Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01

tary Affairs not in his seat and he thought II ndis-
pensabe that he should be present the bin was to be
considered
Mr. HALE. The chairman is in the Library let one
OF the pages be sent for him.
Mr. SHIELDS sent for and made his appearance
IN the chamber, and the bill was taken up
IL may be proper for the Reporter state that the
original bill introduced, leave by Mr. GwIS, the
4th OF December last and the 9th Of that month
referred to the Committee Military Affairs That com
mittee reported 1t back the 9Th of January following
striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting
the following; fa
"Tha the troops enlisted enrolled in California under
the direction OF the military and naval officers shall be paid
as volunteer mounted remen finding their horses
forage and shall have all the benefits Of all Congress
in favor OF troops engaged in the with Mexico.
Sec And be further enacted That the Secretary Of War
be directed report to on the
Monday in January 1858, the just claims and
demands Tor supplies furnished services rendered said
troops ard advanced for their support and all other
debts and liabilities contracted with to the active
cuon Of hostes BY said troops and for this purpose the
Secretary be directed to appoint board of three competent
officers TO examine witnesses and receive evidence in Cali
orna and elsewhere In relation such claims to
the to the War Department. Porided That public
ce be given Of the times and places of the sitting of said
Board. ,t#
"sec g. And be furter enacted, That the sum of ten
thousand dollars be and the is hereby appropriated
Of any money the Treasury otherwise for
the Of the examination hereby directed to be made
including such allowances the officers Of the Board as the
said Secretary shall consider proper"
The amendment having been read
Mr. GWIN desired to simplify the BILL by retaining the
first section Of the amendment Of the committee and srk
ing out the second and third sections and inserting in
lieu thereof the following:
Sec 2. And be further enacted That the Secretary Of Wa
be directed to ascertain and report to Congress-
practicable all unpaid claims and demands supplies
nshed services rendered said troops moneys
vaneed for their support and all other debts and ab
contracted with view the active prosecution hose
by said troops which have been be for
ment any office department the the Uni
ted States together with such evidence may be submitted
him. TO those charged by him with the investigation
claims, In support thereof vsg8%
Mr. GWIN avowed his object to be to have the desired
information before Congress with the least possible delay
and in the simplest manner
Mr. SHIELDS not prepared to go into the subject
but defended the amendment of the Military Committee,
which had been made with unanimous The great
difficulty in the matter had been separate the bona fde
from spurious claims The committee thought the wsest
plan to select competent officers of the army
gate the subject. For his part, he had much
confidence in boards of commission He assured Mr..
GwN that he friendly to the any one
could be- but thought the proposed amendment would not
accomplish any thing All the information called for by
was now before the committee.
Mr. GWIN pointed to the fact that his amendment was
for the appointment Of board of officers to investigate
these claims he thought they better understood the
subject, and all the necessary forms.
Mr. SHIELDS would prefer the amendment of the COM
mttee but said he had intended to offer amendment
when the bill up pay the ascertained claims which
would reach the object the Senator had in view
readily than by any other means and he would move
that the bill be recommitted to the Committee Military
Affairs.
Mr.. GWIN expressed himself satisfied with the expla-
nation of the chairman of the Military Committee.
And the bill recommitted accordingly
NON-INTERVENTION.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of the
joint resolution affirming the doctrine Of nonnterventon
Mr. COOPER and addressed the Senate until late
hour.