The North-Carolina standard., 1844-10-09


Fof so amending this bill as to make provision foI
all the officers and soldiers ho served in the re-
yelutionary war fol, six months or more, and foT
the widows Of such officers as were slain wilhelm
service, or nad since died. And again for extend.
ing the provision so that it would embrace all
the State troops &C. --ssas
In~1827, he voted in favor of proposition to
amend existing enactments so as to make provi,
sion for all the officers and soldiers who served in
the revolutionary war for six months or more al
any one time, the compensation of each officer
and soldier to be computed and divided among
them in proportion to the rank they held, andth
time'they were in service; and also TO make pro.
vision for the widows of such officers as were
slain or otherwise died while in service or have
since died-[p o. Jot l40 to 1921 Against every
motion calculated to delay action these <propo.
sitions, the journals show that. Governor Polk's
vote is recorded.
EEStsa9 q aPreposition of a partial character
was introduced, granting pensions to small class
tonly, and e1cl@img from ITS provisions the main
body of the soldiers of the continental army and
Iall the soldiers of the State line, volunteers, and
Imiitia-whch partial proposition Gov. Polk
voted against
In 1929 he voted for a pension bill which avoid
ed the invidious ana unjust Determinations of the
bill of 1828.-[p. of Jour. 331 to 1871 ~
In 1880 he voted for bill for the relief OF
Isundry revolutionary4nnd other officers and SOL
diers Up. Jour. 291l At the same session ano-
ther bill was offered, in which no provision was
made for I" the officers and soldiers of the militia"
which MIR. Polk voted to recomnsit to the Com
mittee on Military Pensions with instructions to
report provision including the officers and
soldiers of the militia, [p Jour. 442,] AS amend.
ed, the bill was rejected; and Governor Polk re-
fused to vote for it without this important and just
amendment. A third proposition was made at
the same session, upon which Gov. Polk voted to
instruct the Committee on Military Pensions to
review the pension law for the purpose of cxtend
ing its benefits to every soldier who aided i'll es.
tabishing our liberties. and who is unable to main
tain himself in comfort-[p Jour. 5OSl
In 1881 there was pension bill before the
House. In the opinion Of the Tennessee dclega
ton it required amendment and modification to
make it equitable and just; and when "the pre-.
from being altered or debated, although anxious
to extend the pension laws, the entire delegation
voted against 1t, with the exception ola member
from the western district. 1t was not, however
acted upon by the Senate, and failed 10 become a
law.
RevieoO Of the Facts.
Was there ever a more gratuitous charge pre-,
fcrred against any man than this which we have
proved to be utterly destitute of foundation in
truth 81
Was it anything short Of 6aseness?
VIII Il not react upon its authors ~'
Does it not argue that Gov. Polk's public char
acer must be pure indeed, if they can find moth
ing in it more Objectionable than his votes on the
pension law2 - 49,
Will net the honest wings of old Robertson
and of every other county where this SANDER has
been promul gated, arise in their strength and in
dependence, and turning from the arrant dictators
that would enslave their minds unite upon no.
bic declaration that they will do Justice to James
K. Polk" .&-
We cannot close this review Of Gov Pollls uni
form course iu favor of that gallant phaIanx Of A
meri-can patriots without annexing here single
paragraph from a circular to his constituents in
1888: = ,.s. -. ~ -.e
Many of the venerable soldiers (said he) re-
siding within the four counties which [ have late
ly represented, might be brought forward, who,
with upliflcd hands, would be ready to testify that
they have applied to me for advice and aid in
their efforts to procure pensions, and with one voice
they will say have never turned a, deaf to
any one Of them; but on the contrary, though it
was not strictly connected with my official duty.
they will bear willing tcstmony,that have with.
out fee or reward, aided them in their efforts to
procure pensions. And am gratiied in the be-
lief that have been instrumental in procuring for
many of them the pensions which they so we'll
deserved and so much needed. In having been
so instrumental, rcloce that have had it in m y
power to render this little service to a portion of
the remnant of those who achieved our indepen-
dence."5 ~, 4