Year: 1859

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SENATE.


The PRESIDENT pro feel OF the Senate laid before the
body muaication from the Secretary of War, In
To resolution making inquiry whether system
might not be adopted for the selection OF military posts
and for the sale of those which from time to time be-
useless for military purposes, 10 prescribe the
means for providing barracks and quarters for the Of
tho army which was read and laid on the table.


Ihe Secretary says a effect that 1t Is extremely doubt
fu whether such policy would accomplish the object
desired that the establishment Of posts controlled
entirely by the exgenoies Of the service which cannot
be anticipated with sufficient certainty enable the de-
partment to rely upon the proceeds of such sales, and
that when it is remembered that Of these posts
located on paivate property and others in barren and
unprodncve portions Of territory he could not consist
emily with his views of the public interests recommend
such of revenue for providing barracks and
ters for the army He nnnes, however that the sales
Of posts no longer needed might be made contribute
very materially towards the erection OF As
the the frontier east Of TIE Rocky
noIhalnS and the settlements on the Pacific coast be-
come better known, the necessity for temporary posts
will gradually pass away and the few prominent points
necessary for the purpose Of keeping in check the Indians
will be ascerained As they become occupied the
temporary posts will be abandoned and by their sale aud
the application of the myny to the new posts their ex
penses will be very materially lessened


Also, from the same, communication in answer to
resolution Of the Gath utimo inquiring whether the
number of superntenden agents and sub agents Of the
Indian service could be diminished and if the Indian
affairs should be transferred from the Department OF the
Interior to that of War which read aud laid the
table. l
TIhe Secretary transmits reports from the Adjutant-
General and the Acting Commssary General of Subsist
ence, containing full answers to the question as the
nature of the will admit and that having but
little knowledge of details ia the arrangement Of In
dian affairs he feels diJent in expressing opinion
to the nature of the dimnution of superntendents &c,
that would result from the proposed ansfer but from
the general character OF the service he inclnes to tho
belief that such would be accompanied by con


siderable reduction Of the present expenses of that Office
and remarks that he has doubt that much that
done by civilians would be better aud more satisfactorily
accomplished by officers of the army


Also, from the sane n answer TO resolution making


inquiry whether the United States troops might not be
posted within the line of settlements as to diminish
largely the cost of transportation and subsistence and
at the time perform whatever service mi .ht he
necessary in suppressing Indian outbreaks and dis
turbances which orercd to lie the table and be
printed. sn


The Secretary states in direct terms that the capacity
OF the army for the suppression of such outbreaks and
disturbances depends upon its proximity to the Indian
tribes who always restrained by the contiSuity OF
troops from acts of hostility There Is little doubt he
say that the true policy is to the troops at conve
nient points or near the frontier where forage and
subsistence cheap and readily procured but the
character of the service the extent of territory, the
habits of the Indians and the varying wants of
emigunt population, make it difficult to determine upon
any fixed policy this subject Whenever the depart
ment may be able to adopt such pan the cost of trans
portaton will certainly be diminished but the condition
O1 The lntllln Struggling
towards the Pacific render such policy at the present


time impossible. with any regard for the protection Of
| the lives and property of our citizens.


| Also, communication from the Department of State
Transmitting in obedience to law information relative
| to the commercial relations of the United States with
foreign nations for the year ending September 3o 1858
which read, ordered to lie on the table, and be
/ printed.


| AGRICULTURAL coLLEOEs. TX


The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill from
the House Of Representatives donating public lands TO the
several States which may provide colleges for the benefit
| of agricultural aud the mechanic arts.


| Mr.. HAMLIN moved TO amend the bill by adding n
section to the effect that there bo appropriated to the
Columbia College, in Washington, and the Georgetown
College, in Georgetown respectively fifty Thousand acres
OF land for the purpose of founding nm agricultural de-
patment in the said colleges to be used in the same
manner and the conditions and restrictions
! the lands granted to the several States.


AS the bill had been read third time, this amend
ment could only be received by unanimous consent aud
Mr.. WADE subsequently objected to its reception.


Mr. CLAY said that in consideration of the late period
of the session, and there being many important
pressing upon the Senate and in consideration Also
of the courtesy shown him in postponiog action on the
bill his account he should say less than he had
originally intended. He would refrain from going at
length into the question of expedency although lie
thought conclusive argument could be made against
the bill that ground. At time when
deeply in debt and the OF the government
insufficient to meet Its ordinary wants. it was now
proposed by this measure to cut OFF all the rcve-





increase the expenditures of government by donations
of land equivalent TO fully ten millions Of dollars Com
mon sense would teach. and common honesty would
qure, private individual in like circumstances 10 hus-
band his and reduce his be just
his creditors rather than generous to his friends But by
whom was this measure supported? BY the unanimous
vote of the republicans and Americans who classcd
present under the general of the opposition who
habitually declnm against the extravaganza of the adj
mnisration and the democratic party who, with pro-
found PATRIOTISM profess to desire economy, rctrenc
ment, and reform in public expenditures, but who in
this instance in many Others disccd their professions
of good faith by their practice of bad works. In this
party, strange TO tell representatives of
States who favored calculated to inic serious
injury upon them and reard their settlement but
stranger STILL among its supporters found few and but


very few members OF the democratic party who profess
to advocate State rights and to be strict constuctoniss
of the constitution. This held b,ibe to the
States and it thus nsidiously sought TO gain sup
port The amount which would to Alabama would be
two hundred thousand of land but he trusted
when this magnificent blibe rendered her. she would
yndcae her sovereignty by refusing accept it, and
ing to debse herself at the oostool Of federal power Mr.
proceeded to say that there just much authority
In the constitution for endowing asyns for the insane for
thedeaf dumb and blind for destitute wdowsand orphans
all who might be afflicted in mind, body estate as
there to cndow agricultural colleges II State pride
State independence and State sovereignty did revolt
from such scheme, State honor should IL was against
the constitution which all were bound to support What
the theory Of institutions Evidently that the
federal government is the States is de-
dependent upon them for its continued existence its
organization and operation IL is but their
tee oopded with certain specific powers for certain great
objects 1t has no absolute and unconditional powers