The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-14


glad if the House would consent to the postpone
ment Of the subject until Tuesday week, made
motion accordingly.
Mr.. BAYLY said that, rather than postpone it
until that time, they had better postpone it inde,
nitely.
The SPEAKER The subject is not debatable
nlr. BAYLY. II will produce that effect
MIR. LETCHER demanded the yeas and nays
Mr.. HOUSTON said that fthe gentleman from
North Carolina would now yield the floor, he would
be entitled to IL when the printing subject again
came up. He then offered resolution to close the
debate On the Army Appropriation bill In one hour
resumed in Committee Of the Whole on the state
OF the Union.
This resolution was then agreed to.
Mr.. STANLY inquired what had become OF the
The SPEAKER replied that the motion to post
pone it would be the first business in order when
the subject should again come up.
Mr.. HOUSTON moved that the House resolve
itself into a Committee Of the Whole On the state
Of the Union; which motion was agreed TO.
Mr.. BOCOCK was called to preside; and the
committee resumed the confederation Of the
ARMY APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
Mr.. MACE replied TO the remarks Of Mr.. STE
vENs, Of Pennsylvania, delivered last night; and
commended that 30 far as the platforms of the De-
mocratic party are concerned, they mean some.
thing, have vitality in them. and are the rule Of
action and conduct OF the party, and have become
the settled policy. He opposed General Scott, and
Mr.. MOORE, OF Pennsy lvania, said i, would be
recoliected, by those who members Of the last
Congress. that an act was psesed creating light
house board to examine thoroughly the whole sub
ject. The board appointed consisted of gentlemen
Of character and ability, and Of their qualifications
for that service 1t was unnecessary for him to say
q word, al they were we'll known to the country.
They had examined the subject and made report,
which was laid before the House there or four
months ngo. If gentlemsn previously thought
there was pressing necessity for a thorough re-
form in the system, they must now be doubly con.
frmed in the opinion by the report to which he had
alluded. lie then proceeded to show thu. our light
house system will not compare ut all, either for
utiiity. ethciency, or ec".iomy, with those in Eu.
rope generally n:' particularly with those of Eng
Tbc lime to which the general debate was limit
"a arrived; when
The committee proceeded to act upon the bill,
when an amendment offered extending for
one year the provisions of the law Of 1850, allow
ing the officers and men in service in California
and Oregon double pay. This was amended by
including New Mexico, and by appropriating
100000 for this purpose.
sMrLoyMENT OF cAmELs ON THE PLAINS.
Mr.. BISSELL offered amendment appropri-
ating twenty thousand dollars for the purpose Of
testing the pracucablity Of camels TO be made use
OF on the western plains, as o substitute in part
for horses This subject, hs said, had engrossed
the attention Of leading men Of the country well
two years the Secretary of has paid especial at
tentlon to it. That gentleman had informed him
that he had entered into thorough and minute in
ves,igaton as to the probable success Of the enter
prise and, SO far rs he could obtain information,
be had arrived at the conclusion that camels may
with great propriety be introduced on the western
plains in the place of horses, and as ks twenty thou
sand dollars Tor the purpose Of making that ex
pertinent. He had, therefore, offered the amend.
ment by direction Of the Committee on Military
Affairs
Mr.. EVANS advocated the proposition, go ying
that on the plane of New Mexico and elsewhere,
for want Of water. it was impossible to pursue the
Indians but as the camel can go for long period
without water, they would be found efficient for
tiis purpose A voice: =" W oud not elephants do
bettera'l The animals speed was greater than
that Of the horse on long journeys. The Secretary
of War was satisfied that the plan is practica Bile
and as the amount asked for 10 small, it should be
voted.
Mr.. HOUSTON confessed that he knew les
else. 1t was matter into which he had made no
examination; but he had no objection to The amend
ment.
MIR. GORMAN oppose it. The argument for
the employment ofthe camel was, a wan. of water
on the plains. 1t was universally known that
across the plains in Mexico-just such plains as We
have to cross on reaching our extreme western
borders and territoriss-the government Of Mexico
adopted better PLAN that Of water tanks, fed from
the mountains by means Of spouts, and so arranged
as to be perpe,uaily filled with water. But for this
the army OF SANTA Anna could not nave returned
from Buena Vista to San Luis Pntos
Mr.. BlSSELL. have seen them without water,
and dry powder flask
MIR. GORMAN But if they dry, where is
the water to be had, if this is not the most convc
nient mode of getting water acroso the arid plains?
The rainy season lasts six months. and the dry
season for a similar period ; and the Mexican en-
gincers had found this to be the only means Of fur
| nishing supply Of water. He had seen the tan ks
dry, and often had been compelled to drink stag
nant water, and to make his tea and coffee with It.
tle was glad to get it, and 80 was the gentleman
from Illinois, (Mr. BlssELL It was five hundred
miles from San Luis Potosi to Buena Vista, and
tanks were placed every fifteen miles. These
tanks are large places dug out of the Garth and
walled in and cemened with lime peculiar to the
country.
called to this subject by friend from Mississippi
last year, and he Satisfied that there was no
| experiment in which the War Department could
| engage moe profitable and safc The history OF
the world tor Thousands OF years shows that the
only animal which can he practically Employed for
travelling the desert IL toe camel. 1t can stand a
cold climate as well rs "a warm climate, GO long
| time without water, live on the heritage which il
hnds upon the way, and travel from fifty to seven
ty FIVE miles day with burden Of five hundred
pounds upon its hack He bad never =
terprise presented by the War Department which
more deserved the support of the House. The camel
! was more priced by tho Arab than his horse. He
expressed the hope that the amendment would pre-
vail
Mr. MCCORKLE sad e id, a of introducing
| the camel was novel, if not ridiculous. The time
has becn when the routes TO California were uncx
plorcd; but on the northern route there was
casion of ever being out Of water for a single hour
The southern route, however, is without water
for thirty, forty, and sxty miles there sand
desert; but when the emigrant is informed Of thit
he takes the other direction. That animal, he
| said, was VI no use there.
| MIR. BlSsELL inquired whether there was not a
stretch of sixty or seventy miles where there Wal
| no water?
| MIR. McCORKI.E was understood to reply in the
| affirmative
Mr. BISSELL said he advocated fhe employment,
| Of cames independently of the fact Of there being
no water. II was well worthy Of the experiment
to whether the animal could not be succcssfu
made Of on the plains and it's spcccs propa
gated.
| The amendment was agreed to.
Several Intellectual attempts were made further
| to amend the bill; when
| The committee rose, and the Chairman reported
| il 10 the House.
| ending the question concurring in the lac
amendment-the others having been concurred
| in
The House adjourned.
| PETITION
| nG Hhc a.,