The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-29

recognition Of his gallant services he valued il more than
thing in dollars and cents it is the testimonial granted
to an individual by great nation, which attaches value
II to IT, isi& ASST RNtAafNa &4aN a4i y
Lucy Thompson the senator has not stated the case fairly
because when that vessel up with the klby her crew
ashore which would have resulted in the inevitable de-
strucon ofal the passengers and He exhibited bis
gallant conduct the officers board told PERSONAL
I y, as much any OF the ether commanders. "a
But sir the senator says the captain of the Three Bells
behaved galany and deserves reward lie has been re-
warded by the gratitude Of the whole nation and by their
money The people have paid over to him from $4,000 70
$4,000 in money They have given him another testimo-
nin which will live long the latest posterity They
him than the money The people have already rewarded
$1,000 apiece has been been asrisaed to them That mon money
given 70 them Tbs has already rewarded ths
owners Of the ships There has been than hun
thousand dollars paid by the people and by the
ernment of the United services rendered
the unfortunate sufferers board the San Francisco.
appreciate the services OF these highly the
cve the proper plan IL the which proposeand that
iS to give them enduring testimonials such any
prefer to money and which he would preserve and hand
down TO his posterity. s f 8 n 4te
have high appreciation Of the services Of these Off
GERS and their any member of the Senate but
sir there is thing perfectly certain that they would
have been eternay disgraced they had not done just
what they did; they would have been driven from civil
appreciate the daring which they exhibited and the risk
which they regardless Of their lives relieve the
unfortunate individuals board that lated vessel but
they were bound to do it II they had gone off without
exhibiting proper zeal in rescuing those individuals all
know what reproach would have been upon the
| manders of those vessels all over the Union
am in favor Of giving to those officers gold medals Just
tho senator from Illinois proposes to do but the people
ofthe United States have already given them money,
large amount of money. not for paying them money
from the treasury of the United States in addition TO the
gold medals which we propose to give Them have also
given in the second resolution Of my amendment OPP
porunity to exhibit the thanks Of the Of the
United States to the officers of the San Francisco The
only difference between the senator and myself is that he
wishes to give these money and wish TO give them
testimonial in the shape of medals leaving it discretiona
with the President whether they shall be of gold silver
or bronze know that there are bronze medals of very
little intrinsic value which cannot be bought for any
for they testimonials ORA great government to in
dviduas for valuable services rendered Now think the
best thing dothe people of the United States hav
ing rewarded money these persons for the services which
they have rendered and the government having amply
paid the owners OF the vessels for their service to give
| Mr. HAMLIN. Mr.. President il is a little doubtful to
my mind how far the senator from California and the
chairman Of the select committee really disagree in the
the merorious conduct of those who prominent in
escuing the lives of the officers and soldiers from this
fortunate wreck. think that when the propositions Of
the senators whom have referred shall be exam
ned 1t will be found that but very little difference
exists between hem However much difference there may
be between the views presented by those senator's their
i resolutions may, perhaps be very nearly alike. q
Now, sir the resolution reported by the committee pro-
poses grant medals to the officers of certain vessels that
rendered distinguished services which therein named
II also proposes to make appropriation of 100000 to
be expended under the direction of the President of the
United States The amendment submitted by the senator
! from California is to grant medals to the commanding
officers of the three vessels named in the resolutio
of the committee and other and, then the senator
from California IN addition proposes to grant medals to
the scamcn TO the soldiers and to the other parties
gagged in that transaction The joint resolution reported
i b the committee does limit the President in regard 70
4 the of
country to the soldiers and other parties besides
the officers named 1t may be- therefore that the Pesi-
dent himself upon mature consideration win deem 1t adj
visabe to express the thanks of the country by granting
medals to certain extent in the very way which the SEN
s,or from tsl'iorn,s Prors Hence there is no ms
the money shall be appropriated is submitted to him and
If the resolution Of the committee shall be adopted il will
be in the power of the President he shall see fit to
adopt precisely the rule that the from Cali
| fornia proposes in his amendment
Now sir desirable is it advisable prescribe pre-
csey the mode and the in which the thanks of the
country shall be expressed to this great number Of persons7
Allow me to express my opinion, and to give my belief
that IT is not only not desirable thus TO limit it, but that
as expressing the commercial spirit Of the nation il may
be- and probably will be desirable in many instances to
make direct appropriations in money vastly better than
these medals When the dies are struck and tho medals
delivered to the officers OF these vessels thew will no
doubt be regarded of value than anything which
could be presented to them in money They would be
Raded being granted for acts of herosm which, will
say these officers have noby performed and would
doubtedy be gratifying than any other expression Of
the thanks OF the country which could be made to them
But this would not be with another cassthose who
truly the representatives Of the commercial spirit Of the
| country. They would expect the compensation which
commerce itself would direct And it might he better
and doubt not myself the President might do say
woud--come TO the conclusion that representing the
commercial feature OF the question, IL would be desirable
In cases to make this expression Of gratitude in dol
lars and cents rather than in medals The government
directly connected with this transaction, and it
brought in representing and connecting itself WITH the
commercial aspect OF the question II is appropratcin
my judgment it is highly appropraethat the govern
men thus connected with it, should do in the commercial
aspect OF the precisely what your citizens have done
And what have they donc3 Why sir from no other
motives than those of general character from other
motive than desire TO induce persons whose calling Is to
traverse the TO render assistance in similar
merchants our underwriters insurance officers and
citizens generally have contributed largely purely and
solely in the commercial view of the transaction Con-
neced az the government with this question in that
point Of view, is in my judgment equally appropriate
that the also should contribute in that point
of view, well as by giving medals to thc'oiicers
STILL whatever may be the opinions of in rcla-
ton TO this matter, whether be in the view that
take Of it not with the President Of the United States
viii be open question and win be for him TO deter
he viii do The resolution reported by the committee
therefore, submits the question TO the President leaving IL
TO him TO determine without any restrictions whatever
leaving him. with such advice and such information he
get to pursue precisely that which he shall
deem TO be best and most appropriate
think, for that If for other reason the report of the
committee should be sustained in preference the amend
MIA think the government II itself and to these
men that there should be appropriation made in the
commercial aspect of this question: apart from which
is matter OF tribute to the officers who may need