Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-27

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and considered, and afterwards passed.
| And the Senate adjourned
House OF Representatives.
The consideration OF the BILL reported by Mr..
DISNEY on Saturday, granting the right Of way to
| the Wyandot and Pawnee railroad through the
| Territory Of Kansas, was resumed.
| Mr.. PHELPS offered substitute for the bill,
| which was adopted, extending the provisions Of
the act Of August A. 1852, entitled act granting
the right Of way TO all the plank and railroads pass
ing through the public lands Of the United States
10 all The public lands in the Territories The act
referred to applies only to tho public lands in the
| States
The bill, in the form proposed by Mr.. PHELPS,
was passed.
Mr. DISNEY from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported bill granting the further time OF
two years 10 those holding lands by entry, in the
made prior 10 January, 1852, to have the same
surveyed and patented. The design was to cor
rect an error made by the enrolling clerk.
The bill was passed.
Mr. DISNEY, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported back, with an amendment, the
Senate bill granting alternate sections Of public
lends 10 the State OF Michigan, 10 aid IN the con-
| struction ofcertain railroads therein. He said in
explanation, that the amendment provided for only
| two roads, namely the Pontiac and Lake Superior,
and the Grand Rapids and Mackinac, and granted
l,65, 500 acres of land; and, in conclusion, de-
manded the previous question.
Mr.. CLINGMAN moved that the bill be laid on
the table; and the question was decided in the
affirmatlve--yeas SO, nays 70.
On motion by Mr.. PHELPS, the House passed
resolution TO terminate the general debate on the
Navy appropriation bill in Ave minutes after the
House shall again go into the Committee Of the
Whole on the state Of the Union.
Mr.. DISNEY, from the Committee on Public
Lands likewise reported back with an amend
ment, the Senate bill granting land TO the State OF
Florida, TO aid in the construction of certain rail-
roads in said State.
Mr.. MAXWELL proposed substitute for the
BILL
Mr.. DISNEY moved the previous question.
Mr.. PECKHAM moved that the bill lie on the
table; and this was agreed to-yeas SO, nays &C.
message was received from the Senate
through AsBURY DIcKINs, their Secretary, announc
ing the passage, by that body, of joint resolution
presenting the thanks of Congress to the family Of
the late Robert Armstrong, for the sword worn by
General Andrew Jackson in the military service
Of his country; and that the relic be accepted in
the name of the nation, and deposited for safe
keeping in the Department Estate And further,
that copy of this resolution be Transmitted 10 the
family Of the late Robert Armstrong.
The Secretary brought into the Hall the sword,
which was LAID on the Speakers desk.
Mr.. SMITH, of Tennessee, asked the House TO
proceed al once to the consideration of the joint
resolution of the Senate which suggestion was
acquesced in.
On motion by Mr. STANTON, of Kentucky, the
rules were suspended, as 10 admit ladies TO the
floor Of the House; the ceremony promising TO be
an interesting one.
Mr.. SMITH, of Tennessee, in rising TO second
the resolution of the Senate, eoquently alluded
to the deeds and results of the revolutionary and of
the late with Great Britain. which established
forever our power and rank among the nations
of the earth. The actors in those scenes fast
passing away; but few Of those gallant soldiers
still survive, and they verging three score
and ten, and must soon be gathered to their
fathers. Duty, gratitude, and patriotism should
prompt us 10 gather trophies of their victories, TO
speak 10 future generations, who will keep the
memory Of the deeds OF noble daring alive forever
in the heart OF the nation.
Not long before the death of General Jackson,
he placed this sword in the hands OF friend TO
be delivered 10 General Robert Armstrong, who,
in eminent degree, commanded his respect and
enjoyed his confidence. Those two patriots
shared together the hardships of the camp, and
the dangers of the field, and therefore il was fit
that the sword should pass to him whose courage
was so brilliantly tested. II seemed 10 him that
this weapon should become the property of the
Government, to be placed among the trophies of
our victories, associated with the names of two OF
the bravest of the brave, whose exploits are re-
corded on tho brightest pages of our country's
history.
Mr.. ZOLLICOFFER said that, representing the
Hermitage district, where that great man lived,
and where his remains are entombed, the House
must pardon him for briefly giving utterance TO
MS feelings on This peculiar OccdslOu. ne mar
tial renown of Andrew Jackson has become ma
tonal property, and the brave, the world over,
pay TO his heroic spirit due honor. Even the
boldest, when treading the paths Of danger, walk
more erect and confident under the broad sunlight
of his valor. He hesfated not to say, that the
questionable personal hsroism OF Jackson has
contributed in no small degree TO the full develop
ment of the chivarous sentiment which has ever
characterized the Tennessee troops when their
country has demanded their services in the field.
| - III - -.
tagonism TO those who claim to be the special poll
teal friends Of Jackson, and therefore the senti-
ments which he now expressed were uttered with
the more freedom, and without undue Partially
or bias.
| After further eloquent remarks, he said, let
the sword then, be preserved LET it be handed
down TO posterity, and let il be deposited in the
company of the sword and camp chest Of Wash
ington, and the staff and the printing press Of
Franklin and with those most precious relicts
preserved and cared for, as high incentives TO the
honorable ambition Of American youth, as long as
liberty shall have home and as long as the union
OF the States shall have an existence among the
nations Of the earth.
In conclusion, he spoke of his late neighbor,
General Armstrong, as a personal friend one Of
the bravest most magnanimous, and most FREQ
hearted men IL had ever been his fortune person.
ally 10 know.
Mr.. BENTON said that although his voice was
broken by a severe cold, he could not resist the
hppilCttlOH Hlhut W Hiius HoT 5Oufu Hc suppress
his own feelings, TO say few words on this occa-
sion.
The world he remarked, knows in what man.
ner that sword was welded for the honor and
benefit Of our country; but the world does not
know, few Of his contemporaries know, and pos
terity will not know, unless the inside Of history
shall be given, what difficulties had 10 be encoun.
tered and surmounted before the privilege Of using
the sword for the benefit of his country was
! obtained.
| They who only see great and glorious exploits,
men at the head OF armies and mighty deeds, feel
as if such soldiers had been called into the
country's service. IL is sometimes; oftener not,
| and in this prominently not Before his
victories over the British and savages, he had a
conquest TO make over the prejudices of his own
| counirymen, a harder conquest than on the field
Of battle, for on the field, the victories were the
result Of his military genius and the brave men
whom he commanded.
| Mr.. b. said he was Jscksons junior aid
/ and therefore knew the truth Of what he now
| uttered. He then related the difficulties and dis.
appointments which attended Jacksons move.
/ ments 10 engage in active service; and, in the
course Of the interesting narrative, he stated that
n -