Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-15
CongrfssionaI.
THIRTY-FoUaTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.


FIRST SESSION.
In Senats--Thursdsy, December I3, 1855.
Mr.. BUTLER presented the credentials Of the
Hon THOMAS J. RusK, of Texas, elected aSsna-
tor from that Stale for six years, from and after
the 4th March, 1857; which were read and placed
on file.
MEMORIALS, &c.
Memorials were presented and appropriately
referred.
BY Mr.. COLLAMER: From the heirs of the
officers OF the Massachusetts, line Of the army of
the Revolution, asking the half-pay due them
der the resolution of the 21st of October, 1850,
deductIng the Communication al one-eighth its nomi-
nal value, the rate TO which IL became reduced at
the date Of its issue. The memoralists set forth
that by the resolves of 1779-'S0 il was provided
that The officers who continued in service 10 the
end OF the war should be entitled to halfpay for
life, TO commence from the date of the reduction
Of the army; that these resolves were dictated by
the urgent necessities of the memoralists TO pre-
vent an impending dissolution of the army, and
were recommended and urged by Gen. Washing
ton as due 10 those meritorlous men that there
could not exist doubt that the adoption Of these
resolves by Congress averted the sad consc-
quences that would have inevitably resulted from
the omission to make some such provision. II
was expedient which originated in the benevo-
| lent mind of the Father of his Country at Pc
Rod Of lis greatest trial. who subsequently attest.
ed the happy consequences Of SO just and polite
| measure. 1t stimulated the Responding officers
| by the knowledge Of future provision when the
| tolls Of war were over and cheered them onward
in the services of their country The faith of that
country they were so devotedly serving was thus
| solemnly pledged to the ful6lment Of these
| solves, and their officers became possessed of
| vested right In all the emoluments promised by
them. That the inability Of the Government TO
provide for the redemption of the communication
certificates which were issued under the resolve
of March, 1883, in lieu Of the halfpay secured TO
| the officers, caused their depreciation in their
hands TO one-eghth oftheir nominal value at which
| rate they were generally disposed of; that the
Communication Of hafpay for life to five years full
pay changed altogether the nature of the original
agreement and operated to the great detriment of
the officers, and was an Infringement of their just
| rights under the resolves. The memorialists do
| not deem il necessary to enlarge, as the heroic
achievements of the officers and soldiers of the
| Revolution are consecrated by history, only re-
marking that the happy Constitution under which
| more than twenty millions of freemen are now
reposng in liberty and independence is the result
of their tolls and suferngs, and at this period of
| the great wealth and prosperity Of the country
they indulge the hope that the sacred obligations
| imposed upon the country by the resolves will be
| fulfilled
from General Washington, dated at Newburg,
| June Is, 1888:
| cit is, therefore, more than common debt of
honor; 1t can never be considered as pension
| or gratuity, nor cancelled until it is fairly dis
charged"
| Mr. BRODHEAD said he had been charged
| with memorial of like nature from the heirs of
| the officers of the Pennsylvania line He would
not add any thing 10 what had been well said
by the Senator from Vermont, (Mr. CoLLAMER,)
but would content himself with invoking the ia.
vorable consideration Of the Committee on Revo-
| lutionary Claims.
! BY Mr.. FISH From Lieut.. John J. Glasson, a
lieutenant in the navy, complaining Of the deci-
sion of the Naval Board appointed under act
of Congress Of 18th February, 1855, and asking TO
be restored TO the active service list.
| Attached TO this memorial are numerous COM
| pimentary letters from Captains in the naval SER
vice and from the present Secretary ofthe Navy.l
| BY Mr.. FOOT: From Zadoc Thompson, asking
compensation for his services in preparing an his.
orcal article to The census returns OF Vermont at
| the request Of the Superintendent of the Census
Bureau.
| Mr.. F. stated that the memoralist had been ap-
| piled TO by the Superintendent of the Censes 10
prepare such historical article in relation to
the State of Vermont as had been prepared for
| the State of Maryland. In pursuance of this
quest Mr.. Thompson had furnished the article
in question, employing some two months of
his time but il had appeared that subsequently
Congress had determined these historical articles
should not be appended 10 the census report. In
| addressing letter TO Mr.. DeBow, the gentleman
| who superseded Mr.. Kennedy, the memorialist
was informed that that officer had authority to
| pay the claim, but al the same time admitting the
| full equity of the claim.
Also, from citizens Of Ferresburg, Vermont in
| favor Of cheap ocean postage.
! Also, from Stephen Tuthill, asking remunera-
ton for losses sustained by his father, John
| Tuthill, during the revolutionary war.
By Mr.. PEARCE: From the special agent of
| the State of Maryland, asking that the State may
be reimbursed for advances made 10 the United
| States in 1928.
Also, from Franck Taylor, asking the return of
duties on articles imported by him for the use of
the United States, which were exempt by act of
January, 1649.
BY Mr.. GEYER: From J. w. Thompson and
others, asking that the titles under location of
certain New Madrid certificates may be confirmed
| in part, with the privilege Of entering the residue
/ al 81 Is per acre.
BY Mr.. HAMLIN From certain light.
keepers asking increase OF salary.
BY Mr.. JONES, Of Iowa: From Captain L.
G. Hunt asking remuneration for losses sustained
by the burning of the steamship "City of Pitts
/ burgh," on board Of which he was a passenger
under an order Join his company in Cali
| fornia.
Also, the proceedings of a meeting Of citizens
held at Fort Dodge, Iowa, for the purpose of ex-
| pressing their opinion in regard 10 the Dubuque
and pacific railroad.
Also, seven others, relating 10 post routes and
By Mr.. CRITTENDEN: From Mr,. A. R
| Linn OF the State Of Missouri. and widow of the
late DR.. Linn, formerly Of the Senate, asking the
commutalion- and interest due the representatives
OF he late Colonel William Linn, Of the Revou-
ton.
Memorials were also prese nted by Messrs.
SUMNER, FOSTER, IVERSON, and others, OF
private nature.
NOTICES BILLS
BY Mr. WRIGHT: A bill for the Improvement
Of the harbor OF Newark, New Jersey.
BY Mr. JONES, Of Iowa: bill TO continue the
Improvement OF the Des Moines and the Rock
River Rapids, in the Upper Mississippi.
BY Mr.. SLIDELL: A bill making grants Of
land 10 the State Of Louisiana 10 aid in the con-
struciion OF certain railroads in that State.
BY Mr. STUART: A bill for the improvement
OF the hsrbor at Grand River, on Lake Michigan
A bill for completing The hsrbor at Black Lake,
on Lake Michigan
A bill for improving the harbor at Kalamazoo
river on Lake Michigan
A bill for improving the bsrbor at South Black
River on Lake Michigan.
A bill for completing the harbor at ST. Joseph,
on Lake Michigan.
A bill for completing the harbor at New Buffalo,