The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-21
enable him 70 introduce the following resolution pend
ing since Monday Last.


c Tls * ~ my o,g ' 1ss. M rsi'a m s 81 as 81
cngre snpr5ye ,sv "a iso .s ~ \, , niin so
taking the seventh aud all Subsequent o the Uatsd states
ani liking the number Of he menbers House Representa-
State
The question being taken, the rules were suspended
ayes 81, noes 49,
Mr. HUGHES said his object in presenting the reso
luton to call the attention of the House the state
of the law providing for taking the census II the Law
to be carried out, and he thought it ought 10 be- il
became the duty of this Congress to appropriate money
for that purpose. If they change the law it was
time IL were done
Mr. WHITLEY, of Delaware, submitted the follow,
ing resolution substitute
ood Committee Of Ways AMI Means be directed to
qre proprely reporting bill repeating the provisions
late entirely and alone the counting Of tho people
Mr. WHITLEY demanded the previous question; which
seconded and the main question ordered
Mr.. PHELPS Of Missouri thought the resolution should
be sent to the Committee the Judiciary it proposed
to change existing laws
MIR. WHrTE14EY then desired TO make it an additional
resolution but the Chair decided that it could not be
done nasmuch the previous question had received
second, aud the main question been ordered.
The question being stated on the substitute
Mr., JONES, of Tennessee, thought il right, and de-
manded the yeas and nays which were ordered ayes
Al, noes TO-
The yeas and nays being taken, rcsulted--yeas 81
nays l44. So the substitute was rejected.
The resolution was then agreed to.
THE PENSION BILL
On motion of Mr. PHELPS of Missouri the House
then went into Committee of the Whole on the state of
the Union--ayes 3d. noes -(Mr HOPKINS of Virginia
in the chaand resumed the consideration of the bill
granting pensions to the officers and soldiers of the war
with Great Britain OF 1872 and those engaged in Indian
during that period.
The CHAIRMAN stated the question TO be on the
amendment OF Mr. Conn, of Alabama to include the soldiers
OF the Florida of 1877 the Florida and Creek In
dian wars of 1886, 1887 and 1885 and the Mexican
of 1876 1877 and 1913
Mr.. SMITH, of Illinois, moved to amend the amend
nient us to include those who served in the Black
Hawk war, remarking that he was, from the first
he occupied seat upon the floor, for the old soldiers all
the time.
Mr. JONES' of Tennessee agreed that it was the duty
of the government to take of the disabled soldiers
but he did not think it eth5r right proper that
this government should inauguate general service sys
TEN for pension.
The question being taken on Mr.. SMITH 8 amendment
it was agreed to-ayes 10, noes As.
Mr.. COBB referred to his past to show that he
was the friend of the widows OF 1872 and at the same
time advocated the adoption of his amendment.
Mr.. AVERY, of Tennessee, said the bill not I'M
constitutional, the policy wrong The only OBJ
lection to 1t was the of money that it would cost
and that valid argument in IL case like this
Mr.. GlDDINGS of Ohio advocated the passage of the
BILL stating that it was not for the money that the old
soldiers desired the passage Of this BILL but for the pur
pose of having their services recognised by the govern
ment. Hgs'
he had made heretofore reiterang his belief that the
principle upon which it founded was wrong
Mr.. BURNETT of Kentucky, desired the bill to be
disposed of in some way The cloggfg of by amend
ments insured its defeat and he hoped its real friends
would adhere to the bin reported by the committee
Mr.. CURRY, of Alabama said that if no more than
threeeghths of those entitled to receive pensions should
apply the cost would exceed eleven millions of dollars
This was conjecturable but still approximation to the
result and if the time of service should be limited to
ten days, at the calculation the would be
eighteen millions of dollars. No reliability could be
placed upon the calculations of the friends Of the BILL
and he warned gentlemen that they increasing the
expenses OF the government at enormous rate.
Mr.. JEWErr of Kentucky, replied to the arguments
which had been made against the bill There had not
been argument submitted by the enemies of the bill
but what pointed in hostility to the policy of pensionng
the worn -out soldiers
Mr.. WRIGHT, of Tennessee differed with Mr. CuRnY
He did not ask himself what the expense would be- but
whether it was Just grant these pensions Gentlemen
pretended to be friends Of the BILL but they introduced
various amendments not for the purpose of perfecng
the BILL but to accomplish its destruction He contend
ed that the policy was right and proper
Mr.. WASHBuRN, of Maine, WAS opposed to the dis
elimination which this bill made
Mr. DAVIS, of Maryland, not aware Of any people
better entitled to these pensions than those whom he
and, agreeing fully with the gentleman
from Alabama he could not vote for the bill upon prin-
ciple.
Mr. SAVAGE, of Tennessee said there were d, large
class OF men in humble circumstances born to toll with
Dnb hOines poor indeed, lett To md their down to
The through poverty and want and it these
not for the great distinguished RICH that this bill
was brought to the consideration of Congress.
The question was then taken the amendment a.
amended, and il was agreed to--ayes "a, noes 60.
Mr. UNDERWOOD, of Kentucky, moved TO amend so
rs to include those who had served in Waynes Indian
war He thought it but Just that they should be in
GUIDED IN this general recognition of the services of those
who had fought the battles of their country
Mr. kEIl'r, of South Carolina said that a general |
pension system was at all times demoIalizing He had
listened atentivcly to the arguments which had been
made and the only conclusion was that the government
presented itself in two aspects first, that Of and
second, that of distributing aims among thorv who car
led the flag The policy of government aid always
De dictated by the necessities of peace Wars were ex
options He held this general pensioning 10 be against
he very genius OF the government 1t substitute
or a standing army and who advocated standing !
lmys 1t was not intended to be demoralzing but the
Inevitable effect of these to create class
If lesionaes who should look only to the
Mr., MAYNARD, of Tennessee, replied to the argu-
nents of Messrs. CURRY and DAVIS of Maryland his /
Ill, called upon the House to pay ten millions of dollars
or the old soldier out of eighty millions expended by the
government. And eighty millions for what' Look |
round the Capitol Go to the navy yards! Look at |
our jobs and contracts and printing Office and count
Up the items, and then go home and tell your const
nts that your government was poor that there
title money that you could not pay the old soldier for
ais services, rendered. perhaps, before you were born
On motion of Mr. BRANCH, of North Carolina, the (
committee then and reported to the House without
ction.
ADJOURNMENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
Mr.. FLORENCE of Pennsylvania, moved that SEN
tie resolution for the temporary adjournment of Congress
,e taken from the Speaker table.