Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-21

OF that information having sent 10 the city OF Ne'
York for officers who 10 be here IN day or two
to give all the information That is all the object hay
in view 1t does not conflict with the resolution of tn
honorable Senator from Maryland; but do not wish d
bestowng thanks or oasng any action Of thi
body upon newspaper report merely do not think
Senator ought rise up here and single out any ndi
yidual although agree fully with the Senator from Cali
ornia that il these reports be true, and this gaan
Enoshman the risk Of mis- life and vessel lay b,
the side of the San Francisco for days and rescued h
survivors he is entitled to the thanks of this country
But let us ascertain that fact authenticay; let us moi
Az off here as often do without having one particle
Of correct authentic information How can we distribute
Justice among these men, how we afford relief
properly, without information? want information i'm
nediaey, and officer is expected in this city tonight
who can give that information. That is nv object: but
do not desire interfere with the proposition of the
Senator from Maryland Let that 20 to the committee
they will have enough to do, and hope, am sure
they will, do what is requisite with great ability.
! Mr.. MASON l understand that the two resolutions
entirely distinct The resolution offered by the Sen
from Maryland provides for some appropriate testi
mona the part of Congress in honor of the gaantry
aud humanity which led those three vessels the
Of the survivors the wreck The object of the Senator
from linosand very proper Objects inquire and
ascertain the facts, and what other duties obga
tons may devolve upon the Government.
Now, sir respond entirely and fully what has fallen
from the Senator from Maryland This is extraori
nary OCCASION and which should be extraordinarily
met We have not full accounts but have facts which
none can dsputa showing that the officers Of these three
mpered their lives and the vessels committed to
them in order to make this rescue and they did it gal
antly by perseverance for days and nights But
to say this also it strikes forciby that the resolu
on of the honorable Senator from Maryland should be
referred to the Committee Military Affairs; from
any choice betweea the two committees but because it is
the Appropriate duty Of that committee to make this
acknowledgement, The San Francisco chartered by the
War Department. it 6lled with treePs af Tho Un.sd
States belonging to the War Department. the loss has
occurred to that branch Of the military service and the
acknowledgment, it seems to me, should come from it.
The Secretary Of War; under whose guidance this vessel
chartered and the troops prepared to be sent abroad
should think, would feel, very deeply feel duty
his Department. and on him personally, to be responsible
for that matter The resolution Of the Senator from Ma
yand goes only to appropriate testimonial for the
gallantry of the officers and crews of the three Ships
and with his permission would suggest that the refer
should be changed to the Committee Military Az
fairs, properly belonging to that committee instead of
the Committee on Naval Affairs. LII.
would say, further in reference to what has fallen
from the Senator from California that will devolye upon
this Government and ought to dcyove upon it, to make
full remuneration for the losses which have been sustain
ed by the sers and troops who board that ship
and who survivors, and to provide far may be
right and proper for those who left and the families
of those who are deceased But must do it with
and judgment to avoid bad precedent hereafter am
willing to go far any gentleman go in making
suitable testimonial therefore think that if the honor
able Senator from Illinois will withdraw his resolution
for the present. and permit the resolution Of the Senator
from Maryland to go to his committee it will be the pro-
per reference. say again do not suggest this from
desire to make any distinction between the commit
tees but because it to that the subsct belongs
more properly to the one than to the other
Mr. GWIN / have pride about this subject and no
desire except to do justice to those parties for whose bene
fit the resolution is intended but will the Sena-
tor from Virginia that he is mistaken in regard to the
chartering of the San Francisco The War Department
shipped board Of it portion of regiment and prov
ons but the vessel open to other passengers and
received other passengers and had other passengers
board The great loss has fallen it is true, the OFF,
GERS from that regiment because majority of the pas
sengers belonged it. The vessel, repeat, was not
chartered by the War Department it open to other
passengers other vessels but inasmuch this
pertains to the and the subject has been brought
before the Committee Naval Affairs this morning by
other members-not by myself thought it was ap-
proprate reference should have said nothing the
resolution Of the Senator from Maryland But this is
of the smallest portions of the duty imposed Con-
gress in consequence of this disasterthe making
pmentay return to the officers and of those ships
who gallany rescued ofcers-it is matter inmate
rial to where it shall 20. @"
Mr.. SHIELDS. 1t is wholly so to me and hope the
Senator from Virginia will permit the resolution to
main it stands agree with my honorable friend from
Virginia that this matter properly belongs the military
department but it matters very little which committee
it goes will therefore withdraw my amendment and
permit vote to be taken upon the resolution of the Sena
tor from Maryland, and submit mine afterwards on in
dependent proposition. "....
Mr.. MASON. | understand that the Senator from
Maryland has modified his resolution to make the
reference to the Committee Military Affairs.
Mr.. SHIELDS. hope not.
Mr.. MASON. hope, with all respect to the chairman
of that committee, that it will be done
Mr.. PEARCE 1t is of course subject Indifferent to
me whether the resolution goes to the Committee Mi
litary Affairs or the Committee on Naval Affairs. be-
eve that should have acquiesced in the suggestion of
the Senator from Virginia. but find that the Senator
from Illinois, who is chairman of that committee, does
not wish it to go to his committee for that de-
cline to alter the reference.
Mr. BUTLER. l desire to make single suggestion.
understand from the Senator from Illinois, the chair
man Of the Committee Military Affairs that he has had
communication this subject with the War Depart
ment He has stated to the Senate. 1t then appears
to the Senate that the War Department has already nst
tuted inquiry upon this subject and the information to
be communicated must through that Department; !;
ana when that much is announced us-that the Secre
tary OF War has already taken the initiative this sub
Jectlt necessarily must be under his official cognizance
that we are to receive the information and it therefore
does seem to me that both parliamentary courtesy and
proprety require that the subject should 90 to the Com
mittee on Military Affairs. ST..
de not intend go into some of the topics which have
been touched upon here but the information which shall
be afforded may disclose much that know nothing of
and may touch delicate questions Of obligation upon the
part OF this Goyernment-may touch sir the liabilities
Of the of the VESSEL and have no doubt that it
will show very different degree Of merit so far rs
CARDS the conduct of the different officers whom intend
to honor. tits presumedand hope very properly pre-
sumedthat they entitled to all that has been ndi-
but how far the Of the vessel may be sub
ject to liability cannot undertake to say That will
depend upon the information furnished, and upon the
severe judgment of the Senate In connexion however
with that must say, whatever may be the liability OF
the vessel cannot withhold here the opinion
which expressed towards its captain Capt Watkins
Sir, the three cheers which given him that
we're the best language that can be pronounced