States for the purpose OF arming themselves
The question being taken on concurrng 10 the amend
ment by yeas and nays, il was rejected as follows;
/ YEAS-Messrs. Atchisop, Baldwin, Bradbury, Clemens,
Dickinson Douglas, Ewing Foote Gwn, Hamlin, Hous-
ton, JONES, King, Rantoul, Rhett, Rusk Sebastian,
shields Smith and Soule--2D II .a-. 81
NAYS-M.ssrs Badger, Bodand, Blight, Chase Clarke,
Davis of Massachusetts Davis OF Mississippi Dawson,
Dodge OF lows, Downs Feloh, Hale Hunter Mason, Nit
er Morton, Norris Pearce, Prau seward 5pruance, In
derwood, Walker, Whitcomb, and Yuee-25,
The ndments then engrossed for third read
| ing, and the bill wasread third time, and passed.
u MESSAGE HOUSE.
i message received from the House OF Representa-
yes by Mr. Young their Clerk, announcing the Senate
that the House had passed the bill Is l5O grant the
j New Haven and New London Railroad Company the right
of through the custom house lot al New London, aud
the bin IS 13) for the relief of Cincinnatus Trousdale
and John G. Connolly OF Arkansas, and have passed a
10 the above bills in which they request the concurrence
| OF the Senate.
The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution OF the
House of Representatives to suspend The 7h joint rule
so far relates TO the above bills and il resolved
that they concur therein.
| WITHDRAWAL OF PAPERS.
On motion by Mr. DOWNS, it was ordered that Fon
tain j. Davenport Alpbeus 5. +. Davenport, John Ed
dins, Jacob Hickman, Hannibal Faux, MoganO. Ross.
Eli X w. Ross, the heirs OF James Henderson, c. H.
Morrison, and A. p Birmingham, severally have leave
TO withdraw their petitions and papers
| Mr. ID. also asked leave 10 Withdraw the petition Of
the inhabitants OF the parish OF Moorehouse, Louisiana
which was agreed to.