Washington sentinel., 1854-03-14
House Of Representatives.
MAIL sTEAMERs-wAR STEAMERS.

NAIL STEAMERS-WAR STEAMERS. .,t
The SPEAKER laid before the House com
muncation from the Secretary of the Navy, in re-
ply 10 Mr.. WALKERS resolution, adopted on the
9th ulimo, asking whether the steamships EN-
ployed in the ocean mail service Of proper
construction TO be converted into vessels of war,
in the event of their use for this purpose; and IL
so. how many OF them.
The Secretary says. in the course of his reply
that be has examined the various reports on file in
the departments in addition TO those recently re-
ceived and while those reports and the public re-
suits demonstrate concusiveIy the admirable
adaptation Of the steamers for the performance of
the service in which they are now engaged. he
cannot resist the conviction that the general prn-
ciple of construction on which they are built are
such that is impracticable "to convert them into
vessels of war; TO be relied for efficient SER
vice as regular men Of war. They could, how.
ever in the event of war be usefully and SER
vceaby employed as transports for men and
troops, and are susceptible of being strengthened
and rendered capable of bearing small armaments
such as 10 enable them 10 annoy the enemy's com
merce, and do good service as privateersmen, not
too remote from points Of site Of coal.
Referred TO the Committee on Naval Affairs and
ordered TO be printed.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr.. HUNT, by the unanimous consent of the
House, made personal explanation relative to
his conduct on Friday last in Committee of the
Whole, and respectfully interrogaed Mr.. LANE as
named gentleman, and asked whether il was ap-
piled 10 him!
Mr.. ..ANE, by consent of The House, said tha,
the entire discussion was playful one on his
part on that occason. The reply which he made
10 Mr.. Sellers was not intended as offensive to
that gentleman; and if the gentleman from Lou
isana (Mr. HUNT did not design 10 apply rebuke
TO him, his Mr.. LANES rejoinder was not in an OF.
fensive sense.
Mr.. HUNT hoped the gentleman would here.
c.. aIsta; that nd Sc
carries a wound TO the bosom. He was not cap
tious. He was gentleman and a man of honor,
and would rather die than wonnd the feelings of
any honorable man !; but as long as he had voice
and heart he never would submit to wrong,
either here or elsewhere. He would right the
wrong where it was given.
NEW MEXICO CONTESTED ELECTION
The House took up the resolution Of Mr.. MIL
LER directing the sergeant.at.arm TO pay William
Kerr Lane per diem and mileage for the time he
was conteslng the seat of JOSE MANUEL GALE.
COS, as a delegate from New Mexico; but refused
to suspend the rules for its consideration.
BOUNTY LANDS.
The House. under suspension of the rules
adopted the resolution heretofore submitted by
Mr. HBBARD, instruciing the Committee on Pub
lie Lands 10 inquire into the expedency Of so
amending the laws in relation 10 bounty. that
whenever au applicant for bounty lands shall die,
after filing in the Office of the Commissioners Of
Pensions his application, and substantiating the
same before the issue of patent, the heirs Of the
applicant shall be entitled TO the warrant TO which
the deceased would have been entitled, if living.
THE SAN FRANCISCO
Mr.. CHANDLER asked The unanimous consent
Of the House TO discharge the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union from the further
consideration of the resolution heretofore reported
from the joint committee on the subject, relative
10 the rescuers of the passengers of the San
Francisco. II was time, he said, the subject
should be disposed Of some way.
The motion agreed TO.
Mr.. McMULLEN regretted that this question
was sprung on the House at this particular time.
He was in favor Of the Recommendation Of the
committee that medals shall be distributed 10 the
captains of the ships which came TO the relief of
the sufferers, but objected the propos ed dstr-
button of one hundred thousand dollars among
the officers and crews Of the several vessels He
trusted the gentleman would not now press the
consideration OF this resolution.
MIR CHANDLER replied expressing his regret
that the gentlemen should have made use OF the
remark that this question was sprung on The
House. The motion was brought forward as early
as the 18th of January; and the commirrec -ap.
pointed on the subject reported two weeks after
Ever since il had been pending. He then de-
Tended the proposed appropriation Of one hundred
thousand dollars for distribution among the Off.
GERS and crews of those vessels which came TO