Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-09
PROCEEDINGS In THE SENATE.
MONDAY. ApR.L 4. 1853.

few moments for the purpose of making personal expa
nation in regard to what published in Of the news
papers of this city part Of the report of the Committee
on Frauds, &C. 1t is in reference to statement made
by late Senator from New Hampshire MIR. HALE) dur
ing the last session of Congress- in which he alleged that
outside Of Congress had procured the passage
of the law giving additional compensation TO officers sea-
men, and marines serving ON the Pacific coast When
the Senator from New Hampshire made the statement
speaking for the Senate and the Naval Committee to
which the had been referred at early period OF
the last CongressI pronounced it false because knew
it false stated at the time that the subject had
been considered In committee ut early period OF the
first session of the last Congress- and the committee were
unanimous in favor of granting the additional compensa
ton and will prove this fact by reading to the
Senate the bill reported the 24h of February 1852,
six months before the naval appropriation bill was con-
| sidered in that committee:
Tha the proper accounting officers Of the Treasury be and
they hereby authorized and directed allow to the Off
petty officers and marines Of the United States
navy who served in the Pacific the coast OF Cao
mia and Mexico, during the late with Mexico such add
ional compensation shall be equivalent the Of
accuing to such officers petty officers, and
| rines during the period aforesaid"
This, Mr. President the deliberate action of the
committee than six months before the clause in the
appropriation bill covering the object acted On
in committee in the Senate One Of the members Of
the committee MR. SToCKToN had served the coast Of
California he had commanded the and marines
there who aided in the conquest of the country large
portion Of them my constituents and that distin-
guished Senator and myself took special interest in the
matter; and person did approach the sub
ject directly indirectly, nor, as believe any member
of the committee We considered that it duty
to give this additional compensation to these gallant
and needed prompting to induce to perform that
duty. Subsequently it was determined in committee as
there doubt if the bill passed the Senate whether
it would be acted in the other House, that amend
ment should be offered to the naval appropriation BILL
whereby the officers seamen, and marines who served
the coast of California would be placed the foet
ing with the officers and soldiers of the army service in
California and Oregon by the act of 1850 Under the in
structions of the committee, did move the following
amendment which passed, but single member of the
Senate objecting to it
That the proper accounting officers Of the Treasury be
they hereby authorized and directed allow and pay
any money treasury otherwise appropriated
States navy and officers and of the service
who served the Pacific the coast of California
Mexico during the late with Mexico and since that
period the same increased or additional as has
been by law directed be paid the officers and soldiers of
the army who served in California"
The Senator from Virginia (Mr HuSTER) objected to
it, but said that he willing to give TO them the adj
dional pay by taking the provision from the
House." then read the clause in the army appropria
tion BILL of 1850, in these words:
For pay the commissioned officers and enlisted
Of the of the United States serving in Oregon
California S325S54 the following basis TO wit that there
shall be allowed each commissioned officer aforesaid,
whilst serving aforesaid, per d in addition to their
regular pay and allowance of dollars each and each
enlisted aforesaid, whilst serving aforesaid per
diem in addition to their present pay and allowances equa,
extra pay Of the enlisted be retained until honoab
discharged This additional pay continue until the l Of
March, 1852, or until otherwise provided"
The Senator from Virginia then said:
am willing fifty percenum which agreed
to in relation to the Ihave no idea that the House
will agree TO it."
This the only opposition the proposition met with
The Committee on Naval Affairs acted on this subject
in February, 1852 when reported the bill section of
which have read which was, with ght modification,
to make ii acceptable the House Of Representa-
tves incorporated in the amendsent to the naval appro
priaon bill and therefore my statement IN reply to
the nsinuaton of the Senator from New Hampshire
strictly correct that outside influence induced the
committee to act upon that matter.
My remarks made without having the slightest
nnaton that any particular individual wac Implicated
in the remarks Of the Senator from New Hampshire for
had paid attention TO what he way saying until
warned that he attacking the Naval Committee.
Subsequently was called on by Mr. J. Knox Walker,
and informed that he the person alluded to by the
Senator from New Hampshire reooleced that he had
exhibited activity in regard to the amendment TO
the naval appropriation BILL but by way of inuenc
ing the opinions Of members of committee, for those
opinions had been known the Senate months before
the bill which have read As TO the particular wording
Of the amendment, who draughtedi Indifferent
if covered the object Of the committee. had espe
cial recollection of Mr. Walkers action in the matter
and rs he had prepared statement Of the facts which he
had said he was ready verify by his affidavit en-
dorsed its correctness believing him to be gentleman
of veracy This had the slightest reference to the
action of the committee which had been matured more
than six months before.
The report Of the select committee on frauds says that
explained the discrepancy in my statements, by say
ing that supposed Mt the time when Mr. Hale made his
remarks that he alluded to another bill The report Of
the committee does not state the facts correctly There
discrepancy in what said in reply TO Mr.. Hale
and my endorsement Of Mr.. Walkers statement The
committee had acted upon the subject months before Mr.
Walker preends that be bad any intercourse with any
member of il in reference to the matter We reported
BILL which was calendar Did he cause to re-
port that bill Did he approach member Of the
committee when were delberang the subject? IL
is not pretended that he did We subsequently ncorpo
rated the substance Of bill in an amendment to- the
naval appropriation bill In the action Of Congress
this question ut that period in his he says he
did an active part not 70 influence the Senate its
Naval Committee for both in favor of giving the
increased compensation; but his labors to have
been directed to the House of Representatives and the
committee of conference Neither he any other
induced the Naval Committee Of the Senate,
any member Of it. adopt the principle that this addition
nj compensation should be paid the officers and
and marines who served on the Pacific coast.
merely make this statement that IL may 60 upon the
record show that there discrepancy in any thing
that said on the subject
UNITED STATES BONDS ABROAD.
Mr.. BR0DHEAD called up for consideration the follow
ing resolution offered by him on Tuesday last
Resced That the Secretary Of the Treasury be required TO
procure far practicable and furnish the to the
Senate at the Of the session Of Congress-
the following information viz The aggregate amount Of
federal state city, county raroad canal and other corpora
ton bonds stocks other evidences Of debt held in Europe
and other foreign countries on the 3oh june 1883 specifying
naasv 80 far the be ascerained the amount
ofeach Of tho above descriptions u bonds md stocks
Mr.. BR0DHEAD saidt The information Sought to be
obtained by this resolution Is important and will be
m not only TO the country but TO the Senate in consider
inc measures which may aud probably will be brought