Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-04-10

,lemen plesses-ssa question ofpower, of jus.
tee, Of policy.
The moment IS not propitious, sir. at least.
so taf as am concerned, to the discussion OF
question Of mere power-I do not pronose il
ont would not shrink from il | can Weld
TO no one, IN the sincerity Of nv disposition
10 contiEe myselfwithin the limits OF our Fed
erai chatter; to preserve invioiable, aud un
touched, the rights which are beyond iss pale
but, hthere be power, which. more emphat
lcally than any other, is given to the General
Governmen', us the power to provide for the
national defence, in the hour of danger. n is
gwen generally, and in detall-fully-fr-e
absolutely.
VI the provisions of this bill be dictated by
an enlightened policy, and consistent with a
sound discretion, in the exercise OF this power.
he question OF our authority TO do what is pro
posed, is at END. The position cannot be
maintained, that the Department of the Go
vernmen., which is Invested with the war.ma
king power, is limited. in the remune ration of
military service, TO the simple fuflmen. OF its
contract with the solder. All Governments in
all times. have, from necessity, exceeded this
limit. This Government has repeatedly ex
ceeded 1t. Ithabitually acts upon principle,
which transcends 1t. What is the principle Of
~
soldiers, you say, has been performed. On
| recent occasion, YOU have solemnly decided
that il has been fulfilled to the letter. Whence,
| then, do you derive your power to make the IN
objects ofyour bountyl That bounty is exten
| ded 10 the wounded to the relatives of those
who have fallen in battle; Of those, also, who
have died, in consequence OF wounds received,
or casualties encountered IN your service. What
IS the Pervading principle of these actsi What
| the motive to their enactment? What but TO
cherish that military arlor, which leads TO
deeds OF chivalIy, in the hour of coming dan.
| ger--to nerve the arm OF the solder when he
strikes for his country Look to the case of
| Penelope Denny, sent to us. two wears since,
| from the other House, and passed without q
| dissentient voice in this You gave TO the
mother OF a gunne', who hao died in your de-
| fence, a pension for five years. You have pro.
vided, by law, for the widows and children of
| those wno die by accidents casualties, luse
| the words of the law OF curing IN your service
Gen. Brown was as emphatically sacrificed in
that service, rs if he had fallen in either of those
GLORIOUS conflicts which gave ustre 10 his name
The war of 1912 found him in the very vigor
and spring time of life, rich IN all he sources
Of yir,uous enjoyment. When danger Came, re
lefttham to meet,t. His whol: soul Was in that
conflict. Re came out of il VITA a brilliant re.
puta,ion, indeed; but, with constitution worn
out and exhausted by the r'gor OF the service.
and by the wounds which he had received in
your defence. He has fingered, for few
years, under the pressure of the disease
which was then incurred--and has finally sunk
under it, at an age, wheo, but tor that disease,
thus contracted, he might reasonably have
calculated on prolonged life--and while he
was yet young enough to have provided for
those who were entitled to his protection. 10
him, personally. you have been just. Do not
be unrnindful Of those, the remembrance OF
whose destitute condition gave the keenest an
guisb to his expiting hours. He had common.
ced new.year OF service, and is, therefore
entitled to something at your hands. Enter
not into strict judgment with the soldiers wrd.
ow, in settling its amount. Do not lei the
ledger of your Treasury record the exact mo-
inent ola heroes departing breath
| You are asked to allow TO his widow, the
compensation ofthe currea. year. The princi-
pie, understand, is habiiualiy applied 10 the
quarter, in various departments of The Govern.
ment. To you, II is pi,tance---io her com.
fort, it is all important; and you yourselves. in
.he moral value OF the principle, which. by
its allowance, you will proclaim to the future
defenders of the country, will find an ample
| reward.