The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-23
REVOLUTIONS ADOPTED

Rs,st.s4. That the Committee the Pos, ofhoe and
Posi- Roads he directed consider the expedency Of
ios me convenience and security Of ismis.anses
our Post ONCE foreign post Offices with which il is in
correspondence constituting system OF International post
Mr. SHIELDS submitted the following resolution
which was considered BY unanimous consent and agreed
to:
Rssovsd That the Committee on the Judiciary be In
sruced 70 inquire into the enpediency OF dividing 'ho
State of Illinois into two United States Judicial districts
CAPT. oUssIsoK
Mr.. CASS submitted the following resolution, and
asked for it's consideration at this time:
Resoiped. That the Committee Pensions DO instructed
inquire into the expediency of granting pension to the
widow OF Capt Gunnison, late Of the army and recently
killed by the Indians Utah while OF
MrGWlN would like to inquire OF the honorable
senator if that the only officer Of the army who was
massacfed upon that occasion.
Mr. CASS | think So
Mr. GWlN. really think that some provision should
be made for the widows of the civil engineers also, who
Mr.. CASS. have no objection 10 giving their claims
the fullest consideration but this is BY ITSELF and
do not want to have the relief which ought to be
granted in this delayed by making the inquiry too
extended We have received the affecting intelligence
that Captain Gunnson, while in the performance OF his
by the indians. He was most estimabe citizen. and
very faithful and able officer learn. upon inquiry that
he has left widow and three small children; and he
has left them with means entirely incompetent for their
support as is very often the with officers Of the
army; for theirs, as all know. is not money ma.
king profession. find, upon examination, that the ex-
listing laws do not apply TO this case, because there
no such state OF war with these Indians will justify
the Pension Office in granting the usual pension and
until the law Is modified in this respect am very
ous to give the necessary relief in like the present
II the honorable senator from California, any other
member, wishes to include other persons in similar cir
cumsances, hope he will introduce the matter in sep
arate resolution, not 10 cucumber this and delay
Nj. SHIELDS asked to have the resolution read
| ID, - 1s~~l
Mr.. CASS. will merely observe further, that il this
officer had been killed under precisely the crcum
stances in batte or in recognized state Of the
isting laws would provide for the without the
cessity OF this resolution; but this where
officer was killed by assault from party OF Indians
and therefore it cannot be acted upon coming under
| Mr.. SHIELDS fully concur with what has Just
been said by the honorable senator from Michigan Ac-
cording TO the construction OF the department. this
which does not come within the present law, al
though thlnk il ought TO be regarded This officer
acting strictly within the line OF his duty and the
construction given by the department in that respect is
one which think is too narrow, aad which win give
good deal OF trouble, in all probability, if persisted
in but at the same time entirely concur in the object
of this resolution, and hope will be agreed to- There
may be other cases equally mertorious which be
considered whenever attention is called to them. with
out including them in this resolution hope there will
be no opposition to the passage OF the resolution in It's
present form;
Mr.. GWIN. 1 have not made any opposition to the
made the inquiry whether Captain Gunnison was the
only officer OF the army who was massacred upon that
occasion. want the families OF all those who were
killed upon that occasion TO be provided for by this gov
i eminent; and will state, Mr.. President, that intend
hereafter if il can be done without establishing dan
gerous precedent TO bring forward the question for the
consideration OF the Senate whether the families OF all
those persons who massacred in the performance of
their duty should not be provided for.
i MI. CASS. do not know any reason why that should
no, be dons giving relief heretofore to the fani-
i lies OF those who were killed in the service OF their
country we have gone beyond military and have in
make objection to the course proposed by the honor
able senators all ask is that be dsne independent of
the resolution before
The resolution was considered b. unanimous consent,
and agreed TO.
II LIEUTENANT-0EHrRAL BY IRKvET.
The joint resolution authorizing the President OF the
United States TO confer the title Of lieutenant general by
bevet Tor eminent services was then taken up and con-
The joint resolution having been read the question
was stated on reporting i 10 the Senate
Mr.. ADAMS. Mr.. President. q proposition similar to
the one now before US passed this body al the last SEES
sion, having reference by name TO distinguished gen.
eral of this counry-I refer TO General Scott At that
time l opposed II upon principle then OF opinion.
as an now, that that distinguished individual having
received vote OF thanks from the OF The
people 10 both branches OF Congress, bad received the
highest compliment which could legitmat6ay be bestowed
upon him. fully concur sir, Ia the senmen that the
creation OF title in this republican government. simply
or ne purpose e q distinction, wrong ~ principle and
must have titles. better tar 10 have old. familiar titles
such duke or lord. IL ape foreign customs
and oregn powers, let us ape their language and their
titles let us follow them in the OF their terms Of
distinction but for SIR necessity for the
introduction OF any such fashion, | am willing to be-
stow all honor upon military civil men bu,
their positions and titles are already provided for by
law. II there be necessity for this new Office, we
should provide for this by law but when mere title
IL created BY the American Congress and bestowed upon
an individual, in my humble judgment il confers no
additional honor upon him, does benefit the nsti.
tutons OF the county These, SIR my objections 10
the join, resolution before US, and ask the yeas and
| nays upon its passage
4 Mr. WALKER. In regard TO this subject, | feel very
much AZ the honorable senator from Mississippi does |
have aversion TO making any opposition to the pas
OF this pint resolution and particularly upon The
ground that do feel opposition il; for know that the
ground OF objection TO II IN my own mind 10 tina,
does not obtain IN the estimation OF the honorable sena-
tor who introduced IT, know that no one is prompted
by patriotic feelings by stronger devotion 10
the constitution than that honorable senator MY obiec.
lion TO the proposition before the Senate IT, that il az.
pears TO me to be violation OF the spirit of the consitu
ton. Why, Mr.. President, suppose tina, the time
when the constitution was adopted the title proposed 10
be conferred by this resolution bad been one which was
known TO exist under the monarchIcal governments in
Europe would any hesitate for one moment 10 ,ay
that this proposition wosld embrace that was in
tended to be prohibited by the constitution The found
OF government prohibited those titles of nobility
which in Europe at the time of the adoption
of the constitution, and which familiar 10 those
who framed that instrument We recognise certain
titles existing there the known titles OF nobility This
il among them, and therefore the proposition does
not violate the letter of the constitution But wha, was
the meaning OF that nsrumentl take il to be simply
this-to prohibit the comforting oil any title. any STYLE
,yh ctod witt If