Washington sentinel., 1854-01-04

government received and set up its claim TO that
coast,
Mr. PRATT made few remarks, to which Mr..
CLAYTON rejoined
Mr.. CASS said, that when the papers were
printed, he would move their reference, and on
that motion would ask TO be heard
After short executive session, the Senate ad-
Journed.
House of Representatives.
Several private bills Were reported from stand
ing committees, one OF whic hwas passed, namely:
TO change the name of the American built brig,
John Dutton, and to grant register for the same.
GENERAL wool.
Mr. BISSELL from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported joint resolution presenting the
thanks of Congress and sword TO General John
E. Wool, for gallant services at the battle of Buena
Vista. .
He said he believed that he had never asked a
favor of the house but once, and recollected ais-
tincty It was not granted then. He now asked
that the resolution be put on its passage. Voices
No objection.
The question having been stated on engrossing
the bill for a third reading
Mr.. GIDDINGS, with the permission Of the
gentleman from Illinois, asked for what reasons
the resolution was brought forward, and what
claim there was on the House If he understood
the matter, il was novelty in the practice Of the
House. He believed il was the first instance in
his recollection that the thanks of Congress were
proposed to be rendered 10 any officer save the
commander in the battle, and sword presented.
He believed he was right in this remark.
II was introducing new practices and princi-
pie. 1--WE have heretofore presented the thanks
of Congress 10 the commander at the battle Of
Buena Vista, and the officers and soldiers under
his command, why are we now again called on to
tender thanks to General Wool? He wished to
be corrected, If he was wrong. Shall we deal in
similar manner towards the minor officers who
narinrmaH in hat md are.
equally entitled to thanks with General Wools
Without meaning to be personal, he would ask
of the gentleman from Illinois Colonel BIssELD
did not you do as good service as General Wool2
Why, then, should we omit you and other gallant
men, and give General Wool the thanks Of Con-
gress and sword in token of the gratitude of the
American nation! In his opinion, if this resolu-
tion was to be passed, injustice would be done 10
those Of a minor grade, and TO the privates, who
behaved 50 gallantly. He was not aware Of the
partcular circumstances which demanded the
passage Of the resolution. If it should meet the
appreciation OF the House, he would move to re-
commit the resolution, in order that the Committee
on Military Affairs may report from the records
the reasons which require its passage.
Mr.. BlSSELL said he would do little more than
answer the question proposed by the gentleman
at the outset Of his remarks; and he strongly sus-
pected that in the answer would be found the
cause OF the gentiemans hostility to the mea-
sure He would give, as answer TO the question,
that the thanks and sword proposed TO be voted
are for gallant conduct rendered to the country by
General Wool in war.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. I would inquire, most re-
specially, if General Wool performed service
more gallantly than the gentleman himself did?
Mr.. BlSSELL replied it was far from his de-
sire, or that of any other friend of General Wool,
to discuss the merits ofthe resolution, il would
be an unnecessary waste of time. No man ever
performed his duty more signally and ably than
did General Wool. For services rendered in
Mexico, twice General Taylor received the thanks
OF Congress- and two gold medals. Worth, Quit
man, Butler, Henderson, Scott, and other generals,
were similarly honored. 1t was pure omission
that General Wool was not thus included. In re-
porting the resolution, he felt that he was but dis
charging act of tardy justice, for two reasons,
first: because he had the honor to serve under
General Wool, and had personal knowledge Of
his merits ; and, secondly, because he was at the
head of the Committee on Military Affairs. There
fore il was appropriate the resolution should come
from him. He asked the House to do General
Wool and himself the justice to let the resolution
pass.
Mr.. GIDDINGs. VIII the gentleman allow me
to PROFOUND a question?
Mr. BISSELL. | would with pleasure, if / did
not know the pcrtinacity and disposition of the
gentleman TO be troublesome. He will, therefore,
excuse me for declining TO yield the floor |
move the previous question
Mr.. GIDDINGS. i hope il will not be second.'
ed. if the gentleman treats member of the House
in this way.
But the demand for the previous question was
seconded, and under its operation the resolution
was passed.
SWAMP LANDS.
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Illinois, moved TO re-
consider the vote by which, at former period of
the day, the Senate bill for the relief Of the pur-
chasers and ocators of swamp lands, was referred
TO the Committee on Public Lands. He explained
that, by the act of September %, 1850, certain
swamp lands were granted to Arkansas and other
buff hat .,ft tha,., h,I L.xr L.
Gated since the passage of the law The bill pro-
posed that the said States may select other lands,
in equal quantities. in lieu thereof and that on the
renquishment by the governors of those States,
OF the lands thus sold located the entries OF the
purchasers may be held 10 be good The bill
would take nothing from the treasury, nor from
the public lands, and, besides, would remove
much difficulty which has arisen.
Mr.. DISNEY said that by the construction
given at the Land Office to the act to which allu.
sion had been made, the title TO all those swamp
lands was vested in the respective States at and
from the passage Of the law.
Mr.. HILYER moved that the motion be laid on
the table; and the motion was agreed to.
COAST SURVEY.
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky, from the Com.
mittee on Printing, reported in favor of printing
ten thousand extra copies of the letter Of The Sec
retary the Treasury, communicating the report
of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey for the
year 1853, together with the usual number of
copies six thousand for the House. and the re-
mainder for distribution by the Coast Survey Of
flee; the document 10 be printed in quarto form,
the plates TO be furnished by the Coast Survey
Office.
The resolution was passed
UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.
The following resolution. heretofore offered by
Mr.. lngersoll, was passed:
Resolved That the President of the United States Is
requested TO furnish Congress- IT, In his opinion the public
viii allow with copies OF all the correspondence
mat has passed between this government and Spain
relating to the seizure and imprisonment Of Captain
rbaddeus Beecher and his officers schooner
Worth Carolina, OF and from New Haven Connecticut by
he Spanish authorities nt Porto Rico In the mouth Of
March, 1850 .stt t.t9a
THE NAVY.
Mr.. MACDONALD offered a resolution, which