The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-06-16
REMARKS OF
HON. A. STEWART.
In the House Of Representatives.
May %, fsA6.

abolish the Offices thereby created ia SIX
months after tke termination of the pres
est war with Mexico. Mr. RATHBuN
remarked that he was by no means dis
posed 10 Withhold from the Govern
ment the necessary force for conducting
she public service and prosecuting 'he
war; bat he was entirely opposed to
permanent increase in the number cl our
officers wi hout some provision Tor re-
surning to the peace establishment after
the war was over, and conclsded by say
ing that he was against the repeal Of the
existing law.
Mr.. STEWART said that he thought
The committee were expendng too much
OF their time In making provision for the
officers of the army. and not enough in
making provision for the privates in the
ranks. He inquired of the Chair wheth-
er it would be ia order TO move aa amend
mcnt to the amendment now proposed
making an increase in the pay of volun-
teers? The officers were well paid and
could take care of themselves, but what
was to become of the families of the poor
volunteers, who encountered all the hard
ships OF military service for seven dellars
a month. 1t was very comfortable
thing 10 have an officers birth and ample
provision from Government, while the
men did the fighting. Now, he thought
1t was these very men, who after all had
10 bear the brunt Of the battle, who Q ght
first 10 be provided for.
Mr.. S. had risen mainly Tor the pur-
pose of wndicating himselfand those who
acted with him from false and calumni-
GUS charge. The Wings in that House
had been charged with throwing cold wa
ter upon the war, disheartening the ma
ton, and discrying and discouraging the
volunteers. Now, actions spoke louder
than words, and he should, on this occa-
sion, appeal to facts to show who were
and who were not Justly liable 10 this
charge. What were the facisl
few days since a bill had been return
ed from the Senate reducing the pay of
the volunteers from ten dollars a month
10 seven deliars month, and on concur
ring with that reduction the yeas and nays
had been called; and what was the result!
The Wings III that House went in body
against concurrence and for giving the vol
unteers ten dollars, while every member
OF the Democratic party, with tlie excep-
sIon OF eight, had voted to reduce their
pay 10 seven dollars. Was that the way
patriotic gentlemen encouraged volunteer
ing! Mr.. ). looked at votes, not at speech
es- He dad not ask who flattered the
volunteers. but who voted to pay them.
Apply this test and how stood the two
parties1 Who voted TO give them ten
dollars a month"; The Wings. Who
were for reducing their pay TO seven dol
larst The Democrats. Mr.. S. had pro-
duced this stubborn fact for the .vindica-
ton Of himself and his friends. He ap-
pealed TO the record. There stood the
yeas and nays. Letgentlemen deny their
own votes if they chose
What moreg Mr.. S. had introduced
a resolution which proposed TO increase
the pay of volunteers TO ten dollars, and
10 give them hundred and sixty acres of
land. Here was another test. Every
Whig but FIVE voted in favor of the mo-
tion, but ii was voted down by gentle
men on the other side.
Mr.. S. had renewed the same propo-
sltion yesterday in Committee Of the
Whole, bul it was again voted down by
gentlemen on the other side in body
Nov, he wanted the country 10 under
stand this matter. A strong effort was
making to cause the people to believe tilat
the Wings were opposed to the war; that
they were throwing embarrassments in
the way Of the Administration, disheart-
ening the army, and discouragihg the vol
antccrs. These ISLANDERS were repeated
every day in the official, (the Union, land
copied from ii into all the party papers,
the followers of the URfon, in the coun-
try. Yet how stood the fact! Who was
II that discouraged the volunteer! Was
the Wings, who weae ready to pay him
ten dollars month and give him a COM
iorable farm, or was it the so-called
friends OF the Administration, who want
ed him to fight for nothing and find HIM
selE Seven dollars month! A pretty
amount of pay for farmer or mechan-
ic, who could get dollar day by labor
ing at home, but who forsook his business
and his family, and went into the sickly
climate OF Mexico, encountered the dan
gers of the camp, the fatgues;of the march,
and the blood and carnage Of the battle
iiehdl twas said he went for glory?-
The Wings were ready to give him {
tract of land; the Democrats voted i
down two to one. The Wings wanteC
10 give him ten dollars; the Democrat.
gave him seven. Was not this very pa
triotic2 Here were gentlemen, flaming
patriots too, who received their eight dol
lars for spending few hours day in le
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