The national Republican., 1861-12-19


engaged in said service during the present
war: Provided, any officer, soldier, and sea
man shall not be included, unless he has
been engaged in the services aforesaid for q
period not less than sixty days, or when dis.
charged In consequence of wounds or sickness
incurred in said service: Provided, widows and
children Of officers, TO-, who shall have died
from wounds or sickness received in said ser
vice, shall be entitled to the beneft of said act
Mr.. HOLMAN was In favor of restor ng the
law of 1855.
Mr.. COvODE, of Pennsylvania, offered an
amen iment to the amendment: "that 1t shall
not go into operation until one year after the
war"
Mr.. vALLANDIGHAM desired to ask the
gentleman If he proposed his amendment as O
substitute for Mr.. Holman's.
Mr.. COVODE desired to take the sense of the
House upon his proposition.
Mr.. VALLANDIGHAM opposed the amend
ment on the ground that, from experience here
tofore, soldiers would sell their land warrants
for little or nothing.
Gated the amendment. II we did not fight the
battles Of our country, we should have no lands
to give anybody. He held thatit was the duty
Of the Government to use all Its resources 10
ord to maintain itself, and vindicate Its Con.
stitution.
Mr.VANDEvER, of Iowa, opposed the amend.
ment, but was In favor Of the bill.
Mr.. MORRILL,, of Vermont, was generally
Ia favor of the bill, but advocated The post.
ponement until the 9Th of February next
Mr.. POTTER was surprised ct the change In
some of the gentlemen 10 regard to this bill
II this was wise measure at one time, 1t Ger.
tainly was at this time. II is proposed to set.
tie these unproductive lands, that they may
tNrN n - L. -
He therefore moved the previous question on
the passage of the bill; but, at the suggestion
Of Mr.. R. Conkliug, Of New York, withdrew it,
In order TO allow him to submit his views on
the postponement. He was In favor of the
principles of the bill, but was In favor of the
postponement at this tim.
Mr.. ARNOLD hoped that the bill would not
be postponed, but receive At once the prompt
action Of the House, believing, as he did, that
1t would best serve the public credit.
Mr.. KELLEY, Of Pennsylvania also advo.
Gated the postponemtnt of the bill.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN, Of Kentucky, 10 a speech,
said he thought It not wise to pass this bill at
this time, that II was by our credit alone that
we were enabled to maintain the mighty strug.
gle 10 which we were engaged. Land security
was the best for all engagements, and the pub.
lie domain Is pledged Of our faith 1t was our
good fortune TO hold very great amount Of
tillabls lands in country fourishing above
all others, and although not expressly, II stands
implied as pledge for all the obligations we
enter into with the world. 1t maintains the
credit by which we sustain our army. And he
would ask, was 1t better for the soldier
now to enjoy all the comforts extended to
him in the field or to deprive him of them
under the barren hope of homestead hereaf
ter? 1t was better for the soldier, the farmer
and the whole country, to maiutain those ele-
ments upon which our credit is based, than to
surrender any portion of them under the action
Of bill of this kind.
Mr.. LOVEJOY, Of Illinois, was 10 favor OF
Immediate action. He looked upon the post
ponement 40 final defeat of the bill.
Mr.. BINGHAM was In favor Of passing tht
bill.
The question then REQUIRED on the postpone
ment Of the bill until the FIRST Tuesday 10 Feb
ruary Rext,
When, on motion, the yeas and nays wer,
taken, and resulted as follows: yeas SO, nays so
The bill was postponed.
Mr. STEVENS, from the Committee of Wayt
and Means, reported bill which was passed
making an appropriation for gunboats on tht
Western rivers.
On motion, the House resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole, (Mr.; Washburne, o.
Illinois, In the chair,) and took up the bill
msking appropriation for invalid and othel
pensions.
Mr.. BLAIR, of Missouri, offered an amend
ment which was adopted, that no pension
shall be paid to any one who has been engaged
in the present rebellion against the Govern
ment of the United States. or otherwise lending
aid to the rebels.
The bill was then passed.
On motion Of Mr.. BIZ AIR, the bill to secure
to the officers and men who were actually EN-
ployed in the department of the West or tbs
department of Missouri, their pay and bounty
After several amendments, the bill passed.
Mr. STEELE, OF New Jersey, offered a'reso
luton, that the committee on army contracti
be instructed to inquire into the alleged abuses
of suffers. Adopted
Mr.. ALLEN, Of Ohio, called up House bill
to amend al act of July %, 1861, granting
Q bounty of one hundred dollars to certain
soldiers In the army of the United States.
Mr.. HOLMAN. Of Indiana, moved to recon
NIT the bill to the Committee on Military AT
fairs, with Instructions to report bill to in
clude the soldiers who enlisted for three months
under the call of the President, who were hon
orably discharged, by reason of wounds re
| ceived.
Pending which motion, the House ad
journed.