Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-24

il was necessary for political objects; the COM
mcrcial objects are merely incidental Had
there been a Pacific rail road We would not
have had any rebellion i'll Utah. or Indian dis
turbanccs in Washington Or Oregon. The road
is needed. that peace, law order and authority
be uphcld, and the savage tribes in the great
centre of the continent inundated and check
cd When We signed the treaty of Guadalupe
Ilidalro. we accepted the obligation to preserve
peace over the snowy mountains, the rocky
mountains. and the rayincS Of the sterile region
between the Eastern side o. the States and the
States OH the Pacific.
We shall not have peace or exercise authori'
tv without this road Ii is necessary. and that
is the great argument in is favor We have
been iIounicrin. these eight ycarS-iallins
out with Granada to-day and Nicaragua TO-
morrow: ever getting ourselves into scrape>
without being able 10 protect our citizens or re-
sent the insults given uS
California was Is near 10 foreign govern
IncntS Is it was to this: and it could not he
maintained without extending 10 it thu spirit
which guards the other States. :, mere paper
union with us Is ~; no account We must
unite California with us 10y practical benefits.
else il will do wha; We have done in the East
co!onize the Pacific coast. ard set up a govern
mcnt for themselves. 1t was Il matter of time
At ,! o'clock the Senate went into Executive
session. Oh motion of Mr.. lvcrs"n;, after which
j; adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Kellogg. OF Illinois. asked leave 10 intro
iure resolution ;,>tructing the Committee on
Territories to report 4 ill for the future organ-
zat;on OF Territories. aS embodied in the plat.
form lately agreed on by the chiefs Of the Re-
publican party and published III orr issue of
Yesterday. Objection was made.
Mr. Cavanaugh. of Minnesota. introduced. b.
unanimous consent. a bill cor the organization
of Gaco:a!l Territory, and Tor other purposes.
Referred to the Committee Oh Territories.
On motion of Mr. Pnclp, OF Mo. the bills
making appropriation Tor the army and for civil
and diplomatic expenses were or'i@rcd tn he
printed!
On motion OF I!r Pnrp, Of Mo, the House
went into Committee Of the Whole. Mr. Hop
kim> oil Va il; the CHAIR and Resumed the COLI
,id,raiion Of the Pension bill.
Mr. Undcrwooi'> amendment, offered YES
tcriay including in the provisions Of the
bill the soldiers of the WAYNE war. WIS
agreed Ia.
Mr. Clark of No. moved an amendment, in
Guiding the men If Missouri who suffered in
conflicts with Indians in lSl2-'lj At which
tirc Missouri wa> Territory 81 the nl;cd
States
Mr. c. cuogized the couduc. of these men.
and appealed 10 the House to recognize their
services II provision was made for the States
engaged in t!!e war of lSl2-l5. provision
should also he made Tor the Territories who
suffered III the same warS
Mr. Atkins. Of Tenn, confined himself to
ihc b rs originally offered. In doing 80. he
did no; intend TO dctract from the services OF
those who had been engaged in wars snb,r-
oucnt 20 that of lNl2-'l5. There was = dis
tncton IN be made between the men Of that
war and Of that with Mexico The latter were
in the meridian Of life, and we're enjoying the
hOnor3 >howcrcd upon them by grateful
people: the former were now feeble and aged
and were really in need Of assistance.
Mr. Krnhcl. OF Pennsylvania, denied the
claim Of Tennessee 10 be called the volunteer
State" PENNSYLVANIA had never been behind
hand she hal been always ready TO furnish
more troops than were wanted by the country
With all due respect TO gentlemen who had
taken the opposite side, he had not heard one
valid argument against the bill. The only ar
grlrncnt with any seeming force WIS that the
treasury was not in condition to carry out the
provisions Of the bill but let economy be en-
crciScd somewhere else. The brave men who
had fought in their country's service should be
taken care of in their distress and old age
The people were in favor Of the bill. and if
there was not sufficient money in the treasury.
the people would he willing to raise by direct
taxation Il sufficient suni say Sl200O,000. To
reward the soldiers Of the war Of lsl2-'l ID
lie would he proud to give his vote for the hill.
Mr. Sanliec. of Louisiana, opposed the bill.
Mr.. Whitley, of Delaware, moved m amend
ment. providing that no State which refused to
furnish troops or money COR the war Of lsl2-l5.
or which, after furnishing troops prohibited
them from going beyond the limits Of the State.
He was opposed to this general system Of pen
son. But if the manned survivor. the widow.
or the orphan were provided for let there be
no reward for those who refused TO do any
thing. Even Tories Of the Revolution had
been pcnSoncd; hut such a system was opposed
to the genius Of the Government.
Mr. Davidson. OF La. argued in favor Of the
passage Of the bill
The amendments Of McssrS. Clark. of No,
and Whitley Of Del. were both rejected
Mr.. Sherman Of Ohio. offered an amendment
placing the soldiers engaged in the war of
lSl2-'l5. and in the Indian wars prior to 1915,
on footing with the privatcs Of the Cont
mental army. according 10 the existing statute.
No higher honor could be conferred on the
men than to place them on footing with p.i-
Yates Of the Revolutionary army. In his
opinion the pensions granted by the bill were
entirely too large.
Mr. Garircll of Ga. thought that the pas
sage Of the bill would be cmincntly just and
proper lie denied that the present system Of
pensions is icmorasing. but argued that, on
the contrary it was IN encouragement 10 pa
trotic and brave deeds.
Mr.. Mllson, of Va. said that the country
had not hccn unmindful of the services Of the
soldiers of lSl2-'l5. Many of the States had
made most bcnc!iccnt provisions for them. 1t
would be- unwi>e in the extreme To burden the
country with such an expenditure as would be
necessary 10 meet the provisions Of the pro-
posed bill. especially when the disastrous con-
sequences of the late financial crisis were yet
felt
Mr. Curry, of Ala. defended the correctness
Of his calculations rs to the amount required
by the bill against the arguments which were
Yesterday made Gentlemen in favor Of the
bill had calculated the amount according to the
number of land warrant, issued to the soldiers
Of the war Of iSl2-'l5. but the true calcula-
ton was to be based on the length Of the lives
of those pcnSioncl Mr.. C. reiterated his op-
position to the system Of granting pensions to
soldiers not disabled in actual service.
sIr. Grow. Of Pa, repealed the idea that the
general system of pensions was mere subSt-
tutc for 4 standing army. Such an idea was
an insult to the patriotism Of the people.
Mr. Harris. Of Md, thought that the amend
mcnt Of Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, placed the sol
dicrS of 1Sl2-lj in worse condition than
the present bill. Mr. H. defended the memory
of the heroes Of Bladcnsburc against Ger
tain inSinuations Of Mr Whitley of Del.
Mr. Burnett Of Ky, moved To strike out the
cnncting clause. and to report the bill to the
House. but Withdrew the motion He appealed