The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-28
CONG EssIoNAL.
SPEECH OF MR.. SIMS,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

The House being in Committee Of the Whole on
the state of the Union,
Mr.. SIMS addressed the committee as follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAR: Upon occasions like the present.
when the country is pressed with circumstances OF
peril and mergency--inyolved in fact, in actual
state of war--it becomes the duty of every good
citizen to examine, not only with freedom, but at
the time with perfect candor, the measures OF
the government, and to lend such efficient aid with
in the sphere Of his praellcability, may enable
il 10 prosecute TO successful result the conIover
sly in which IL may find itself engaged. III this be
the duty of every citizen, how much moro Is IL
the duly OF those who stand in the position Of ser
wants OF the people and administrators Of the inter
esls Of the country Whilst, therefore, il may be
the right of every member Of this body TO inquire
with freedom into the measures Of the government,
and 20 seek 10 know the causes and circumstances
which may have placed the country in such posi-
ton still patriotism well duty calls upon every
individual connected with any branch of the gov
eminent, so far as he may be called upon to give
expression TO his sentiments, TO mingle freedom of
inquiry with the greatest candor. All party preju-
dces, to say nothing of party rancour, should be
laid aside and the interests Of the country, under
the prompungs of an honest patriotism, should
teach charitable construction Of the acts Of our
own government. The expression of opinions adj
verse TO the action Of the government which may
have produced collision between this country and
another, and u rigid and csnsorioua inquiry into
the facts Of the case, which, under such eX-
smination, may not seem to justify that action,
whilst il may not in fact DO treason, is invested IL
not 70 the full extent certainly in degree, with
all the consequences to the country of treason
itself Il is contrary to the interests Of the country
retsrdpg the prosecution of its purposes and giving
a neral force TO the cause of the adversary by in
culpating the government as TO those circumstances
which led to the controversy.
/ / regret that the debate has, in some instances
been conducted in different temper by some of
those who have preceded me. trust that am
prepared to come to the discussion with those feel
ings OF candor and freedom of inquiry which
have indicated; and that, while seeking to attain
truth in the matter, / may at the same time
he able TO vindcate the rights and interests Of
the country well the action of the government
The question Immediately under consideration, is
the proposition of my. colleague Mr.. BLACK to
equalize the pay Of oil the prIyaes called into the
service Of the United States, no matter to what
branch or corps of the army they may be attached.
portion of the privates receive only seven dol
lars per month Another class, in different corps,
receives eight dollars. Under the amendment pro-
posed by my colleague, the pay will be equalzed at
a uniform allowance of eight dollars per month. To
this proposition am ready TO give my Jealous and
cordial support. Ii is inconsistent with the true IN
eress of the service that privaes in the different
corps should receive different amounts Of compen-
satIon. If eight dollars be not too much for the
pvates in one corps, Is not too much for those OF
another. Each branch of the service imposes equal
w ardnOuS duties, ana 10 make uistlncuOnb IN Com-
peusation must have evil influence the service
Itself The soldiers will become dissatisfied when
they find that, with a lower amount OF pay than
others receive they required to perform services
equally burdensome IL is therefore proper, and
consistent with the true policy both Of the service
and the country, that the pay should be equazed.
But whilst am willing to accord my assent 10
this proposition, am nevertheless, at this stage of
our national controversy, opposed to the allowance
contemplated by the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr.
TsBATrs who proposes to raise the pay of the pri-
Yates to ten dollars per month. s.. ...
In the first place, when we look to the rauons,
clothing, and other contingent advantages which
may be received, independent Of the regular pay
ander the war establishment, eight dollars is ample
Compensation; more, in fact than those engaged IN
The ordinary occupations of life would be able to
make. The soldiers of the country, when called
into actual service ought to be properly compensa
| ted but something is due to considerations OF pa
trosn and those rewards of gratitude and abiding
glory which the country never fails to bestoW upon
| its brave defenders. The men who are willing to
fight the battles Of their country seldom propose, IN
/ times of public emergency, to make exactng or
grinding bargains with their government by selling
their services considerations merely pecunlary;
| they look equally to these other rewards.
There is another consideration involving national
consequences and the successful termination of the
controversy in which we are engaged, which should
| wars us against the adoption of the proposition
| Of the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr.. IIBBATTs.l
It is probable perhaps ought rather to say IT Is
| the hone of every one who loves his country that
our difficulties with Mexico may have speedy ter
| mnation. But this may turn out to be the fond de-
fusion of that hope, which anxious patriotism and
love of peace inspire in the bosom of the good cili-
| zen. rather than any weIl-erounded conclusion
drawn from a calm consideration of the causes
| which produced, and the consequences which may
| follow, this state of war. IL is possible that this
contest may be short; yet wisdom would dictate
/ a nd yuhi we Wout
observe if we know that it would be protracted; the
| same prudence, az if we knew that other nations
would be drawn into the vortex the same prudence,
| as if we already this spark on our southwest
| ern frontier blown into mighty conhagraton
| sweepine over Christendom and bringing desolaon
upon the civilized world. If such contingencies may
| happen in the progress of this war-and who can
saw that they may mott ia the part of wise states
men to provide reasonably to meet them, The first
preparation which ought to be made is the providing
| The WAYS and means by which the contest IN any
| phase which it may assume, may be successfully
| winged We have men, in the true sense OF the
| term-we have men who are nerved with patriotic
zeal-soldiers Of chivalrous bearing-an army capa-
| BILE and willing to fight our battles But that IS not
enough. We must have resources to bring them
| in the field Without money, which is said to be
| the sinews of war; it is Impossible that war can be
prosecuted with vigor and to a successful result.
| Il would seem, therefore, to be duty to husband
| our resources and avoid unnecessary eXpendi-
| ture
| With an army Of sixty-fve thousand'privates in
| the field the difference Of expense in the pay, as
contemplated in the two amendments, would be
more than million and half dollars annually II
unnecessary this surely Is an amount worth saving
That it is unnecessary in the present stage OF the
controversy, think moments reflection VIII con,
vince u.s. In the commencement Of war, the zeal
which flows from the first ebulitions of patriotism
is at it's highest point, and easily assemblies an eff
cent army for the service. Afterwards, when de-
feat may come upon your orms--when other causes
without the encouragement Of defeat may damp
the ardor of that feeling of patriotsm-it may be
more difficult to enlist into the service, and
higher wages, as well as bounty even, may be ne
cessary. But at first, much ought to be trusted ia
the patriotism of the citizens and no pay beyond o
reasonable compensation allowed. In this way the
actual resources we'll credit Of the country
will be preserved to be made available in times Of
need and emergency. For these reasons, looking
as well to a reasonable compensation to the soldier
as to the prudent conduct of affairs in the govern
ment, much prefer the proposition of my colleague
Pint Mr. Chairman whilst this is the legitimate