The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-15

oil the lines whose duty command. would prefer
that this matter should not be acted trust there
will be general reg uations adopted which will make
the subject somewhat more Systematic than 1t ls now.
There IS certainly great confusion IN our army and this
only tends to increase that confusion.
Mr.. HALE. | understood the chairman OF the Com
mitiee Military Affairs 10 say that this matter had
been submitted to to his committee and acted upon
Mr.. SHIELDS. We declined 10 make any change.
Mr.. HALE. That is all want 10 know.
The amendment was Rejected.
ARSENAL GROUNDS AT NEW CASTLE.
Mr.. HUNTER. The senator from Delaware [Mr.
BAYARD who is necessarily absent, has requested me TO
offer amendment 10 which can no objection He
tells thai il has passed the Senate twice separate
bill. 1t is 10 add The following additional section;
SRc. A.d Do f,her snarted, That Tho ot Of land in
which an arsenal mas been erected and The size Of The
sena be- and the hereby reconveyed and grant
ed to the trustees of said town and their successors
The amendment was agreed to.
WESTERN MILITARY ASYLUM.
Nj. DAWSON | am directed by The Committee on
Military Affairs 10 offer the following amendment
SEC dad be il further enacted That for the purpose
OF enabling the commissioned OF the military asylum to
purchase the Blue Lick springs. with view 10 the essab-
thorized by the eighteenth section oil the appropa
tion bill. approved August 81 1852, the Of $4,000,
addition the in The hands of the commissioners, is
hereby appropriated on. oi money in the not
otherwise appropriated.
MIR. SH EbDS. | would state that This amendment Is
reported by majority OF the Committee on Military Al
fairs. | did not in the report. and shall not
vote for the proposition. think it is not tie part of
legislation TO make this selection. II is executive
matter The board have power to do IL already, and do
not want TO Interfere with their prerogaves by lessa
ton.
Mr. DOWNS do not see any necessity for this
amendment Al any rate, should like to hear ex
panalion of il before vote for it. II understand the
matter, the board OF officers whose duty select
the se, visited the West and examined different points,
but did not select this the proper SITE should like
to hear some explanation of the amendment The mat
ter has been inIslsd TO board Of commissioners and
why should the Senate now, without any information
the subject take il out OF their hands and establish the
western asylum at this point, which, understand, has
been declined by the proper board OF officers whose duty
II was TO select site | should like 10 hear the object
explained.
Mr.. JONES, OF Tennessee. promise not to expose
myself TO the impualon OF the from New Hamp
shire BY lnictng long speech upon the Senate. rise
for the purpose OF answering the question propounded by
the honorable senator from Louisiana The board OF
commissioners appointed for the purpose OF locating three
asyums have gone forward TO dschage that duty. Tney
have selected site this city for OF them and
have established asylum here They selected another
se, either IN the Stale OF louisiana or Missssppat the
Pass Christian, believe. And the third remains
be located.
But the question arises Why should we in,erpose in
this matter! would refer the honorable senator who
asked thai question to the report OF the commissioners
themselves ahey slate ine reasons why they have not
located The western asylum, and their report the
reason assigned is hs: rhey have declined to do SO be-
cause they were not satisfied of the suhciency of their
means TO accomplish H. understand that they felt they
fou will remember. Mt President that al the last
SION oil Congress- an act was passed directing the commits
soners TO examine the Blue Lick springs In pursuance
OF that act, Generals Scott and Wool, and Surgeon Gen.
era Lawson proceeded to Kentucky and examined that
location, together with others Al this session OF Con-
gress the Senate called upon the Secretary OF War to fur
nish the Senate with report OF that examination That
report is before The document contains the report
OF Generals Scott and Wool and Surgeon General Law.
son General Scott in his report states that the
mlssoners did not make the purchase OF location be-
cause Of the want OF General ool recommends
strongly the purchase oil the Blue Lick springs and Sur
geon General LAWSON in very able report, mmends
IN the strongest terms the purchase oil that site Then,
The question arises, Why did they not purchase! The
10 be found in the fact that they had not mo-
ney enough TO do H. But gentlemen ask. Why shall
take II out e their hands, suppose OF the last
in the Senate who would be disposed, who would
subject himself TO the mpuation OF being disposed
take any power from the hands of General Scott the
commission. But, SIR the information is all before US,
as fully as IT is before the board and when possess
that information ask are we not competent TO decide
that question as General Scott or any other man
Two out OF the three commissioners who have
amned the Blue Lick springs report decidedly and strongly
in favor OF this purchase What is the ground assumed
by Surgeon General Lawson He tells you that ought
TO purchase the Blue Lick springs, VI II be done
favorable terms; and this amendment proposes nothing
else IL does not make Il obligatory the commissioners
TO purchase that site. Ii simply makes appropriation
OF 900, which IL is believed added TO the fund in the
hands OF the board will enable them purchase tha,
any other suitable site Surgeon General Lawson makes
this statement hope every senator will listen to it. and
that il you intend in good faith to carry out the pur.
poses and objects contemplated by the establishment OF
the board, is the time TO do IT, lie says that the
buildings al the Blue Lick springs are IN condition
to receive and entertain comfortably three four hun
dfed persons, All OF us who reside in the West
and Southwest know that there are hundreds, yea.
thousands, of our soldiers who have returned from Mex
leo, who are now disabled, lingering and dying
santly by scores and by hundreds II TO continue
IN this condition for ep fifteen, twenty years. until
site can be selected, and buildings erected Surgeon
hat nj has ath
the last debt oil Nature and have been consigned to pre-
mature graves which might be avoided by the timely
lnlerposiiion OF this government Why shall we delay
longer 10 select site where II will be unnecessary 10
build new bousesi Surgeon General Lawson tells
that the houses at the Blue Lick springs good and
sufficient and that would take fifteen twenty years
finish the necessary buildings at another site During
those fifteen or twenty years large number OF those for
whom this generous kiDd and benehcent provision OF
the government intended, will have died, and been
denied all participation in the benefits intended 10 be
ferred upon them II cannot be expected that the soldiers
IN that vast region OF country TO Washington
city TO find asylum. go down TO Pass Christian
TO find IL there. But if there was one near them they
would there and enjoy its benefits, and thus this gov
eminent would carry out It's benefcent purpose do
not ask that the commissioners shall be divesed OF
power which they have. This ndment will simply
give them the power to do this il they wan, to do it.
and then their action is 10 be subject to the ra6ca
ton OF the President and TO be OF effect unless ra
fled by him
In addition TO the other advantages Of the location. we
told by the commissioners that, while it is healthy
location, and enjoys benefits -eminently above the
others that have been named the sale OF water alone will
constitute large revenue TO the country and the
pense OF that institution might be and would he betrayed
by the sale OF that water alone. ask NJ there s
other location in all that region OF country which pos
advantages equal 10 this VI there is, am for
nat but un tpgt m lumanftk--I