Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-01

Icer would enttle him TO an enlarged
command, and to a corresponding ranl
over those, whether in the regular arm,
or the militia, whose qualifications, SO ia
DIS these depend upon service, are less thai
Y mis-.
Y The attention of the army has been fire.
equently drawn TO project for the estah
'Clishment of fund for the support Of in
sNald officers, and of the widows and chill
: aren of such as may die in the SERVICE
r The object lie a enmmendable one, md Il
the ooly aid expected of the government
lis such legislative provision as may be
necessary to give effect to the measure,
in conformity with the general views of
the officers of the army it is certainly
entitled to the favorable regald Of the
government. A moderate and stated de-
duction fromlhc pay Of each officer would
create fluid, which would afford essen
tal relief p many. who otherwise would
be exposef to want and penury, and might
soothe tht declining years of meritorious
officers, fho may have necessarily ex-
lpended j the maintenance of their fam-
lies the fho!e allowance made to them by
law, am who without such an arrange
ment, WOULD look forward with anxiety
for the future. Whatever plan may be
ultimately adopted, IA legal organization is
|essentia to its operation and success
And asthe funds will be provided by the
officers themselves and for their own ad |
vantag. the administration will no doubt
be committed to them, to be exercised by
such pdsons, and in such manner, as they
may diect. The considerations, con.
nected With this measure, are so obvious
| ly just, and in accordance with the die
tates ofprudence and humanity, that |
trust tley will be favorably considered.
And dso feel 1t my duty to bring before
you kindred subject, connected with
the rank and file Of the army, and having
for its object provision for the support
of superanuated soldiers. la our service,
AS at present organized, q soldier can only
be retained, as long as his physical powers
are sufficient to enable bin to perform.
the duties required of him. When his
lconstitution fails, unless il is the result 'of
disability, Injured in the line of bis du-
ty,' he is discharged without any proyi.
sion for his support, and generally, from
the habits q his life, witeout the DISPOSE
ton, and to, often the power to labor, and
without the means of support. He is
then thrown upon the charity Of the com
mpnity, after deyoting the best of his life
tothe service of his country.
This result may be easily obviated,
without expense to the government, and
AT ample provision made for those dis
charged soldiers, who are unable to pro-
cure the means of support. The princi-
lip e which has been long and wisely ap
pied to the navy, may be safely applied
tothe army. An inconsiderable deduc
titn from the pay Of each soldier would
g far towards the creation of a fund FOL
tbs purpose. And if this deduction were
! tocemmence with those, who might ell
t lit after the passage of the lrw, there
could be no objections on account of The
: pievious engagements, formed with the
; soldiers. And there are three auxiliary
sources of revenue, which may be appli
et towards the former object. These are
Fines assessed by Courts Martial:
The pay due to soldiers who may die
, without leaving any heirs TO claim it:
! "A proportion of the post fund, which i.
: principally derived from tax upon suffers.
1t 10 believed, that the means which may
be realized agreeably to this suggestion
would be found sufficient to provide for the
maintenance of this class of persons, whose
condition Is now SO hopeless, and SO unsutet
to the character of the government and the
feelings of the community.
The experience of every year adds to the
conviction, that the sooner the Indians, re
naming cast of the Mississippi, migrate to
tho region west of that river, the sooner vii
they be relieved from the embarragsments 0
therpresent position, and placed in sItua
,ion, where they may physically and morally
improve, and look forward to prosperous
and permanent destiny All the reports
which reach the Department upon this sub
, ject, concur in the representation, that tn,
emgrants already there, are comfortable ant
contented. That the region assigned t.
them is fertile. salubrious, and as extensive
as they and their descendants for many gen
, erations, can require. They are maxim.
= Improvements and erecting dwellings, AM
evidently laying the foundations of a socia
: system, which it is to be hoped will affor'
them security and prosperity. As q strkin,
: proof of Their improvement, and of the quan
+ tity Of provisions raised among them, it ma
J. be stated that one of the contracts for ful
b n,shine prov sions has been taken bv Choc