The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-03-22

SoRRY.--In the Senate yesterday, the
morning session was taken up with "a dis
cussion on the bill for the relief of George
HigIey, of Dubuque, for injuries i'll
flicted by the explosion of a cannon while
firing salute. The bill was amended by
adding the name of Robert p. Caldwell, of
Ottumwa, but was lost on final passage.
We are sorry to see this, as we think The
bill was a good one and should have pass
firing "A salute under orders of the Govern
ment, and should be literally csmpensat-
ed for the loss of his hand, which was
blown off at the time, and prevents him
from working at his trade. $3.50.
Senator Stiles deserves great credit for
the interest he manifested i'm this matter,
and for his efforts to get the bill passed. ti
We append a fewsof the remarks made
by different Senators previous to the bill
being put to a vote:
Senator Farwell moved that the Senate
reconsider the vote taken yesterday OIL the
passage of the Bill praying an appropria-
ton of $500 for the relief of Geo. Higley,
who lost his right arm by the premature
discharge of gun. Carried.
Senator Stiles believed the bill was right,
and he was very willing to vote for it,
There could not be a great many cases of
the kind, and the drain on the treasury
could not be very great. He knew of bat
one other case--the case of Robt. Caldwell
of Wapello County, who, after the surren-
der of Lee, had his hand blown off by the
premature discharge of gun.
Senator Powers moved to reconsider the
vote to strike out $500 and insert Si0o, with
the view to increase the amount.
Senator Stubbs moved to amend SO as to
allow the same amount to Robert p. Cald-
well, Of Ottumva.
Senator (Gcn'l Warren felt that he was
rot at liberty toss--sit silent on this amend
ment. Mr.. Caldwell was i'm his regiment
| and was a faithful and reliable soldier
! He spoke in the very highest terms OF his
| father, It, Col. JOS. w. Caldwell, as a SOL
! der and citizen. He thanked the Senator
| fromJ efferson for Offering the amendment.
! He was one who would vote at all times
! for any reasonable sum to meritoriOus
]
service as had Robert p. Caldwell, and
were wounded in this way. These were 81
class of men who did not stay at home to
pass resolutions, but they went to the front
and risked everything for their country.
! Senator Stiles said that Caldwell had
been three years in the service. He was
! firing a salute on the surrender of Lee un-
| der orders OF the Government after leaving
the service. He was Timer by trade
| by this accident he was deprived of the op-
portunity of working at his trade. 1t had
been said that he. unlike Higley, was q
single man-but he might want to get mar.
ried some day; he was heartily in favor o.
! the amendments.
Senator Crookham was i'm favor of the
amendment. He thought in every case OF
this kind where the General Government
did not provide for them the State should
! At this very session there ought to be an
| appropriation to meet all such cases. The
! Government owes this money TO such per-
sons, and much more. He was not only
in favor of the original bill, but in favor
Of the amendment.
On the question, shall the bill pass, the
ayes were "a. nays p. The bill not receiv-
ng "a constitutional majority was lost.