The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-10-11

would have received under the provis-
ions Of this act"
For this amendment Gov. Polk vo-
ted (see journal page 689.)
All these and other amendments be-
ing rejected, Gov. Polk. John Bell and
others of the Tennessee delegation vo-
ted againsts the House bill. At the
same session Gov. Polk voted for the
bill Of the Senate, which made much
more liberal provisions for the old sol :
diers, to whatever line they belonged
(see journal page 794.) That bill pas
sed the two houses, and on the 9th day
of June, 1892 was approved and
signed by the President. and is
now the law under which many of the
soldiers of the revolution, who were be-
fore that time excluded from the bene-
fit Of the pension laws, are now. and
have been ever since drawing their
pensions.
Gov. Folks whole course, as is thus
shown, has been in favor of extending
the pension system tomany merltorlous
soldiers Of the revolution, who, by the
limited provisions of the laws previous
ly in existence, had been excluded from
their benefit.
Some years ago a similar attempt
was made, as now, by irresponsible
writer's in the newspapers to mlsrep-
resent him, by making garbled state
ments and suppressing the truth. He
met these misrepresentation in pub
lie letter to his constituents of the 9th
Of June 1888; in which he gave q full
history Of all his votes, taken from ;he
Journals, and put the false misrepre-
sentations to shame. No man in his
district ever ventured to revive the
misrepresentation, until recently some
Of the most reckless Of the whig papers
have attempted it.
We make a single extract from Gov.
Folks letter to his constituents in
1888. Alter quoting his votes from
the Journals, in that letter he says:
"Were it necessary to produce fur
ther proofs of my efforts to better the
condition of these 'poor old men," !
venture to affirm that many, Il think ]
should not be mistaken if | were to
say not less than hundrcd) of the
venerable soldiers of the revolution.
residing within the four counties
which have Iatel y represented, might
be brought forward who with upitled
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 u deaf ear to any
one of them; but on the contrary,
though it was not strictly connected
with my official duty, they will bear
me willing testimony that | have, with.
out fee or reward, aided them in their
effort TO procure pensions. And ! am
gratilied in the belief that have been
instrumental in procuring for them the
pensions which they SO well deserved |
and SO much needed. In having been
so instrumental, rojoice that have
had 1t IN my power to render this little
service TO portion of the remnants OF
those who achieved our Independence.
shall continue to serve them when.
ever they desire it and it shall be in
ny power to do so. But who are
they who would misrepresent me on
his subject? | boldly venture to af:
im that no one of the soldiers Of the
Revolution can be found of their num-
Der. No! They who are alone in
crested, are satisfied. Too many of
hem know the service which | have
;heerlully rendered to themselves per-
onalIy and Individually. They are
lot the persons who raised this false
lamor. My opinion has always been ,
hat the provisions olthe pension laws
hould be extended equally End alike
0 all the sOl>iers of the Revolution who ,
we're poor, or in such INDECENT circum-
tances in life as to make it acceptable
nd comfortable to them in their old ,,
&c; and that it mattered not whether
hey belonged to the Continental army
Militia, State troops or Volunteers, il ,
ley performed service, equally meri- r
orous and of equal duration; all should .
e equally provided for. By the for o
Ter pension laws, those only of the h
ontinental line or. regular army who c
'ere in INDECENT circumstances Were S,
Those of the State troops, t.
o!unteers, or Militia, however poor =,
r meritorious, were excluded. Not -
ally by my votes, but in debate also,
have advocated the extention of the
ensIon to all alike. Upon all occa-
ons have been found SO voting
nd whenever the several Bills which
I've been before Congress during my
rvice, were under considera tion in
at body, have been found voting to .,
inform their provisions to those prin- M
nlnc and Whenavar thoyy bovo haop | OF